How much for a cheap second hand car?

[onlysomany]

I'm hoping to have passed my test soon (in my 40s )

How much should I budget for a decent second hand car? Money is tight so we're talking cheap n cheerful?

But I'll be driving the kids around so it needs to be not a total pile of rubbish!

I hate it when people come on these threads and say ‘I paid £300 ten years ago and I’ve driven it for a million miles’

You cannot compare the car market now to ten years ago, or even 3 years ago.

Second hand cars are ludicrously expensive at the moment. I ended up getting a brand new car as it turned out to only be £2k cheaper than the three year old model and the dealer was willing to give me lots of extras.

It’s the Wild West at the moment. Some 3 year old models are actually MORE expensive than new at the moment as the new ones have a waiting list.

I would budget 6k for a decent run around, and second pp’s get a Toyota.

Second hand cars are so so pricey these days.
My DP is the type to buy cheap and run into the ground and bought one in the new year for about £2k, 65k on the clock, 1.2 ltr.
Has needed a bit of work as well.
I think 2 years ago that car would be 1.2k

Dacia Sandero, or if you can find one a Dacia Logan (weirdly despite being larger it’s cheaper to buy and run on the whole!) my top spec Logan costs £0 tax, does 80mpg and insurance is a princely £220 per year. Lots of ex-fleet basic models should be emerging as they were ‘the’ cheap fleet workhorses of a few years ago, Arval had more than they knew what to do with at one point!

If you go onto autotrader and search for cars under 2000 in 100 mile radius it will give you a feel for what is available even if you don't want to buy via them.

Bought a Clio for £1500ish a year ago! Depending on age of kids a good run about! Otherwise plenty of Peugeot’s or fiestas/corsas could work