To need help buying my first car

[JustWantCake]

So I've only ever had company cars and never my own car but for my new job I will not be receiving a company car and so need to purchase my first one. I haven't a clue where to start though as I cant afford anything close to what I have been previously driving.

I was driving brand new ford focus estates with all the works.

I've got an appointment to see a Nissan dealer tomorrow but their engine sizes are all 1.2 in the ones we can afford, my fords were all 1.6 - Will I notice the difference?

Is there anything I need to consider for a new car? Am I best to go to a dealership? I need the car by Friday.

I have £5000 in cash for a car, insurance and tax and possibly could pay an extra £150 a month for finance.

Are you saying it must be brand new, and if so is there a good reason for this? When buying a brand new car, you're throwing a good chunk of the purchase price away the second you leave the dealer. There are plenty of good finance deals on new ones, but in most cases you're effectively only renting the car, so have nothing to show for it at the end. £5000 will easily get you a decent used car, far nicer than any Focus, should you desire. As a guide though, a quick look on Autotrader shows literally hundreds of Ford Focuses within your price range. As a rule of thumb, engine size is only relevant if the 2 cars weigh the same. A 1.4 Mito will be far quicker than a 4.2 Range Rover.

I have a 1.2 that is nippier than my previous, heavier, 1.4 from the same manufacturer. I'd be more inclined to go to a secondhand dealer that has a variety of makes and models to see what's in your budget.

I need the car by Friday

Usually new cars are built to order and there will be several weeks (if not months) between ordering and delivery.

Of course you may be able to buy something within a few days. You may even be able to buy a new car. But it's unlikely to be exactly what you would have chosen, if you'd bought a new car without those time constraints.

Does it have to be brand new? A 1-2 year old car will still be newish and have less depreciation than a brand new car would have.

You're extremely unlikely to get good value for money by turning up at a main dealer committed to choosing something from what they have immediately available.

I think most of the cars they have will be second-hand trade-ins, anyway.

You need to use on-line listings to identify who has the car you want to buy, then go there with the intent of buying that specific car.

Sorry I wasn't clear, I am not looking at new cars! But would like nothing older than 8 years and with less than 80,000 miles on the clock.

I have looked on auto trader and cannot find anything that looks in good nick for under £5k. I thought going to a secondhand dealer I would be able to get something out of finance?

Also need:
Iso-fix
5 doors
large boot
Bluetooth

Preferably with a sat nav

Don't be fooled into thinking that 1.2s will be slower than 1.6s, my 1.0l 140bhp Fiesta knocks my old bigger engined Fiesta into a cocked hat. Look at the bhp of the engine alongside the cc.

Don't buy brand new. Waste of money.

I wouldn't rule out old cars either.

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201807068190996?advertising-location=at_cars&maximum-mileage=60000&price-to=5000&postcode=iv26dg&model=GOLF&sort=price-desc&page=2&make=VOLKSWAGEN&year-to=2010&onesearchad=Used

This kind of car is brilliant, will last years and that's a good price for one. Yeah it's old, but the quality of the golf at that age is brilliant. Mine is the same age and nothing has gone wrong on it. Plenty of space, good amount of power, very easy to drive. Can't go wrong.

I just bought a used car for the first time. First look online at different types of calls like small hatchbacks. Make a list of local dealerships to go to like Arnold Clark and Evans halshaw who have a variety of cars. Can you take someone to look at the damage on the car and who has bought cars in the past? Be prepared to bargain I saved a few hundred pounds on my car just by bargaining with them and I didn’t have a car to trade in. Just test drive as many as you can

Haberpop that is reassuring, I'll be taking for test drives too anyway

Not convinced boot would be big enough and I cant get to Chichester anyway, but thanks Barbaro

Just repeat, not looking for a new car!

What Barbaro said. I had a 2008 Golf abroad, loved it. Better built and a better drive than my current 2015 Golf and will easily last another 5 years if not longer.

That car was just an example, look for others in your area, I don't know where you live obviously so just wanted to show what you can get. And the boot is big, I can fit a large amount of stuff in there for my horse easily, with golf clubs as well.

The boot on a vw golf is plenty spacious unless you need an estate. I'd go for an older VW over a Nissan any day of the week , use your phone as a sat nav...

MrsMWA you are actually better off with an old golf than a new one. They changed the engine after 2010 and they aren't as well made. Anything older than 2010 and you're fine. Sometimes younger isn't always better. Just depends on the car.

I think you’re going to struggle to hit everything on your list - especially the large boot with that budget.

You won’t notice much difference between a 1.2 and a 1.6, tbf, small cars tend to be nippy anyway, I had a 1.6 Fiat 500 and it was very lively!!

I wouldn’t touch dealer finance with a barge pole from experience, far better getting a personal loan - phone your round some of your local dealers to get an idea on price then have a look on the Martin Lewis website. Have you looked at Dacia? They’re supposed to be good very cheap cars. They do a small SUV that brand new is 10k, there must be some second hand ones knocking about now.

Have you considered personal leasing? Unfortunately you wouldn’t get it by Friday but I have found this is the cheapest way to get a very nice car. I was leasing a VW Tiguan for £164 pcm on a two yr deal - would have be cheaper still on a 3/4 yr deal.

I've recently had to buy a new car as my old one died. got one a year old, 7,000miles under manufacture warranty, for less under £190 pm.

if you're going to do a pcp (balloon at the end or trade in) then I wouldn't bother putting more than £500 down as it's a waste in my opinion. don't just stick to big named dealers. see if there are any reputable local dealers (ask on Facebook?). I agree with going on auto trader and narrowing down that way.

ask them if they can come down on the price of the car a bit (they usually can).

don't forget warranty! very very important imo.

Thanks all, I know I'm going to struggle, I've been truly spoilt in my previous cars.

So I'll just use my phone for Sat Nav then and drop that from the list.

I would need a boot at least as big as a Focus estate to fit in the double buggy. Having the seats down isn't an option due to the car seats.

I guess I'll just have to buy whatever I can afford at Nissan tomorrow

Can't you lease a car for a month which will give you time to look around?

I would do your research and get something unfashionable. We have Vauxhall Merivas, ex-motability cars so super low mileage but deeply unfashionable apparently. We seem to be the only people that buy them. (We have 2!) How old are you kids? If the youngest is already a toddler it might make sense to get a new pushchair like a double baby jogger that you will be able to get in most boots rather than buy a car to fit a pushchair, as you will keep the car a lot longer!

Whatever you buy if you go to a dealer you will get the hard sell on finance and insurance even if you have the cash in your hand and tell them very clearly you don't need it!

I certainly wouldn't just turn up and buy something!

I looked into leasing and quotes are coming out at £2k+ for a month for what I need as I'm only 23

My youngest is yet to be born and my oldest has is 1

I also frequently take my nephews and nieces out for day trips so its handy having the extra space.

So what I am taking from this is not to take a finance option with the actual dealer but get a personal loan? Who do I get that with? Like a pay day loan thing? Isnt that going to be higher interest?

I need a car by Friday, that's the issue, I only have tomorrow to buy

All modern cars have isofix. Friendly nd has just bought a Zafira. 80k miles, top spec, full service history and in wonderful condition for 4k. You just have to look around and be a bit flexible.