AIBU to ask for advice on buying a car as a single mum?

[Lena007]

I've been left without a car and need to buy something quickly as it is needed for school runs and work.

Any recommendations on cheap to run / maintain/insure cars I could consider for a start? One DS only. May be able to get something for a deposit ie max £2k.

Don't have a clue where to start and which make/ model to consider.

Thanks in advance

Skoda Fabia,diesel, I bloody loved mine and it just kept going for ever.

That's exactly what I was going to say. I have one and it's a fab car, easy to drive, enough space for two car seats in the back and cheap to run.

Mine cost me £2500 four years ago. Apart from wear and tear and usual jobs it hasn't cost me anything. My parents drive it now because I didn't want to sell it.

I also have a Zafira that's big and comfy but costs a lot more to run.

Ford Fiesta? We had one and it was a good car and very common so lots of choices second hand.

Do you need a three door or five?
Baby seats and three door cars are a pain.

Older car low mileage

Thanks!
Fiesta is definitely an option. I keep looking. Any suggestions more than welcome. Was thinking maybe seat?

Google mot history will help you eliminate cars that are going to be faulty or in need of repair soon. I got mine second hand its 15 years old and a honda jazz it's a great car cant fault it.

I have always had Fiestas.
Do your research, buy as new as you can, lowish mileage, least amount of ownwers. Mine was 2016, 15k on clock, just over 6k. I purchased outright.

I've had loads of cars but never went wrong with my fiestas, never paid more than 750 for one either. They're cheap to run and parts are readily available.
I've upgraded to an old 54reg 3 series now, very reliable paid around 2k, more expensive on the tax and fuel though.
The fabia are great, dacia are value for money.

Toyota Argo / Yaris
Honda Jazz
Ford Fiesta

All have excellent reputations and are widely available. If you are planning on doing fewer than 200 miles a week, stick to petrol. Diesels only make financial sense if you are doing higher mileages, when the better economy offsets the higher purchase price and servicing costs.

Do your internet research, Honest John is a good site for information on what to look for when buying different models second hand.
Fiestas, Honda Jazz, Toyota Yaris and VW Polos all have good reputations. always look at the service history.
Test drive around town and on duel carriage ways, go round roundabouts, listen for any knocking sounds, check the steering is straight. If you can take someone with you who can listen for odd noises and get the ‘feel’ of the ride.

I reckon parts would be cheaper for a Ford, rather than a Seat?

P.S Once you have a registration plate number, check online at MOT history, it will give you the details of every MOT a car has had, and the advisories.

It will show everything from a light bulb to an oil leak.

I still look up my old car to see how its doing

Ford Focus. Shit loads of them so always cheap to maintain and repair.

Do not get a diesel unless you do lots of miles. Modern diesels have DPFs to lower emissions and they tend to break expensively if they don't get a regular motorway run

Practically gave my Toyota Corolla away ..£300
Fab car. Cheap to run
Look for a second hand Toyota
They go on forever
I’ve just bought a 5 year old auris ..bloody love it.
Maybe look at a Yaris or aygo

Some things to watch out for always-

Brand - honda, toyota are the best bet. Good performance records, low maintenance, good for new drivers, parts easily available and decent service. Best part always good resale value.

Odometer - lower mileage is the best thing to look for in a car. It means its been driven less. Hence less likely to give you problems. Look for aomething with 80000 to 130000 kms on it. Never buy anything over this range

Title status - is it clean (never been written off by an insurance company post accident) or a rebuilt (writtwn off by an insurance company and auctioned to car dealers who fix them up and sell them). Rebuilts should be cheaper.

Transmission - automatic or manual. Manuals are cheaper.

Check price ranges for that model online before you go check out cars. Once there drive around and see what it’s actually like.

How much is your budget op
I don’t buy anything with more than 40;000 miles on the clock
Well maybe slightly more if it’s a good, reasonably pric d Toyota as I drive them for years.
Also Toyota aygo is their small range, but maybe no good for a family, a Yaris might also be a squash..so maybe an auris. My husband had a 12 year old auris....still in great condition
80;000 on clock and work about £2;500
Just sailed through mot

Also there are old style corollas...that’s the one after my old corolla..so ones after 2001 as opposed to the new £24k jobbies
They should be good too.

Corsas and buy from the vauxhall main dealer so if you do have a problem they will sort it unlike local car dealers that blame it on manufacture problem and tell you to contact vauxhall

Budget dependent, you could consider a PCP scheme (Google for full details) had a Suzuki Celerio, 1 litre. Perfect little car, no bells or whistles but got me from a to b for 4 Years and I paid no deposit, £122 a month.

I've just upgraded to a bigger car as children are very tall, on the PCP scheme but now pay £150.

Obviously this isn't for everyone but after years of paying out for 2nd hand cars to be repaired I had had enough.