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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU expensive first car?

58 replies

sanbeiji · 17/01/2022 21:21

Just passed my driving test at a ripe older age :)
I know that newly passed drivers have a higher rate of accidents + insurance. Was planning to carefully research, look at various cars and buy an old banger (under £3K).

Problem is I work full time so can only see cars on weekends - by which time the cars I'm interested in have gone! I'm also the only driver so end up taking public transport which takes ages. Dealers which are 20-30 mins away by car end up taking an hour by public transport meaning I can't go to many and do a thorough inspection of each car. Taxis are obviously expensive.

I have found a couple of decent cars between 6-7K. AIBU to bite the bullet and buy one?

Just to note my reservations aren't about cost. It's just that everyone has advised me to not buy an expensive first car. I do however need one within the next couple of months as we return to the office.

OP posts:
Ilikewinter · 17/01/2022 21:26

If you can afford it I would buy the more expensive car, id be concerned that buying the cheaper car will need replacing in a couple of years anyway.

MaizeAmaze · 17/01/2022 21:28

I wouldnt say a 6k car is an expensive one. Yes, it is a lot of money, but you could easily spend a lot more.
Id check the insurance group too. Make sure it's not too high.

2bazookas · 17/01/2022 21:30

I'd recommend an ex=Motability car. Some dealers specialise in them.

These are cars leased to disabled drivers; the cars are regularly fully serviced (by the scheme) during the lease and sold to the generasl public at the end of three years. Some of the first owners do very low milage, are cautious drivers, so at age 3, the car has had little wear and tear. We've had two , great value.

MaybeHeIsMyCat · 17/01/2022 21:31

Second hand cars are £££ at the minute
If it helps, I have a VW polo which has been great, cheap on fuel and reliable

MintyGreenDream · 17/01/2022 21:33

I passed in June at age 41 and my first car is a 10k fiesta I bloody love it

anniegun · 17/01/2022 21:37

Second hand car prices are really high at the moment so your budget will have to reflect that. Actually the price you pay is probably not going to push your insurance costs up much (its much more about the risk to others). A newer, small car will be less costly all round than many older cars

Original poster
sanbeiji · 17/01/2022 21:45

@anniegun

Second hand car prices are really high at the moment so your budget will have to reflect that. Actually the price you pay is probably not going to push your insurance costs up much (its much more about the risk to others). A newer, small car will be less costly all round than many older cars
They are indeed - I looked at cars before my first test mid last year (passed on my second), surprised to see how much they've shot up. A lot of vehicles in my original budget are now 0.5-1K more. 5K would have been my top price (for something exceptional) but it's hard to find even that.

The car is a Japanese make, 1.3L, about 50 miles per gallon. Insurance is about £200 more p.a. compared to a 1.0L car of the same make. But it's of course less fuel efficient (as the 1.0L get over 60 mpg, similar to other 1.0L).

OP posts:
Original poster
sanbeiji · 17/01/2022 21:46

Also thanks to everyone -; may not reply to all but have read all replies and am very grateful!

Car buying is such a minefield..

OP posts:
NotMeekNotObedient · 17/01/2022 21:48

I'd go for the 6-7k car. Prices for second-hand cars has rocketed in lockdown. You'll get a newer car which will likely need less work.

Not a huge amount in the grand scheme of things. As long as you can afford it of course.

Though all cars going very quickly at the moment so may not solve your problem. If it's not sold, there is probably a reason why!

WindyState · 17/01/2022 21:49

Some dealers will let you reserve a car for a time with a smallish (and usually refundable) deposit, probably worth doing if you are finding the demand is such that you are being beaten to the punch.

There are online dealers as well you can try who will deliver to your home.

As others have said, 2nd hand car prices are crazy at the moment so 3k is not going to get you very much at all.

gobbledygoook · 17/01/2022 21:54

Go for what you want! I spent £17k on my first car (nifty little second hand BMW) and I absolutely loved it. Everyone told me not to do it, I'll dent it / damage it - I didn't! It drove well, had no issues and was lovely. Felt fancy too. No need imo to resign yourself to a banger for a first car, it's not like you're 17 and a liability! 😬

Original poster
sanbeiji · 17/01/2022 21:54

@MintyGreenDream

I passed in June at age 41 and my first car is a 10k fiesta I bloody love it
Congratulations on passing! It does feel different as an adult. Especially since your first car is likely to be the family car Wink . Enjoy your freedom
OP posts:
Hankunamatata · 17/01/2022 21:55

I brought my first little car for 6k after passing my test. It was brilliant. Totally reliable as was nearly new and not too pricey as small engine

Original poster
sanbeiji · 17/01/2022 22:00

@NotMeekNotObedient

I'd go for the 6-7k car. Prices for second-hand cars has rocketed in lockdown. You'll get a newer car which will likely need less work.

Not a huge amount in the grand scheme of things. As long as you can afford it of course.

Though all cars going very quickly at the moment so may not solve your problem. If it's not sold, there is probably a reason why!

Yes I'm also worried about the last bit : if a car's still there.. what could be wrong?

I've avoided AutoTrader ads which don't show the vehicle reg (as I can't do an MOT check) and I see a couple of cars like so still up. I don't know if anything's actually wrong, or other people are doing the same.

OP posts:
Original poster
sanbeiji · 17/01/2022 22:03

@WindyState

Some dealers will let you reserve a car for a time with a smallish (and usually refundable) deposit, probably worth doing if you are finding the demand is such that you are being beaten to the punch.

There are online dealers as well you can try who will deliver to your home.

As others have said, 2nd hand car prices are crazy at the moment so 3k is not going to get you very much at all.

Thanks for the tip, that's actually where I found said 6-7K cars! All the dealers near me either seem to have nearly new (8K at least) or have larger cars.

I'm glad to see so many people have said 2nd prices are crazy... I thought it was just me...

OP posts:
Wombat98 · 17/01/2022 22:09

Small cars have also gone up in cost as entry-level new ones have been discontinued. There are fewer cheap new cars now on sale.

negomi90 · 17/01/2022 22:16

Don't forget that even if you buy an old banger your insurance is still set to pay out for fixing a very expensive car that you crash into.
Age and price don't affect insurance costs as much as you'd think. A new not super fast car with lots of safety features will be cheaper to insure then a really cheap 2nd hand car as it will be viewed as easier to drive, less likely to break down (especially in a dangerous place) and harder to crash.

Original poster
sanbeiji · 17/01/2022 22:18

@Wombat98

Small cars have also gone up in cost as entry-level new ones have been discontinued. There are fewer cheap new cars now on sale.
Which ones our of interest? VW Golf and Fiat 500L yes, but I wouldn't have thought that a lot. There's the new Up! and Aygo, as well as new Clio.

As an aside : I often wonder who buys new small cars

OP posts:
eurochick · 17/01/2022 22:18

The issue will be the cost of the insurance if you are the only driver.

My husband passed in his 40s. We had a Mercedes SUV that I was already driving as the family car so that was his first car. The insurance wasn't prohibitive as he was added to my policy and wasn't a young boy racer. Most people get a banger as their first car because of the insurance. If you can afford something better, go for it.

Doggydarling · 17/01/2022 22:18

Go for the more expensive car, most first time drivers are young and impulsive which lends to scrapes, dents etc. You are an older driver and will be more careful. You'll also appreciate the comfort.

Lemoncurd · 17/01/2022 22:19

I wouldn't think so much about the cost, if affordable, but the insurance group. When our eldest was learning to drive we looked for the lowest insurance group cars. Bought nearly new though as we felt this would give more peace of mind about safety and fewer maintenance issues.

DrWhoNowww · 17/01/2022 22:38

Definitely go for the 6k car, as PP have said you’re not a 17 year old likely to play races and bang your car so you don’t need a super cheap banger.

Second hand car prices have gone through the roof in the last 12 months because of the chip shortage affecting new car production.

There also isn’t the availability of cheap entry level cars anymore - the increase in PCP and leasing means that people are financing more expensive cars - the difference in PCP price between an entry level Fiat 500 and fully loaded 500X isn’t that much for instance so customers go for the better specced car which holds its second hand value better.

The other issue is that PCP financing comes with a guaranteed future value of the car - regardless of market forces, so dealers a buy back PCP cars in part ex that already have a certain value assigned to them and have to sell them on at profit - again inflating the market.

TheLette · 17/01/2022 23:02

So we did exactly what you are thinking and got a £3k car when we passed our test (also passed a bit later in our 30s). VW polo but caused no end of trouble, and very unreliable. Must have spent loads on maintenance. It's now broken again so we are getting rid and replacing. I would get the more expensive car especially if you are reliant on it for work (fortunately ours is for weekend/leisure only so it's not too bad for us)

CharlotteRose90 · 17/01/2022 23:03

My first car was a fiat 500 that was second hand and I paid 4K for it: absolutely loved it and had not many issues with it. I have to say I had 2 accidents within my first 2 years of driving which neither were my they just happened. Car was fine though.

DixonD · 18/01/2022 00:02

My first (and still only) car was over £7k.

I don’t see the need to buy something cheap. You want something reliable.