Help! Need advice on cars

[Newsinglemum58]

Hi, newly single parent & really need to sort myself out with a car as I'm losing my mind without one tbh. But I'm not sure what to do for the best..... save up for a second hand one, save for a deposit and use finance or look at something else such a leasing.

I would like something like a 1.6 Ford Focus type thing as need a decent engine for longer journeys....

During my long marriage DH took all and any finance. I was on mortgage etc but I'm worried this has left me with no credit score, so I don't know if I will even be eligible for a car loan.... recently been turned down for a credit card and overdraft despite managing my single account well for this past year. I think this is because of my credit history ie: I don't have one.

Feeling really fed up and trapped, particularly because of lockdown and being a single parent so would appreciate any advice....

Lots of people will say buy an old banger and that they've had a cheap car for years and it been fine but I always found if I had a car like this it cost me a fortune to keep on the road. I have a 4 year old car now and it was a big expense at the beginning but running costs are cheap.
Some makes of car are cheaper than others because they are less popular. Honda Jazz driven mainly by ladies of a certain age and good income so well maintained but low mileage. I had a second hand one for years and only changed because I was having another baby. The boot is fine unless you need a double pushchair in it. I would look for a honda jazz if I were you as you should be able to get a good one cheaply.
Leasing or PCP is fine but you are paying for the service of having a car to drive and will not end up with one at the end of the contract.
You pay one way or another its just choosing how to pay.

A lot depends on your budget. New cars lose around 50% of their value in the first 3 years, so buying new is only for those with money to burn. The last 3 main cars , I've bought have been bought at about 3.5 years old and have been pretty reliable. I've kept the last 2 for 8 years each. The current one I've had for 6 years so far and I'm planning to keep it for 4 or 5 years more. Assuming you can afford a used car of that sort of age, it's a good strategy.

It's also possible to buy an older car that looks good, at a price point where you can afford to suck up the loss if it's a turkey and you have to change it quickly.

The middle strategy is to buy a car that you can afford, with some to spare to deal with unexpected problems.

When buying a car, make sure it has a full service history, with the service book stamped every year, or maybe receipts on an older car. This gives you some confidence that it has been looked after. Unless you are going the old banger route and HPI check to be sure it hasn't been in a major crash, there's no finance on it, etc. is a good idea. A lot of dealer cars will have had checks done, but make sure they come with a guarantee, if you are relying on those checks.

The Ford Focus is a good option, they aren't too unreliable, parts are easy to get and they aren't too expensive. Look at Honda Civics and Toyota Corollas for better reliability.

The Ford Focus is a good option, they aren't too unreliable, parts are easy to get and they aren't too expensive. Look at Honda Civics and Toyota Corollas for better reliability.

Absolutely this. Toyota Auris is a good option also.

@Elai1978 thank you! I quite like the look of the Toyota Auris and am looking for a 1.6 ideally. Are they quite reliable then?

My Toyota rav was 13 when I sold it on and it’s still going so now around 15. It was fantastically reliable but I did have it serviced every year. Currently drive a Skoda Citigo as moved to a small city car. That’s fantastic as well and Skodas have a good reputation. Also had a focus estate years ago - cheap to run and service. Currently looking at new cars as we drive to Spain most years so need bigger. Toyota currently top of the list based on previous experience.

I quite like the look of the Toyota Auris and am looking for a 1.6 ideally. Are they quite reliable then?

Nothing is 100% reliable of course but Lexus/Toyota top just about every reliability survey/index out there. Hard to look past Toyota if reliability is high up your list.

Thanks 😊

Good advice would be to buy a 3 or 4 year old car from an approved used garage.

But sometimes its a luck if the draw. I bought a 2 year old VW polo with low mileage from VW approved used, had multiple minor issues (air con, spark plug, rattling noise) and 1 bad issue (pedal getting stuck); within 1 year.

Bought my next car, 4 year old BMW, with 50k miles on it, from a car dealership that I happened to pass on my way to work; run by someone who looks like a movie villian.

Guess what, 6 years later and not had a single issue or MOT fail. (Less change punctured tyre, and replace 2 blown bulbs)

@BalancedIndividual thanks for your reply. Yes I agree that luck definitely comes into it! On the plus side I'm doing my research and trying not to rush into anything.

We have an 11 year old bmw 1 series that’s never had an issue.
Before that we had a Ford Focus (still own it as a ‘project’ —piece of scrap— for my husband) and it spat out 6 turbos across 3 years.

I’m looking for a bigger car atm such as Audi q3/5, depends how big you want to go or if you want a hatchback - I’d say Audi A3 or VW Golf - my golf never caused me any issues and it’s currently 8 years old.

Oh and avoid 1.6 engines, better with a 1.4 petrol or go up to a 2 litre.
The 1.6 seem to continually have issues. (Best friends a mechanic and says he wouldn’t buy one if it was the last car on earth )

@Pepperlypue oh thank you - very helpful! I was looking at 1.6s but maybe not such a good idea then....

Honestly if the focus size is what you want go for a VW golf 1.4. Cheap to run, sooo nice to drive and spacious too!
Mine is a mk7 so 2013 shape and I love it.
My husband collects cars so I’ve driven far too many tbh but it does help when I’m being picky.

That's @Pepperlypue that's really helpful. Are diesels a no no these days/best avoided?

I second the VW Golf! Love mine.

@Newsinglemum58 depends on how much travelling you’ll do, I prefer petrol myself as I don’t do many miles and I prefer the engines in them too.

@Pepperlypue

Oh and avoid 1.6 engines, better with a 1.4 petrol or go up to a 2 litre. The 1.6 seem to continually have issues. (Best friends a mechanic and says he wouldn’t buy one if it was the last car on earth )

Ford Focus 1.6 Diesel avoid yes its a Peugeot/Citroen designed engine and loves to eat turbos.

The 1.6 Petrol engine in the Focus is a Yamaha designed engine and has been around for a while and pretty much bullet proof, very reliable engine if looked after.

To the OP.

Like all cars just make sure servicing has been done but petrol, manual gearbox Ford/Mazda/Honda/Toyota all good and you wont go far wrong.

Stay away from French cars and anything German VW, BMW,AUDI, Mercedes unless your buying new. Outside of warranty if things go wrong ( and they will ) you will need to have very deep pockets to pay for repairs.