My daughter passed her driving test this time last year and she got a Renault Clio (because it is 'cheap' insurance ermmm £1300!!!) Anyway it was 54 plate and has been a disaster, loads of things going wrong with it so I took the plunge and got it scrapped just before Christmas after the clutch went.

Anyway this weekend I've been looking around (in my Fl2 of course) for a suitable replacement. She likes the look of a Corsa so no garage in Batley, Dewsbury, Cleckheaton et al has, it appears, remained untouched.

Of course once bitten, twice shy, and I am now weary about any car I see especially as I'm no mechanic. Didn't help it was p***ing it down all weekend and our budget is £1,000 but my word, what a load of tat there is! Went to look at one today 56 plate, 56k miles £1250. It looked immaculate on the outside and then we opened door. Jeez, what a smell. No exaggeration but it looked like it had been submersed in a pond for 2 months - it was mouldy all over!!!!!. Do these garages think people will buy such cars. And the 'service history' (ok so it wasn't described as full) seemed to stop in 2009.

Basically this level of the market is a mind field. I'm sure Arther Daly was looking down at me lol

Armed with a criteria of 8 years old or less, under 60k, full service history and £1250 i shall continue my search for her.

Go for higher mileage and slightly older but with full service history and something that has been looked after. This was discussed in a recent topic I started. Now she has 1 year NCB perhaps insurance will be somewhat more reasonable for her. A Mk1 Ford Focus 1.6 that has been well serviced is a great used buy (if she even likes the Focus of course). There is also a 1.4 but its a bit sluggish apparently. Shed loads out there anyway. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

I know someone who was in a similar position a few years back, aged 18. He found someone selling an Audi S3 so stuck the reg into an insurance web site and it came out cheaper than the usual Clio, fiesta bunch.
Moral of the story? I guess expand your search, you never know

Cheers for the comments.

That FSH does seem to be rather illusive

In that area there will, of course, be quite a few flood-damaged cars around at the moment, and some people will try to dry them out and sell them on rather than make an insurance claim and lose their NCD. Just something else to look out for!

Just a thought but I was driving through a large town recently an noted how many garages had cars for sale and I suddenly wondered what proportion of cars are actually on the road at any one time and what are on used car lots waiting to be sold. Any ideas anyone? 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Shop about for the insurance as well.
My 19 year old insures a Micra K12 1200 for £650 fully comp with no NCD. Did'nt believe it when he got the quote as we were expecting double.
Micra has been reliable to except a couple of rear wheel bearings.

Last edited by andy3681 on 7th Jan 2016 10:07 am. Edited 1 time in total

I would look at a Skoda fabia or the Vw polo 1.4 Tdi Pd as its nippy and very reliable and economical does over 70 mpg and insurance is cheap.
Avoid all fords as there rusty especially the focus or ford Ka around the 2004 - 2008 year period as the corrosion protection must have been applied under water.

When looking for a used car I always lift the carpets to see if there is any sign of sand, mould or other signs of being submerged.

A lot of Corsas have problems with water getting in around the clutch or brake servo mounting points on the bulkhead - the foam rubber seals perish over time and they are situated just where water wants to run down - you see quite a lot of them with totally misted up screens and sodden carpets/sound felt - something to look out for if someone is looking at a Corsa - always lift up any rubber mats and have a feel! Wipers pack up on them too as the wiper linkages seem inadequately lubricated and protected.
My old 2004 1.3 TD fell victim to both of these problems - on the other hand it started every morning for the 5 years I had it and only needed a set of heater coils after at 8 years - parts are pretty cheap and there's a lot of info available on forums etc (Obviouly not as good as on here.......)

I had one of the old style 1.5TDi Novas many years ago - very basic but a lot of engine pulling not a lot of weight made for some fun - was nicknamed the vomit comet due to an unfortunate incident with a passenger who'd had a few too many and a series of roundabouts- god knows what the car behind thought was hitting his windscreen.............  FL No 1 - 2012 (MY2011) XS manual Firenze Red - Gone
FL No 2 - 2012 (MY2012) XS manual Barolo Black - SWMBO wanted one too!
FL No 3 -2013 XS SD4 Auto Santorini Black
Series III SWB Hardtop - long gone
110 CSW V8 - long gone
Discovery 1 200Tdi - long gone

Cheers for everyones advice. Off to look at a 55 plate Corsa Breeze tomorrow which has 68k miles and full service history.

Will definately chekc for wet patches. By the way should I assume that at 68k and with a FSH the timing belt/chain ? will have be done. ANd how can you tell?


And by the way Bubbles - bubbles is my favourite song by my favourite group, James

Depends if it's a proper "to manufacturers schedule" service history or just a pile of receipts/stamps in books. TBH half the time Vauxhall themselves don't seem to know if the engine has a belt or a chain and and what mileage it should be changed so unless the seller can produce a receipt for the work who knows! Could be due a change at anything from 40K to 80K depending on the engine fitted.

It doesn't help that VX kept changing their handbook info re a change of belt - generally safest to assume it hasn't been done and budget/negotiate accordingly in absence of proof. I assume it's a 1.2 or 1.4 petrol engine which I think is based an a Suziki unit (1.3 TD was a Fiat engine) and has a timing chain - but I could be wrong! FL No 1 - 2012 (MY2011) XS manual Firenze Red - Gone
FL No 2 - 2012 (MY2012) XS manual Barolo Black - SWMBO wanted one too!
FL No 3 -2013 XS SD4 Auto Santorini Black
Series III SWB Hardtop - long gone
110 CSW V8 - long gone
Discovery 1 200Tdi - long gone

I have just been in the same boat looking for a car for my sister. She wasn't too fussy on what car so she left me to search the net and 2nd hand car mags etc.. Insurance groups was a major factor when i was looking at what to go for. Once i have singled a few make/models out i could then search high an low to find a fairly decent, well looked after low mileage example. As you have found there is a lot of cr@p out there. Sellers waiting your time telling you its "mint" and misleading pictures etc.

I found the Parkers website very useful as you can search for cars by insurance group. Its also quite interesting seeing a jump in insurance groups for the same make/model of car with the same engine but just a different trim level.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/insurance/ca...oups/?ig=1

I searched the usual, eBay, Autotrader, Gumtree, Preloved etc etc

We settled on a average mileage, full history Toyota Aygo+. Think its group 3. Not something i would drive but its cheep to run, they are reliable and easy to work on (no doubt it will come back to me for regular jobs/repairs)

There are plenty out there, and be prepared to travel a little for the right car. We are in Manchester and got the Aygo from Burnley, not a million miles away but didn't just look locally.

Good luck

def expand your geographical search area to get the right car...

I'm in Newcastle and my last 3 have come from Birmingham, Leeds and London respectively. It's worth your while in the long run (to do a long run) if you know what I mean! (laughs at own crap joke)

Well that was the quickest I have ever (legally) bought a car and driven off in it (well the daughter did). 43 minutes.

Local dealer selling a 55 plate Corsa, 68k, full main dealer service history. Mint condition except a little scuff to the front underneath the bumper (a little wet and dry and a spray will soon sort that out). And a couple of scuffs on the alloys. £1295. 12 month MOT with no advisory as well. Still had the previous MOT which had several fails on front brakes and rear brake pipes. Had taken a torch with me (well prepared me) and when I looked underneath I notice they had all been replaced. New belt as well.

she's well pleased. And so am I she's only be home once in a week now lol

Cheers for everyones help and advice.

The boy racer in me wants to pimp it up for her. Black out windows, a bit of chrome. Ermm maybe not.

Well done Dad, I have 3 kids all over 30 and they still ring me up or visit for car maintenance/buying advice (one lives in Botswana!). It's called good parenting but you have to do it as they will be the ones choosing your nursing home.  3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE