Buy a reliable and affordable first car
Here's five suggestions for motors that will make a great first car.
We've taken make, model, engine size and cost into consideration.
All of these cars are well priced with engine sizes between 1.0 – 1.2 litres.
Prices are based on the average at time of writing.
- Ford Fiesta 1.2 litre 2008 €3,500.
- Volkswagen Polo 1.2 litre 2008 €4,000.
- Toyota Yaris 1.0 litre 2008 €3,500.
- Kia Picanto 1.1 litre 2008 €2,000.
- Nissan Micra 1.2 litre 2008 €2,500.
Have a good think about whether you should go with a dealer or private seller
One of the biggest choices you’ll make is whether you buy your car from a dealer or from a private seller.
A July 2018 Carzone survey of 1,600 Irish motorists showed that:
- 39% purchased from an independent dealer (second-hand cars)
- 38% purchase from a franchised dealer (new & second-hand cars)
- 14% purchased from a private seller
If you choose a dealer:
Pros:
If you’re feeling nervous or a bit overwhelmed when buying your first car then going to a dealer is the right choice.
A dealership or garage will have all the knowledge about the car you’re looking for so if you don’t know about the car or understand car jargon these guys have it covered.
All cars sold in dealerships should have gone through a full service, so you can be confident the car won’t break down the minute you drive off.
Dealers usually offer a good warranty on their cars too e.g. 12 months.
Cons:
Buying from a dealer can be more expensive as you’ll pay a premium price for the vehicle as well as after-sale support.
Be prepared for dealers not being interested in your price haggling.
If you choose a private seller:
Pros:
You get to meet the owner and get a feel for how they drove the car and if they took care of it or not.
You’ll see if the car's clean overall and if there’s any small body work issues that may end up costing you.
When buying a second-hand car there’s usually more room for haggling as the seller may be looking for a quick sale.
Cons:
Car prices can vary dramatically as people add their own value to the car.
If you aren’t aware of the right price for the car you want, you risk being overcharged.
The car you’re interested in won’t have gone through a full service and repairs won't be done in advance. It’s a no-brainer to check it over yourself.
You won’t be entitled to any warranty after you’ve bought the car.
Know the difference between PCP and HP Car Finance
Buying your first car can be difficult enough before needing to pretend to understand all the car jargon that you’ll hear.
What is PCP? What is HP? And which one is best for you?
HP stands for Hire Purchase.
It's like a good old fashioned car loan.
HP allows you to buy a car without paying the full price in a lump sum!
You pay your deposit and then monthly re-payments based on the car's value.
PCP stands for Personal Contract Purchase.
PCP has become massively popular.
With PCP, you may a deposit of your choice over a contract period, usually about 3 years.
You then choose how long you want to keep the car, and the kilometers you expect to do and their finance team will work out the payment required.
Look out for all these things when buying your first car
We all know the first thing to do is the standard tyre kick but make sure to check the life of the tyre.
Check how much thread the tyre has and that all tyres are the same size.
Check for any major bodywork damage that may cost you if the car turns out to a write off.
Make sure to check the car has its full jack set and spare tyre so you’re not left stranded if you get a flat tyre.
Check the car’s engine and fluid levels. This is important as low oil or braking fluid levels could be a sign that the car hasn’t been looked after by the owner in the past.
See if the owner has all the documents for the car and are in the correct name. You won’t be able to register it as your own without these.
Find out if the car has passed its NCT.
Remember, use any minor issues with the car as a haggling tool to help you to save money.
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