How much for a second hand car?

[lynbrown]

My daughter goes back to work soon after maternity leave and the family car is used daily by her husband. If I offered to buy her a car for going to work, what would that roughly cost? She could afford to run it herself, just not sure how much I should offer.

[ladybirder]

Are you thinking hundreds here or a couple of grand or more?

[tonyav]

lyn, thats a bit like asking how deep is an hole, depends on how much you want to pay for a car.

[lynbrown]

Sorry, shows what I know about cars. We dont have a car ourselves, we dont drive. I could easily go up to 5K.

[ladybirder]

This is very subjective but if she works fairly locally then I don't think you need to spend that much. £2000 should get you a reliable small car nowadays.

[tonyav]

Lyn, for 5k you would be able to get a very good car, but it depends on what you want out of the car ie small city type car, people carrier, family saloon, sporty type car etc.

[lynbrown]

Thanks for that. It would just be a run around for town.

[ladybirder]

Whatever you decide Lyn you will get someone who knows about cars to go with you won't you - you would be a salesman's dream on your own:-;

[tonyav]

Then you have a very wide choice, lyn.

[Graham-W]

Something to bear in mind when calculating your spend.
If your daughter has no no-claims bonus, the insurance could be very expensive. You may want to buy a car in the £3000 area and put aside £2000 towards the insurance. Get an insurance quote before you commit yourself.

[tonyav]

lyn, as ladybirder says be careful out there, there are a lot of sharks about.

[MartinBev58]

Hi Lyn

I was asked by an elderly lady if an automatic Honda Jazz would be suitable for her. I have a Honda Jazz but a slightly different model.
I went with her to look at it and found she had had asked the salesman the same question.
ladybirder has said if she went on her own she would be a salesman's dream.
Yes I think some salesmen do try to get as much money as possible and will sell unsuitable cars.
When we spoke after the car salesman said they do get blamed a lot for things outside their control.
He said the daftest complaint he had was the mother of the customer needed a wheelchair a year and after the sale and he had not taken that into account.
He had met the mother and he said there was no reason to think this would happen at the time of the sale.
All I could really say was the car looked OK and pointed out it had air conditioning instead of climate control and it did not have a sun roof but even knowing her I can not say if the car will be suitable in say 10 years time.

Martin

[lynbrown]

Would it be sensible to go an extra bit to buy a new car, allowing for cover should it break down?

[shooty]

Can you adopt me PLEASE lynbrown ? : )

[gsr600]

new cars are OK but you loose a lot once you drive it off the forecourt, maybe go for something a year old or more with low mileage - but do your homework first by visiting some forums on the type of car she has in mind & look for user gripes etc & if it matters *real fuel consumption figures* NOT manufacturer claims rubbish.
good luck.

[TWR]

What ever car you choose to purchase, make sure the car has service history that's a book that should come with the car, make sure there's the code for the radio, a proper spare & legal, depending on the milage has the cam belt been changed, has the car ever been used for towing, if it has there is every chance that the clutch may need changing, if you ask someone with mechanical knowledge to go with you, you will not go wrong, if you decide otherwise you may pay the price, do not bye when it's raining as this can hide bumps / dents, barter for every thing & barter hard you have the money & the salesman wants it the difference, you can look else where, lastly do not GO FOR THE EXTRA WARRANTEE, they are a waste of money I can assure you.

[ladybirder]

If I was you lyn I would go to a main dealer of your chosen badge. You pay a bit more but if you know b all about cars then I think you are on safer ground.
A one to two year old car would be my choice which should still be under warranty.
Have a look on autotrader and get some ideas.