Buying a car question from newbie

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Mon 23 Apr 2012 22:30
Buying a car question from newbie - mrducga

Hi guys,

I'm taking my practical test on 29/5/2012 but really want to use a car for a trip during the Diamond Jubilee holidays (starting from 2/6/2012).

I'm quite confident that I'll pass the test. Let's say that's the case, will it be better to:

1. Find the car I want from a dealer, put down some desosit to secure the car and pay when I have the license so that I can drive the car away myself (do dealers accept this by the way, totally newbie it's me)

2. Find the car I want, buy it before 29/5/2012 with help from a friend who can drive it home for me. Keep it there until I get the license.

3. Buy a car when I have the license.

Also a question regarding insurance: once I have purchased the insurance online, am I allowed to drive straightaway or I'll have to wait until they send me the cover note?

Many thanks for your help in advance.

David

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Mon 23 Apr 2012 22:38
Buying a car question from newbie - daveyjp
Wait until you pass, it makes buying insurance a lot easier.

Once insurance is confirmed you can drive straight away. Most companies e-mail docs now.
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Mon 23 Apr 2012 23:18
Buying a car question from newbie - Leif
Wait until you pass, it makes buying insurance a lot easier. Once insurance is confirmed you can drive straight away. Most companies e-mail docs now.

What he said. :) By the way, you cannot be sure you will pass, but I wish you luck.

Sometimes the insurance document can simply be downloaded as a PDF and then printed.

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Tue 24 Apr 2012 09:35
Buying a car question from newbie - mrducga

Thanks guys for your answers. Only problem is the gap between the day I take my test and when the holidays start is only 4 days.

Might be too short for a car buying decision? I just dont want to rush into buying a car just because i need it straightaway. But at the same time there won't be another long holiday until Chrismas :(.

What do you guys think about the option of researching the car in advance, put down the deposit to reserve the car and buy it when I pass the test (fingers crossed!)

David

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Tue 24 Apr 2012 10:44
Buying a car question from newbie - Man without a plan

Thanks guys for your answers. Only problem is the gap between the day I take my test and when the holidays start is only 4 days.

Might be too short for a car buying decision? I just dont want to rush into buying a car just because i need it straightaway. But at the same time there won't be another long holiday until Chrismas :(.

What do you guys think about the option of researching the car in advance, put down the deposit to reserve the car and buy it when I pass the test (fingers crossed!)

David

If you put down a deposit and then fail your test, what then? Most dealers would not want to give you your deposit back.... the deposit is basically their go-ahead to tax the car, get it all cleaned up and checked.... they won't want to do that if there is a chance you will turn around and say "actually I failed my test, can I have my money back please"

How / where do you intend buying the car? If it will be a private purchase then you could drive it away the same day you pay.... if its from a garage / dealer then they will usually need a few days to turn it around.

I recently puchased an Ibiza, paid the deposit Friday and picked it up on Sunday... so it is do-able.

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Tue 24 Apr 2012 13:56
Buying a car question from newbie - Chris M

I would consider buying beforehand. You don't say what your budget is, but I assume you are talking secondhand. Tying yourself down to buying a good used car in four days is asking for trouble, especially if your budget is a couple of grand or less. You can insure a car as a provisional licence holder and get some extra practice in. Check with insurers how much the premium will rise once you have passed though to avoid nasty shocks.

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Tue 24 Apr 2012 14:22
Buying a car question from newbie - mrducga

My budget for the car is around £3000-£4000, depending on condition. How much do dealers normally ask for deposit? I'm happy to take the risk if deposit is say £100. That makes me even more determined to pass the test :D.

Is there any legal issue if I own a car and don't have a proper license. E.g I buy the car, leave it on public road where I have parking permit and don't drive it, is it illegal?

I have a friend who knows quite a bit about cars so I might go down the private seller route to save money/get the car faster.

Edited by mrducga on 24/04/2012 at 14:23

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Tue 24 Apr 2012 14:54
Buying a car question from newbie - unthrottled

Please do not take this the wrong way (there are a few sensitive souls around at the moment!).

However, do you really want to spend £3-4K on a first car? There's an old saying that when you pass your test is when you start learning to drive. It's perhaps better to undertake the learning curve in a cheap car, rather than one in which you have invested all your savings. Besides, the first year of insurance is very expensive. You might quickly get bored of a car that is affordable to insure in your first year, then have to start saving up all over again in 12 months' time.

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Tue 24 Apr 2012 18:21
Buying a car question from newbie - mrducga

Thanks for the reply. I got quite a bit of experience with driving (3-4 years) but not in the UK and I got quite intese training with my driving instructor so I think (+hope) I will not be hitting someone on the road. I'm keen to keep the car for 2-3 years at least before buying another one. Also it's a family car so I'd like to spend a bit more for a quality car.

I'm quite keen on the Mercedes A class (probably A140 or A160), good for family use you think?

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Tue 24 Apr 2012 18:34
Buying a car question from newbie - unthrottled

Ah, now I see why you're confident of a pass!

I wasn't thinking so much of crashes. I just wince when I think of the mangled gear changes and clumsy clutch work that happened from time to time when I got flustered ("oops, that's reverse, not 4th etc").

I believe the A class had some build quality problems around the turn of the century, but the problems have probably long since been ironed out. There are quite a few Benz fans on here who'll know about the A class.

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Tue 24 Apr 2012 18:35
Buying a car question from newbie - Bobbin Threadbare

Mazda 6. Just check it out. You won't be disappointed. You'll get a 2007 plate for your £4k and the insurance isn't bad at all.

The Merc A-class will depend on how old - Merc had some quality issues which they're just beginning to iron out....I'd like to say a friend of mine runs one, but mostly it sits in a garage waiting to be repaired.

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Tue 24 Apr 2012 18:47
Buying a car question from newbie - mrducga

For around £3000 - £4000 I can probably get one (A class) dated 2004 - 2005 (information on autotrader).

A friend of mine has been driving an A class for around 4 years and he recommended me as it's fuel saving and not so expensive to repair (his information).

Another advantage is the insurance. Since I'm a total newbie as far as UK driving experience is concerned, my insurance is OMG (tried getting a quote for a BMW X3 which I used to drive the other day and the cheapest quote was £3,500 pa +_+). I was able to get quote around £1.5k mark for an A class.

Haven't tried one for Mazda 6 though (never thought about it)

Other options include Ford Focus (which quite a few friends recommended to me too) and Honda Civic. What do you think about these 2?

I'm a BMW fan all the way but due to insurance issue I might have to hold back on those bad boys for few years until money is no issue :D.

Just wanna say thanks to all those who have replied you are extremely kind to a beginner like me. Really appreciate it.

David

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Tue 24 Apr 2012 19:24
Buying a car question from newbie - Bobbin Threadbare

Ford Focus is another good thought. I ran one and I loved it. It was a proper workhorse for me. Cheap as chips too.

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Tue 24 Apr 2012 18:51
Buying a car question from newbie - Leif

Thanks for the reply. I got quite a bit of experience with driving (3-4 years) but not in the UK and I got quite intese training with my driving instructor so I think (+hope) I will not be hitting someone on the road. I'm keen to keep the car for 2-3 years at least before buying another one. Also it's a family car so I'd like to spend a bit more for a quality car.

I'm quite keen on the Mercedes A class (probably A140 or A160), good for family use you think?

I am probably telling you nothing new, but check out the JD Power reviews, they give you some insights but don't take them too literally. My last car came bottom, but I Ioved it. Also some magazines will do comparative reviews, and tell you their choices in each class.

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Wed 25 Apr 2012 15:07
Buying a car question from newbie - concrete

Take a look at a Skoda Octavia. You will get a decent on for £4k. Full family size interior and a boot with an echo!! A million taxi drivers can't all be wrong. Concrete

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Wed 25 Apr 2012 16:48
Buying a car question from newbie - TeeCee

Seconded, especially as an oil-burner.

Cheap, very reliable and absolutely no street cred at all, which keeps insurance premiums down.

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Wed 25 Apr 2012 13:17
Buying a car question from newbie - Chris M

"Is there any legal issue if I own a car and don't have a proper license. E.g I buy the car, leave it on public road where I have parking permit and don't drive it, is it illegal?"

You can own a car on a provisional license, but it must be insured unless it is SORNed.

Another thought. Do you have a partner or relative with a few years driving experience you can add as a named driver? This will reduce the premium.

Edited by Chris M on 25/04/2012 at 13:21

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Wed 25 Apr 2012 14:17
Buying a car question from newbie - skidpan

"Is there any legal issue if I own a car and don't have a proper license. E.g I buy the car, leave it on public road where I have parking permit and don't drive it, is it illegal?"

You can own a car on a provisional license, but it must be insured unless it is SORNed.

Another thought. Do you have a partner or relative with a few years driving experience you can add as a named driver? This will reduce the premium.

If you leave a car on the public highway regardless of your licence it must be taxed and insured (and MOT'd if 3 years or older). SORNing a car and parking it on the highway is illegal, it will get crushed and quite rightly so.

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Wed 25 Apr 2012 15:56
Buying a car question from newbie - Leif
Another thought. Do you have a partner or relative with a few years driving experience you can add as a named driver? This will reduce the premium.

Isn't that true only if the OP drives the car only occasionally? If he drives it almost all the time, then it is as per one driver. I might be mistaken having never done this.

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Wed 25 Apr 2012 15:59
Buying a car question from newbie - unthrottled

Nope. I put my mother on my policy as a named driver-ie I'm still the main driver. Premium came down-albeit by a modest amount.

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Thu 26 Apr 2012 13:55
Buying a car question from newbie - mrducga

This is a very nice idea. Does it apply to cousins? As my wife's aunt is a very careful driver.

Another update: I'm taking the test on Monday (someone cancelled their test and I jumped in) so plenty of time for choosing a car (yay!)

I'm leaning towards Ford Focus at the moment. Is it good to go for the 2006+ models with new form?

Also what's reasonabe mileage? Should I buy less than 50k?

Thanks guys

David

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Thu 26 Apr 2012 22:32
Buying a car question from newbie - Chris M

Suggest you run some quotes on the aggregator sites to see what difference aunty will make.

Good luck with the test - please let us know.

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