Buying A Small Car

[naomi24]

I’m trying to help a friend following her divorce. Can anyone recommend a small inexpensive car, reliable and economical to run – and one that may be purchased new on interest-free credit?

[sunny-dave]

I agree entirely - and a three year warranty too if the car isn't too elderly.

[Maydup]

If she has nothing, she will need to keep her monthly outgoings as low as possible. Please reconsider a second hand car. A deposit will be needed either way, but the monthly payments on say a £3,000 car will be way lower than those on a brand new car.

Have a look on auto trader using her postcode, max age 5 years, and max price say £3,000 and see what it brings up.

[naomi24]

Thanks so much for all your advice. It’s true she can get a cheaper car second-hand, but she has no deposit, and the idea behind buying new is to get her mobile again and to allow her a bit of breathing space whilst she sorts her life out. She’s highly educated, she has a good job, and no children, but she’s been very naïve throughout this divorce (a result of her cultural upbringing) and has lost everything that should have been due to her – well and truly ‘stitched-up’ you might say. She hasn’t even got the proceeds from her share of the property – nor from the sale of her car. All she’s been left with are her clothes and personal possessions. She’s renting a flat, but she does need a car, and affordable repayments on interest-free credit, a long warranty so no repair bills, and no MOT costs for a few years would at least ensure that the car is something she won’t have to worry about.

[mjwman]

After reading all those replies I can oly add:
DACIA SANDERO Ambience £6.5k 3 years warranty.
Huge compared to other cheapies but this one is just low cost NOT CHEAP.
Its a product of Renault/Nissan and sold and serviced by Renault dealers.
My wife has had hers since March and it is wonderful. Brilliant on speed humps, just soaks them up!
Plenty of options for buying or leasing, and whats more, it is the lowest depreciating car too!

[Maydup]

This might be useful....

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/c/news/how-to-finance-a-new-car/0011531/

[naomi24]

Thanks all. We'll have a think.

[mjwman]

Dacia Sandero...end of!

[=rizla=]

All new cars *should* be reliable, personel contract purchase *may* be the way forward for her, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_contract_purchase basically you pay a deposit (sometimes £0) then monthly payments for a fixed time 2-4 years then afterwards your car has a *bubble* payment which is what you still owe and also what they garentee your car is worth so you either refinance/save the money and keep the car, px and get another new car on pcp or walk away with maybe a few £ in your pocket.

http://www.broadspeed.com/ is a good website for working out what most dealers will drop to for cars.

[gingejbee]

mjw seems to like his Dacia....others, more discerning...like Which?, aren't as easily impressed. The cheapo ones have little in the way of equipment, the cabins are "dowdy and cheap" and they don't lose much because they don't cost much.

[mjwman]

There speakls one who does not have experience. I drive a Skoda Octavia 2.0TDi Elegance and it is superb. I would not want to drive the Sandero over the same distances but for local trips it is fine. It is quiet, most comfortable but a bit short on power for me for longer trips.
My Wife had a Daewoo Matiz for 10 years and other than bein a little tinny it was reliable and comfortable for local use.
So mock ye not people it did the job well.
However, in comparison the Sandero is a "real car" more solid and huge boot, it has plenty of kit including bluetooth phone connection to the radio.

Agreed judged against the Fiesta etc the Dacia falls a little short, but on its own merits and judged agaist others in its price range (is there anything?) it is WAY ahead.

We are delighted with it and my wife is buying it out of her pension. She like the person in question here is the ideal customer.
Which will always find fault even with best buys but check out What Car. The Sandero is there car of the year 2014 under £12k.

Horses for courses and this one is a very strong horse.

In the under £7000 class there is only Dacia and Peroda listed.
You have to spend a LOT more to get approaching the same space and kit. On that basis it is a winner.

So you see I speak with experience and though I would not choose one myself for reasons already stated, I would certainly consider the bigger Duster for my needs.