First car...how much?!

[mjheathcote]

Well I've just bought my eldest her first car, well I say I, actually it's mostly her money through child trust fund/working.
After looking at around 10 FIAT 500's, and 6 Ford's KA's, it's a KA.
Typical 18 year old girl, the 500 'so cute', but at her budget, a load of worn out bangers!
Fortunately she saw the light, and a Ford KA was nearly 'as cute' ...phew.
But still, a ridiculous price for the age, but, a rare find, a genuine one owner and 12k miles, but 13 years old.
It is in remarkable condition, underneath I don't think it's been out in salty weather, and as a precaution, even with stamped up service history, its having a new cam belt/water pump and service, new 12 month ticket, in the deal, and a 6 month warranty wise policy, if that is actually worth anything.
£4k
Which I think is ridiculous, but appears to be the running price for these vehicles in good condition.
The dealer specialises is nothing else and sells them before they are advertised, as is this one.

 

[Gazcw]

The boys 2015 ds3 was £4200 2 years ago. Still worth that now. The price of these small cars is bonkers.

 

[Simon1963]

My daughter has just got a new car and asked me to sell her 12 plate Citroen C1. I thought it’s a £600 motor. It’s got a few bumps and scuffs but has fsh. Took it to WBAC and got just over 2 grand for it. There’s certainly a market for these run around motors.

 

[Scaf]

That looks like a nice little car.

I think all “ordinary” used cars have increased in value. My son has owned a VW Passat Estate for 6 years, put 60,000 miles on it and has just sold it for a grand less than he paid for it even though it needed a few little jobs doing. My daughter owned a 2016 Fiat 500 for two years and traded it in for what she paid for it two years previously.

 

[MarkMas]

Shocking - my first car (in 1979) cost me £100. Vauxhall Viva estate. My uncle, who was in the motor trade, gave it to my father for free; and my father sold it to me. Which tells you something about my father, I think.

 

[MarkMas]

I hadn't really grasped where we were with inflation until I tried to buy some new slippers:



Nope.

The ones I usually buy for £39.99 are now £59.99, which is also pretty bad.

 

[Alex72]

My first car was £200

Shocking - my first car (in 1979) cost me £100. Vauxhall Viva estate. My uncle, who was in the motor trade, gave it to my father for free; and my father sold it to me. Which tells you something about my father, I think.

My first car in 1990 cost me £200. Vauxhall Cavalier, green rusting monstrosity.

 

[allandwf]

Mini van £50 !

 

[lifes2short]

Mini clubman many moons ago, cant remember but couldn't of been much more than a packet of chewing gums

 

[Andyk]

Paid £2300 for my sons 2007 Mini One (he had £1200 and we gave him the rest) in December last year. Spent another £2300 on issues in the last six months so wouldn’t recommend. (Phil did warn me) Went in knowing the issues with the Prince engines when we bought it and these big issues you don’t always see. But one thing for sure it is now like Triggers broom and happy it is reliable for him. Son number two will be having something newer and more reliable when he is due his first car.

 

[Corranga]

Don't think it's that bad. You chose to look for a unicorn car, with such low miles and owners, to try to get the best one you could find , but I think we all know you don't need a 13k miles 12 year old car to ensure you get a good one (and indeed, you may find it causes you more issues because it's a 13k 12 year old car!)

Much like others on here, my first car was cheap and cheerful, a £350 Mini back in 1999, it had 54k on it and 11 months MOT and was 16 years old, however, my friends dad took the same approach as you did.
He bought my mate a G Reg mark 3 Fiesta 1.1 in a nice light blue colour.
Similar to your daughter Ka, low miles (20k) and would have been 11 years old at the time, it was immaculate, 1 old lady owner, huge pile of service history etc.
Back in 2000 it cost £2,500 (which I remember well as myself and my other mates were all playing with £1k for car + insurance)
Adjusted for inflation that's £4,521.99.

Also, I'd much rather have that little Ka than the mk3 Fiesta, small cars are so much better made, safer, more reliable now than they were back then!!

 

[Scaf]

My own first car was 1981, Austin 1300 cost me £100.

 

[Brendan]

My first car was a very tired Peugeot 205.

 

[philw696]

Paid £2300 for my sons 2007 Mini One (he had £1200 and we gave him the rest) in December last year. Spent another £2300 on issues in the last six months so wouldn’t recommend. (Phil did warn me) Went in knowing the issues with the Prince engines when we bought it and these big issues you don’t always see. But one thing for sure it is now like Triggers broom and happy it is reliable for him. Son number two will be having something newer and more reliable when he is due his first car.

Sorry to read this Andy but hopefully a Good Car for him now.

 

[Guy]

Paid £2300 for my sons 2007 Mini One (he had £1200 and we gave him the rest) in December last year. Spent another £2300 on issues in the last six months so wouldn’t recommend. (Phil did warn me) Went in knowing the issues with the Prince engines when we bought it and these big issues you don’t always see. But one thing for sure it is now like Triggers broom and happy it is reliable for him. Son number two will be having something newer and more reliable when he is due his first car.

Fell into the same trap with a Prince engined Cooper S cab I bought for my wife. 2 lady owners (wheels recently refurbed - sorry couldn't resist), 30k miles and full Mini s/h. Sold it after one summer's use as it drank oil and sipped water constantly. Sold it for 500GBP more than I paid so not a disaster but a reminder to never buy a Prince engined car again! The R53s though are fantastic!

 

[Andyk]

Sorry to read this Andy but hopefully a Good Car for him now.

Love and learn Phil and as always should have listen to you. Knew it could be an issue but didn’t expect it to all happen in the first 6 months. Great car to drive though as they are so much fun but even that pleasure has been taken away when I drive it as he has a black box fitted. Right thing to do though as saved £800 on the insurance.

 

[Andyk]

Fell into the same trap with a Prince engined Cooper S cab I bought for my wife. 2 lady owners (wheels recently refurbed - sorry couldn't resist), 30k miles and full Mini s/h. Sold it after one summer's use as it drank oil and sipped water constantly. Sold it for 500GBP more than I paid so not a disaster but a reminder to never buy a Prince engined car again! The R53s though are fantastic!

In agree with such a great drive but a shame about the reliability with the engine.

Vanos replaced, new timing chain cam pulleys, rocker cover set, auxiliary belts - £1277

New exhaust - £255

Valve stem seal, air con condensers and regas - £983

When Dan finishes his A levels and gets a job he will definitely owe me

 

[gb-gta]

I paid 4K, for what was previously 2.5k a year earlier, ‘11 fiesta 1.25 zetec.

Great car though, not much go at all but drives great, steering, handling, comfy, perfect driving position. I really enjoy driving it.

 

[Omar]

Ford Escort Estate, and it was in a state, I think it cost £100, blew the engine up which I rebuilt, then it failed it’s MOT, sold it to a back street garage for not very much just get it out of my sight and went back to motorbikes..

We bought our son a VW Up, it was from a dealer who took it in part exchange and hadn’t been prepared, it was 4 years old then and he still has it 6 years later, last time I checked it was still worth about what we paid for it , brilliant little car that drives like a go cart.

 

[mjheathcote]

Love and learn Phil and as always should have listen to you. Knew it could be an issue but didn’t expect it to all happen in the first 6 months. Great car to drive though as they are so much fun but even that pleasure has been taken away when I drive it as he has a black box fitted. Right thing to do though as saved £800 on the insurance.

What sort of insurance quote?
Cheapest I'm getting is £1,500 with Ticker and their black box.
Been recommended Adrian Flux with their black box, awaiting their quote...