Help my friends find a car

[PuntoHowTo]

Some friends of mine have just moved back to the uk from Germany

Neither of them have had a driving licence before, both in their 40s and both are now doing their driving tests they have 2 children 8 and 12 years. Dad is 6foot 7 so needs to be something bigger than a super mini

They want a cheap first family car they can run about in which willl last a year or two and be largely reliable and largely cheap but to buy.

They say they have a budget of up to £5k but I know they are short of money right now, plus I think they could get something a lot cheaper.

So I’m looking for recommendations for a cheap around £2k car that will suite a family of 4 as a run around for the next year or 2 with reasonably reliability or cheapness of parts.

I’m leaning towards something like a Hyundai IX35 or a Kia Rio, from around 2012-14 maybe? I have to confess I am a little out of knowledge on this age of car, so looking for others opinions and recommendations

 

[StevenRB45]

My experience of shopping for older Kias and Hyundais during the never ending car search is they attract the same people as older Toyotas...but as they are cheaper they are even less likely to be looked after.

I turned up at an I20 (rebadged Kia Rio) (not one I'd picked but he wanted to see it) to find on opening the bonnet...with a bare cable and some pliers as the handle was gone that there was clear evidence of the thing boiling over with rusty water stains in every direction from the radiator cap. This car was up for 4500 quid.

Obviously one car is not all cars but from what I saw shopping in around that price bracket for similar cars you're going to see a lot of wrecks that are just about hanging on.

10 to 12 year old car I'd be buying condition first car second, i.e. what is there in the area that's in budget, the right size and not beaten to death and then that's your short list. If you set your search Criteria to 2 grand less than 75k miles and say minimum engine power 100bhp given boot size over 300l as it's a family car and whatever the distance you want to travel is I'd bet there's not a huge number of choices.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Talked to them again and they want a polo, as that’s apparently what their driving instructor told them they wanted. It’s not a terrible choice but I think there are way better deals to be had

 

[StevenRB45]

Small cars are overpriced at present in my opinion...

There's always been an element of first car tax applied to super minis but given the other requirements i.e. big bloke and grown kids it seems an odd choice and will ensure they need to spend all the budget.

Hopefully things have cooled off now but last April I distinctly remember seeing a very ordinary average miles 12 year old polo up at the same money I bought the Toyota for.

Perhaps try and ensure all 4 of them go to any test drive..should ensure the idea of a polo is short lived.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Small cars are overpriced at present in my opinion...

There's always been an element of first car tax applied to super minis but given the other requirements i.e. big bloke and grown kids it seems an odd choice and will ensure they need to spend all the budget.

Hopefully things have cooled off now but last April I distinctly remember seeing a very ordinary average miles 12 year old polo up at the same money I bought the Toyota for.

Perhaps try and ensure all 4 of them go to any test drive..should ensure the idea of a polo is short lived.

When someone has made up their mind based on what their driving instructor had told them, then that’s the car they’re going to buy and I no about of reason, logic or common sense is going to change their mind.

What made me laugh was I looked at the fabia instead and they seemed to be even more expensive

 

[StevenRB45]

I'm just slightly boggled at the idea of what will probably be end up being a 1.4 or 1.2 none turbo Polo with 60 or 75bhp 4 up with 2 adults, a near teenager and a not small child.

May all the roads they travel on be flat...or at least may I never be behind them on a hill.