Good 1st car for under €2000

Barry Barry

I have a full license, but this is still my 1st car. Last August, when I had a provisional, I drove my parents car (Volvo S40 2004). Last week, I got my own place so its about a 20 minute drive to my parents house. I took most of my savings to go buy a car. I wouldn't mind a small van, like a Fiesta van. I'm an apprentice plasterer so something like it would be handy. I took a look at a 02 Punto Van with 62.000 Miles and a DOE until September 2012. Its pretty clean too. I brought my Dad along, to take a look at it and make sure its mechanically okay. T'was cheap too..!! €1600, but he's not taking any offers on it.
Would I be stupid to buy a Van ? It'll only be me driving it. And I'd imagine my girl friend would be the only other person it in. A few of my mates drive Golfs and Focus's. They say I'd be mad getting a van, but for some reason I like he idea of it. So, would a Golf or something similar be better than a Car-Van ?

Help2

Barry Barry wrote: »

I have a full license, but this is still my 1st car. Last August, when I had a provisional, I drove my parents car (Volvo S40 2004). Last week, I got my own place so its about a 20 minute drive to my parents house. I took most of my savings to go buy a car. I wouldn't mind a small van, like a Fiesta van. I'm an apprentice plasterer so something like it would be handy. I took a look at a 02 Punto Van with 62.000 Miles and a DOE until September 2012. Its pretty clean too. I brought my Dad along, to take a look at it and make sure its mechanically okay. T'was cheap too..!! €1600, but he's not taking any offers on it.
Would I be stupid to buy a Van ? It'll only be me driving it. And I'd imagine my girl friend would be the only other person it in. A few of my mates drive Golfs and Focus's. They say I'd be mad getting a van, but for some reason I like he idea of it. So, would a Golf or something similar be better than a Car-Van ?

Its handy to have the back seats, in case you need to carry more than one passanger!! Only get a van if you need loads of space for tools or whatever.

Some cars have big boots anyway with loads of space.. and some cars have seats that can be folded or taken out.. keep looking at cars and parkers.co.uk has great car reviews.

Fishtits

Unless you're self employed you could have trouble taxing a van.

Personally I wouldn't touch a Punto with a barge pole.

Drop back a few years and buy a Yaris.

andyseadog

i've always wanted to have a van so as i wont have to carry lots of passengers

vans i think should work out cheaper to insure too, but at the same time they are more likely to have led a hard life, so be wary of ones that have seen a lot of abuse.

you could tax a van privately without issue, and if your considering a 1.2 punto van the tax is still only around 250p.a. i think. i'l also chip in and say that the mk2 punto is not as unreliable as its hyped up to be, i'm not saying there aren't better options out there, but they aren't 'that' bad.

_Conrad_

andyseadog wrote: »

i've always wanted to have a van so as i wont have to carry lots of passengers
.

So remove your rear seats............., or just tell people to f*ck off of you don't want to drive them around and they insist on it

longhalloween

_Conrad_ wrote: »

So remove your rear seats............., or just tell people to f*ck off of you don't want to drive them around and they insist on it

I heard that taking out the back seats makes it cheaper to insure. Could be worth lookin into.

Also you pay more on the tolls if you have a van :mad:

A decent 2 door focus might suit.