A word in your ear from Donal Byrne on used car choices
MY first car was a Fiat 127. Apart from occasionally refusing to start after heavy rain because of damp points, it served me very well indeed.
The starting problem was easily remedied with a blast of a hair dryer connected to an extension cord. One simply learned to live with this - in fact one expected such little tests of one's ingenuity in the days before Japanese reliability changed motoring.
After all, such things were but small prices to pay for the reward of a new-found mobile independence and the sudden catapulting to popularity among non-driving friends and acquaintances. Being good for a lift after a late night bore a strong correlation with the number of invitations you got.
The principle still applies today, but less so as more and more beginner drivers own their own cars.
This is the time of year when many set about buying their own first cars, instead of leaving their parents housebound four nights a week. The biggest consideration for first-time buyers is budget.
An average of €3,000 to €4,000 is about right. For that you can expect to get a reasonably good small car - I've picked out three possibilities - with relatively low mileage which should be good for another three years or so.
Much depends on the condition and the mileage of the car you're buying in the first place. The three cars I have picked are the Toyota Starlet, the Nissan Micra and the Ford Fiesta, in that order.
The Starlet emerges as number one because it's almost indestructible. The body may show its age, but the engine can go on for ever.
The Micra is almost as good a car and is a much more ubiquitous model on the second-hand market. Therefore you have a better choice of cars to pick from.
The Fiesta is a sturdy little car that has not proven as reliable as the first mentioned above, but its longevity is a testament to its build quality. If there were a fourth choice, it would be an Opel Corsa, for the same reasons.
Because the price bracket is going to involve a car about seven or eight years old the records of such cars in terms of crash tests and recalls are sketchy in the main. So, it's very important to get your local mechanic to have a look over it for you - on the assumption he is not selling it to you.
However, there is a number of key things to look out for when you do your initial viewing - very high mileage, for instance. Average mileage is about 10,000 a year, but you shouldn't really be looking at cars with more than about 60,000 on the clock. You can expect some knocks on the body and some wear and tear on the inside but any excess of either should encourage you to walk away - it suggests neglect and probably spells imminent trouble.
Most main dealers will not be carrying stock of the age you require on this budget, so smaller dealers will be the most likely source but try to check them out locally.
You can take a chance on the small ads, but bring someone with experience with you. You don't really want to meet someone with whom you have only dealt with on a mobile phone in some odd location on your own.
Don't buy a car without at least a driver's airbag because of the obvious safety advantage. Try to hold out for a car that has the kind of extras you want - a CD player or electric windows, for instance.
A garage in Bray recently had a 1997 Nissan Micra with all three, and low mileage, for €2,950.
If a car has had serial owners, beware. If you can, try to find cars in cities or larger towns - a car that has spent its life traversing north Mayo is unlikely to have much enthusiasm left for life.
Many Starlets and Micras advertised are actually imported second-hand from Japan - it's one of the few right-hand drive countries to export its second-hand cars. However, I don't think their enslavement to Tokyo gridlock makes them a sound investment.
Do go for smaller engine sizes which will help with insurance. Don't go for cars that have been excessively tarted up - and don't be tempted by cars that are tatty.
Most reputable garages will give you at least a three-month warranty, which is very important.
Of the cars mentioned above, the ones likely to afford peace of mind when it comes to choice are the Toyota and the Nissan because their reputations are built on reliability and longevity. You'll never need to keep a hairdryer in the boot.