HELPDESK: MICHAEL McALEERanswers all your motoring queries
From PW: I’ve just left college and need a used car to get me around. I’d love a Porsche 911 but my purse says Peugeot 107. Even that is a push. I need something cheap to buy and run, cheap to insure (I’m 21 years old), and capable of getting me from Limerick to Galway every couple of weeks, when it will act as a taxi for friends and washing as well. So the engine needs to be maximum 1.4-litre, reliable, and the car needs to be pretty spacious, cheap, but look as good as a Porsche 911. My budget is about €7,000. Any ideas?
You can forget about anything remotely resembling a 911. Even if you were to get a 1.2-litre Polo with a Porsche body, you’re not going to get you and your mates – and your washing – into it.
Several small cars would fit the bill: the previous generation Ford Fiesta is a decent car, while the Toyota Yaris would do the job, but I don’t think either deliver that much in terms of “sports” appeal.
For that you might consider a used Fiat Punto 1.2. I know that brand is not synonymous with reliability, but a dealer warranty might help and you should pick one up well within your budget.
For space reasons, my preference would be towards the Honda Jazz, but you would probably baulk at the idea in terms of its looks.
You could opt for a slightly older 1.3-litre Civic – from 2005 or earlier – but in fairness the looks don’t really get much better unless you dress the car up a little.
From NR: I’m buying a new car and everything was going well until I opted for the metallic green colour for the car, as listed in the brochure and on the website. The salesman has spent the last week trying to put me off the colour, which has me wondering why he wants to push me into a dull car. It’s not any of his business what colour my car is, or do they get extra commission for selling grey cars?
While you might be annoyed at the salesman’s repeated attempts to “push you into a dull car”, it’s likely that one of his motives is purely practical: when you go to sell the car in a few years’ time, you will get a better price – both in trade-in and private sale – if the car appeals to a wider sector of the market.
Obviously, his intentions are not entirely altruistic, for he is hoping that you will come back for your next car and do the trade-in with him. That means he is not only selling the car to you, but hoping you will choose a car – and specification including colour – that will be popular with used car customers. Your dealer already thinking ahead to the next sale.
Personally I think you should stick to your choice: there are more than enough grey and black cars on the road these days, but be aware that what suits your taste may not be the dream car of choice for a used buyer.
From AO’R: My son is going on holidays and is planning to rent a car. However, he only has a provisional licence and is having problems securing a rental. Is this normally the case?
Rental companies require drivers to have a full licence, so I don’t think he will find anyone to rent a car to him.
He needs to be reminded that, as it states clearly on the Road Safety Authority website, a learner permit is issued to enable the permit holder to learn to drive in this country and is not valid in Northern Ireland or in any other country outside of Ireland.
Even if he were to get his hands on a car, through a family member or suchlike, he may well be in trouble if stopped by the local police.