Getting my first car, corsa, in the UK

[deep3r]

Hi,

So soon, I'll be getting my first car and I'm looking at vauxhall (or opel as some of you may know it) corsas, the models between 01-06. Im located in Nottingham in the UK, if that helps or if anyone around there is selling one and would like to message me . The first thing I would like to ask is, does anyone know the best insurance place to go with, I've been looking around and the post office seems to be the best option currently, but perhaps some of you know small time companies that will offer a better deal? My next question is, when looking at these corsas, what problems should I be looking for and how do I identify them, Im not skilled with cars at all, so you would have to put it simple for me. The last thing I'd like to ask, is what should I be paying? I know it can vary from age and mileage etc, but a rough estimate with each varient would be rather nice.

Thanks for your help,
deep3r

[JamesMichael]

Whats insurance like on one?

[deep3r]

Whats insurance like on one?

Best I got was 2.5K

[wynni]

Best I got was 2.5K

wow 2.5k for a corsa. My first car was an opel corsa , I had it for 3 years and it never gave a days trouble till it was stolen and burnt. but yea it was a great little car. 1.3liter.

[logistikz]

Buy from a local used car business there cars are usually a little more expensive but are also checked for problems etc before they are sold on.

There also news about a new type of insurance where they put a little box in your car to measure how you drive, that means the better you drive the cheaper your insurance.
If you don't see yourself driving like an idiot you should look into that as it should be lots cheaper than anything else

[deep3r]

Buy from a local used car business there cars are usually a little more expensive but are also checked for problems etc before they are sold on.

There also news about a new type of insurance where they put a little box in your car to measure how you drive, that means the better you drive the cheaper your insurance.
If you don't see yourself driving like an idiot you should look into that as it should be lots cheaper than anything else

Ive heard otherwise, that dealers don't check it, in fact I went to a vauxhall dealer themselves last weekend and there was a fault with a corsa, asked them if they knew about it and they said they didn't know, they hadn't checked. Id prefer to go with a mechanic I know personally to a private seller and get it checked out, also can get it cheaper that way.

I know of that, havent been in store anywhere to ask but I can see myself driving at the times most of them specify not to. I'll be cruising with friends at the weekends late at night.

[Bad_Ad84]

Proper Dealers usually give a 1 year warranty. Little garages do not. I bought mine from the dealer and ended up having loads of work done for free over the first year.

[logistikz]

Iv always bought all my cars from private sellers up until recently as i had the same views about dealers, but the buying process with the dealer was fantastic and i will certainly buy all my cars from them in the future.
I guess its the look of the draw when it comes to buying from dealers.

Insurance wise you should give Adrian Flux a call as they took nearly 400 pound of the best quote on my first car it was a volkswagon lupo 1.4 and it cost me 1440 pound for third party fire & theft with the car on my drive and in a safe area.

[cde]

I take it by the quotes at that price you are between 18 and 20 ish? Im afraid you will have to shop around and get the best you can. Third party only insurance used to be the cheapest, but lately its more than third party fire and theft. Unfortunately younger people buy small cars like corsa's so the insurance companies top load policies for those cars... Some people are buying older "80's" cars because they can get classic insurance much cheaper.. but that brings with it all the complications of owning and running a classic car. As for the Corsa, they are great reliable little cars, the only thing i have been told is to avoid the three cylinder engine models, I think they are the one litre ones. They are generally more unreliable than their four cylinder cousins, not to mention slower and a bit weezy..

[A. Snow]

Best I got was 2.5K

Is that per year? Every six months?

There also news about a new type of insurance where they put a little box in your car to measure how you drive, that means the better you drive the cheaper your insurance.
If you don't see yourself driving like an idiot you should look into that as it should be lots cheaper than anything else

Do not do this, They are trying this here in the US also and to quote Admiral Akbar "IT'S A TRAP"... As soon as they get enough people to volunteer for it they will try to force it on the rest of us. I can't speak for you but I try to avoid the ever reaching grip of big brother every chance I get.

[HEX1GON]

Is it a 2 door? That also adds to the cost too... For some reason.

[Bad_Ad84]

Is that per year? Every six months?

Insurance is yearly in the UK (you can pay monthly instalments or in full)

[Dano2k0]

2.5k? What is it a 300BHP ZLET converted Corsa C at 17?

Phone around, Adrian Flux are well worth a call.

Advice is, get a small engined car if your only young (assuming so by insurance) notes to keep insurance low is insure 3rd party if you are willing, if you have a claim on YOUR insurance, be prepaired for a serious hike next year so try to avoid at all costs. Declare car value as little as you are prepaired to, state your annual mileage as little as possible, ie 5k per year or less - depends how much driving you intend to do / can afford.

Add woman named drivers to your policy even if they are never going to drive the car - providing they have good driving history ie your mum, auntie etc.

Apparently alot of people have success with the above, also alot of young drivers find it cheaper to state the car is parked on the drive or a street rather than in a garage.

-----------

Advice for buying a car, would be good to take someone with you that is mechanically minded and actually knows something about cars. Failing this, the usual, check oil filler cap for 'mayo' type build up, could indicate HG failiure. Also check coolant level and make sure there is no oil in there. I'd be cautious of any that are much below the deemed level, although the seller could easily top it up.

Check obvious things aswell such as brake fluid level, you get the idea.

Some models of Corsa C are prone to the master cylinder failing, leaving you with no clutch! A pain of a job to do, if you can't do it yourself could get quite expensive with a mechanic / garage, also the price of the part.

In Wakefield theres a place called Auto vaux, well worth remembering as they do alot of genuine parts and can get more or less anything for good prices.

I guess alot of other stuff depends upon what engine you are getting? If its got an engine with timing belt, make sure its not due and has been done. If its a timing chain, make sure its been serviced well, ie the 1.3CDTI engines are known to snap their chains, break the exhaust cam etc etc.

Theres probably tons to add, but got abit of info there for you.

Oh also if you are thinking of modifying, deffinatly try Adrian Flux.

[kiff]

All solid advice from Dan there but just be careful when quoting your approximated annual mileage for the insurance. If you do go over this mileage and then have an accident or the car is damaged/stolen then you'll more than likely find your insurance policy will be void. Basically, if you can afford an open mileage policy then go for that!

You have so many options when actually buying a car though. If you decide to go privately then make sure you check all the basic information as Dan said. Service history is a great thing to be able to look through as it will point out any previous works carried out and you will be able to spot any obvious recurring problems (if it does have any). You could probably ask a local mechanic to view a car with you if it's local enough (he'll most likely charge you an hours labour - £30/£50) or if you know someone mechanically minded then ask them.

If your buing an older car you need to be very wary of rust. Check the wheel arches and make sure you have a good look underneath the car itself too! That is a MUST! For me, if you spot any signs of rust or rust cover up then just take a side step (once it kicks in there is no getting rid of it).

Good luck!

[deep3r]

Got a corsa. Its really good, managed to pick it up for £1.1k, Y reg and great runner, had it checked by a mechanic. Im also getting insurance quotes from co op with the smart box varying from £800 - £1,350. Pretty chuffed. Let me know what you think of it.

[Yakumo]

Not a bad little runner for your first car. The guys car next to yours is way too low for the car it is. No taste IMO when a car like that is lowered.

Yakumo

[johnace]

I know this maybe a bit late but you should try tesco insurance, just renewed my policy £1200 for my 3.0 Mercedes E class kompressor.....also you may want to watch the "mass airflow sensor" on your corsa, i used to have a 2.5 vectra V6 on a Y reg and i had to replace the sensor five times at £85 each!!!, didnt have to replace it after it was wrote off though rofl

[Bloodsack]

I'm surprised you can afford to drive a car here in the UK. you have to be super rich to even own a car today

[tails92]

Wow, and I thought we (in Campania, Italy) were the ones who paid the highest car insurance prices in Europe. Looks like it's about the same (or even worse) in the UK. Bad times.