Q: We have just moved to the countryside from the city and now find we need an extra car as a runaround. What should we look for?
A: A second car should be easy to drive and efficient to run, and smaller cars tend to fall into this category. The Volkswagen up! and the Ford Fiesta are both compact, with good fuel efficiency and safety ratings (tested in 2011 and 2012 respectively). The Fiesta is slightly more expensive.
Keeping costs down is a crucial part of any second-car decision. First, prioritise cars in low insurance groups, such as the Vauxhall Corsa, Seat Mii or Skoda Citigo; these all fall into the lowest two insurance categories. Then ask if your insurer offers multi-car policies, which can work out significantly cheaper than insuring two vehicles separately. Some insurers also offer the opportunity to install a black box recorder that monitors driving and can reduce costs further.
Buy your chosen car from a registered car dealer, as most will provide a warranty and allow test drives. Always check the logbook for driver history and any problems, and ensure that the MOT certificate matches the chassis number and service history.
Before buying a used car, be sure to get an RAC or HPI data check that will tell you whether the car has previously been stolen or written off. If vehicle safety is a priority for you, check the NCAP rating of your chosen model. Most modern cars come with anti-lock brakes and airbags. According to Euro NCAP, which undertakes crash safety tests, the Skoda Fabia was the safest supermini of 2014. The Toyota Aygo and Renault Twingo came in fourth and fifth respectively – both are in low insurance groups*.
*Always consult a financial adviser before taking advice. Opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of Sainsbury’s Bank.
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