[Chrislong]

I did the same as you Paul on a Ford Ka. I know I wasn't a new driver when i bought it, but id spent a few years on my dads policy so had to do something so I could start to get somewhere towards owning a faster car, like I have now.

I went to Gordon Ford in Bolton, got something like £800 off the screen price, it was 0% APR over 12 months, and came with 12 months free insurance on an accelerated bonus scheme (2yrs ncd). I could have actually paid cash for it, but I may aswell earn interest seeing as it was 0% apr.... and paying cash would mean, no free insurance, no breakdown cover etc.

So when I paid it off, I insured and kept it for another 12months... but as I was on the mailing list for Gordons I got a letter from them, offering a big discount on the Fiesta Zetec AC, which I love, so I went for a drive and again it came with free insurance, low apr, and they offered me above market value for the Ka - so I then had the Fiesta.. paid off the finance over the phone shortly after and avoided the APR etc..

When the free insurance ran out, I kept it for another 12month, although Ford insure had it down as a 1.6 and tried to charge be a hefty premium, so I went elsewhere (Direct Line) and got a good price.

So yeah, whilst I agree with DCM that its better to own a car, I disagree with experience of it being cheaper to finance and loose out on depreciation than to pay inflated insurance premiums, just to do it as a stepping stone to getting cheap insurance.

Now I can insure, I am only looking at used cars.... and seeing as I can get a bit of deal (in the trade, auction experience, done a bit of buying/selling with dad), I tend to change cars before the value has depreciated much below what I have paid for them..... although I bucked my trend with my current car by buying it from a trader (cash), but it was by far the best example of the model I wanted I had seen (and id viewed many).

So, Paul, are you picky about it being a Corsa, or just the best deal on a small hatch?

Chris