Which of these would make the best first car?

[Br00klyn99]

Hi there,

It is not long until I turn 17 and will be able to get a car, and I've always had a thing for classic fords. There's a few that I've been considering, but what do you guys consider the best choice for a first time driver? As far as modifications I would most likely fit some lowering springs and aftermarket wheels, and possibly some interior mods such as Bucket seats.

1. Ford Fiesta Mk1

2. Ford Fiesta Mk2

3. Ford Escort Mk3/Mk4


Any opinion would be appreciated!

[LanceRS]

I think that your choice might come down to which one you can find. Personal choice would be the mk 1 Fiesta. Please don't mess about with it though, these are getting very rare, partly because we ruined lots of them when we were your age.
It's nice to see someone young looking for something interesting and that you can work on yourself. My oldest is coming up to 17 and it has occurred to me that he and his friends will miss out on mending their own cars the way we used to.
Good luck in your search and I shall look forward to following the thread when you get one.

[Zad]

Please don't.

All three of those are pretty rare now, with most of them being attacked by 17 year olds, riveting pile-of-crap plastic body kits from Max Power adverts onto the rapidly rusting panels. If you get a good one, for goodness sake keep it standard. At 17, insurers will hate you as soon as you even think about modifying it. Save up money, get something newer with a decent reliable engine, ABS brakes, and panels that are cheap to replace when you ding it.

(Are we in 1996 or something?)

[thebigmacmoomin]

Keeping a car like this standard would be the best option. If its mint, it will always be worth a fair few quid to the right buyer. You very rarely get your money back on a modified car.

Rather than chosing between the 3, try & find a good example first. Most will have rusted away to nothing.

[Br00klyn99]

Thanks for the replies.

I will absolutely not ruin whatever I buy and any modifications WILL be tasteful, nothing boy-racer ish. No silly body kits or anything of the sort, any remaining ones need to be kept in a good way. For me and what I can afford will most likely be the Mk2, but if I can find a Mk1, I'll definitely go for it. The Mk2's pop up on ebay fairly regularly, and prices are not too ridiculous.

[Matt97]

I've got a mk2 as my first car, i like the mk1's but good ones were too much for me at the time where as mk2's were easily affordable. As said all three are getting rare and alot have been modified so i have kept mine standard apart from the wheels and even they're Ford wheels. The majority of comments are positive about keeping it original plus it will probably be easier to sell it as well. Although everyone has different views.

[Br00klyn99]

Your Fiesta is one of my favorite cars on here

Any mods I do would be similar to the ones on yours, as in easily undo-able such as Wheels.

[Matt97]

Thanks, keeping it standard will also be better for insurance costs as well
Depending on what car you are learning in you will have to always remember it's an old car so there is no abs, pas and the cable clutch will feel different compared to a hydraulic clutch.

Regards,
Matt