classic as a first car?

[riveting]

I'm 17 at the minute, but by the time I can afford my first car I will be 18. Obviously insurance is a big problem, as is the price of the first car, for which I would be looking at about £500, although if I could get something more interesting, I might save up a bit more, up to £1000.

I like the idea of a classic, simpler so less stuff to go wrong, and when it does, probable easier to fix, and with less in the way of driver aids, I would perhaps be forced to learn better car control.

So, any suggestions for a classic that fits that (no more than £1000 - only needs to be mechanically sound, no need for it to be perfect), reasonable insurance (about similar to a early ninties 1.4 escort), sorry but no minis. Also, if I did get a classic, preferably RWD, to help learn a bit more.

Mark 1/2 escorts are a possibility, any other suggestions out there?

[Bodo]

My first car was a Landrover 88 and I still own it. It's slow, but cheap to insure. Had lots of fun with continental driving in it.

[RickApple]

Theres always Beetles, or were you looking for something stylish? I really like the beemer 2002's but they're probably a bit expensive! I'd love to see a morris minor with a stage 4 1275 engine tho!

[crankedup]

Perhaps an Vauxhall Viva may fit the bill. Its said that the yoof of today brand this car as up and coming.

Being an old phart I would'nt know about that, but they are an unusual sight on our roads today

[RickApple]

What would an old capri be like to insure?

[littlegearl]

my first car i got a few days after my 18th birthday, it was a 1978 Vauxhall Cavalier 2.0 which satisfies all your requirements especially being RWD

i wont bore you too much about the car as there's a slightly more comprehensive list of mods in my profile...

anyway, my first year i have to admit to having the insurance in my bro's name and it was £400 a year, but when i hit 19 i insured it fully comp in my name for £750, £620 now i'm 20...

its a brilliant car to own, you definately wont go un-noticed yet it almost always is by classic car enthusiasts despite being a bonefide classic... you can pick them up for £50 but good ones usually go for £500 or up to £1000 if its perfect!!!

and if like me in a few years you're left wanting more the 150bhp 2.0 16v from the Astra GTE fits in with very little modifications

plus they had good rust profing when new so should last quite well (they tend to be mint or shit condtion) and are "reasonably" reliable - i say reasonably as things are bound to go wrong but nothing major!!!

annoyingly there are none on ebay at the moment but there's usually a couple kicking around if you're interested!!!

[Wacky Racer]

riveting said:

Mark 1/2 escorts are a possibility, any other suggestions out there?

Yep, Look out for a GOOD Mk 1 Escort, dead simple mechanicals, just be VERY CAREFUL of rust round the M'cPherson struts under the bonnet........(although these can be plated quite easily)

[riveting]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, they all seem good, I did consider a land rover but I came to the conclusion I wouldn't be able to afford to run it, as I'm only a student. I will certainly look into most of them. Thanks.

[Alpineandy]

IMO you will have to go for looks and/or comfort and/or character rather than performance if you want to keep the insurance down.

Have a good look at the price guides in practical classics mag (in fact they have an article this month about starter classics).

I have heard that someone is doing 'classic insurance' for under 21s now, but you'll have to look hard to find them.

If you can't find them then buy a v cheap workhorse and build up you ncb for when you can afford something better.

Don't pay 2 arms and a leg on insurance for a car you can't aford to drive.

[Pigeon]

Wacky Racer said:

riveting said: Mark 1/2 escorts are a possibility, any other suggestions out there? Yep, Look out for a GOOD Mk 1 Escort, dead simple mechanicals, just be VERY CAREFUL of rust round the M'cPherson struts under the bonnet........(although these can be plated quite easily)

...perhaps too easily... watch out for misaligned plates with the old rusty metal still present underneath...

Morris Minors are dead easy to work on and probably have the best spare parts availability of any classic.

Vauxhall Chevettes are also simple and easy to work on, and cheap because nobody ever liked them - just an image thing, there's nothing particularly wrong with them. Like littlegearl's Mk 1 Cavaliers they tend to be either mint or shit.

[clapham993]

A good Mk 1 Golf is a wonderful piece of kit and a late GLS or LX spec will show a lot of modern cars up

[v8thunder]

Buy the current issue of Practical Classics - there's a massive article about buying a classic as your first car. Basically, your options are:

-Mini
-Vauxhall Viva
-Triumph Herald
-Renault 4
-MG Midget
-Triumph Spitfire
-Fiat 128 3P
-VW Beetle
-Renault 5
-Peugoet 204 Cabriolet
-Lancia Fulvia Berlina
-Fiat 500
-Austin 1300GT
-Ford Escort MKI/II
-Morris Minor
-Ford Capri
-Citroen 2CV
-Ford Anglia
-Alfa Romeo Alfasud
-Hillman Imp
-Ford Cortina

...and most similar variants thereof...

[IOLAIRE]

clapham993 said:

A good Mk 1 Golf is a wonderful piece of kit and a late GLS or LX spec will show a lot of modern cars up

Absolutely, but he did say he would prefer rear wheel drive.
I would urge him to go down this route though, coz the MK 1 Golf was a brilliant little car.
When your 18 you have to think practical unless your old man is a millionaire who doesn't happen to be Paul Getty!

[nick_f]

My first car was a Triumph 2500. There are still quite a few about and they're not worth much - insurance might hurt in which case there's always the 2000.

[classicsincamera]

My first cars:
BMW 1600
BMW 1800
BMW 2002ti
BMW 3.0 L in Jagermeister orange
then I switched to other marks. I didn't have any problems with BMW - they keep the balance between
a reliable sportscar and good for every day use.

I your spec. case I would buy a Morris Minor indeed. To buy a car which got sold over a million times can't be a wrong decision. They are easy to handle, good looking and there are no problems to get spare parts.

...or a nice Rover P4 ?

Generally you only should buy a car in very good condition....otherwise you can get upset very quickly
ending up in spending a lot money to make it as you like to have it.

Good luck and keep your eyes open for the "right" car.

Helmut (Germany)

[yertis]

2CV was my first car. Great fun. Happily have another. In fact I did for a while but wife was a non-believer and made me sell it

[riveting]

Thanks for the suggestions, although I can't afford a car at the moment, it is useful in helping me get an idea of how much more I need to save up to get a more interesting car, which interestingly is not much more than for an early nineties 1.4 escort in most cases. Quite a lot of them have gone on my list (even a mark 3, 2 litre capri - little different in price of car and insurance to aformentioned escort), as well as some others me and my family have thought of.

It's certainly a list that shows me how much it is woth hanging on for a few months to save up instead of getting a rustbox fiesta.

Watch this space

[v8thunder]

I'm looking at getting a sort-of classic (late '70s is the earliest I'd go for) as my first 'own' car, but I'm going to be 21 when that happens so insurance won't be such a problem. I personally wouldn't mind something American (not a wallet-snaffling V8 though) as they're very reliable and look great, but I'd recommend that, once you've narrowed down the list to your favourites, practicality and reliability should guide your choices.

Just my 2p, of course

[[k]ar|]

My first car was a 1972 MGB Roadster. A fantastic first car to own if you can get a tidy one. Not too expensive to buy, cheap to run and insure (via owners club), and no tax if '72 or earlier of course. They are even pretty good on fuel if you get one with overdrive for motorway cruising.

They are mechanically very simple and parts are cheap. So long as you keep on top of any niggles that develop and keep up with simple and inexpensive preventative maintenance, you will get long and faithful service from your B.

I still have mine in my garage alongside my Elise. I couldn't bear to part with it.

[k]

[lanciachris]

The hard part is not finding a car model you want, but finding a car that hasnt been hacked about too much in its lifetime. Any used car always has a couple of surprise bodges etc but when you get to this sort of age then it can be the case where all you are left with is the bodges.