£5k First car! Any ideas?

[scallahan60]

Hi, I'm Sam, i'm still 16 but have been a petrol head as long as i can remember, so as you can imagine, the time i get my first car is like ... heaven!! Problem is, i sooo wanna get the right thing! Any opinions on,

- Fiesta 1.2 - 1.4 Zetec S replica
- Fiesta 1.2 - 1.4 ST replica
- Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 (VXR) replica
- VW Polo GTI replica
- Suzuki Swift 1.3 GL
- Proton Satria 1.3
- VW Golf 1.4 R32 replica

ANY MORE OPTIONS are thoroughly appreciated!

I Have £4.500 to spend but would like to spent under £4k!

I want something that looks awesome but is easily insurable! I don't mind the fact that these replicas don't go like the real thing (it is my first car after all!) Want something smart and sporty looking but not chavvy!

Thanks!!! Don't hesitate to contribute!

SAM...

[RB5]

Does this £4,500 include the cost of converting these cars into "replicas"? Have you checked the insurance premiums once these modifications have been declared? I'd imaginate it's a lot cheaper to insure a standard car at 17. At this age, insurance is the biggest problem, so spend a few hours getting quotes for plenty of different cars. Try some obscure cars, you may be surprised (although things have changed a lot in the last 2 years). I'd also suggest keeping at least £500 of your budget aside for maintenence and repairs.

[i remember]

Saw an article in a paper today and states that the average insurance quote for someone between the ages of 17-22 this year is £2850.

So imagine thats your standard quote and then add in the price of having modifications done, not cheap sunshine.

So glad im not 17/18 and having to pay a ridiculous price!

[jr123]

No matter what your budget is, insurance is going to cost a lot more than the car, I'm 17 going to be 18 soon, every insurance quote I have had so far is over 6K, this is on every <1k, 1 litre. No chance of a Golf

[scallahan60]

well i'd probably get a replica that's already been converted by a previous owner! I've looked at a few already..
Also what do you mean by obscure cars, like the actual sport version? Surely like a real ST or VXR would be almost uninsurable at 17!

[Efbe]

there isn't a chance under the sun you will be able to get a car thatis modified in any way whatsoever. sorry about that.

so no replicas. just get a completely bogo standard one.

most important will be what you can get insured on, not what it looks like. draw up a list of 10 or so make/model/years and go online comparin insurance until you find a combination that is cheaper. then go for that one.

DO NOT modify at all>>> if you get stopped, they could (iirc) sieze your car as your insurance will be invalidated by the mods, so you will be uninsured.
If you get into an accident, you will be chsed for any sosts, even if it wasn't your fault.
The world will end :P

[wackojacko]

Hi Chap I'd go for a classic car like a Mk1 or 2 escort, that would be fabulous.

if you also want a decent car budget 3k for an epic old car and put that extra 2k on insurance for instance go for an E36 318is or something ?

Mx5 1.6 ?

Golf mk1 or 2

Look into wild cards like 20 turbo volvo's i nearly bought a 242 turbo as my first car, in the end I settled for an An Astra bertone coupe which is fairly cheap for me to insure.

Hope that helps chap

[scallahan60]

jr123 said:

No matter what your budget is, insurance is going to cost a lot more than the car, I'm 17 going to be 18 soon, every insurance quote I have had so far is over 6K, this is on every <1k, 1 litre. No chance of a Golf

Wow! That's depressing lol! What did you have first? ...

[TheMoron]

I went through the same thing about a year ago now looking for my first car. Although the looks of a replica VXR/ST or whatever may entice you, I would suggest going for something that isn't bad to start with, and that you can keep fairly standard.
I looked at Corsas, Fiestas, Grande Puntos e.t.c. e.t.c. and eventually found something I didn't even consider, not to everyone's taste, but I got a current shape Yaris TR on a 58 plate from the local dealer, cheap(ish) to buy, fairly good to insure (£1400, Full Comp, My own name) and a bit different from the usual chav trash.
Look around, consider a few options...and add a pistonheads sticker whatever you buy
Photo of the Yaris is on my profile

TM

[wackojacko]

scallahan60 said:

jr123 said:

No matter what your budget is, insurance is going to cost a lot more than the car, I'm 17 going to be 18 soon, every insurance quote I have had so far is over 6K, this is on every <1k, 1 litre. No chance of a Golf

Wow! That's depressing lol! What did you have first? ...

Mine would be 6k ! thank feck for multicar sub policies and have 4 group 20 cars on the main policy they credited me a years no claims bonus as soon as I started driving so i'll get the equivelent of 2 years NCB for 1 year of driving

[YoungOne]

Go for the swift IMO, i had 1 and it was cheap too insure and felt a lot quicker than a 1.3.
Also they don't look bad and the interior is decent.

[scallahan60]

Think it just did lol!! Yeah but being as much of a car guy as i am! Most bog standard 1.2-1.4's are LAME! So if there's no chance with mods, dya reckon any chance of, just a 1.6? Cars start getting better looking then!

Efbe said:

there isn't a chance under the sun you will be able to get a car thatis modified in any way whatsoever. sorry about that.

so no replicas. just get a completely bogo standard one.

most important will be what you can get insured on, not what it looks like. draw up a list of 10 or so make/model/years and go online comparin insurance until you find a combination that is cheaper. then go for that one.

DO NOT modify at all>>> if you get stopped, they could (iirc) sieze your car as your insurance will be invalidated by the mods, so you will be uninsured.
If you get into an accident, you will be chsed for any sosts, even if it wasn't your fault.
The world will end :P

[pinchmeimdreamin]

Hows about something a little different.
Check classic car insurance prices you may be suprised, And a good way to learn what spanners are for.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2426715.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2354304.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2397760.htm

[jr123]

scallahan60 said:

jr123 said:

No matter what your budget is, insurance is going to cost a lot more than the car, I'm 17 going to be 18 soon, every insurance quote I have had so far is over 6K, this is on every <1k, 1 litre. No chance of a Golf

Wow! That's depressing lol! What did you have first? ...

Haven't had a car yet because of the insurance prices, the cars the cheap part, I just keep getting quotes hoping I'll get a decent price, the large companies (admiral/elephant, flux direct etc) wont even quote me online. not seen any quotes below <4k yet

[STW2010]

Why is getting a replica so important? I've never seen the attraction of getting a fake version of anything, let alone a car.

[Efbe]

scallahan60 said:

stuff

unfortunately a 1.6 is going to be mental.

log onto moneysupermarket, and try the car insurance comparison on there. I find it theeasiest t use to guage costs.

remember to add your mum onto the policy, and limit the mileage to8ishK per year or whatever.

then try putting in a 1 literish 106 or corsa or something and see what it comes back with.
then try adding on just one visual modification, and see the difference in quotes/which companies will even touch you.

[Efbe]

jr123 said:

Haven't had a car yet because of the insurance prices, the cars the cheap part, I just keep getting quotes hoping I'll get a decent price, the large companies (admiral/elephant, flux direct etc) wont even quote me online. not seen any quotes below <4k yet

have you got your mum on the policy? also have you limited the mileage to 5k or 8k per year?

[scallahan60]

wackojacko said:

Mine would be 6k ! thank feck for multicar sub policies and have 4 group 20 cars on the main policy they credited me a years no claims bonus as soon as I started driving so i'll get the equivelent of 2 years NCB for 1 year of driving

hmm fair do's .. i like the idea of the old escorts or the BMW.. but wouldn't they be unreliable!!? :S That would be a pain for a first car!

[scallahan60]

pinchmeimdreamin said:

Hows about something a little different.
Check classic car insurance prices you may be suprised, And a good way to learn what spanners are for.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2426715.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2354304.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2397760.htm

lol "good way to learn what spanners are for", lol .. yeah but for that you need alot of time! I havent got much! lol

[theironduke]

I know it'snot what you want to hear but your best bet is to get the smallest capacity car you can, lowest grouping and no mods. Keep your nose clean for a few years, build NCB and save some dosh. Then when you have NCB under your belt and interesting cars start becoming possible the wait will be well worth it!!! I'm 26 and speaking from experience. I had a boggo Fiesta 1.1 for my first couple of years...i still have a dull daily but i can have a fun second car for pennies..just selling my 944 and will be getting a Chim.....patience my son!!!