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First Car Ideas? (Budget of ~5000+)
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First Car Ideas? (Budget of ~5000+)

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skr96

Original Poster:

4 posts

7 months

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Saturday 6th April
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Looking for a bit of help on the first car front. I’m starting driving pretty late (27) so can look at options which maybe younger drivers can’t. Current options are VW Scirocco, Volvo C30/V40, as well as the usual candidates (fiesta, polo, Ibiza, etc). Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated!

jamesbilluk

3,958 posts

190 months

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Saturday 6th April
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Slightly bias, but the Alfa Giulietta could be worth a look, some decent engines to choose from, petrol or diesel.

The 1.4 multi air petrol especially.

CG2020UK

2,007 posts

47 months

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Sunday 7th April
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Peugeot 208 GTIs use to be brilliant on insurance for young drivers.

My wife and I each had one when we learnt to pass and still on our R plates. Might be worth trying an insurance quote and seeing what you get back.

skr96

Original Poster:

4 posts

7 months

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[news]
Sunday 7th April
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CG2020UK said:
Peugeot 208 GTIs use to be brilliant on insurance for young drivers.

My wife and I each had one when we learnt to pass and still on our R plates. Might be worth trying an insurance quote and seeing what you get back.
Great suggestion, thank you! I had a look and I can insure a GTI for ~1300 which definitely puts it into contention! What are they like reliability-wise? And in terms of parts I’d guess they’d be similar in price to those of Ford or Vauxhall

skr96

Original Poster:

4 posts

7 months

[report]
[news]
Sunday 7th April
quotequote all
jamesbilluk said:
Slightly bias, but the Alfa Giulietta could be worth a look, some decent engines to choose from, petrol or diesel.

The 1.4 multi air petrol especially.
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll have a look 😁

ACCYSTAN

1,027 posts

128 months

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Sunday 7th April
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By a good condition mid spec Fiat 500

Anyone can fix them, insurance is reasonable and easy to sell on plus they drive ok.


CG2020UK

2,007 posts

47 months

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Sunday 7th April
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skr96 said:
Great suggestion, thank you! I had a look and I can insure a GTI for ~1300 which definitely puts it into contention! What are they like reliability-wise? And in terms of parts I’d guess they’d be similar in price to those of Ford or Vauxhall
We’ve actually had 2 different cars. I binned mine at 30k miles. My wife took hers to 62k miles before trade in. Both were faultless and just fine on regular servicing. A neighbour had a white one and man in my gym a red one and both no issues.

I’m not great on actual parts price cost unfortunately versus other brands but honestly found it really cheap to maintain. Brembo front brake discs £90 pads £35. They are light cars at 1150kg so are good on consumables. I’d stick £40-50 a month away in a car maintenance fund and honestly reckon you’d be fine.

One point I would make is try and get an engine that does 208PS and not 200PS (2015 onwards). Reason being it’s the facelifted car and they become more reliable with a noticeable improvement in torque. Also try and get a 208 GTI Prestige.

They are brilliant cars and really recommend a test drive. Prestige model is a brilliant spec for the price (panoramic sunroof, dual zone climate control, heated seats, sat nav, real alloy spare wheel in the boot, auto wipers and lights, phone Bluetooth and has a part digital dials). They are quicker than its proper hot hatch rivals and will return 40mpg at normal driving. It’s also brilliantly practical and can carry 5 if needs be and can take a wheelchair/pram in the boot no bother.

Best of all it’s a full blooded hot hatch so is great to drive and will give you a proper laugh when you fancy it!

trevalvole

1,270 posts

40 months

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Monday 8th April
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skr96 said:
Current options are VW Scirocco...
If you are considering a 1.4TSI version of the Scirocco, then I'd be careful. The twincharger version (160PS) was real trouble and VW changed the turbo-only version (122PS), in I think around 2013 (I don't know if/when the Scirocco got it). The earlier version had timing chains that weren't made properly and direct-injection only and iirc had various other problems, whereas the later version had a timing belt and mixed port and direct injection which helped prevent the valves coking up.
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