2nd car options for a 19 year old

2nd car options for a 19 year old

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Discussion

EuropeanBob

Original Poster:

37 posts

22 months

Yesterday (13:40)
quotequote all
Hello all, hope you are doing well. I am now 19, coming up to 2 years of driving and today I got curious about insurance quotes. I am now getting affordable quotes for cars which have a bit under 200 bhp. So that got me thinking, as I currently have a 1.0 A1 worth about 12-13k what if I could sell it and get a car which is more fun for the half the price and then pack the remaining money away to earn in my ISA. I’m thinking RWD or AWD, good handling, max 7k, preferably 4-5 seats, don’t mind 2 doors, and reliable. I was thinking possibly a 325ti, already got good insurance quotes for them along with 325ci’s. But are there any scoobies that could fit the bill? I seen a 06 2.0 impreza for sale which had about 150 bhp and looked nice although from my research people think it’s a bit dull due to the power. I have thought about an MX5 or MR2 but I don’t think my parents will be comfortable with them as they are very small and they think small = unsafe. Anyone got any ideas? When I filter for cars on auto trader all that seems to pop up are 120i’s and 3 series.


EDIT: I do like the idea of a 325ti as they are quite rare and that could mean they appreciate in value? Anyone reckon this will happen?

Time4another

270 posts

10 months

Yesterday (13:41)
quotequote all
Non turbo impreza would be boring beyond belief.

EuropeanBob

Original Poster:

37 posts

22 months

Yesterday (13:52)
quotequote all
Time4another said:
Non turbo impreza would be boring beyond belief.
Thank you for the input, just ran a quote on a non sti wrx 2.5 turbo, 220bhp and it was about the same price as a 325ti! I’ll have to look up about reliability. That’s insane that I got a decent quote on a car like that. A 220bhp scoobie might be a hard sell to my dad, although maybe I could tempt him with the old “I’ll let you use it”.

Scootersp

3,392 posts

195 months

Yesterday (14:06)
quotequote all
I say keep doing the insurance quote thing and you might discover other anomalies.

21 year old at work has a mate that has a good quote on a Boxster for instance, it doesn't seem as simple as above "X" engine size or "y" horsepower and it's automatically a no go.


Gastons_Revenge

269 posts

11 months

Yesterday (14:14)
quotequote all
Sensible/boring answer incoming.
Having been used to the ownership experience of a recentish A1 up to now, are you prepared for the level of maintenance work (and rust) a 20 year old Beamer or Subaru comes with?
Keep the A1, reliable transport is worth more to you for opportunities like work at this stage of your life.
Put the cash you'd spend keeping an old heap in commission aside, and when insurance is more manageable buy something like an Toyota MR2 or a Mazda Mk5 as a project car for the weekends.

Only saying this because I've been there myself trying to use project cars as daily drivers! Incidentally mine was also a near 20 year old BMW, albeit one that was far less rust prone than an E46.

EuropeanBob

Original Poster:

37 posts

22 months

Yesterday (14:27)
quotequote all
Gastons_Revenge said:
Sensible/boring answer incoming.
Having been used to the ownership experience of a recentish A1 up to now, are you prepared for the level of maintenance work (and rust) a 20 year old Beamer or Subaru comes with?
Keep the A1, reliable transport is worth more to you for opportunities like work at this stage of your life.
Put the cash you'd spend keeping an old heap in commission aside, and when insurance is more manageable buy something like an Toyota MR2 or a Mazda Mk5 as a project car for the weekends.

Only saying this because I've been there myself trying to use project cars as daily drivers! Incidentally mine was also a near 20 year old BMW, albeit one that was far less rust prone than an E46.
Good point there, thank you for saying your piece. I am very lazy and probably wouldn’t do a lot of maintenance work. What about a nice example though and do some preventative work every so often? I am pretty keen on getting something a bit more lively, I don’t know why, it just makes me smile thinking about having a car like that. Maybe a bit newer car would be a better idea?

EuropeanBob

Original Poster:

37 posts

22 months

Yesterday (14:28)
quotequote all
Scootersp said:
I say keep doing the insurance quote thing and you might discover other anomalies.

21 year old at work has a mate that has a good quote on a Boxster for instance, it doesn't seem as simple as above "X" engine size or "y" horsepower and it's automatically a no go.
Will do some more quotes! At first I thought it was just because of the rarity of the 325ti but then i did the 325ci and then subaru wrx and imprezas at over 200hp.

Hammy98

856 posts

99 months

Yesterday (14:52)
quotequote all
325Ci and the like will be E46 generation no?

If you rely on the car for getting to work etc then I'd be looking at a 125i coupe/convertible instead - they are a generation newer and the 3.0 N52 engine is a peach. The 125i and the 130i have the same engine but if I remember correctly you can either change the manifold to the 130i version or remap to 265bhp on the 125i.

Obviously worth having a little slush fund as cars of that age will still happily throw you an unexpected bill or two...


Gastons_Revenge

269 posts

11 months

Yesterday (15:00)
quotequote all
EuropeanBob said:
Good point there, thank you for saying your piece. I am very lazy and probably wouldn’t do a lot of maintenance work. What about a nice example though and do some preventative work every so often? I am pretty keen on getting something a bit more lively, I don’t know why, it just makes me smile thinking about having a car like that. Maybe a bit newer car would be a better idea?
Even a nice example will naturally throw more bills at you than you may expect. Rubber and plastic components perish over time regardless, my Z4 was a pretty nice one that had been cherished but I was forever chasing vacuum leaks from perished rubber hoses. If you're dead set on getting something with a bit more poke now rather than waiting until more interesting cars are insurable, then 2008 or newer would be my suggestion.

66HFM

496 posts

32 months

Yesterday (15:04)
quotequote all
Why not go for something like a Seat Leon FR for about £7k, the newer shape 2013 onwards so you're lookign at something about 10 years old rather than 15-20.

Octavia VRS may be another option along with Golf GTi etc.

My brother-in-law used to have an Impreza with gold alloys, it looked the part but certainly wasn't a WRX / STi, all show but no go!

EuropeanBob

Original Poster:

37 posts

22 months

Yesterday (15:05)
quotequote all
Hammy98 said:
325Ci and the like will be E46 generation no?

If you rely on the car for getting to work etc then I'd be looking at a 125i coupe/convertible instead - they are a generation newer and the 3.0 N52 engine is a peach. The 125i and the 130i have the same engine but if I remember correctly you can either change the manifold to the 130i version or remap to 265bhp on the 125i.

Obviously worth having a little slush fund as cars of that age will still happily throw you an unexpected bill or two...
Hadn’t thought about the 1 series coupes, good shout! I do like the look of them. Will run a few quotes.

EuropeanBob

Original Poster:

37 posts

22 months

Yesterday (15:08)
quotequote all
66HFM said:
Why not go for something like a Seat Leon FR for about £7k, the newer shape 2013 onwards so you're lookign at something about 10 years old rather than 15-20.

Octavia VRS may be another option along with Golf GTi etc.

My brother-in-law used to have an Impreza with gold alloys, it looked the part but certainly wasn't a WRX / STi, all show but no go!
I’m not so much a fan of the seat leon’s, it seems everyone my age has one now, and the octavia VRS doesn’t really tickle my fancy. I have been looking at some renaults like a 197 cup and they do look nice and reviews seem to be good. But ideally I’d go for something rwd or awd.

ZX10R NIN

28,369 posts

132 months

Yesterday (20:45)
quotequote all
EuropeanBob said:
I’m not so much a fan of the seat leon’s, it seems everyone my age has one now, and the octavia VRS doesn’t really tickle my fancy. I have been looking at some renaults like a 197 cup and they do look nice and reviews seem to be good. But ideally I’d go for something rwd or awd.
Why RWD or AWD?

Unless the WRX has had the engine rebuilt you could be looking at some hefty bills also rust could be an issue, as others have said older cars can throw up some big bills.

FWD

Asra GTC VXR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411116...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411186...

More Insurance friendly SRI 180:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411136...

Giulietta Cloverleaf:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411206...

Ceed GT Tech:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411086...

i30 T-GDI 185:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409093...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410044...

AWD

3.2 TT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411136...

2.0T S Line:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411206...

A5 S Line:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410165...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411156...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410135...

S3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411156...

Pacwman Cooper S all4:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402276...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406210...

RWD

IS250 Advance not a bad steer & they're not a maintebance heavy car & should be insurance friendly:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411136...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410095...

2.0T Infiniti Q50 Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411186...

2.0T 125i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410175...

Put the above reg's on & see what comes back with sensible numbers smile

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402146...

EuropeanBob

Original Poster:

37 posts

22 months

Yesterday (22:30)
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
Why RWD or AWD?

Unless the WRX has had the engine rebuilt you could be looking at some hefty bills also rust could be an issue, as others have said older cars can throw up some big bills.

FWD

Asra GTC VXR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411116...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411186...

More Insurance friendly SRI 180:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411136...

Giulietta Cloverleaf:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411206...

Ceed GT Tech:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411086...

i30 T-GDI 185:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409093...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410044...

AWD

3.2 TT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411136...

2.0T S Line:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411206...

A5 S Line:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410165...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411156...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410135...

S3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411156...

Pacwman Cooper S all4:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402276...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406210...

RWD

IS250 Advance not a bad steer & they're not a maintebance heavy car & should be insurance friendly:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411136...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410095...

2.0T Infiniti Q50 Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411186...

2.0T 125i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410175...

Put the above reg's on & see what comes back with sensible numbers smile

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402146...
Thank you for the suggestions! RWD or AWD because my a1 is fwd and I’d like to try something different (even though i’ve only been driving for 2 years). Heres the quotes I got in case anyone my age reads this it might help them out?! For reference my current insurance cost is 1800.

astra gtc sri 2100
giulietta cloverleaf 1900
kia ceed 1.6 gdi 2000
hyundai i30 2700
audi 3.2 tt 2000
audi tt 2.0t s line 2800
audi a5 2.0 tfsi 2700
audi s3 4700
mini paceman all4 1200
lexus is250 2400
2.0t Infiniti q50 sport 3700

I do like the look of the giulietta it’s lovely. Will do some research on it. The audi 3.2 tt also looks nice but I’m not sure about fuel efficiency and reliability so i will look into that as well.