Buying first car
Discussion
Not sure if this goes here, but it looks like it should...
I'm taking my theory on Thursday, then booking my practical straight away... a 6 week waiting list, I'm looking at passing towards the end of July or so (on the assumption that I pass first time of course...) and I'll be wanting to buy a car. This is where I'm stuck...
I was thinking maybe a Focus? A Zetec most probably. I'm going to be getting a loan from the bank to cover the car and the first years insurance as I want to get a car I'll be keeping for at least 3yrs...so I want it to be decent! Not looking for the most powerful car int he world (perhaps ~1.6) but I don't want to get kicked in the teeth on insurance.
Do you guys have any recommendations/tips/advice on what to get? Is a Focus a good choice? Or is there something better and more suited as a first car...I'm not gonna be caning it around like some boy racer or anything, but I want it to be able to open up and go on a moterway, if I need it to.
TIA,
Alex
I'm taking my theory on Thursday, then booking my practical straight away... a 6 week waiting list, I'm looking at passing towards the end of July or so (on the assumption that I pass first time of course...) and I'll be wanting to buy a car. This is where I'm stuck...
I was thinking maybe a Focus? A Zetec most probably. I'm going to be getting a loan from the bank to cover the car and the first years insurance as I want to get a car I'll be keeping for at least 3yrs...so I want it to be decent! Not looking for the most powerful car int he world (perhaps ~1.6) but I don't want to get kicked in the teeth on insurance.
Do you guys have any recommendations/tips/advice on what to get? Is a Focus a good choice? Or is there something better and more suited as a first car...I'm not gonna be caning it around like some boy racer or anything, but I want it to be able to open up and go on a moterway, if I need it to.
TIA,
Alex
Cars that tend to be driven by young drivers tend to have a higher insurance loading so getting something more unusual can net you cheaper insurance. For example, when I was 19 or so and looking for insurance, I found that I could insure a Focus 1.8 saloon for just over £700 whereas to insure a 1.8 Focus hatch would have cost about £1400. Needles to say I bought the saloon 
As a bonus, the saloon is cheaper to buy too and has a slightly higher top speed and marginally better mpg according to the manufacturer stats.
As a bonus, the saloon is cheaper to buy too and has a slightly higher top speed and marginally better mpg according to the manufacturer stats.
Mighty Racoon said:
Sweet. Cheers people, opening my mind a bit here.
I want something that'll be pretty nippy when I want it to be. I'm gonna be travelling on moterways quite a bit...
Would a 306 be an ok choice?
Interested in this, i'm away to buy my first car aswell, if you don't mind the thread hijack, 306 HDi is top of list atm.I want something that'll be pretty nippy when I want it to be. I'm gonna be travelling on moterways quite a bit...
Would a 306 be an ok choice?
The Focus worked out very good to insure when I last checked...
I imagine £1000 for the first annum would be doing well after passing the test. I paid £1400 for a 1.6 engined car almost 4 years ago when I passed my test, but I hear it has become more expensive since.
Wow, I feel old uttering that last sentence!
I imagine £1000 for the first annum would be doing well after passing the test. I paid £1400 for a 1.6 engined car almost 4 years ago when I passed my test, but I hear it has become more expensive since.
Wow, I feel old uttering that last sentence!
Are you into your cars and wanting to cut your teeth in learning car mechanics/modifying etc.?
If so I'd go for a classic which you can insure cheap, fix cheaply and easily, and have a lot more fun with!
I'm thinking mini, mk1 xr2, mk2 escort, capri, mg midget, mgb, hillman imp, beetle ...........
If it's a modern you want, what can you insure an mx5 for? Or more sensibly a 106 rallye?
If so I'd go for a classic which you can insure cheap, fix cheaply and easily, and have a lot more fun with!
I'm thinking mini, mk1 xr2, mk2 escort, capri, mg midget, mgb, hillman imp, beetle ...........
If it's a modern you want, what can you insure an mx5 for? Or more sensibly a 106 rallye?
oversteerxj12 said:
Are you into your cars and wanting to cut your teeth in learning car mechanics/modifying etc.?
If so I'd go for a classic which you can insure cheap, fix cheaply and easily, and have a lot more fun with!
I'm thinking mini, mk1 xr2, mk2 escort, capri, mg midget, mgb, hillman imp, beetle ...........
If it's a modern you want, what can you insure an mx5 for? Or more sensibly a 106 rallye?
No chance for MX5 or 106R as a first car. Insurance is ridiculous nowadays, I wouldn't appreciate being 17 again!If so I'd go for a classic which you can insure cheap, fix cheaply and easily, and have a lot more fun with!
I'm thinking mini, mk1 xr2, mk2 escort, capri, mg midget, mgb, hillman imp, beetle ...........
If it's a modern you want, what can you insure an mx5 for? Or more sensibly a 106 rallye?
oversteerxj12 said:
Are you into your cars and wanting to cut your teeth in learning car mechanics/modifying etc.?
If so I'd go for a classic which you can insure cheap, fix cheaply and easily, and have a lot more fun with!
I'm thinking mini, mk1 xr2, mk2 escort, capri, mg midget, mgb, hillman imp, beetle ...........
If it's a modern you want, what can you insure an mx5 for? Or more sensibly a 106 rallye?
I can't comment on the classic cars, but in my experience (18 years old, 1 year driving) MX5's are expensive to insure (the 1.6!) and a Rallye is still a considerable amount If so I'd go for a classic which you can insure cheap, fix cheaply and easily, and have a lot more fun with!
I'm thinking mini, mk1 xr2, mk2 escort, capri, mg midget, mgb, hillman imp, beetle ...........
If it's a modern you want, what can you insure an mx5 for? Or more sensibly a 106 rallye?
!I had a 306 1.6 as a second car at the age of 19, insurance wasnt much more than the 1.0 Micra I had before it.
If you can find one, the sedan model may look odd but it handles better owing to newer rear suspension design, which I think featured on the 406 launched shortly afterwards.
Mine was a 1.6 SL, even had alloys !
If you can find one, the sedan model may look odd but it handles better owing to newer rear suspension design, which I think featured on the 406 launched shortly afterwards.
Mine was a 1.6 SL, even had alloys !
My sister has just passed her test and awaiting delivery of a V-reg Clio 1.4 16V Alize, great looking car for a small hatch, and decently quick performace for the engine size (very similar to 1.6 focus).
Think the insurance for her own policy, with myself (20yr old female) and our mum is around £1050 so not bad at all for a first car.
I insured a 1.8 Focus 3 months after passing my test 2 years ago, cost me £900 but I'm a girl and in a great postcode area. A 1.1 litre Peugeot 206, my first ever car, cost me £1300. Doesn't make sense!
Think the insurance for her own policy, with myself (20yr old female) and our mum is around £1050 so not bad at all for a first car.
I insured a 1.8 Focus 3 months after passing my test 2 years ago, cost me £900 but I'm a girl and in a great postcode area. A 1.1 litre Peugeot 206, my first ever car, cost me £1300. Doesn't make sense!
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