What's a good first car??
Discussion
Hi, my names Ellie.
Basically looking at potential first cars but I'm a rooky and have no idea what I should/should not be looking for. I have £4k to spend, I'm a student so I need something that is reliable, relatively cheap to run and preferably has low insurance.
Some cars that I like include: Ford Streeka, VW Beetle (newer model), Fiesta mk6, Focus mk1, Tigra mk2 and Fiat Grande Punto. I've been advised not to go with French cars and that Ford's are the most reliable but I really have no idea whether or not that's true (are French cars really that bad?). Also, I would LOVE a convertible but apparently insurance is higher?
Anyway, need to buy a car by the end of summer (September time) and I would really appreciate advice or car's I should look at or avoid etc. Thanks
Basically looking at potential first cars but I'm a rooky and have no idea what I should/should not be looking for. I have £4k to spend, I'm a student so I need something that is reliable, relatively cheap to run and preferably has low insurance.
Some cars that I like include: Ford Streeka, VW Beetle (newer model), Fiesta mk6, Focus mk1, Tigra mk2 and Fiat Grande Punto. I've been advised not to go with French cars and that Ford's are the most reliable but I really have no idea whether or not that's true (are French cars really that bad?). Also, I would LOVE a convertible but apparently insurance is higher?
Anyway, need to buy a car by the end of summer (September time) and I would really appreciate advice or car's I should look at or avoid etc. Thanks
Welcome to Pistonheads
Does that 4k include the funding of insurance? Depends if you have any no claims, as that may be the biggest influence to your choice.
Do you need much space for luggage? Most convertibles will restrict that if you need to ship stuff about at end of term.
If you fancy a convertible, the MX5 would be well within budget and very practical from a running costs perspective - parts and servicing are cheap.
Otherwise, the Focus and Fiesta are a good bet from your list.
Also, don't rule out larger cars as they can be cheaper to insure (strangely) and maintain - cars like a Ford Mondeo, Volvo V40/S40, Saab 93/95. Also, an older car like a Volvo 740 will be a big, comfy shed for a few years, easy for any mechanic to maintain and fairly bullet proof.
Depends on what you need it for really - just for fun and odd runs, or regular commuting and long journeys?
For insurance, try looking for a limited mileage policy and adding parents to the policy to keep it down. Try the price comparison sites, but ringing around tends to get teh best deal. Endsleigh can be good for students, also try Adrian Flux, Saffron and any brokers recommended by your student union.
Does that 4k include the funding of insurance? Depends if you have any no claims, as that may be the biggest influence to your choice.
Do you need much space for luggage? Most convertibles will restrict that if you need to ship stuff about at end of term.
If you fancy a convertible, the MX5 would be well within budget and very practical from a running costs perspective - parts and servicing are cheap.
Otherwise, the Focus and Fiesta are a good bet from your list.
Also, don't rule out larger cars as they can be cheaper to insure (strangely) and maintain - cars like a Ford Mondeo, Volvo V40/S40, Saab 93/95. Also, an older car like a Volvo 740 will be a big, comfy shed for a few years, easy for any mechanic to maintain and fairly bullet proof.
Depends on what you need it for really - just for fun and odd runs, or regular commuting and long journeys?
For insurance, try looking for a limited mileage policy and adding parents to the policy to keep it down. Try the price comparison sites, but ringing around tends to get teh best deal. Endsleigh can be good for students, also try Adrian Flux, Saffron and any brokers recommended by your student union.
im surprised no one has demanded pictures of you yet
Personally, i would look at the classifieds for the cars you have mentioned, get some numberplates and then go to something like gocompare.com put all your details in and then just edit the quote with the different cars to get an idea what one would be better cost wise.
Another recommendation would be to add a parent to your policy as a named driver, this will reduce your premium a little in most cases.
Good luck!
What about a mini one? - it will hold its money well and they are kind of funky
Personally, i would look at the classifieds for the cars you have mentioned, get some numberplates and then go to something like gocompare.com put all your details in and then just edit the quote with the different cars to get an idea what one would be better cost wise.
Another recommendation would be to add a parent to your policy as a named driver, this will reduce your premium a little in most cases.
Good luck!
What about a mini one? - it will hold its money well and they are kind of funky
Thesaint01708 said:
im surprised no one has demanded pictures of you yet
See profile.Older well maintained Ford KA for half your budget. Fun for what it is, cheap to run/insure (the outright value will help) and you won't mind if it takes a scratch, scrape or some interior wear which is likely if it's your first car and at uni.
If the £4k includes insurance, then as mentioned, get insurance quotes first. The less the insurance costs you, the more you have towards a car. The more insurance costs, the less you have for a car.
As for car suggestions, stick to small superminis such as The Ford Ka,fiesta, VW polo, Lupo, Seat Ibiza,Arosa. Nissan Micra. Toyota Yaris.
Ensure the car has full service history. Buying from a dealer might have less value, but more buyer protection. If you want a reliable car, try and pick one of the above cars in an entry level spec. You are more likely to find a much newer/low mileage car for your budget. If you aren't bothered about auto/manual box, you might find better value (and lower miles) in an auto car.
As for car suggestions, stick to small superminis such as The Ford Ka,fiesta, VW polo, Lupo, Seat Ibiza,Arosa. Nissan Micra. Toyota Yaris.
Ensure the car has full service history. Buying from a dealer might have less value, but more buyer protection. If you want a reliable car, try and pick one of the above cars in an entry level spec. You are more likely to find a much newer/low mileage car for your budget. If you aren't bothered about auto/manual box, you might find better value (and lower miles) in an auto car.
Thanks, loads of tips. I was on my mum's insurance for two years but only with a provisional licence and i think its only Tesco that accept that as 2 years no claims. unfortunately my mum wont put me on her insurance in fear I might ruin all her Sunday driving hard work to get a stupidly low insurance 
I said to someone I like the little Mircra's but I keep getting stick for liking "granny cars", I didn't even think they looked that bad! Also 2 seater's are quite attractive because at uni I live with climbers who have already said they'll be nagging me for lifts so a 2 seater's a great excuse to not be able to taxi them everywhere :P
Luggage space isn't a huge issue, the Streetka actually has a boot which is handy. I will be doing occasional long trips as I live near Cambs but go to uni in Bangor N.W Wales (please refrain from sheep jokes!). On the off chance on a log trip I am in a crash I really don't want a car that's going to be crushed like its made of foil... I need some safety.
The £4k I have is all for a car, by the end of summer I should have another £1k for insurance but I don't know whether I should blow it all on insurance in one go and not have any money spare in case it breaks down/needs repairs etc. I don't know whether I should keep the cash in case anything goes wrong or pay the insurance in 1 go? I definitely have at least £3 to spend entirely on a car.
I had looked at that MX5 but I think someone told me that I might find it hard to drive because of where the engine is? I may be confused with something else but I do remember looking at that car and I did like it
Great feedback everyone, thank you!
I said to someone I like the little Mircra's but I keep getting stick for liking "granny cars", I didn't even think they looked that bad! Also 2 seater's are quite attractive because at uni I live with climbers who have already said they'll be nagging me for lifts so a 2 seater's a great excuse to not be able to taxi them everywhere :P
Luggage space isn't a huge issue, the Streetka actually has a boot which is handy. I will be doing occasional long trips as I live near Cambs but go to uni in Bangor N.W Wales (please refrain from sheep jokes!). On the off chance on a log trip I am in a crash I really don't want a car that's going to be crushed like its made of foil... I need some safety.
The £4k I have is all for a car, by the end of summer I should have another £1k for insurance but I don't know whether I should blow it all on insurance in one go and not have any money spare in case it breaks down/needs repairs etc. I don't know whether I should keep the cash in case anything goes wrong or pay the insurance in 1 go? I definitely have at least £3 to spend entirely on a car.
I had looked at that MX5 but I think someone told me that I might find it hard to drive because of where the engine is? I may be confused with something else but I do remember looking at that car and I did like it
Great feedback everyone, thank you!
3 posts in and somebody mentions an mx5 only on ph. Anyway Most ka before 2001 will rust to peieces so get a slightly newer one they dont tend to rust as much. If you were going to look a french cars and i tend to avoid them then citroen c1 or c2 or good cars dont tend to have many faults on them stay clear of the c3 rubbish cars.
Insurance will be the main part to decide on what car you can buy for 4 grand. Bigger cars are cheaper to insurue well for me anyway. 1.8 mg zs for £1500 when a saxo, corsa are £2500.
Look around on the classifieds to see what you like then get an insurance quote on it you will get the best quotes on the phone i find.
And if you do go for the mx5 ph will love you.
Insurance will be the main part to decide on what car you can buy for 4 grand. Bigger cars are cheaper to insurue well for me anyway. 1.8 mg zs for £1500 when a saxo, corsa are £2500.
Look around on the classifieds to see what you like then get an insurance quote on it you will get the best quotes on the phone i find.
And if you do go for the mx5 ph will love you.
LEG13 said:
Thanks, loads of tips. I was on my mum's insurance for two years but only with a provisional licence and i think its only Tesco that accept that as 2 years no claims. unfortunately my mum wont put me on her insurance in fear I might ruin all her Sunday driving hard work to get a stupidly low insurance
I said to someone I like the little Mircra's but I keep getting stick for liking "granny cars", I didn't even think they looked that bad! Also 2 seater's are quite attractive because at uni I live with climbers who have already said they'll be nagging me for lifts so a 2 seater's a great excuse to not be able to taxi them everywhere :P
Luggage space isn't a huge issue, the Streetka actually has a boot which is handy. I will be doing occasional long trips as I live near Cambs but go to uni in Bangor N.W Wales (please refrain from sheep jokes!). On the off chance on a log trip I am in a crash I really don't want a car that's going to be crushed like its made of foil... I need some safety.
The £4k I have is all for a car, by the end of summer I should have another £1k for insurance but I don't know whether I should blow it all on insurance in one go and not have any money spare in case it breaks down/needs repairs etc. I don't know whether I should keep the cash in case anything goes wrong or pay the insurance in 1 go? I definitely have at least £3 to spend entirely on a car.
I had looked at that MX5 but I think someone told me that I might find it hard to drive because of where the engine is? I may be confused with something else but I do remember looking at that car and I did like it
Great feedback everyone, thank you!
Hi I said to someone I like the little Mircra's but I keep getting stick for liking "granny cars", I didn't even think they looked that bad! Also 2 seater's are quite attractive because at uni I live with climbers who have already said they'll be nagging me for lifts so a 2 seater's a great excuse to not be able to taxi them everywhere :P
Luggage space isn't a huge issue, the Streetka actually has a boot which is handy. I will be doing occasional long trips as I live near Cambs but go to uni in Bangor N.W Wales (please refrain from sheep jokes!). On the off chance on a log trip I am in a crash I really don't want a car that's going to be crushed like its made of foil... I need some safety.
The £4k I have is all for a car, by the end of summer I should have another £1k for insurance but I don't know whether I should blow it all on insurance in one go and not have any money spare in case it breaks down/needs repairs etc. I don't know whether I should keep the cash in case anything goes wrong or pay the insurance in 1 go? I definitely have at least £3 to spend entirely on a car.
I had looked at that MX5 but I think someone told me that I might find it hard to drive because of where the engine is? I may be confused with something else but I do remember looking at that car and I did like it
Great feedback everyone, thank you!
You will not find the mx5 hard to drive at all. The engine is in the front as on most cars, but the drive goes to the rear wheels. TBH they are not that powerful so you shouldn't be found accidentally drifting round tesco's carpark :P
My first car was a 1.2 W reg punto, great little car, cheap to buy, run and insure and looked funky enough. Fiestas are always popular.
Thinking out of the box.. kit cars are very cheap to insure and individual. This was mine at 19..
So theres always that option, but people tend to go for the more mainstream stuff which I understand, but it's hard to justify spending more on insurance than the cars actual worth.
You could always trawl through ebay or PH classified and post some links up here of cars you would consider
MG CHRIS said:
Thats a gtm libra am i right. Nice car like the look of kit cars looking at a quantum really cheap insurance on them.
Yeah I loved that car. Spend a year building it to be wiped off the road by some idiot 5 months after I finished it. Long as you buy a kit car that's well built, which is obviously all down to the individual who built it, then you should have no more trouble than any normal car.
I would say 1.4 or 1.6 Ford Focus,
Very reliable and you should be able to get insured on it fairly easy with the left over money.
There are some really tidy examples about and they are safe.
Look decent and go / handle well. Certainly gets my vote.
RE Safety - Focus is quite good you can get models with ESP fitted and with side airbags too!
Very reliable and you should be able to get insured on it fairly easy with the left over money.
There are some really tidy examples about and they are safe.
Look decent and go / handle well. Certainly gets my vote.
RE Safety - Focus is quite good you can get models with ESP fitted and with side airbags too!
Edited by giggity on Sunday 19th June 13:31
Has to be a 'bubble shape' K11 Micra.
But I'd only spend around a grand to £1500 on one - that's more than enough to buy a really nice one.
Look for a 1.3 if you can afford the insurance - the rare 1.3 Super S is worth searching out and is a hoot to drive.
Forget the MX5 idea - insurance will cost you a fortune, the boot is tiny, and you'll get 30mpg when the Micra will get 45.
But I'd only spend around a grand to £1500 on one - that's more than enough to buy a really nice one.
Look for a 1.3 if you can afford the insurance - the rare 1.3 Super S is worth searching out and is a hoot to drive.
Forget the MX5 idea - insurance will cost you a fortune, the boot is tiny, and you'll get 30mpg when the Micra will get 45.
Yazza54 said:
MG CHRIS said:
Thats a gtm libra am i right. Nice car like the look of kit cars looking at a quantum really cheap insurance on them.
Yeah I loved that car. Spend a year building it to be wiped off the road by some idiot 5 months after I finished it. Long as you buy a kit car that's well built, which is obviously all down to the individual who built it, then you should have no more trouble than any normal car.
ambuletz said:
^ Perhaps you're confusing that with an MR2? If anything, an MX-5 will be an absolute joy to drive.
Probably was then, I would just love a little convertible for those days I can just put the roof down and drive anywhere for no reason. Have to say Wales offers some amazing roads and scenery! I'm already getting excited 
But then my head says no get a Punto/Polo/Fiesta something more 'sensible' and I'm genuinely just stuck again.
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