What's a good first car??
Discussion
Morris Minor
Mini
MG Midget
MG MGB
BMC 1100/1300
Austin Maxi
BMC Landcrab
All can be bought with MOT and Tax for under £1000 and can all be insured by a 20 year old for under £1000 (Under £400 in some cases) with a specialist classic car insurer. Plus they're not dull like modern superminis. If none of the above interest you, most common classics are just as easy to use as a first car.
Mini
MG Midget
MG MGB
BMC 1100/1300
Austin Maxi
BMC Landcrab
All can be bought with MOT and Tax for under £1000 and can all be insured by a 20 year old for under £1000 (Under £400 in some cases) with a specialist classic car insurer. Plus they're not dull like modern superminis. If none of the above interest you, most common classics are just as easy to use as a first car.
But they're all at least one of the following:
Prone to rust
Don't start in the wet
Prone to rust
Break down lots
Prone to rust
Noisy
Prone to rust
Uncomfortable
Prone to rust
Not very nice to drive
Prone to rust
Ugly as sin
And did I mention the rust?
Not to mention, some of those are bigger engined cars, so insurers still won't be too keen on a young driver - especially if you can't find a classic insurer to cover you.
Prone to rust
Don't start in the wet
Prone to rust
Break down lots
Prone to rust
Noisy
Prone to rust
Uncomfortable
Prone to rust
Not very nice to drive
Prone to rust
Ugly as sin
And did I mention the rust?
Not to mention, some of those are bigger engined cars, so insurers still won't be too keen on a young driver - especially if you can't find a classic insurer to cover you.
You could get a fairly nice MG Midget for your budget.
Thats where my money would be going
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2745305.htm
A bit of a haggle and it would be all yours!
Go on...!!
Thats where my money would be going
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2745305.htm
A bit of a haggle and it would be all yours!
Go on...!!
Synchromesh said:
I've got a Polo and have to say I've been very pleased with it. For under £4k, which was my budget incidentally, you should be able to get a very good condition 9n model (9n is the model from 02-05).
For my £4k I got a 2003 Polo 1.4 Sport 100 (picture in my profile) with FSH and 42,000 miles. If you weren't so interested in performance I'd stick to the 1.4 75 or 86 bhp as it, as it would be cheaper to insure, more economical, and has just as much low down torque so wouldn't feel any slower in the "real world". Avoid the 1.2, as they are very underpowered with just 55 or 65 bhp, in quite a heavy car for it's class.
What I like most about it is it's all round solidity which makes it feel "a class above" (e.g. interior lights that dim down slowly), nice interior, good spec (A/C, cd changer, excellent stereo sound quality, 4 airbags, etc) and comfortable ride.
What I dislike is that the handling isn't very "sharp" (but is comfortable instead so it's swings and roundabouts), the lack of torque for the horsepower (i.e. it only comes alive over 4k rpm) and the fuel economy (25mpg around town, 35mpg on a mixed run, and 40mpg at 80mph). However, these criticisms would be reduced by opting for the 1.4 75 or 86 bhp instead, which would also be cheaper to buy and insure.
On the subject of insurance mine costed £1000 for the year, as an 18 y/o male with 1 year NCB, parked on the street in Bristol. This was with Admiral, and I'm sure you're insurance would be less than mine.
Here are some examples, all for under £4k:
1) This is the 86 bhp model, which is more powerful AND more economical than the 75 bhp as it's FSI
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
2) For something a little different you could get the DUNE model. It looks a little 'funkier' but don't expect it to better off road than a normal polo, it's differences are only cosmetic
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
3) Your budget will JUST scrape you into the earlier 9n2 models (05-09) which are basically just a facelift of the 9n, but the same underneath.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
HTH
ETA: This and that...
That's great thank you, Polo is in the top 3 For my £4k I got a 2003 Polo 1.4 Sport 100 (picture in my profile) with FSH and 42,000 miles. If you weren't so interested in performance I'd stick to the 1.4 75 or 86 bhp as it, as it would be cheaper to insure, more economical, and has just as much low down torque so wouldn't feel any slower in the "real world". Avoid the 1.2, as they are very underpowered with just 55 or 65 bhp, in quite a heavy car for it's class.
What I like most about it is it's all round solidity which makes it feel "a class above" (e.g. interior lights that dim down slowly), nice interior, good spec (A/C, cd changer, excellent stereo sound quality, 4 airbags, etc) and comfortable ride.
What I dislike is that the handling isn't very "sharp" (but is comfortable instead so it's swings and roundabouts), the lack of torque for the horsepower (i.e. it only comes alive over 4k rpm) and the fuel economy (25mpg around town, 35mpg on a mixed run, and 40mpg at 80mph). However, these criticisms would be reduced by opting for the 1.4 75 or 86 bhp instead, which would also be cheaper to buy and insure.
On the subject of insurance mine costed £1000 for the year, as an 18 y/o male with 1 year NCB, parked on the street in Bristol. This was with Admiral, and I'm sure you're insurance would be less than mine.
Here are some examples, all for under £4k:
1) This is the 86 bhp model, which is more powerful AND more economical than the 75 bhp as it's FSI
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
2) For something a little different you could get the DUNE model. It looks a little 'funkier' but don't expect it to better off road than a normal polo, it's differences are only cosmetic
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
3) Your budget will JUST scrape you into the earlier 9n2 models (05-09) which are basically just a facelift of the 9n, but the same underneath.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
HTH
ETA: This and that...
Edited by Synchromesh on Sunday 19th June 15:29
great links there insurance is surprisingly good too! Nice Polo you you have there! Hard to find similar Polo's for that price now! Maybe I'm not searching hard enough.VeeFour said:
But they're all at least one of the following:
Prone to rust
Yet many young people still have Minis and Ford Kas as there first car
Don't start in the wet
They all do most of the time
Prone to rust
You've said that already
Break down lots
But are cheap to fix and you think that Rovers also always break down
Prone to rust
Now that's just not funny
Noisy
Not normally, and many people like there cars to be noisy
Prone to rust
That's just immature
Uncomfortable
No there not
Prone to rust
Stop it
Not very nice to drive
Their much more interesting to drive than modern superminis
Prone to rust
WTF?
Ugly as sin
No there not
And did I mention the rust?
Did I mention that classics are good first cars?
Not to mention, some of those are bigger engined cars, so insurers still won't be too keen on a young driver - especially if you can't find a classic insurer to cover you.
It is possible, but yes it isn't that easy.
I don't mean to offend you, i'm just telling you that it is quite a good idea to have a classic first car.
Prone to rust
Yet many young people still have Minis and Ford Kas as there first car
Don't start in the wet
They all do most of the time
Prone to rust
You've said that already
Break down lots
But are cheap to fix and you think that Rovers also always break down
Prone to rust
Now that's just not funny
Noisy
Not normally, and many people like there cars to be noisy
Prone to rust
That's just immature
Uncomfortable
No there not
Prone to rust
Stop it
Not very nice to drive
Their much more interesting to drive than modern superminis
Prone to rust
WTF?
Ugly as sin
No there not
And did I mention the rust?
Did I mention that classics are good first cars?
Not to mention, some of those are bigger engined cars, so insurers still won't be too keen on a young driver - especially if you can't find a classic insurer to cover you.
It is possible, but yes it isn't that easy.
I don't mean to offend you, i'm just telling you that it is quite a good idea to have a classic first car.
cheesyblob said:
I don't mean to offend you, i'm just telling you that it is quite a good idea to have a classic first car.
No, really, it's not.I'm going to wing it here and assume that a young-ish girl wants something that's not going to need maintaining most weekends, isn't going to need parts tracking down from specialists in brown coats, isn't going to rust (yes, Kas do rust, but nowhere near as badly as something built by British Leyland), wants heating that works, wipers that clear the screen, probably would quite like air-conditioning, will turn in decent economy, run on bog standard unleaded without modification or additives, will cruise at 80mph without feeling like it'll fall apart, or take a week to get there.
I love old cars, but they have their place - and it's not as daily drivers for young people.
As for the suggestions of 1960s/1970s ragtops.... how many of those who suggest these kind of things have used a 30 / 40 year old ragtop in a British winter? - I have. It was deeply unpleasant - especially on the days where I had to chip the ice off the inside of the windscreen before setting off, or those days where the only way to keep the screen clear was to drop the roof when it was minus 10 outside.
Mrs VeeFour is a car enthusiast - but she won't drive our GTV unless she has no other choice, as she finds 30-odd year old cars difficult to drive, and finds it terrifying in wet / icy conditions.
Hey, I used my MX-5 with the roof down during the winter, when it was -10. I'm wondering if I'll go for it when it's -20 this winter. Part of the worry is you're not supposed to lower the roof when it's less than -5. Anyway, it's got nothing to do with the temperature being -10, it's about wearing the right clothes for it. Just have lots of layers and it's great fun. Plus you get a lot of friendly waves/ people thinking you're crazy!
MX5guy said:
Hey, I used my MX-5 with the roof down during the winter, when it was -10. I'm wondering if I'll go for it when it's -20 this winter. Part of the worry is you're not supposed to lower the roof when it's less than -5. Anyway, it's got nothing to do with the temperature being -10, it's about wearing the right clothes for it. Just have lots of layers and it's great fun. Plus you get a lot of friendly waves/ people thinking you're crazy!
I've done it - it was still very cold in the mornings when I bought mine back in March.However - MX5s have heaters which work pretty well, and you were prepared for it (as was I).
I'm talking about starting your commute, not being able to get enough heat into the car, so dropping the roof to give you some visibility. It wasn't nice - my breath was freezing on the screen quicker than the de-mister could clear it!
MX5guy said:
Hey, I used my MX-5 with the roof down during the winter, when it was -10. I'm wondering if I'll go for it when it's -20 this winter. Part of the worry is you're not supposed to lower the roof when it's less than -5. Anyway, it's got nothing to do with the temperature being -10, it's about wearing the right clothes for it. Just have lots of layers and it's great fun. Plus you get a lot of friendly waves/ people thinking you're crazy!
Surely your face suffers doing that unless you wear a sky mask/balaclava, in which case yes you do look crazy. Too cold for me I'm afraid! That is another point though, I need a car that can handle some pretty steep icy Welsh hills. Maybe I'll get the Fabia now and the MX-5 for the summer : P LEG13 said:
Surely your face suffers doing that unless you wear a sky mask/balaclava, in which case yes you do look crazy. Too cold for me I'm afraid! That is another point though, I need a car that can handle some pretty steep icy Welsh hills. Maybe I'll get the Fabia now and the MX-5 for the summer : P
That's probably the answer, if you can afford to do both.I wouldn't want to use a MkI or MkII MX5 as a daily driver all year around - if only because both the MkI and MkII can suffer from horrendous rust issues.
LEG13 said:
Ha yes well there's a good point. My friend has a Toyota Yaris and I really like it but was put off when she took 4 of us out and she had her foot the whole way down and it felt like we were doing 30mph it was so frustrating. Maybe I
should see what its like with just me.
Sadly you will probably find that in nearly every car you can get for your first car, my 1.1 C2 is very nice but I do need to put my foot down if I have passengers but seeing as I'm 20 next year I'm going to try and get a bigger engined car. should see what its like with just me.
Yazza54 said:
Sporty mx5 bird to skoda pensioner in one day thanks to pistonheads 
You're doing the right thing though.
I KNOW! What the hell? I came on thinking yeah Ph will tell me what I want- blow my money on some fun. But no, I'm being swayed to a Fabia! And I was told Micra's are too granny-looking... I guess I'll be happy next year when You're doing the right thing though.
I come back on with some more money, more NCB and am deciding between some proper cars.
Even though the Streetka is (apparently) so bad, it is pretty nice. My sister had one and I loved it. I'm gutted the insurance for the MX-5 is so stupid otherwise HELL YES. My purse will be better off if I get a Polo or Fabia but I want a FUN car. If I have a couple of years without driving at all will that help with the insurance or do I actually have to be on some sort of insurance to build up no claims?
I'd almost rather wait and not drive at all and get a car I really want later, but then any car would be so much better and I'll have freedom...
LEG13 said:
Yazza54 said:
Sporty mx5 bird to skoda pensioner in one day thanks to pistonheads
You're doing the right thing though.
I KNOW! What the hell? I came on thinking yeah Ph will tell me what I want- blow my money on some fun. But no, I'm being swayed to a Fabia! And I was told Micra's are too granny-looking... I guess I'll be happy next year when You're doing the right thing though.
I come back on with some more money, more NCB and am deciding between some proper cars.
Even though the Streetka is (apparently) so bad, it is pretty nice. My sister had one and I loved it. I'm gutted the insurance for the MX-5 is so stupid otherwise HELL YES. My purse will be better off if I get a Polo or Fabia but I want a FUN car. If I have a couple of years without driving at all will that help with the insurance or do I actually have to be on some sort of insurance to build up no claims?
I'd almost rather wait and not drive at all and get a car I really want later, but then any car would be so much better and I'll have freedom...
Just buy a normal first car and go places and enjoy it. The novelty of folding roof or speed etc soon wear off, at the end of the day it's all about freedom and being able to do what you want when you want. Out of the cars I've had I think my fiat punto was possibly one of the most fun. Slow but nippy, cheap and wasn't worried about anyone messing with it. Went everywhere and had a lot of laughs, in the process built up some NCB. That's the best advice I can give
VeeFour said:
I've done it - it was still very cold in the mornings when I bought mine back in March.
However - MX5s have heaters which work pretty well, and you were prepared for it (as was I).
I'm talking about starting your commute, not being able to get enough heat into the car, so dropping the roof to give you some visibility. It wasn't nice - my breath was freezing on the screen quicker than the de-mister could clear it!
Yes, I have to admit the heaters do seem to work pretty well. I just put loads of clothes on, aimed one heater at my hands (thin gloves to make sure I could feel/ not slip on the steering wheel) and one aimed at my face. I haven't had problems with water in the car resulting on the window steaming up. I guess that's the benefits of a more modern car.However - MX5s have heaters which work pretty well, and you were prepared for it (as was I).
I'm talking about starting your commute, not being able to get enough heat into the car, so dropping the roof to give you some visibility. It wasn't nice - my breath was freezing on the screen quicker than the de-mister could clear it!
LEG13 said:
Surely your face suffers doing that unless you wear a sky mask/balaclava, in which case yes you do look crazy. Too cold for me I'm afraid! That is another point though, I need a car that can handle some pretty steep icy Welsh hills. Maybe I'll get the Fabia now and the MX-5 for the summer : P
I don't remember it affecting my face (although saying that my face is not perhaps the best to start with! 
), but as I said I had the benefits of modern heaters (Mk.2). No ski mask etc. I used my MX-5 during winter here in Norway, and generally it was very good (with winter tyres). The only time I had a problem was spinning it in a tunnel once. That was slightly scary!It sounds like the best thing to do is get the Fabia, build NCB and then get the MX-5 when you can afford it. They're apparently pretty good fun too from what I've heard.
VeeFour said:
That's probably the answer, if you can afford to do both.
I wouldn't want to use a MkI or MkII MX5 as a daily driver all year around - if only because both the MkI and MkII can suffer from horrendous rust issues.
I've used mine as a daily driver. I know the Mk 2 can have problems in particular (saving costs) but make sure you get a good example, then look after it (i.e. rustproof it with something and redo every few years). However if you're looking for speed then it's not the best thing - 8 seconds or so to 60mph is not that great compared to a lot of modern stuff now. Still, on the bends or on a day with the sun out on the open road... I wouldn't want to use a MkI or MkII MX5 as a daily driver all year around - if only because both the MkI and MkII can suffer from horrendous rust issues.
LEG13 said:
That's great thank you, Polo is in the top 3 great links there insurance is surprisingly good too! Nice Polo you you have there! Hard to find similar Polo's for that price now! Maybe I'm not searching hard enough.
Thanks. Not too hard to find although Polos aren't as common as, say, Fiestas - use the search function on Auto trader. These are all within 100 miles of Bangor, and there were more. great links there insurance is surprisingly good too! Nice Polo you you have there! Hard to find similar Polo's for that price now! Maybe I'm not searching hard enough.You should also decide if you want 5 door or 3 door. One of the main reasons I chose the Polo was wanting 5 door ruled out quite a few possibilites in terms of my choice of car.
With some very nice Polos available for under £4k, I don't see any reason for choosing the Fabia over it (which is the same car underneath), as some of the Polo's key strengths (namely the interior) are negated by choosing the Skoda.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
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