So I'm looking for a new car
Discussion
calum93 said:
my pride and joy, my mk4 1.4 golf.
eh? 
and 
calum93 said:
I'm 18 and have a crash under my belt (although it wasn't deemed my fault it will still bump up the insurance a little)
Classics and kits will be best on insurance. And at 18 there is absolutely no reason at all to buy a boring (aka sensible) Golf type car.calum93 said:
I want something sporty looking
Why not something actually sporty? 
calum93 said:
I've been looking at mk5 golfs
That's hardly sporty. In fact its prime candidate bland.calum93 said:
I don't want to be spending 6k on a car with 70k miles on the clock.
Mileage is a fallacy and a folly.Low miles does NOT mean good condition or reliable. And it's equally true that high mileage does NOT mean bad condition and unreliable.
calum93 said:
Anyone been in my place before and/or have any good advice for me on what to get, any ideas considered.
Really? Ok I've got a few.calum93 said:
I have a budget of up to 6k.
Cheers
Is this £6k cash or just £6k's worth of finance?Cheers
As I said - don't be dull and boring. Plenty of time for that when you are older and more boring anyhow (happens to most people). When you have responsibilities and truly need more seats and a boot.
Remember - a hatchback, any hatchback is a compromise and designed to maximise packaging for people carrying with a boot. It is the least ideal shape/configuration for performance and fun.
To that end I'd look at some of these. I suspect if you search enough you'll be amazed and pleased at insurance quotes. Although online comparison sites are not the way to go - you'll need to phone up some specialist and maybe look at joining an owners club.
1972 Chrome Bumper MGB Roadster reduced to £5850 (1972)
£5,850
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3031025.htm
2000 X Reg MAZDA MX-5 1.8i Convertible (2000)
83,000 miles £2,900
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3054389.htm
Gtm Spyder 1.8VVC Kitcar (2003)
3,200 miles £6,500
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2647102.htm
Stunning Lotus Excel 2.2 FH 2+2 In Lemon Yellow (1984)
£5,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3093500.htm
ROBIN HOOD 2B SILVER/ BLACK CARBON FIBRE (2009)
7,000 miles £5,650
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3079768.htm
Veranti (factory Built) (1992)
1,000 miles £5,000
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2840597.htm
Quantum 2 + 2 (convertible) (1997)
£2,495
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2821691.htm
MARLIN 5EXI (2008)
3,800 miles £6,500
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2742399.htm
TRIUMPH DOLOMITE SPRINT (1978)
£4,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3090353.htm
Triumph 2.5 S m.o.d Totally original low millage car (1977)
59,000 miles £5,795
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3031208.htm
ludicrous speed said:
I hope he's good with the spanners if he goes for any of 300ton/bhp's suggestions, MX5 excepted of course.
If you buy something sorted I don't see that you'd really need to be. Sure you could if you wanted to, either for fun & enjoyment or just to keep costs lower.But all of them where either mass produced or used mass produced running gear. If in order there's no reason they can't be reliable and usable.
On the flip side - take them to a garage. They are all easy to work on, so any local mechanic will be able to take care of them. This generally means lower cost of maintenance.
To offset these costs even further. All of the cars listed have very good residuals, in fact some will be gaining money. So in 3 years time any of them will be worth pretty much what you paid for them.
In 3 years time a £6k Golf will have lost £1000's.
300bhp/ton said:
If you buy something sorted I don't see that you'd really need to be. Sure you could if you wanted to, either for fun & enjoyment or just to keep costs lower.
I fully agree with this, and do like your suggestions. I can't see why any of those should be inherently unreliable, and with all of them you have the choice of saving by carrying out DIY servicing and maintenance or if you'd rather, taking them to a garage. Unless you get someone very understanding, trying to sell a MkV Golf that's been serviced at home for the last few years isn't going to be easy. The next buyer is going to want to see stamps in the book or they'll be moving on to one of the many other similar cars for sale. A future classic car owner is going to be perfectly happy with a pile of receipts and a logbook of work carried out.At 19 I built a VW based Nova kit out of the Beetle I had and used it as a daily driver, commuting 2 hours a day and then drove the 500 mile round trip to Cornwall and back every fortnight. Insurance was stupidly inexpensive as were parts, VED was free and I never once had to take it to a garage for servicing and repairs as it was so easy to work on. It was also a lot more fun to drive than a family hatchback and turned a lot more heads than a hatchback ever could. Having women you've never met before coming up and asking you for a spin in the car was always fun - just can't see that happening in a diesel hatchback though
Great post 
And for those not knowing what a Nova kit car is, or how fantastic they look:
I actually posted up about Nova kit cars in the kit car forum a while back. I'd love to see some pics of your or hear some more insight in owning/driving one. Thanks
And for those not knowing what a Nova kit car is, or how fantastic they look:
jagnet said:
I fully agree with this, and do like your suggestions. I can't see why any of those should be inherently unreliable, and with all of them you have the choice of saving by carrying out DIY servicing and maintenance or if you'd rather, taking them to a garage. Unless you get someone very understanding, trying to sell a MkV Golf that's been serviced at home for the last few years isn't going to be easy. The next buyer is going to want to see stamps in the book or they'll be moving on to one of the many other similar cars for sale. A future classic car owner is going to be perfectly happy with a pile of receipts and a logbook of work carried out.
At 19 I built a VW based Nova kit out of the Beetle I had and used it as a daily driver, commuting 2 hours a day and then drove the 500 mile round trip to Cornwall and back every fortnight. Insurance was stupidly inexpensive as were parts, VED was free and I never once had to take it to a garage for servicing and repairs as it was so easy to work on. It was also a lot more fun to drive than a family hatchback and turned a lot more heads than a hatchback ever could. Having women you've never met before coming up and asking you for a spin in the car was always fun - just can't see that happening in a diesel hatchback though
jagnet,At 19 I built a VW based Nova kit out of the Beetle I had and used it as a daily driver, commuting 2 hours a day and then drove the 500 mile round trip to Cornwall and back every fortnight. Insurance was stupidly inexpensive as were parts, VED was free and I never once had to take it to a garage for servicing and repairs as it was so easy to work on. It was also a lot more fun to drive than a family hatchback and turned a lot more heads than a hatchback ever could. Having women you've never met before coming up and asking you for a spin in the car was always fun - just can't see that happening in a diesel hatchback though
I actually posted up about Nova kit cars in the kit car forum a while back. I'd love to see some pics of your or hear some more insight in owning/driving one. Thanks
I'll have to try and find some of the photos. I know they must be in the shed - somewhere. Ah those were the days, none of this new fangled digital malarkey. I'll put a post together on that thread for you when I do.
In the meantime I've got to go out in the fully functional '88 Jag to get some parts to fix my "reliable" diesel VW van. I swear the Jag smirked at that.
Edit:
Found some, though most are of the build. Pic and small post here.
In the meantime I've got to go out in the fully functional '88 Jag to get some parts to fix my "reliable" diesel VW van. I swear the Jag smirked at that.
Edit:
Found some, though most are of the build. Pic and small post here.
Edited by jagnet on Thursday 4th August 12:07
3K would buy you a 2003 106GTi, 1.6 petrol and whilst being relatively quick in a straight line, epic fun in the twisties. Saxo VTS is also the same car for cheaper.
C2 VTS is effectively the same engine (1.6 TU5JP4 as opposed to 1.6 TU5J4 - different cylinder head and inlet iirc). All are sporty and fairly easy to work on, should be able to get low mileage examples within your budget.
If I had 6K i'd be buying a Clio 182 but granted it doesn't fit your requirements.
Toyota Glanza V 1.3 Turbo?
C2 VTS is effectively the same engine (1.6 TU5JP4 as opposed to 1.6 TU5J4 - different cylinder head and inlet iirc). All are sporty and fairly easy to work on, should be able to get low mileage examples within your budget.
If I had 6K i'd be buying a Clio 182 but granted it doesn't fit your requirements.
Toyota Glanza V 1.3 Turbo?
Been having a bit more of a look at the swift 1.6 sport. They don't seem to drop in price from new very much at all which puts me off a little considering I can't get together enough money to get myself a new one.
Can't remember who asked, but whoever it was, I have 6k cash, not finance.
Can't remember who asked, but whoever it was, I have 6k cash, not finance.
calum93 said:
Been having a bit more of a look at the swift 1.6 sport. They don't seem to drop in price from new very much at all which puts me off a little considering I can't get together enough money to get myself a new one.
Can't remember who asked, but whoever it was, I have 6k cash, not finance.
Why would you not want a car with low depreciation?Can't remember who asked, but whoever it was, I have 6k cash, not finance.
Have a look on swiftowners.co.uk, there should be a few for sale on there aswell.
calum93 said:
I want something sporty looking with anything up to a 1.6 petrol or 2.0 non turbo'd diesel.
I'm curious about this. Firstly I'm not sure you can still get non turbo'd diesel cars, and secondly, why would you want one!? I can't imagine the insurance companies penalise you for a turbo diesel, since every "domestic" diesel has one nowadays.Also, beware the inevitable "recent Focus diesel? No no no, what you want is a thirty year old Bentley for the same money" advice. Good in theory...
Ari said:
I'm curious about this. Firstly I'm not sure you can still get non turbo'd diesel cars, and secondly, why would you want one!? I can't imagine the insurance companies penalise you for a turbo diesel, since every "domestic" diesel has one nowadays.
Also, beware the inevitable "recent Focus diesel? No no no, what you want is a thirty year old Bentley for the same money" advice. Good in theory...
The 2.0 sdi golf isn't turbo'd is it?Also, beware the inevitable "recent Focus diesel? No no no, what you want is a thirty year old Bentley for the same money" advice. Good in theory...
calum93 said:
The 2.0 sdi golf isn't turbo'd is it?
Trust me, you don't want one of them. My mate bought one when we were all 17 and kept banging on about his new Golf diesel (I thought it was a TDI). Sure enough, it looked quite smart with black paint, audi RS4 rims, GTI exterior pack etc. THen he took us out in it. My god that thing was slow! Verging on dangerous, especially trying to go onto a busy roundabout. Totally pointless too, because the TDI engines get the same fuel economy.
I think going for a 'normal' car will be ludicrous now at your age with a crash. Insurance as it is, is expensive enough.
As people have mentioned, the best route may be with kit cars/classics.
I was recommended this site trhough the classic car section: http://younggunsclassics.forumcircle.com/
The people on there are our age (im 18 too), who through being in a classic car club/manufacture club have had discounted insurance, ie I know of someone on here who pays under £1000 on a Triumph Spitfire 1500 per year and he's 17!
Contact Footman James by calling them, they say on the website they wont touch anyone under 25, but this isnt true.
Good luck getting a new car.
As people have mentioned, the best route may be with kit cars/classics.
I was recommended this site trhough the classic car section: http://younggunsclassics.forumcircle.com/
The people on there are our age (im 18 too), who through being in a classic car club/manufacture club have had discounted insurance, ie I know of someone on here who pays under £1000 on a Triumph Spitfire 1500 per year and he's 17!
Contact Footman James by calling them, they say on the website they wont touch anyone under 25, but this isnt true.
Good luck getting a new car.
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