Older Student In need of some advice...

Older Student In need of some advice...

Author
Discussion

stedaley

Original Poster:

641 posts

125 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
hey guys,

Been loving this website for year and am a true lover of cars and everything to do with them but now come the time to buy one....
New to the car game, as i could never afford to run a car when i was 18, my parents could never afford it.

Now i'm turning 22 (Dont know where the last 4 years have gone...) but I have 1500-2500 to spend on a car without insurance.
Now ive been looking at a mix between cheap and powerful and as new as possible. If i had the money id get the Twingo 133 RS, but thats the kind of car im looking for.
Ive seen a few clios and Ibizas but i really need a good middle ground between a eco car and a 2.0 hot hatch which will provide me a brilliant little drive all the time.

Ste

Edited by stedaley on Tuesday 17th December 00:39

tbc

3,017 posts

176 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
MX-5

Fantuzzi

3,297 posts

147 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
Its sadly a case of what you can get insured on, depending on your situation getting a parent on the policy is a good idea to bring it down.

Try getting some quotes from gocompare, sometimes what you think will be expensive is cheaper than you think and the other way round, So try lots of cars!

Have you held a license since 18 or just passed?

If you'd like simple basic hatches like the 133 cup perhaps a 306 Raylle?

Not sure of the price though.


Edited by Fantuzzi on Tuesday 17th December 01:02

anthonysjb

524 posts

137 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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205 GTI

ferrariF50lover

1,834 posts

227 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
So all you're looking for is a car that's economical, powerful, insurance friendly, new and costs a bag of peanuts? Brother, that's the car we ALL want.

Pick, perhaps two of those and be grateful, I'd say. Or lie, lying works too. But an MX-5, supercharge it and forget to tell your insurance company. It won't be economical or new, but it'll be relatively cheap and powerful enough.*

Simon.

  • For Christ's sake, don't actually do this.

YankeePorker

4,769 posts

242 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
I don't know if it's still the case in the UK, but choosing an older, "interesting" car used to allow you to go via owner clubs and find more affordable insurance, so the options mentioned above of a sporty little Pug or an MX5 make a lot of sense. Failing that maybe a tatty old Mk2 Golf Gti?

If you really want newish then you'd be better resigning yourself to a couple of years of something cheap and mundane with a smaller engine while you build up some insurance credibility. Ideas - Fiesta, Saxo, Ibiza, Clio, Polo, Swift? 2nd hand market over there is so cheap I imagine that there are plenty of options.

stedaley

Original Poster:

641 posts

125 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
Just realised i never put my Price range up, looking between 1500-2500 on the car, and ive been passed 4 and half years,
Ive been on compared the market here and i can get on a mx5 for 900 which isnt too bad being in liverpool.

Im just wondering on a compromise from a Full hot hatch but not a eco Car...
and i have a years no claims off when i was insured just after i passed my test,

Ive been looking at the 133RS just cant afford the car...
and Mk2 Golfs are collectors car so prices are high here :/
i was thinking something more practical than a mx5,

I dont mind paying up to a grand for insurance really, if its the right car,

anybody had a 1.4 corsa/Clio or something along those lines?

Edited by stedaley on Tuesday 17th December 02:53

stedaley

Original Poster:

641 posts

125 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
ferrariF50lover said:
So all you're looking for is a car that's economical, powerful, insurance friendly, new and costs a bag of peanuts? Brother, that's the car we ALL want.

Pick, perhaps two of those and be grateful, I'd say. Or lie, lying works too. But an MX-5, supercharge it and forget to tell your insurance company. It won't be economical or new, but it'll be relatively cheap and powerful enough.*

Simon.

  • For Christ's sake, don't actually do this.
sort of after some sort of middle ground really, thats what i was getting at....

stedaley

Original Poster:

641 posts

125 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
YankeePorker said:
I don't know if it's still the case in the UK, but choosing an older, "interesting" car used to allow you to go via owner clubs and find more affordable insurance, so the options mentioned above of a sporty little Pug or an MX5 make a lot of sense. Failing that maybe a tatty old Mk2 Golf Gti?

If you really want newish then you'd be better resigning yourself to a couple of years of something cheap and mundane with a smaller engine while you build up some insurance credibility. Ideas - Fiesta, Saxo, Ibiza, Clio, Polo, Swift? 2nd hand market over there is so cheap I imagine that there are plenty of options.
Not much around in the sporty range for my range really :/

any opinions on the best of the newer cars you stated?

stedaley

Original Poster:

641 posts

125 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
any comments on a 172 Clio?

Gwagon111

4,422 posts

162 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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stedaley said:
any comments on a 172 Clio?
Most examples will be 'past their best' by now. Personally, I'd pay a bit more and look at a 182.

HemiCommander

4,162 posts

154 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
Gwagon111 said:
stedaley said:
any comments on a 172 Clio?
Most examples will be 'past their best' by now. Personally, I'd pay a bit more and look at a 182.
I can't praise my old 182 enough. Faultlessly reliable, economical (40mpg average) and fantastic to drive hard. You have to be very careful buying one though, the cost of a full belt change, waterpump/coolant, exhaust, service and a set of proper Michelin PS3 tyres could easily cost the value of the car so I would avoid cheap ones and only go for a good one which has had all the above done recently with receipts to prove. Also a lot of them have been barried and ruined, I would only consider standard examples (apart from stainless exhausts). A good one will reward like nothing else for the price but a bad one could make you hate it.

Tickle

4,923 posts

205 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
Panda 100hp or Swift Sport are kind of middle ground to a full on hot hatch. Probably have to stretch your budget a little too.

stedaley

Original Poster:

641 posts

125 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
HemiCommander said:
I can't praise my old 182 enough. Faultlessly reliable, economical (40mpg average) and fantastic to drive hard. You have to be very careful buying one though, the cost of a full belt change, waterpump/coolant, exhaust, service and a set of proper Michelin PS3 tyres could easily cost the value of the car so I would avoid cheap ones and only go for a good one which has had all the above done recently with receipts to prove. Also a lot of them have been barried and ruined, I would only consider standard examples (apart from stainless exhausts). A good one will reward like nothing else for the price but a bad one could make you hate it.
anything i should look out for on the 182? certain problems?

stedaley

Original Poster:

641 posts

125 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
Tickle said:
Panda 100hp or Swift Sport are kind of middle ground to a full on hot hatch. Probably have to stretch your budget a little too.
Both look good, anything i should be wary of with either car?

BorkFactor

7,266 posts

159 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
If you are 22 then insurance shouldn't be too much of an issue, have you had your licence for a while? Makes a huge difference.

Get yourself a nice mint E36 323i coupe (or a 328i if you can find a good one), you won't regret it and there are plenty about smile

Grimezy93

164 posts

132 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
For the best driving experience you'd be better with the mx-5, £900 for insurance considering you don't really have any experience is brilliant. And what do you need practicality for?! This could be your only opportunity to buy a 2 seater car until your 50's once a family comes along; screw practicality.

Failing that, Clio will probably be best bang for buck but I'd check the insurance on it first as they're quite commonly associated with the 'boy racer' crew.

Might not be something you're interested in but maybe look at the 1.8 Toyota Corolla Sports? They can look pretty good and are a bit different.

Are you planning on paying for insurance monthly or is that coming out of your total budget as well?

Edit: That's a good shout from Bork with the E36 Coupe's, could be hard to find one for £1500 that doesn't need something replacing soon enough and the fact it has a BMW badge will not be approved of by insurers (I've found Admiral are pretty good though for young drivers with cars like this).

stedaley

Original Poster:

641 posts

125 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
BorkFactor said:
If you are 22 then insurance shouldn't be too much of an issue, have you had your licence for a while? Makes a huge difference.

Get yourself a nice mint E36 323i coupe (or a 328i if you can find a good one), you won't regret it and there are plenty about smile
had it for 4 years... nearly 5

and again anything is should look for with either car?

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

247 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
stedaley said:
Now i'm turning 22 (Dont know where the last 4 years have gone...) but I have 1500-2500 to spend on a car without insurance.
You may find that works out as £1,500-2,500 to spend on insurance without the car!

I'd start by ringing some big insurers and ask them to tell you what cars they have in a low ratings class. Could save yourself a whole lot of wasted time and effort.

Grimezy93

164 posts

132 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
stedaley said:
had it for 4 years... nearly 5

and again anything is should look for with either car?
Rust, always ze rust.

Engines are normally solid smile