Affordable drivers car for a 22 year old?

[dbdb]

I have never liked sports cars, which makes the choice easier. I would choose a nice old Jag XJ - it will cost less than £5k even for a really good one and are cheap to insure. Providing you look after it, its depreciating is done. Maybe an XJ40-shape XJ12 or Daimler Double six - which have the appeal of a V12 engine.

[framerateuk]

AdamIndy said:

Putting a woman on the policy does bring it down. I guess it all depends on what you want to pay for insurance really.

Not true anymore as insurance companies aren't allowed to discriminate on gender!

However, adding an older person as a named drive could help bring the quote down slightly (assuming for legal reasons that they will drive the car occasionally).

Most "sporty" cars will be too expensive insurance wise, but that's not to say you can't have fun with a FWD hatch.

As has been already said, I'd look at Clio 197/182/172 and go from there. The previous gen Fiesta ST would be even cheaper to insure and is certainly fun to drive (just be aware they were having their bumpers nicked left, right and centre a few years ago - as happened to mine).

[MKnight702]

Eddh said:

Al U said:

I seem to be saying this a lot recently, but there also seem to be a lot of threads coming up where it is the right answer.

S2000.

/thread.

I agree, I had one when I was 21 and it was great.

How about a Westfield Mega S2000, all the good bits of the Honda less the added lard.

[300bhp/ton]

If insurance is an issue, how about looking at some kit cars. Often these with specialist insurance can be quite a affordable.

For £15k I suspect you could get yourself a Murtaya. They use Impreza running gear, so AWD and turbo H4 power.

Depreciation is likely to be low on them too, so when you can to upgrade you'll retain more value than buying something newish now.

[Debaser]

You'd get a nice 996 for £15k.

[V8OW]

LewG said:

Limited mileage I insure my TVR Chim for 720 quid a year at 21/22 with an Admiral classic policy having had a couple of cars with them previously. Can't complain!

I think I was paying similar (£800 max) on my Chim at a similar age. That was as a second car though through MSM insurance.

it was great fun. Unfortunately I had to put it towards a house deposit, but hopefully I can get something similar in the next few years.

As for the other suggestions, whilst very much under budget my 182 is great fun. Mines probably worth less than £1.5k, but £2-2.5k would get you a great example.

[3xpendable]

Slow said:

Again people assume insurance is ridiculous, almost bought a e39 m5 at 18 due to being left some money. Could of insured for a reasonable amount, circa 1.5k I believe. Couldn't afford running costs or fuel though.

And thats my point, the OP has asked for an 'Affordable' car. I nearly bought a 750 BMW in my early 20's once. I could afford it and the insurance wasn't horrendous but I did the math and realised fuel and running costs where unsustainable. I don't count M cars as 'affordable' in the scheme of things.

Edited by 3xpendable on Monday 5th October 13:28

[joncon]

5 yrs ago my son , then aged 21 , purchased a Mercedes 190 2.3 16v ...known to us older peeps as a cosworth
his insurance incl European cover was £289 on a classic policy

[Theodoreallen]

There's been some awesome suggestions, but I'm still undecided! I'm liking the idea of an M3 if I can haggle the insurance down. Otherwise I think I'll just have to get something a little less powerful for a few years!

[Samjeev]

Boydie88 said:

VX220. You'll get a mint one for that.

This'll do the job, definitely insurable from 21 onwards as well

[Jasandjules]

V8OW said:

I think I was paying similar (£800 max) on my Chim at a similar age. That was as a second car though through MSM insurance.

Hmm, cost me £1700... Many years ago now mind!

OP, what about an MR2? A MK2 T-Bar..

[Fozzi1]

Theodoreallen said:

There's been some awesome suggestions, but I'm still undecided! I'm liking the idea of an M3 if I can haggle the insurance down. Otherwise I think I'll just have to get something a little less powerful for a few years!

Seat Cupra ?? 2004+ has the BAM engine from the Audi TT, solid engine and has 225 bhp. I had one about 1 and a half years ago, insurance was around £750 fully comp.

Quick car which can be made quicker very easily. Miltek + remap = happy days !

Also forgot to mention you can get them from around £4000 !

[Fozzi1]

Fozzi1 said:

Seat Cupra ?? 2004+ has the BAM engine from the Audi TT, solid engine and has 225 bhp. I had one about 1 and a half years ago, insurance was around £750 fully comp.

Quick car which can be made quicker very easily. Miltek + remap = happy days !

Also forgot to mention you can get them from around £4000 !

Apologies, forgot to mention I was 21/22 at the time

[16v stretch]

I bought a Z4 when I turned 22,

15k gets you into a Z4m roadster.

[rossco53]

15K should just about get you into a nice Nissan 370z. I know the 350 is a reasonable price to insure so hopefully the 370 follows suit

[pembo]

rossco53 said:

15K should just about get you into a nice Nissan 370z. I know the 350 is a reasonable price to insure so hopefully the 370 follows suit

You beat me to it, I had a 350z at 22 and it cost around £800 a year to insure including business mileage (That was silly, the mileage claims didn't cover the fuel). I looked around loads of options and it was by far the cheapest to insure and incredibly reliable, just don't bend the wheels!!

[Bradley1500]

rossco53 said:

15K should just about get you into a nice Nissan 370z. I know the 350 is a reasonable price to insure so hopefully the 370 follows suit

This is what I was about to suggest.

I'm 20 and a cheaper 350Z is around £1,100 to insure with a non-fault claim on my insurance. If I didn't have the claim the price drops to £750.

[Slow]

3xpendable said:

Slow said:

Again people assume insurance is ridiculous, almost bought a e39 m5 at 18 due to being left some money. Could of insured for a reasonable amount, circa 1.5k I believe. Couldn't afford running costs or fuel though.

And thats my point, the OP has asked for an 'Affordable' car. I nearly bought a 750 BMW in my early 20's once. I could afford it and the insurance wasn't horrendous but I did the math and realised fuel and running costs where unsustainable. I don't count M cars as 'affordable' in the scheme of things.

Edited by 3xpendable on Monday 5th October 13:28

I was in college and not working, I expect he's earning more than the £350 a month I got.

Right now I'm on about £500 a month in college and running a Range Rover as my only bill is my phone. Yes it's probably a waste and I could save money to run something cheaper but I have plenty of time to be sensible when I'm older.

[Janesy B]

Theodoreallen said:

Ahaha I would love one, but I quoted one the other day and it'd cost me £4000 a year! That's garaged, with a tracker, no crashes, no points and in a low crime rate area!

Cars are easier to steal from garages, and the fact you want a tracker without any requirement to have one also increases your perceived risk. Just do a normal quote.

[Al U]

SidewaysSi said:

Al U said:

I seem to be saying this a lot recently, but there also seem to be a lot of threads coming up where it is the right answer.

S2000.

/thread.

If you.discount the engine, the S2000 is nothing special in comparison to other similar cars. And far worse than many, including the ITR.

That's in your opinion. The S2000 is a great car, have you had one? Because the integra type r is FWD the majority of driver's will find it easier to drive it faster in comparison. An S2000 requires a lot more talent, which the majority of drivers don't have. I'd be interested to hear of the "many" cars that it is far worse than that are comparable. Just because you aren't capable of driving a car on it's limit doesn't make the car a bad car.