First Car help

[Oxvs]

So this is my first time on the forum so hey there!
I live in the UK, Scotland, Glasgow to be exact. I am 17 years old and will be sitting my drivers test relatively soon, once passed I plan on buying my first car. My choices are:

Ford Fiesta
Vauxhaull Corsa Limited Edition
VW Polo

Others:
Suzuki Swift
Seat Ibiza

I have £7000 for my car, this does NOT include insurance. I am after something fun to drive, while being reliable and to have good looks. Furthermore I am open to other suggestions

Wants:
The engine size should be 1.2 so my insurance isn't too high
Petrol
Manual
To be from 2012-2016 but I am open to later models too

I also plan on taking friends out, etc things you do when you're my age, getting from A-B, work, school etc.

The question is, what would do me best in terms of fun to drive, reliability and looks. What will last me a while?

Thank you in advance for help!

[SteBrown91]

Save about 4 grand and get a decent 07-08 plate fiesta.

7k on a first car is insane. You will trash it, whether it's through lack of skill, care or just accident. You may not crash it but it will have picked up battle scars from yourself or friends after a year or 2. Bank most of the money, buy something cheap that you can learn to drive properly in (not just pass your test) then once you have some ncb upgrade to something nice

[Deerfoot]

I'd spend a lot less than your budget on your first car to be honest.

I'm guessing insurance in Glasgow will be massively expensive so build up some no claims bonus for a couple of years.

[CubanPete]

Look for a 3 grand fiesta.

Your first car will be brilliant, no matter what it is!

[Oxvs]

I forgot to mention I will be sharing the car with my dad, but the final decision of the car is down to me, thats why the budget is higher than it would normally be

[SteBrown91]

I still wouldn't spend that! The Mrs has got a 1.3 Mazda 2

Cheap to insure, been 100% reliable, is fun to drive and has quite a nice engine for a super mini.

You could easily get a nice one for 3-4K

[Willy Nilly]

You WILL break your first car. Buy a cheap one.

[anonymous-user]

Oxvs said:

So this is my first time on the forum so hey there!
I live in the UK, Scotland, Glasgow to be exact. I am 17 years old and will be sitting my drivers test relatively soon, once passed I plan on buying my first car. My choices are:

Ford Fiesta
Vauxhaull Corsa Limited Edition
VW Polo

Others:
Suzuki Swift
Seat Ibiza

I have £7000 for my car, this does NOT include insurance. I am after something fun to drive, while being reliable and to have good looks. Furthermore I am open to other suggestions

Wants:
The engine size should be 1.2 so my insurance isn't too high
Petrol
Manual
To be from 2012-2016 but I am open to later models too

I also plan on taking friends out, etc things you do when you're my age, getting from A-B, work, school etc.

The question is, what would do me best in terms of fun to drive, reliability and looks. What will last me a while?

Thank you in advance for help!

The Suzuki Swift is a great car.

The one below is a limited edition Attitude.

Looks good but is insurance and tax friendly.

1.2 engine

£30 tax

Should get it for at least £5,000

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[anonymous-user]

It will get crashed, dented, pranged, scratched etc...

Buy a cheap car that other young people do not drive and enjoy your freedom!

[benjijames28]

Ford fiesta or a Suzuki swift. I loved my 2010 fiesta with the 82bhp 1.2 engine. 4 grand should get you one.

[ChrisR99]

Buy what you want, it's your car at the end of the day.

I ignored most people's suggestions and bought a 2 year old 2014 Ecoboost Focus. 6 months since ownership I haven't damaged it yet, and if I do I'll get it fixed.

It would be the same story if it was an old car as I look after what I own, so made no difference to me (apart from the outright purchase price)

[Oxvs]

I understand that statistically I will be more likely to crash my first car, however statistics don't define me as a person. Despite the advice I've recived to not spend that amount on my car, I can say I've worked hard to save this money all by myself and I know I will appreciate that a lot more and take better care of it.

I'd rather just be given advice on which car from my list would be the best option

[gweaver]

Oxvs said:

I'd rather just be given advice on which car from my list would be the best option

Swift 1.2
Fiesta Zetec (preferably 1.0 ecoboost)
Maybe the Seat

Definitely not the other two.

The Swift and Fiesta have their pros and cons over each other, but for value and simplicity/reliability I'd go for the Swift. At this budget you can get a nearly new Swift, but the Fiesta Ecoboost might be getting on a bit. Swift 1.2 will have more go than Fiesta 1.25, so that's an easy choice in my book.

[exelero]

I wouldn't buy such an expensive car for the start. I crashed mine when I started driving, and you will most probably crash it. Usually new pass drivers have their first writeoff within 6 months so I wouldn't buy anything which costs more than 5-6 hundred. The decision is your, MK1 Focus if you ask me 1.4

[Merc 450]

My daughter is in the same boat a bit older than you (20) and I've pointed her towards the Vauxhall Adam or the Fiat 500.

[LM95]

Oxvs said:

Wants:
The engine size should be 1.2 so my insurance isn't too high
Petrol
Manual
To be from 2012-2016 but I am open to later models too

I also plan on taking friends out, etc things you do when you're my age, getting from A-B, work, school etc.

The question is, what would do me best in terms of fun to drive, reliability and looks. What will last me a while?

Thank you in advance for help!

Well if you ever actually come back to this forum after all of the miserable bds above have told you their story and why you should do with your money - I especially like, "Just don't say we didn't warn you" from PetrolJosh- what an obnoxious tt!

Anyway back on topic. All of the cars you have in mind will do the job nicely and at the budget you have they look to be around a 64 plate - so almost new! I don't think there is much to choose between them, I would go with the consensus and say the Swift may well be the most fun of the selection but really go and sit in each of them and see which you prefer the interiors of. Also look for things such as Bluetooth etc to be standard equipment to make life easier. Make sure you check the insurance quotes out first, they can vary quite a bit between seemingly very similar cars so this may well have a bearing on your choice.

Good luck with the search, an exciting time getting your first car.

[ZX10R NIN]

My suggestion is the Clio 1.2 GT Line

2012 14k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[Oxvs]

I'm well aware of the risk, but it's what I want,l at the end of the day also I'm very mature for my age and more sensible, I believe that due to me getting something a little better (note I am sharing) a lot of my friends also drive and they're pretty sensible too

[ChrisR99]

Oxvs said:

I'm well aware of the risk, but it's what I want,l at the end of the day also I'm very mature for my age and more sensible, I believe that due to me getting something a little better (note I am sharing) a lot of my friends also drive and they're pretty sensible too

Here here, I feel I'm pretty mature seeing I'm only 17 and a 2 year old Focus suits me fine. My friend is the same age and has a 65 plate Fiesta and guess what? In 8 months of driving (as a new driver) his car doesn't have a mark on it. Not all of us drive like tts in chavved up Corsa's.

PetrolJosh, FYI insurance was £200 cheaper on my 1.0T Focus than a crappy 10 year old Corsa with half the power...

Back to the car...a Swift would be a good choice and a bit different to the norm.

[Ilovejapcrap]

I'm 35 and have just got a swift sport it's a great little car with lots of stuff for the money.

I'd go swift can you get one with nav Bluetooth etc in your budget ?