Affordable drivers car for a 22 year old?

[Nickjchelm]

The beauty of being a 22 year old is the ability to buy any type of car and not look daft.

I am 32 and my wife gives me so much stick for my taste in cars.

For example I need something with boot space so am looking at all the newish hot hatches (Megane 265, Astra VXR, Leon Cupra etc) and she thinks they are for kids and we should get something classy (code for German).

So back to the thread starter, go for something with minimal doors/load space that you can't get away with in later life.

Something that has gone largely unmentioned is the maintance and repairs costs.

It's fine buying a 10-15 yr old performance motor but when it starts failing then you are in for a world of hurt.

I would go Clio 200 and save the rest. Hugely fun, good for trackdays, cheap to maintain, good value, age appropriate!

[spatch]

You can't beat a hot hatch for a daily driver that also needs to provide some thrills.

The Fiesta ST is the best you can buy at the moment! You'll get a <1 year old one for £15k and it'll do everything you need in a daily driver as they all come with a fantastic spec. They're also electric to drive down a B-road.

[mjf93]

I'm currently 22 and have a Vauxhall Monaro VXR, couldn't recommend it highly enough! Been a great laugh to own and insurance isn't that bad!
Garaged, 5000 miles a year as a second car I pay just over £1000.

[j_s14a]

Alfa Romeo GTV Spyder V6 in red



Great drive, and the ladies will love it.

[mattf93]

A great mix of cars here my 2 pence worth would suggest:

Honda S2K.
Toyota MR2 Mk3,
Mazda Mx5 mk 3,
Alfa Romeo Brera 3.2 (questionable reliability)
BMW E46 M3
BMW E92 M3 (bottom end).
Ford Fiesta ST (Late Mk6 can be had for 4K on, newer Mk7 £12k on)
Nissan 350/370z
Golf Mk6 GTI/ R/R32
Clio 197/200/200 cup
Megane 225 cup
Porsche Boxster S 3.4
Porsche Caman S 3.4

[Ftumpch]

I would think the best possible thing that a driving enthusiast could do at age 22 is to get into motorsport (if you haven't done so already). Racing is another ballgame altogether and driving a sportscar on the road is a bit Mickey Mouse in comparison. It will also teach you how to drive a lot better so that when you do feel the need to indulge on the road you'll be able to run rings around the boy racers.

Research the kind of car you want based on what is eligible to enter the category of racing that you're most interested in and factor in things like maintenance and parts availability.

Remember that having a racing car that you can road register is always going to be a compromise for both scenarios... so depending on how keen you are I'd probably recommend getting a dedicated racer, and just have some deplorable shed for the road (and we all love sheds). Think about classics as well since they're simple and cheap to run, and usually significantly lighter and more fun to drive.

[JRM]

Spannerski said:

JRM said:

I got mine 13 years ago and it was great then and still great now, just can't bear to to think about selling it

S2000 Great and wonderful cars, but what's the roadtax on it per year? I hear it's near £400.

Edited by Spannerski on Thursday 8th October 15:02

The later ones are, but mine's 2002, so I think I pay £270

[AB]

otolith said:

16v stretch said:

I bought a Z4 when I turned 22,

15k gets you into a Z4m roadster.

Not cheap to insure, fuel or maintain, though.

I dunno, for what it is, its not that expensive. I had mine around 22 and don't recall it being too bad.

[otolith]

AB said:

otolith said:

16v stretch said:

I bought a Z4 when I turned 22,

15k gets you into a Z4m roadster.

Not cheap to insure, fuel or maintain, though.

I dunno, for what it is, its not that expensive. I had mine around 22 and don't recall it being too bad.

It's not costing us much to insure, but we're late 30's/early 40's. Wife is getting low twenties to the gallon. Servicing is apparently £200/£900/£200/£1200 ish on a variable mileage/2yrs cycle. Consumables like brake parts and tyres are expensive. I should think it quite capable of dropping a £2k bill on you at an inspection 2 service.

[M3DGE]

Theodoreallen said:

I

Krikkit said:

MX5 Mk.1 + 12k for a house deposit! Sorry to be boring.

The mx5 is on my list of potentials but unfortunately I'm not overly fond of them...

This thread nicely shows the joys of owning and modding an MX5:-

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[anonymous-user]

If someone gave me that much money and forced me to buy cars with it, I would look to buy more than one. That 15k a D a multivariate policy could be a hoot.

205 gti - fun and retro looks
850 or v70 t5 - practical but no looks
Ls400 - v8
V8 merc of some sort - looks and noise
350z - proper driving car (insurable though?)

[southyorkshirerob]

I currently drive a Z4 Coupe, had it for 18 months. I was 19 when I bought the car which cost £1500 to insure... gorgeous 3l straight six 260bhp and surprising OK on fuel! I would love an 'M' version next which I was quoted the same to insure. Thats 340bhp and for 15k I know I would be looking as they are holding value very well at the moment. Here is mine...

[HayesDC2]

I've had my Integra DC2 since I was 20, first year was a bit on the steep side at 1700. After owning it for 3 years now it has gone down to just 500, not bad considering it's an import too.

IMO if you plan on keeping it for a while the steep initial premiums are just something you have to deal with, I'd rather spend a little bit more and have something I can appreciate and enjoy than save some pennies and have something dull.