Best car for 18 year old?

Best car for 18 year old?

Author
Discussion

Callybae

Original Poster:

22 posts

100 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
Hi all!

I am 18 and will soon(ish) be looking to purchase my 2nd car, for my 2nd year of driving. (With 1NCB hopefully)

I am looking for inspiration for a car. Like many people, my phone battery is mostly used on autotrader, fleabay, forums, FB and anything else where cars come up for sale. However I would like input from people who may have done this before? Or parents? About what to get next...

I currently drive a Punto Active Sport 1.2 8v. And with a 13.5 0-60, it's anything but sporty. I don't mind faster, but it's got to be good on the insurance.

I recently discovered Subaru put a 1.5 in their Impreza, which comes out at £1800 for a 2nd year. Not too bad imo. But what else lurks out there?

I've still got a few months before I'm buying a car, but I want to get one in mind and find a decent one first. I suppose my budget is £2.5-3k max, but I have no min if it's a good car smile

Any thoughts or 2p's worth is welcome!

Thanks very much smile

HairyMaclary

3,648 posts

194 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
Clio 200 should fit the bill.

Callybae

Original Poster:

22 posts

100 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
Insurance on a clio like that would be horrendous surely?

leigh1050

2,372 posts

164 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
Big rear wheel drive big capacity v8.

Pebbles167

3,417 posts

151 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
Want a nice car? Cough up with the insurance money. Limit yourself to £2k ish PA and get what you can.

At 18 i had a 306 gti6 and had an early Evo at 20. Sure it cost a bit but you can save a lot of money if you shop around.

Callybae

Original Poster:

22 posts

100 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
I do agree with you there, there are some randomly strange deals with insurance, but my issue is it has to be cheap because I'm on an apprentice wage frownfrown

I don't mind monthly, but 2k is probably the limit on insurance.

Meridius

1,608 posts

151 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
Honda Civic 1.6 Sport might be worth a look, the EP2 as they are known, can find one easily for 2-3k. Still might not be the quickest car at 110hp (I think) but fairly sporty feeling, low down, decent handling, VTEC engine, almost Type R looks.

Pebbles167

3,417 posts

151 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
It seems awful, but it soons gets cheaper mate.

Have you considered a sporty but cheap little hatch. Panda 100hp or Swift Sport? Something like that is a low insurance group, but still very fun and a fairly nice place to be.

Callybae

Original Poster:

22 posts

100 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
Ooh, that's a thought. Wouldn't mind a Vtec smile cheers smile

Callybae

Original Poster:

22 posts

100 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
The 100HP's I think look quite nice, but I find the swift is not the pritiest thing, but many thanks smile

Pebbles167

3,417 posts

151 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
They don't have a vtec engine. He's confusing the ep2 engine for a B16a2.

Callybae

Original Poster:

22 posts

100 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
Sorry I'm not the best with Hondas, I've seen a 1.6 Vtec civic sport (2003) if that's the one you mean? Or is it the newer/older shape?

Willy Nilly

12,511 posts

166 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
Keep the car you have for a couple more years/'till you crash it. Getting anything significantly will be very expensive.

Pebbles167

3,417 posts

151 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
They are badged vtec but don't have the different cam profiles that people generally mean. Sadly vtec won't be kicking in yo. The d16 engine is very boring.

Considered a 106 gti/saxo vts? There is a reason teenagers love them. If that's not luxurious enough, look for an older bmw 3 series. Surprisingly cheap to insure and run in many cases.


Callybae

Original Poster:

22 posts

100 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
I like the idea of a 3 series, I'm not too bothered about speed, just a better can than a Mk2B punto smile

InitialDave

11,853 posts

118 months

Monday 30th November 2015
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Callybae said:
I recently discovered Subaru put a 1.5 in their Impreza... Any thoughts or 2p's worth is welcome!
I thought it wasn't a particularly nice car when fitted with the 2.5 with the turbo, so "fk no" is my 2p on that.

Small, good-handling hatch without too much of an insurance kicking, I'd say is the best direction.

treetops

1,177 posts

157 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
A Saab or Volvo will be surprisingly cheap to insure.

Meridius

1,608 posts

151 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
Yes its that 2003-era Civic I was talking about, 2004-5 being the (nicer looking imo) facelift version. I know its not the B16 engine as its a SOHC D16V1 that has some kind of economy VTEC which if I remember, does some kind of 12 valve to 16v switch instead of the cam lift of the Type Rs - so err yeah, not a proper VTEC. Still though, nice little car at 18. A few friends had them as first/second cars, they were always reliable and surprisingly cheap to insure/run.

Stickyfinger

8,429 posts

104 months

Monday 30th November 2015
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mx5ian

467 posts

189 months

Monday 30th November 2015
quotequote all
treetops said:
A Saab or Volvo will be surprisingly cheap to insure.
This is true I had an 850 T5 when I was 19 and it was cheaper to insure than a Saxo VTR! If you stay away from the hot hatches etc and go for something like a Volvo S60 (All the earlier petrol engines in your budget are turbo) Saab 9-3 turbo or similar.