What first car? - cheap to run and a bit of fun

[twazzock]

Right, I'm currently sharing a Fiesta with my mum, but soon I want to get my own car, so I'm looking for some ideas.

• Obviously being 18/male/fairly high risk area insurance is going to be the biggest cost, so a classic is probably the best route

• Probably going to be something 4 pot and lightweight again due to insurance, which means MPG isn't much of an issue (and it's not going to be doing mega-miles anyway)

• Needs to be cheap to run as I'm saving money for travel (some of which I'm hoping to do in this car) and will probably keep it throughout uni; thus far I have no mechanical experience but I wouldn't mind something simple for me to learn some skillz on

• Doesn't really need much in the way of practicality other than being able to handle a 200mi round trip on a regular basis, without being too painful

I'm open to just about anything, because just about everything is an upgrade from the Fiesta. FunCheapness is the most important factor. Budget: sub-£1.5k would be nice. The lower the better

I've already lusted after various classics, including:

• Mini - decent one unlikely on my budget, bit rubbish on motorway
• Dolomite (a Sprint would be ) - Sprint unlikely, 1850HLs any good?
• 4-pot E30s - judging by comments in another thread, insurance will be a killer
• MX-5 - insurance again
• Ford 100E - dog slow as standard, modified insurance might be a pain
• MGB - dunno. Don't feel any particular lust for one
• Capri - incredibly cool (IMO), but my budget looks like it'll buy a heap; any good to drive?

Not necessarily discounted them altogether, just points to consider.


Right, your turn.

Edited by twazzock on Saturday 10th July 22:11

[RB26DETT]

Puma ?

[v8will]

Ka.

Can be epically rusty but also cheap and a hoot to drive.

[twazzock]

v8will said:

Ka.

Can be epically rusty but also cheap and a hoot to drive.

But perhaps a little too similar to the Fiesta? And even worse at motorway speed.

Puma's also quite similar, and its age means classic insurance may not be possible, but I'll look into it.

[HellDiver]

106.

Made out of paper, and if you get a late on, it'll have the 206 MPI engine which makes it go really quite well considering it's only a 1.1 - I got a consistent 550 miles to the tank out of mine.

[Ry_B]

Cheap to run but MPG is not an issue?

[twazzock]

Ry_B said:

Cheap to run but MPG is not an issue?

Not going to be doing all that many miles, and because of rapey insurance most things within my reach are going to be puny ickle 4-pots, most of which are going to give reasonable MPG, no?
JKust didn't want to go give it priority

HellDiver said:

106.

Made out of paper, and if you get a late on, it'll have the 206 MPI engine which makes it go really quite well considering it's only a 1.1 - I got a consistent 550 miles to the tank out of mine.

Oh what I wouldn't give for one of thse: http://pistonheads.com/sales/1848401.htm
And I'm sure there was a thread in the Readers' Cars section where a guy had one for his first car, then a 318is after. Lucky git.
Wonder what the insurance is like...

[twazzock]

this isn't a bump

[rudecherub]

I think the 106 is a good suggestion, they are ok to drive as I recall the loners I've tried.

If you're looking at older fords like a capri, why not consider a sierra, they are getting harder to find, but they are rear drive...

the method in the madness if you do find you have time and patience to get greasy then provided you get at least a year out of it MOT etc. Then you've a donor car for a kit just to be left of field.