Affordable, quick car for a 21 year old?

[pistonpie]

What affordable used cars are there with relatively low insurance (let's say sub £850) for a 21 year old? Something with a bit of punch, budget of about £7000 max - I'm not a new driver and have been driving for a few years now so I have a good no claims record etc. Cheers

[tyranical]

How longs a piece of string?

Depends where you live etc for your insurance.

More details required, do you need 4 seats and space or is a 2 seater sports car suitable? What about MPG, do you care about it?

[pistonpie]

Hi, insurance quotes have been surprisingly low from what i've seen (some examples: Civic Type R for £1050, Suzuki Swift Sport for £700 and I even got a quote for an SLS AMG for £4800 ha ha), not overly fussed about having 2 or 4 seats, and MPG is quite important as I don't want something too thirsty, cheers.

Edited by pistonpie on Thursday 8th September 20:22

[Meoricin]

pistonpie said:

Hi, insurance quotes have been surprisingly low from what i've seen, not overly fussed about having 2 or 4 seats, and MPG is quite important as I don't want something too thirsty, cheers.

Nice and specific then. Are you just looking for a list of cars that cost 7k and get 30+mpg?

[tyranical]

BMW Z4
Clio 197
MINI Cooper S

[swakelin91]

Renaultsport Megane
Focus ST
VX220
Elise S1

[pistonpie]

Meoricin said:

Nice and specific then. Are you just looking for a list of cars that cost 7k and get 30+mpg?

Well if I was to be too specific then I wouldn't need any suggestions - But yeah, a decent car that's affordable to run, sub £7k and doesn't drink too much fuel. Although I did forget to mention that I don't want anything that will have excessive miles to make it affordable, lol

tyranical, thanks - I'll check these out soon

[joncon]

last year my son, then 21, went down the classic route, he bought a merceds 190 2.3 16v cosworth, 1987 , 0-60 6.2, top speed 143 .... when new of course. although it hadn't lost much power over the years.
the insurance, based on his age, limited miles (5k) me as a named driver on his policy,was £280.

[snowen250]

Clio Cup 182. Not too thirsty but lots of fun. 197 is what i drive. It is a bit thirsty. 25 on a spirited drive. fun car though.

Simon

[Tonberry]

Leon Cupra R

It's a hatchback so you'll love it (I know you youngsters love little hatchbacks).

225 bhp standard. Will map to 265bhp for £500.

30mpg round the houses.

Decent one will set you back about £5000.

[pidsy]

Mx-5.

With a supercharger.

[66comanche]

joncon said:

merceds 190 2.3 16v cosworth, 1987 , 0-60 6.2s

Really?

[diddly69]

EP3 Civic Type R breadvan I got mine at 21

[JamesNotJim]

snowen250 said:

Clio Cup 182. Not too thirsty but lots of fun. 197 is what i drive. It is a bit thirsty. 25 on a spirited drive. fun car though.

Simon

25mpg on a spirited drive... thats not thirsty. Thats what most owners get day to day.

I average 33mpg trundling to work on the M1... as little as 16mpg on a hoon. its not the quickest car by any means but is a very nice all rounder for me. If insurance and MPG wasnt such a pain I'd be driving a Focus ST3.

[anonymous-user]

couple of unusual ones, diesel makes them slightly lower bands

fabia vrs mk 1

ALFA ROMEO GT JTDM 1.9l Diesel

and this on classic insurance

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-MK2-R32-ENGINE-2...

Edited by black pipebandit on Thursday 8th September 21:59

[Johnboy Mac]

66comanche said:

joncon said:

merceds 190 2.3 16v cosworth, 1987 , 0-60 6.2s

Really?

On good day with all of 185 or so horses pulling you'd be hitting 60 in 7.5. Considering the model is close to it's 30th b'day, that's not to be sniffed at, nor the 140+ top end.


Back on topic, I'll give the Swift Sport my vote. Good value, well built, fun and cheap to run.

Edited by Johnboy Mac on Friday 9th September 10:14

[pistonpie]

diddly69 said:

EP3 Civic Type R breadvan I got mine at 21

I really like the EP3 Civic, I prefer the look of it over the new model too. How much was yours to insure?

Cheers for the suggestions guys btw, i'll check them all out tonight

[Sam1990]

My friend just picked up an EP3, 21 with 3 years no claims and he's paying £1100 fully comp.

[Steameh]

Corsa VXR might be quite fun

[Defcon5]

If you can blow £7000 on a car, why such a draconian limit on the insurance?