Yet another what car?

[petrolveins]

Afternoon PHers.

I'm on the hunt for a new car, I've got a budget of around £5k for the car. Insurance has to be reasonable as I'm 19. As for needs, I don't have any particularly. I'll be using to commute once a week a 100mile round trip and then very small journeys during the week. So fuel economy isn't a huge worry, but ability to get 30mpg would be a bonus. It should have 4 seats, but space isn't a massive concern, but it would be nice if there was some. I really don't want a hatchback, I'd prefer something different. However it needs to be interesting and put a smile on my face every-time I drive it. Don't read that as it needs to be a true drivers car. I just want something a bit special, or interesting, not something your typical 19yo would drive. So far cars I've looked at (and got good insurance quotes in) include the RX-8 and Audi S4 B5. However the RX-8 and associated rotary problems worry me, such as the cold shut-down issue. As for the S4 I'm worried it's too big a step up performance wise from my Skoda. I've even looked at E34s, just finding a good one is proving an issue. I've always said I want a total change from what I've got, so it should have more than 4 cylinders and not be FWD.

I have been surprised by what I can insure, so E46 330Ci, E39 540i and such the like have been thought about. The biggest problem is no-one will let me test drive these cars, I was lucky with one dealer to get a good drive in the RX-8, I loved it just reliability scares me, I also got a very short go a very knackered S4, but enough to know I loved it.

Any other suggestions guys, or am I being pathetic in worrying so much about either the RX-8 or S4?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

[Fox-]

Make sure you've plenty of disposable cash to fix stuff when it goes wrong - which it will on this sort of car at this sort of age. Infact scratch that, as you are 19 you probably do have plenty of disposable cash, so make sure you are content with the notion of disposing it all on fixing cars

[petrolveins]

Fox- said:

Make sure you've plenty of disposable cash to fix stuff when it goes wrong - which it will on this sort of car at this sort of age. Infact scratch that, as you are 19 you probably do have plenty of disposable cash, so make sure you are content with the notion of disposing it all on fixing cars

Which car are you referring to? Because not all of them are that old.

[Fox-]

petrolveins said:

Which car are you referring to? Because not all of them are that old.

Most of them, but I went the BMW route so thats what I'm really referring to. It isn't really about age. German cars break regardless of age.

Worth the hassle, mind.

[Mr Dave]

Fox- said:

petrolveins said:

Which car are you referring to? Because not all of them are that old.

Most of them, but I went the BMW route so thats what I'm really referring to. It isn't really about age. German cars break regardless of age.

Worth the hassle, mind.

Especially my 205,000 mile E39, the cupholders have broken now and im gutted. German cars are crap. OK its broke springs and a radiator but that was from hitting potholes and a rock holed the rad any car would have broken bits hitting those potholes though. Mechanically nothing has broken on it yet.

[Fox-]

Mr Dave said:

Especially my 205,000 mile E39, the cupholders have broken now and im gutted. German cars are crap. OK its broke springs and a radiator but that was from hitting potholes and a rock holed the rad any car would have broken bits hitting those potholes though. Mechanically nothing has broken on it yet.

The rock holed the radiator only 30 minutes before it was due to lunch itself anyway

[nw28840]

None of those will get you an average 30mpg.

Personally i'd go for the BMW.

Currently 303 E46 3 series under £5k in the classifieds.....lots of choice.

My money would go on something like this :

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

I bought one new almost identical to this back in 2002, cost me £39,840 back then (about £6k of extras).

Good luck with your choice !

[Ozzie Osmond]

From what you describe a 6-cylinder BMW sounds ideal .... BUT

• You'd want a very nice E36 or probably E46 at that money
• Are you sure a 19-year old can get insured on one at anything resembling a sensible price?

In your situation I'd start with the insurance angle and work from there. Most have lists of cars they will or won't cover for young drivers and group ratings to suit.

[petrolveins]

Ozzie Osmond said:

From what you describe a 6-cylinder BMW sounds ideal .... BUT

• You'd want a very nice E36 or probably E46 at that money
• Are you sure a 19-year old can get insured on one at anything resembling a sensible price?

In your situation I'd start with the insurance angle and work from there. Most have lists of cars they will or won't cover for young drivers and group ratings to suit.

I've been on the website getting quotes/on the phone to my current insurers and all the above cars mentioned can be insured for under £2k a year on my own policy, with all the correct information, which at my age is a good price. I really don't understand where people getting quoted £5k on little stboxes are getting these prices. I can be insured in most fast coupe and saloons, convertibles like the 330Ci linked above are a nono, and weirdly so are some estates such as the B5 S4 Avant, they'll quote me in the B5 S4 Saloon no problem and even the B5 RS4 Avant, how that works out I have no idea.

[Fox-]

You've got to be mad to pay 'under £2k a year' for insurance. What a massive waste of money.

[petrolveins]

Fox- said:

You've got to be mad to pay 'under £2k a year' for insurance. What a massive waste of money.

What did you pay for your 530i you had that at quite a young age no?

[Fox-]

petrolveins said:

What did you pay for your 530i you had that at quite a young age no?

Bought it when I was 22. My first years insurance was £990 I think.

[matthias73]

Fox- said:

petrolveins said:

What did you pay for your 530i you had that at quite a young age no?

Bought it when I was 22. My first years insurance was £990 I think.

There you go, you were 22. Us 19 year olds get raped and theres not much we can do about it.

The worst bit was, adrian flux quoted me 2400 for a pug 406, with one year named driver experience, on same car. I said I'd been offered 1900. She said: "thats a really good price, you should go for that"

ITS NOT A REALLY GOOD PRICE, ITS TWO MONTHS WAGES YOU we!


(Dont take that too seriously. I was a bit put off by her comment though.)

[Fox-]

matthias73 said:

There you go, you were 22.

Because when I was 19 I decided that wasting a huge amount of money on insurance was exactly that - a waste of money. So I had a 2 litre Mondeo instead of the V6 I would have preferred and paid £1k a year for that instead of £2k a year for a V6.

Insurance is dead money, you never get it back and if you dont crash into anything you don't get much for it either. Spending thousands and thousands each year just to drive a particular car seems daft. Wait until said car is sensible to insure, then buy it.

[matthias73]

Fox- said:

matthias73 said:

There you go, you were 22.

Because when I was 19 I decided that wasting a huge amount of money on insurance was exactly that - a waste of money. So I had a 2 litre Mondeo instead of the V6 I would have preferred and paid £1k a year for that instead of £2k a year for a V6.

Insurance is dead money, you never get it back and if you dont crash into anything you don't get much for it either. Spending thousands and thousands each year just to drive a particular car seems daft. Wait until said car is sensible to insure, then buy it.

I bought my car off my mum. She wanted to sell it, but it had recently had over 600 pounds spent on it and she wouldn't get that back. It wouldn't sell for more than 800, even though its in (was, now has a scratch or two from stupid parkers) mint condition, extremely low mileage, and the best interior for that car. Keeping the car in the family was the better option, as I knew it was in good order, and it was big enough for my needs. (bikes, snowboards, full car to rugby games)

It kinda makes me mad that I would pay 50 pounds a year less to insure an audi a4 V6 rather than this peugeot 1.8. Its not what engine, it really is what car.

Still, can't complain, I've made the money back and I'm taking the car on a roadtrip to europe as I have 40 days abroad coverage.

[petrolveins]

Fox- said:

Because when I was 19 I decided that wasting a huge amount of money on insurance was exactly that - a waste of money. So I had a 2 litre Mondeo instead of the V6 I would have preferred and paid £1k a year for that instead of £2k a year for a V6.

Insurance is dead money, you never get it back and if you dont crash into anything you don't get much for it either. Spending thousands and thousands each year just to drive a particular car seems daft. Wait until said car is sensible to insure, then buy it.

I'm 19 so in all fairness the money would only go on nights out and wasted on other things. Cars are my passion, and although it's a lot of money I'd rather put it towards having a nice car than wasting it drinking and going out all the time. Many of my mates are spending the same money on Polos, Corsas and Golfs. I'm just lucky my postcode is a good one and I don't have a massively high annual mileage.


With regards to the car choice, I think I've got it down to 3 finalists: Mazda RX-8 231, Audi TT 225 and BMW E46 330Ci/330i Saloon.

Any suggestions with regards to choosing between those 3, I've driven the Mazda before, had a good look at the TT and been driven in one, but never looked at the BMW so going to on monday hopefully. People on twitter are pushing towards the BMWs. Any thoughts here?

[ALThaus]

Fox- said:

Because when I was 19 I decided that wasting a huge amount of money on insurance was exactly that - a waste of money. So I had a 2 litre Mondeo instead of the V6 I would have preferred and paid £1k a year for that instead of £2k a year for a V6.

Insurance is dead money, you never get it back and if you dont crash into anything you don't get much for it either. Spending thousands and thousands each year just to drive a particular car seems daft. Wait until said car is sensible to insure, then buy it.

I wouldn't say it's wasted, it depends on how you look at it. if a youff wants to drive something interesting, fast or just cool they have to pay for it, just depends if one's committed enough to the hobby of motoring. you will never see the money again but isn't everything like that?


PV, i'm more and more tempted by the E30's particularly a 318is. Also Mrs ALThaus saw one and said she liked it, must be the Croydon coming out in her

[Rev Limit]

Id really like to know which insurance company is insuring a 19 year old on an RX8/S4, because im 22 with 3 years NCB living in a decent area and I still cant get decent quotes on anything remotely fast!

Al

[SD1992]

Just to chip in here, I am 19 and currently pay £800 a year on my Mondeo ST24. I decided that I didn't want to hemorrhage silly amounts of money on insurance and have nothing to show for it.

OP - if I were in your position I would be thinking about something older and cheaper, then when you are in your 20s considering spending that money on something you really want and not worrying about insurance.

[Fox-]

petrolveins said:

I'm 19 so in all fairness the money would only go on nights out and wasted on other things. Cars are my passion, and although it's a lot of money I'd rather put it towards having a nice car than wasting it drinking and going out all the time.

I'm not suggesting you blow it on drinking instead, merely something just as fun but for much less insurance outlay. You dont have many years to go until you can insure this sort of car for half the price you are being quoted now. Don't be so keen to climb the ladder so fast. Pick something else, bank the money saved on running costs and wasted on insurance and then in a few years time you'll have a tidy pile available to buy something really cool AND not pay over the odds to insure it.

Imagine being able to insure an M3 in a few years time but not having the cash to buy it because you blew it all on insuring a 330i at 19