A reasonably fun first car....

[Mark_Karting]

Yes, it's another what car I've just turned 18 and with money I've been saving added to my birthday from my gran I'll be buying my first car. I've been driving about 9-10 months in my mums 1.1 Peugeot 206, but want something a bit more exciting and to call my own.

Originally I looked at Renaultsport Clio 172/182's, but decided against it to remain reasonably sensible and because I couldnt justify the extra £800 on insurance I would be paying over most other cars.

I moved on from that fantasy and began looking at 'Warm' hatches, from these I've come up with a list of cars I could insure and would actually like:

Citroen C2 VTS
Ford Fiesta Zetec S (MK5)
Honda Civic Sport (EP)
Audi A3 1.6
Renault Clio 1.6

I'm looking for suggestions for something more interesting, other cars along the same lines or pointers towards/away from cars on the list.

Before I forget, budget will be £3000 max, but more around £2500 would be better. Insurance around £1000-£1300.

Thanks, over to the PH expertise

[okie592]

the fez i would say. A3 are dull to drive, and the clio will break within 25 mins.
i had a focus for my first car and ide say it was the funniest car i have driven

[jimslops]

A Clio 1.6?!

[vescaegg]

You think at 18 with no history of driving you will be able to get instance for £1000-1300?

[EDLT]

A 1.6 A3 is almost as slow as your mums Peugeot, crap MPG too. Out of that list I'd have the Civic (a normal one, "sport" is just a trim level), but the insurance will be ridiculous.

[k15tox]

panda 100hp...swift sport?

[kamilb1998]

Something like this;


http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C235959


http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C267782

[sparks_E39]

vescaegg said:

You think at 18 with no history of driving you will be able to get instance for £1000-1300?

Not everyone who has just passed at 18 gets huge quotes, just most of them

[davepoth]

Get away from warm hatches if you can, they're crashed often by 18 year olds so the insurance is disproportionately expensive. I'm guessing you don't want a classic car, which is the usual way round it, and you probably wouldn't fancy a big barge of a saloon, which is the other way. A bit of a left field choice, but what about a Skoda Fabia Saloon? It'd be worth seeing whether the insurance sees it as a separate car to the hatch, as if they do it'll be much cheaper to insure I should think.

[Krikkit]

If the insurance is reasonable I can heartily recommend a 106 Quicksilver - 75hp and a good chassis, peanuts to repair and actually quite reliable (contrary to popular belief!). Despite its chav image it is a very good car, and once you get beyond 21 and insurance is reasonable - 16v conversion for 130hp.

Otherwise a classic. MGB's are cheap as chips and tremendous fun.

[braddo]

Have you had any real insurance quotes yet?

Maybe look at slightly more obscure older stuff that is less popular with new drivers these days - they might have lower insurance premiums, which means you can get a bit more power (or if not, at least they have good handling).

Perhaps stuff like Citroen ZX, Peugeot 306, Peugeot 205 XS... Maybe even something like a old 2.0 Mondeo?

MX5?

[Mark_Karting]

Even if I buy the car now, insurance wont be going through until I have a years named driver no claims. Which I have checked i'm getting. the roughly £1k is checking quotes for TPF&T, both my parents on the policy with 30+ years of NCB, car parked on road, 5k miles p/a.

I would consider something older and more obsure, just not sure what. An MGB was always in the back of my mind

As for the 1.6 Clio. I didnt think it exsisted but there was one in a dealer about 10 minutes from me seemed the logical step down from the 172.

Thanks for the advice

[Mark_Karting]

k15tox said:

panda 100hp...swift sport?

I would love a Swift Sport, it was up there with the Clio. Unfortunately they are all a bit 'too new' for my budget, maybe in a year

[swifthobo]

buy my swift gti

[Agrispeed]

Go Classic. I did, and bought a Spitfire, the most fun I've ever had, and a 1960's sports car (look a like) is a hell of a 1st car. You will also learn how to fix them.

They are nothing like a modern car, Unrefined, noisy and just utterly fantastic, you will learn about driving with one, and they are the most fun you can have with your clothes on (you have to wear them, or you will stick to the vinyl seats, so ive been told )

and, on top of this, cheaper to insure than my mums Derv Fiat panda...

[Mark_Karting]

That orange MGBGT further up looks fantastic actually! hmmm..... It's just something a bit different really. This car will not be bought out of need, simply because I want one as a petrolhead. Something a bit more 'special' like a classic could be great actually.

[swifthobo]

swift gti if you shopped about you could probably get it under classic insurance 1.3 economical and spanks it lol gwarnnnn

[Mark_Karting]

swifthobo said:

swift gti if you shopped about you could probably get it under classic insurance 1.3 economical and spanks it lol gwarnnnn

I might, ive got a mate with the swift GTi engine in a Mini and Its a fantastic wee car! Ooh a Mini, I hadn't thought of that!

Whats the deal with classic policys at 18? most companies have an age limit.

[swifthobo]

They are great engines and good cars! and i suppose a classic is a classic! I think that's the route a few younger drivers a going to avoid getting fully bent over for paying 2k plus on stty micra's and such like.

[chris333]

Agrispeed said:

Go Classic. I did, and bought a Spitfire, the most fun I've ever had, and a 1960's sports car (look a like) is a hell of a 1st car. You will also learn how to fix them.

They are nothing like a modern car, Unrefined, noisy and just utterly fantastic, you will learn about driving with one, and they are the most fun you can have with your clothes on (you have to wear them, or you will stick to the vinyl seats, so ive been told )

and, on top of this, cheaper to insure than my mums Derv Fiat panda...

fully agree! I had a Spitfire for about 15 years. Slow enough to make overtaking a milk float a challenge, but the view down the bonnet, the exhaust noise and the snikety gear change made me smile every time I drove it!