Discussion
Okay, Hi everyone, I'm new to these forums and this website, I've sort of drifted about drooling over cars for this past 4 or 5 months as its coming up to my sixteenth birthday and I would like to save up for my first car 
I am however a complete novice when it comes to all the paperwork and extra payments such as tax and insurance and the like but basically what I would like to ask you all is what in your opinions would be the ideal first car both for the typical 16 year old (something that dosent look like either A. a chav mobile or B. a bin with wheels)so yes, thanks for reading and taking the time to answer if you do 
!
btw, favourite cars at the minute would be between a 2011 Subaru WRX,e36 or a supra but hey lets be reasonable for a little guy like me haha
I am however a complete novice when it comes to all the paperwork and extra payments such as tax and insurance and the like but basically what I would like to ask you all is what in your opinions would be the ideal first car both for the typical 16 year old (something that dosent look like either A. a chav mobile or B. a bin with wheels)so yes, thanks for reading and taking the time to answer if you do !btw, favourite cars at the minute would be between a 2011 Subaru WRX,e36 or a supra but hey lets be reasonable for a little guy like me haha
Welcome to PH! 
Take a look at this recent thread, may help you with your search:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Take a look at this recent thread, may help you with your search:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
NadiR said:
Welcome to PH!
Take a look at this recent thread, may help you with your search:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Thank you Take a look at this recent thread, may help you with your search:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
NateWM said:
You are 15 going on 16, would there really be a point in buying a car now? Granted, a project would be fun, but the fun will soon end once it comes to insuring it, as prices drastically change between now and over a years time...
I was going to start saving for a nice first car is what I mean and just wanted some decent suggestions DylanLaverty said:
I was going to start saving for a nice first car
Don't do this.As you won't be able to buy anything you actually want because of insurance prices. After you get a years NCB you'll wish you still had that money to get something which you could now insure, which is a better car.
Just run a shed for a year, get your 1st years NCB (touch wood) and then get something decent
)Welcome to PH
You can do worse than keep an eye on the bargain basement thread and have a couple of insurance price comparison sites bookmarked so you can easily check how much the car will actually cost you. Also this site will calculate fuel costs for you if you're brave enough to look.
As others have said it's worth aiming for cheap and stashing any extra cash away for once you've got a year or so of NCB under your belt. The good news is that there's a lot of good cars out there for very little money, the bad news is that buying higher mileage cars means you've got to do your homework.
Google for possible defects before going to look at a car, if there's an owners club then then they will often have a buyers guide on their forum. Learn to be very skeptical about the words 'full service history'. Check that the wear on the front seat and controls fits with the mileage of the car.
Before handing over any money make sure you've done an HPI check (cheaper sites may be available), this will tell you if there's any nasties like outstanding finance or if the car's been stolen. The current owner will have a V5 form (if they don't then walk away), there is a section on the V5 you will have to send to the DVLA to become the registered keeper of the car.
Good luck whatever you end up with, and as a random extra here's a teenager on PH who ended up with a £500 allegro that's so bad it went all the way round in to cool again.
You can do worse than keep an eye on the bargain basement thread and have a couple of insurance price comparison sites bookmarked so you can easily check how much the car will actually cost you. Also this site will calculate fuel costs for you if you're brave enough to look.
As others have said it's worth aiming for cheap and stashing any extra cash away for once you've got a year or so of NCB under your belt. The good news is that there's a lot of good cars out there for very little money, the bad news is that buying higher mileage cars means you've got to do your homework.
Google for possible defects before going to look at a car, if there's an owners club then then they will often have a buyers guide on their forum. Learn to be very skeptical about the words 'full service history'. Check that the wear on the front seat and controls fits with the mileage of the car.
Before handing over any money make sure you've done an HPI check (cheaper sites may be available), this will tell you if there's any nasties like outstanding finance or if the car's been stolen. The current owner will have a V5 form (if they don't then walk away), there is a section on the V5 you will have to send to the DVLA to become the registered keeper of the car.
Good luck whatever you end up with, and as a random extra here's a teenager on PH who ended up with a £500 allegro that's so bad it went all the way round in to cool again.
Norbury90 said:
You will probably crash your first car into a hedge by trying to be a hero so don't waste money on something quick in order to crash at a higher speed... get something cheap.
I didnt crash my first car even though i drove like a t
t often.Had 2 people crash trying to keep up in their corsa and saxo though
Slow said:
Norbury90 said:
You will probably crash your first car into a hedge by trying to be a hero so don't waste money on something quick in order to crash at a higher speed... get something cheap.
I didnt crash my first car even though i drove like a tt often.Had 2 people crash trying to keep up in their corsa and saxo though
Sadly, buying a first car isn't really fun anymore. Mine was a 1600 Capri back in 1991 when I was 17...my insurance was....I forget, but not ridiculous, but petrol was 49p per litre and I had a good job.
I bought my car when I was 16, ready for passing my test but like I said, there is no fun in buying a first car anymore. You MUST be sensible.
Unless you have rich, generous parents or a good job, it will be expensive as in the insurance probably twice or even 3 times more than the car costs.
A 1 litre, Nissan Micra, Pug 106, VW Polo, that sort of thing is the sensible route...ok, dull and unexciting but the best route to tempt you out of high speeds and then get that 1st years NCB (NCD) out of the way.
I bought my car when I was 16, ready for passing my test but like I said, there is no fun in buying a first car anymore. You MUST be sensible.
Unless you have rich, generous parents or a good job, it will be expensive as in the insurance probably twice or even 3 times more than the car costs.
A 1 litre, Nissan Micra, Pug 106, VW Polo, that sort of thing is the sensible route...ok, dull and unexciting but the best route to tempt you out of high speeds and then get that 1st years NCB (NCD) out of the way.
Norbury90 said:
You will probably crash your first car into a hedge by trying to be a hero so don't waste money on something quick in order to crash at a higher speed... get something cheap.
Why does everyone say this? Lad I worked with, and I'm now best if friends with had a Golf R32 as a first car in 07 and went on to have an Impreza STi hatch, E92 M3, Mk2 FRS and Evo Fq360, none of which he crashed.
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