Discussion
Hiya (first post weheyyyy) :-D
I'm coming up 18 in October and looking to buy a car (first car) ... I've got £7,500 excluding inusurance and wondering what the best options are!
So far I'm looking at a Mk6 Golf or an Audi A3. (Don't want anything over £2,500 insurance so must be something like a 1.2 or 1.4)
Opinions wanted! Thanks!
I'm coming up 18 in October and looking to buy a car (first car) ... I've got £7,500 excluding inusurance and wondering what the best options are!
So far I'm looking at a Mk6 Golf or an Audi A3. (Don't want anything over £2,500 insurance so must be something like a 1.2 or 1.4)
Opinions wanted! Thanks!
Buy something older and cheaper, pocket £6.5k of your cash.
£1000 will buy a pretty tidy, fairly comfortable first car thinking outside of the box a bit can get you insured on something modestly interesting, too (avoid hot hatches and anything else that teenagers will usually drive, and crash, a lot!) £6500+ will buy a hell of a lot of "fun" car in a couple of years once the insurance premiums drop (and they drop fairly quickly, but for perspective I couldn't get quote much below £1200 to insure a £350 Skoda in my first year (aged 25!) but just under two years later, with one at fault claim as a named driver and no NCB due to not having a car or a while (shared my GF's for a bit) and I'm paying much, much less than that to insure a Porsche! (albeit an early base Boxster)
£1000 will buy a pretty tidy, fairly comfortable first car thinking outside of the box a bit can get you insured on something modestly interesting, too (avoid hot hatches and anything else that teenagers will usually drive, and crash, a lot!) £6500+ will buy a hell of a lot of "fun" car in a couple of years once the insurance premiums drop (and they drop fairly quickly, but for perspective I couldn't get quote much below £1200 to insure a £350 Skoda in my first year (aged 25!) but just under two years later, with one at fault claim as a named driver and no NCB due to not having a car or a while (shared my GF's for a bit) and I'm paying much, much less than that to insure a Porsche! (albeit an early base Boxster)
Edited by Timfy on Monday 29th September 23:13
Timfy said:
Buy something older and cheaper, pocket £6.5k of your cash.
£1000 will buy a pretty tidy, fairly comfortable first car, £6500+ will buy a hell of a lot of "fun" car in a couple of years once the insurance premiums drop (and they drop fairly quickly, but for perspective I couldn't get quote much below £1200 to insure a £350 Skoda in my first year (aged 25!))
Thanks for the reply. I know what you're saying and it makes a lot more sense, but I so desperately want a good car! Haha£1000 will buy a pretty tidy, fairly comfortable first car, £6500+ will buy a hell of a lot of "fun" car in a couple of years once the insurance premiums drop (and they drop fairly quickly, but for perspective I couldn't get quote much below £1200 to insure a £350 Skoda in my first year (aged 25!))
JayPainter said:
Thanks for the reply. I know what you're saying and it makes a lot more sense, but I so desperately want a good car! Haha
See the edit above, it won't take long before (especially the Insurance) costs begin to make a more expensive car worthwhile, but the cost of insurance (first year especially) will make it prohibitively expensive. I'm glad I waited and wasted as little as possible on Insurance on my first car. 
Here's how this'll go.
You'll get told on this thread at least a million times that you should buy a s
tter and run it for two years while paying as little as possible for insurance etc. Then, once you've paid your "terrible car dues", you'll be able to take the money you didn't waste on a mediocre car and spend it on a genuinely excellent car. And that advice is absolutely correct.
Thing is, you're 17, so of course, you know best.
What you'll actually do is buy a Golf GTi in sales rep grey. It'll be dull as ditchwater, but, because you learned to drive in a three cylinder diesel, you'll think it's the fastest car on Earth.
You'll spunk enough money on premiums for the MD of Norwich Union to buy a new private jet and in two years, when you've chopped the GTi for a BMW 320, you'll feel a right Charlie, knowing that if only you'd listened to those boring old farts on the internet, you'd be strutting about in an M3 instead.
And you know what? There's fk all wrong with that. It's your life, it's your cash, you do with it as you will.
Me, I'd spend some of the money on a Jag of some description and some on a well fitting suit. It'll cost you peanuts to insure, it'll be faster, more comfortable and better equipped than the Saxos and Corsas your mates will have and, coupled with the aforementioned suit, you'll get all the pussy you can eat. People will take you seriously when you arrive for job interviews and you won't spend half your waking life speaking to police constables about what they call "the manner of your driving".
Simon.
You'll get told on this thread at least a million times that you should buy a s
tter and run it for two years while paying as little as possible for insurance etc. Then, once you've paid your "terrible car dues", you'll be able to take the money you didn't waste on a mediocre car and spend it on a genuinely excellent car. And that advice is absolutely correct.Thing is, you're 17, so of course, you know best.
What you'll actually do is buy a Golf GTi in sales rep grey. It'll be dull as ditchwater, but, because you learned to drive in a three cylinder diesel, you'll think it's the fastest car on Earth.
You'll spunk enough money on premiums for the MD of Norwich Union to buy a new private jet and in two years, when you've chopped the GTi for a BMW 320, you'll feel a right Charlie, knowing that if only you'd listened to those boring old farts on the internet, you'd be strutting about in an M3 instead.
And you know what? There's f
k all wrong with that. It's your life, it's your cash, you do with it as you will.Me, I'd spend some of the money on a Jag of some description and some on a well fitting suit. It'll cost you peanuts to insure, it'll be faster, more comfortable and better equipped than the Saxos and Corsas your mates will have and, coupled with the aforementioned suit, you'll get all the pussy you can eat. People will take you seriously when you arrive for job interviews and you won't spend half your waking life speaking to police constables about what they call "the manner of your driving".
Simon.
ferrariF50lover said:
Here's how this'll go.
You'll get told on this thread at least a million times that you should buy a stter and run it for two years while paying as little as possible for insurance etc. Then, once you've paid your "terrible car dues", you'll be able to take the money you didn't waste on a mediocre car and spend it on a genuinely excellent car. And that advice is absolutely correct.
Thing is, you're 17, so of course, you know best.
What you'll actually do is buy a Golf GTi in sales rep grey. It'll be dull as ditchwater, but, because you learned to drive in a three cylinder diesel, you'll think it's the fastest car on Earth.
You'll spunk enough money on premiums for the MD of Norwich Union to buy a new private jet and in two years, when you've chopped the GTi for a BMW 320, you'll feel a right Charlie, knowing that if only you'd listened to those boring old farts on the internet, you'd be strutting about in an M3 instead.
And you know what? There's fk all wrong with that. It's your life, it's your cash, you do with it as you will.
Me, I'd spend some of the money on a Jag of some description and some on a well fitting suit. It'll cost you peanuts to insure, it'll be faster, more comfortable and better equipped than the Saxos and Corsas your mates will have and, coupled with the aforementioned suit, you'll get all the pussy you can eat. People will take you seriously when you arrive for job interviews and you won't spend half your waking life speaking to police constables about what they call "the manner of your driving".
Simon.
Brilliant. You'll get told on this thread at least a million times that you should buy a s
tter and run it for two years while paying as little as possible for insurance etc. Then, once you've paid your "terrible car dues", you'll be able to take the money you didn't waste on a mediocre car and spend it on a genuinely excellent car. And that advice is absolutely correct.Thing is, you're 17, so of course, you know best.
What you'll actually do is buy a Golf GTi in sales rep grey. It'll be dull as ditchwater, but, because you learned to drive in a three cylinder diesel, you'll think it's the fastest car on Earth.
You'll spunk enough money on premiums for the MD of Norwich Union to buy a new private jet and in two years, when you've chopped the GTi for a BMW 320, you'll feel a right Charlie, knowing that if only you'd listened to those boring old farts on the internet, you'd be strutting about in an M3 instead.
And you know what? There's f
k all wrong with that. It's your life, it's your cash, you do with it as you will.Me, I'd spend some of the money on a Jag of some description and some on a well fitting suit. It'll cost you peanuts to insure, it'll be faster, more comfortable and better equipped than the Saxos and Corsas your mates will have and, coupled with the aforementioned suit, you'll get all the pussy you can eat. People will take you seriously when you arrive for job interviews and you won't spend half your waking life speaking to police constables about what they call "the manner of your driving".
Simon.
But yes, 7.5K on a first car seems such a waste - everyone says they wont scratch, bump, dent it, blah blah - but it almost always inevitably happens. Spend a couple grand, take yourself on some nice holidays, pocket the rest for a rainy day.
Have a st car at first - you're quite new to the road etc and you wouldnt want to ding something really nice. Plus you can hone your smooth driving to be more mechanically sympathetic, so when you get your shiny car next year (with your 1 year NCB!) you'll be better with it
That being said, girls will admire you more if you have something really nice
I'd seek out a honda S2000 but i dont think insurance is even possible on those at the age of 18 (im 28 and its £2000...)
t car at first - you're quite new to the road etc and you wouldnt want to ding something really nice. Plus you can hone your smooth driving to be more mechanically sympathetic, so when you get your shiny car next year (with your 1 year NCB!) you'll be better with itThat being said, girls will admire you more if you have something really nice
I'd seek out a honda S2000 but i dont think insurance is even possible on those at the age of 18 (im 28 and its £2000...)
Don't run before you can walk. You've only recently passed your test so you have only just started to learn to drive properly (I've been driving 8 years and I am still learning new things). I would get something that fits under the 'first car' radar (I know it sounds boring) but in your case you can get a mint example with some nice options, no knackered 1.0 Corsa's here with loads of blank buttons. Use the some of the 7.5k to pay for insurance. Use some of the 7.5k to pay for a car control course on a skid pan or wet skid area. Use some of it to put towards some decent tools and learn to work on the car your self. The last point will save you a fair bit through your motoring life if you can learn to service a car yourself.
In short don't spunk the money on an Audi A3 that you will probably understeer into the nearest lampost. Spend wisely.
ETA: To add to the 'get the girls' idea. If you learn to do mechincal stuff you can fix their cars for them and you might get something in return...
Or she might say that and then just drive off but that's a whole other learning experience besides driving and probably doesn't belong on a motoring forum
In short don't spunk the money on an Audi A3 that you will probably understeer into the nearest lampost. Spend wisely.
ETA: To add to the 'get the girls' idea. If you learn to do mechincal stuff you can fix their cars for them and you might get something in return...
Or she might say that and then just drive off but that's a whole other learning experience besides driving and probably doesn't belong on a motoring forum
Edited by Swanny87 on Tuesday 30th September 14:07
Edited by Swanny87 on Tuesday 30th September 14:08
thatdude said:
Have a st car at first - you're quite new to the road etc and you wouldnt want to ding something really nice. Plus you can hone your smooth driving to be more mechanically sympathetic, so when you get your shiny car next year (with your 1 year NCB!) you'll be better with it
That being said, girls will admire you more if you have something really nice
I'd seek out a honda S2000 but i dont think insurance is even possible on those at the age of 18 (im 28 and its £2000...)
He'd probably have it backwards off the road before he can say "What's this VTEC malarky all about?"t car at first - you're quite new to the road etc and you wouldnt want to ding something really nice. Plus you can hone your smooth driving to be more mechanically sympathetic, so when you get your shiny car next year (with your 1 year NCB!) you'll be better with itThat being said, girls will admire you more if you have something really nice
I'd seek out a honda S2000 but i dont think insurance is even possible on those at the age of 18 (im 28 and its £2000...)
JayPainter said:
Timfy said:
Buy something older and cheaper, pocket £6.5k of your cash.
£1000 will buy a pretty tidy, fairly comfortable first car, £6500+ will buy a hell of a lot of "fun" car in a couple of years once the insurance premiums drop (and they drop fairly quickly, but for perspective I couldn't get quote much below £1200 to insure a £350 Skoda in my first year (aged 25!))
Thanks for the reply. I know what you're saying and it makes a lot more sense, but I so desperately want a good car! Haha£1000 will buy a pretty tidy, fairly comfortable first car, £6500+ will buy a hell of a lot of "fun" car in a couple of years once the insurance premiums drop (and they drop fairly quickly, but for perspective I couldn't get quote much below £1200 to insure a £350 Skoda in my first year (aged 25!))
Definitely go for a car you'll be chuffed with, but the advice on here to keep it sensible for better future cars is not wrong.
I'd ignore everyone who tells you to get some boring piece of crap because it's somehow a rite of passage. I had a boring piece of crap (MK5 Astra) as my first car, only kept it a few months and replaced it with a 2.0 Mazda 3 and a modified 850 T5. Then switched to a Jag XJ and an MR2 when I was 18/19 and still have them now (just turned 20).
Insurance has usually been less than my friends have paid in Corsas/Clios etc , and I've had an enormous amount of fun with roadtrips, holidays, track days etc, all of which wouldn't have been possible in a small, crappy car.
It also doesn't have to be expensive if you play it right: every car I've sold, I've sold for the same or more than I paid for them, and I'm pretty sure I'll be able to do the same thing in a years time when I switch to an XJR.
Insurance has usually been less than my friends have paid in Corsas/Clios etc , and I've had an enormous amount of fun with roadtrips, holidays, track days etc, all of which wouldn't have been possible in a small, crappy car.
It also doesn't have to be expensive if you play it right: every car I've sold, I've sold for the same or more than I paid for them, and I'm pretty sure I'll be able to do the same thing in a years time when I switch to an XJR.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
A car is only as dangerous as you make it. Don't drive an S2000 like a clown and you won't crash. If I had a pound for every comment made about "oh you'll be in a ditch soon" or "oh I'm suprised you've not crashed in this weather" when it's raining and I'm in the MR2, I'd be able to afford that ECU I've been saving for. Funnily enough, a turbo too. I've been out on runs in the wet in it and yes, be on your toes, but it's not exactly trying to kill me every moment of the day. Just show it some respect, which is what an S2000 deamnds too. Stamping the throttle with steering lock on will only end 1 way and anyone with any sense should know that.
For the OP, Saabs are an execellent deal (can you guess why I think so
) Plus your parents will be very happy with it as for a first car, it's some of the safest cars on the market. Saab did far more tests on their own back than required by NCAP and far exceeded other car manufacturers in terms of development for safety. Few examples:http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...
1.8 so won't be terrible on insruance, fairly good looking cars as they aren't offensive and they carry their age well, very comfortable, well equipped with leather/sat nav/parking sensors and your friend will never know how little it actually cost.
Or if you want more poke and an auto:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...
Still not going to kill on insurance at 150bhp and an auto, again well equipped etc etc. plus you have a turbo!
Or if you want the full hog get an Aero:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...
plenty of poke, you get a Turbo (which at 18 makes all the girls moist) and plenty of overtaking power. Easy to drive, comfortable, well equipped and in a few years, give Karl from the OC a visit and remap up to 250bhp.
Mileage wise, they carry them very well. Mine is on 90k, £83k of those done in our family (my old mans car before me) and in that time, all it's needed is regular servicing and 2 rear brake calipers (they stick on, bit of a habit of Saabs, plus I'm light on my brakes which won't help). anything else has been my choice like freshening up, Eibach springs etc.
Saabs are a lot of car for the money. The only down side is the difficulty with getting some parts. For most things reconditioned parts keeps everyone going and keeps the cycle going. Body panels can still be had, just a bit more pricey.
Edited by DottyMR2 on Tuesday 30th September 15:16
Geekman said:
I'd ignore everyone who tells you to get some boring piece of crap because it's somehow a rite of passage. I had a boring piece of crap (MK5 Astra) as my first car, only kept it a few months and replaced it with a 2.0 Mazda 3 and a modified 850 T5. Then switched to a Jag XJ and an MR2 when I was 18/19 and still have them now (just turned 20).
Insurance has usually been less than my friends have paid in Corsas/Clios etc , and I've had an enormous amount of fun with roadtrips, holidays, track days etc, all of which wouldn't have been possible in a small, crappy car.
It also doesn't have to be expensive if you play it right: every car I've sold, I've sold for the same or more than I paid for them, and I'm pretty sure I'll be able to do the same thing in a years time when I switch to an XJR.
I think the general advice on here has been to buy something older and 'off the radar'; which reading through your car history, seems to be exactly what you have done Insurance has usually been less than my friends have paid in Corsas/Clios etc , and I've had an enormous amount of fun with roadtrips, holidays, track days etc, all of which wouldn't have been possible in a small, crappy car.
It also doesn't have to be expensive if you play it right: every car I've sold, I've sold for the same or more than I paid for them, and I'm pretty sure I'll be able to do the same thing in a years time when I switch to an XJR.
OP, I went down a different route and bought classic. Something akin to a Triumph Spitfire/MG Midget is retro cool and definitely attracts the girls (my AH Sprite did all the pulling for me). Maintenance is simple and requires only basic spanner knowledge, plus less to go wrong.
Speed suddenly doesn't matter when you are 6" off the ground and have the roof down. People also tend to keep their distance a bit more when driving and you'll get plenty of random people coming up to talk about the car.
Some of the best motoring I've done and much better than driving around in an Audi A3 looking like every other sales rep on the road.
Yep I've got to agree with the general party line. Don't splash everything on your first car. I'd say £2,000 is a decent budget for your first car (mine was £1,700). everyone should have a runner as their first car, pay their dues. Then, when you can later afford to own and maintain something interesting/fast, not to mention have the experience to appreciate it, it'll be all the sweeter. Plus since you won't have blown everything on your first car, you'll have much more to spend on its replacement.
Sounds like a tough trade-off I know but I think everyone's first car should be a snotter :P walk before you wan run, pay your dues, then get something quick and fully enjoy it!
Sounds like a tough trade-off I know but I think everyone's first car should be a snotter :P walk before you wan run, pay your dues, then get something quick and fully enjoy it!
DottyMR2 said:
Another internet tale. Yes, it's RWD and yes if you drive it like a moron it won't be forgiving. It's like when it snows, how many accidents and bumps happen because 95% of people can't drive a car without electronic aids or benign FWD characteristics that just understeer straight off.
A car is only as dangerous as you make it. Don't drive an S2000 like a clown and you won't crash. If I had a pound for every comment made about "oh you'll be in a ditch soon" or "oh I'm suprised you've not crashed in this weather" when it's raining and I'm in the MR2, I'd be able to afford that ECU I've been saving for. Funnily enough, a turbo too. I've been out on runs in the wet in it and yes, be on your toes, but it's not exactly trying to kill me every moment of the day. Just show it some respect, which is what an S2000 deamnds too. Stamping the throttle with steering lock on will only end 1 way and anyone with any sense should know that.
Great statement; but not exactly relevant to the OP, which is where tonkers was coming from...A car is only as dangerous as you make it. Don't drive an S2000 like a clown and you won't crash. If I had a pound for every comment made about "oh you'll be in a ditch soon" or "oh I'm suprised you've not crashed in this weather" when it's raining and I'm in the MR2, I'd be able to afford that ECU I've been saving for. Funnily enough, a turbo too. I've been out on runs in the wet in it and yes, be on your toes, but it's not exactly trying to kill me every moment of the day. Just show it some respect, which is what an S2000 deamnds too. Stamping the throttle with steering lock on will only end 1 way and anyone with any sense should know that.
A new 18 year old driver will not behave himself in something with 200bhp+ coming through the rear wheels. He might drive like a saint 95% of the time, but there will be that 5% where he reverts into an idiot (usually in front of mates) and does something that is out of his ability or catches him out.
I know, because I've been there; except I was 22 years old and in a TVR. Luckily I never stacked it, but I came close once or twice through being a dick.
Convertible for when summer rolls around again.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...
4WD with enough room for all your mates + beer etc.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...
Both of which will be better than a copy/paste hatchback you see EVERYONE driving around in. And I'd be surprised if the insurance was higher on those than your standard corsa.
ETA: I had one of these when I was 20 (with those wheels).
Just a standard 2.0 But it was miles better than what my mates were driving about in, and cheaper.
Mitsubishi Galant if you're interested. Under a grand now.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...
4WD with enough room for all your mates + beer etc.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...
Both of which will be better than a copy/paste hatchback you see EVERYONE driving around in. And I'd be surprised if the insurance was higher on those than your standard corsa.
ETA: I had one of these when I was 20 (with those wheels
).Just a standard 2.0 But it was miles better than what my mates were driving about in, and cheaper.
Mitsubishi Galant if you're interested. Under a grand now.
Edited by Silverbullet767 on Tuesday 30th September 15:42
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