Car Options 6k budget car + insurance

[greggy50]

Hello I am looking at getting a new car in November to replace my fiesta and at a loss at what to get to be honest so just wondered if could have some suggestion's
So Far have thought of a couple of Options
2003 R53 Cooper S £4,200 + £1,800 Insurance
2005 Fiesta ST £4,000 + £1,500 Insurance
Overall budget would be 6k for the car and insurance although anything under this would be much appreciated and to be honest don't want to stretch over the 2k mark for insurance as could not justify it. But yeah my mind is free to any options so fire away.

[AMST09]

Would the cooper S be in a decent condition for that amount?

[robsco]

I went down the Alfa GTV 3.0 V6 route a couple of months back, at 20. Fair enough, its an older car but every drive is an event, the soundtrack is outrageous and you get the best of Pininfarina styling. I notice it says in your profile you're 18, is that up to date? The insurance quotes you've put forth already on your OP seem fairly low for an 18 year-old.

[paulmoonraker]

Focus ST170 - great car, on budget and if your lucky you may get an 04 Imperial Blue one.

[greggy50]

robsco said:

I went down the Alfa GTV 3.0 V6 route a couple of months back, at 20. Fair enough, its an older car but every drive is an event, the soundtrack is outrageous and you get the best of Pininfarina styling. I notice it says in your profile you're 18, is that up to date? The insurance quotes you've put forth already on your OP seem fairly low for an 18 year-old.

I am 19 now in November will be 19 2 years with a licence 1 yr ncb
Paying £1800 on a 1.25 ford fiesta at the moment with 0 ncb aged 18 when I took out the policy. I checked the alfa insurance on a 147 2.0 and was nearly 3k so imagine a GTV will be worse will have a look

[greggy50]

AMST09 said:

Would the cooper S be in a decent condition for that amount?

Well seen some up for around £4,000 - £4,500 that seem pretty decent with a bit of haggling should be able to get a decent one for around that mark. The tax and that fact they are quite juicy is knocking value's them seem to be near enough the same price as a similar cooper from what I can see.
This for example seems nice for £4,200
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2699477.htm

[greggy50]

paulmoonraker said:

Focus ST170 - great car, on budget and if your lucky you may get an 04 Imperial Blue one.

Not a bad shout insurance comes up at £1600 will put it on the short list

[carmonk]

182 Cup, something like this. Make sure any examples have had the belts done and FSH.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2720996.htm

Edit: Just seen you're 19, you'll struggle with insurance.

[nottyash]

Get something cheap to insure to build up a NCB, paying that sort of money for insurance you may aswell just burn it. Non of the cars you mentioned are special enough to warrant high premiums.
Thats me being wise, flipping the coin you only live once get the car that puts the biggest smile on your face.
When I was 20 I bought a 3 year old Mitsubishi Starion Turbo and spunked a fortune on insurance, but even then it was nothing compared to the price it is now.

[greggy50]

carmonk said:

182 Cup, something like this. Make sure any examples have had the belts done and FSH.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2720996.htm

Edit: Just seen you're 19, you'll struggle with insurance.

Insurance is £1900 so would be out of budget with price of car

[greggy50]

nottyash said:

Get something cheap to insure to build up a NCB, paying that sort of money for insurance you may aswell just burn it. Non of the cars you mentioned are special enough to warrant high premiums.
Thats me being wise, flipping the coin you only live once get the car that puts the biggest smile on your face.
When I was 20 I bought a 3 year old Mitsubishi Starion Turbo and spunked a fortune on insurance, but even then it was nothing compared to the price it is now.

I have paid £1800 to insure a crap fiesta this year I have no issue's paying the same to insure something vaguely interesting next year and at least this time the insurance will be less than the value of the car. The way petrol prices are going with the prospect of £2 a litre within a year being fairly realistic I want to enjoy a fun car whilst I can still afford to run one to be honest
For example my fiesta would be £900 to insure next year so another £900 for a lot better car does not seem too bad to me
Cheaper decent car's I found insurance wise was a C2 VTS and a normal cooper both at £1200

[greggy50]

What's peoples opinion on something like this? Can get insured for £1650 and appears to be a 6 cylinder so should get a nice soundtrack as well
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

[bozmandb9]

greggy50 said:

What's peoples opinion on something like this? Can get insured for £1650 and appears to be a 6 cylinder so should get a nice soundtrack as well
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Good call, I was going to suggest, think outside the box, avoid all of the cars which are commonly purchased by younger drivers, and don't assume that nicer cars are going to be more expensive to insure, just keep checking car by car, until you find something which really floats your boat, and stands out as a lot of car for the money, and great value to insure.

Another top tip for the insurance, which I'm sure you know, opt for a £1,000 excess (or higher), then get separate excess insurance!

Get a great car, and enjoy yourself, you only live once! £6k is a great budget, you should be able to get something really nice.

[greggy50]

bozmandb9 said:

Good call, I was going to suggest, think outside the box, avoid all of the cars which are commonly purchased by younger drivers, and don't assume that nicer cars are going to be more expensive to insure, just keep checking car by car, until you find something which really floats your boat, and stands out as a lot of car for the money, and great value to insure.

Another top tip for the insurance, which I'm sure you know, opt for a £1,000 excess (or higher), then get separate excess insurance!

Get a great car, and enjoy yourself, you only live once! £6k is a great budget, you should be able to get something really nice.

Yeah must admit BMW does look nice and with a private plate fitted I could look rather flash for a 19yr old whilst having something fairly pokey 8 sec's to 60 and 140mph a big increase from my 1.25 fiesta Do they drive nicely they are RWD so will be something different for me
And what is this insurance excess thing any website I can look at to get an idea of prices as setting my excess to £500 from £250 dropped prices dramatically BMW was £2000 before now £1650. Have the following prices with £500 excess will try again with £1000 in a minute depending on cost of this excess insurance.

Renault Clio 182 £1750
Ford Fiesta ST = £1150
Mini Cooper S = £1460
Alfa GTV TS = £1650
Audi A3 1.8 Turbo = £1345
BMW 320Ci Coupe = £1650

[Matt UK]

Why not a nice Mk1 MX5 for £1,500, have some RWD summer fun and do some track days? But well and it will be worth the same this time next year.

No idea what the insurance is like though. I insure mine as a second car on a classic policy for buttons.

[greggy50]

Matt UK said:

Why not a nice Mk1 MX5 for £1,500, have some RWD summer fun and do some track days? But well and it will be worth the same this time next year.

No idea what the insurance is like though. I insure mine as a second car on a classic policy for buttons.

Could do with extra seat's this year to be honest plan is to get a convertible next year and an MX5 will probably be the one I go for.
Another option I have found Audi S3 £1,800 Insurance with £500 excess or £1,550 with £1,000 excess
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2682349.htm
Really pleased with some of the options I can afford to be honest

[Matt UK]

greggy50 said:

Could do with extra seat's this year to be honest plan is to get a convertible next year and an MX5 will probably be the one I go for.
Another option I have found Audi S3 £1,800 Insurance with £500 excess or £1,550 with £1,000 excess
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2682349.htm
Really pleased with some of the options I can afford to be honest

If you need the seats, an S3 is a very good shout. Also consider the Leon Cupra.

eg
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2658213.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2674899.htm

Edited by Matt UK on Tuesday 26th April 23:22

[greggy50]

Matt UK said:

If you need the seats, an S3 is a very good shout. Also consider the Lean Cupra.

eg
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2658213.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2674899.htm

Good shout again insurance is coming up identical to an S3 on a 2002 car but for some reason a 2003 car was £250 more
Edit -
They look good in grey http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2761936.htm
Dam they is far too much choice

[Steameh]

I'd try and stretch to a 330ci if I were you, same MPG.

Although to be honest I hated mine.

Have you tried any japanese performance cars, they are usually relatively easy to insure and pack quite a punch.

[greggy50]

Steameh said:

I'd try and stretch to a 330ci if I were you, same MPG.

Although to be honest I hated mine.

Have you tried any japanese performance cars, they are usually relatively easy to insure and pack quite a punch.

Even a 325ci is too expensive on the insurance
A Civic Type R is £2,200 with £500 excess £1,900 with £1,000 excess I think that is probably a bit too much for me to justify...