Buying first decent car. £6k to spend..

[Jxnglist]

Alright so I've saved a bit of money and have decided to get a car on my 21st.

So I'm young and want a car that looks fresh, sounds good, goes somewhere when I give it a bootful, 3 door, a hidden gem that is uncommon! The year I'd prefer would be 07-09+ as planning to keep car for a while and can't be bothered to maintain an old car.. But remember there is a £6,000 budget.

The car I had previously was a Ford Fiesta mk6, loved it was hoping to get a focus st but the insurance is stupid.. this is my problem I'm insured on a business insurance and don't want to go elsewhere and that would mean having two insurances as need to drive vans. So I have to find a car that they will insure me on.. We tried a Civic type r cause they're fking beautiful but like the st was just too much oomph for a 21 year old (according to my insurance..)

Anyway I don't mind if it's diesel or petrol but obviously petrol has more nuts to it. obviously diesel has it perks but I don't know anything about anything so I'm hoping someone will push me in the direction of a beautiful diesel motor that flys like no tomorrow.. Lol

Also looked along the lines of bmw 1 series coupes & 320 coupes

Any recommendations would be appreciated!
Thanks in advance!

[Evanivitch]

Alfa Romeo GT 2.0JTS can easily be had for that money. Not the best engine, not the lowest maintenance, but all the issues are generally well known and it's a lovely place to be.

If you can get one with Q2 and 17ich wheels then it should handle and ride quite nicely (as opposed to 18s thay are a bit rough).

[strath44]

I would look at a Golf gt tdi if they will insure that, excellent engines, good economy and loads of lovely torque!

[Thanoj]

Saab 9-3?

[ChocolateStarfish]

I personally would look at the two BMW's you mentioned, I'm 20 years old, have the same budget as you and am currently looking at the 1 and the 3 series.

Compared to the likes of hot hatches, the insurance on them (for me) works out a lot cheaper, for example it was cheaper for me to insure a 330 Msport than a Clio 197.

[ChocolateStarfish]

I personally would look at the two BMW's you mentioned, I'm 20 years old, have the same budget as you and am currently looking at the 1 and the 3 series.

Compared to the likes of hot hatches, the insurance on them (for me) works out a lot cheaper, for example it was cheaper for me to insure a 330 Msport than a Clio 197.

Edited by ChocolateStarfish on Wednesday 7th September 18:34

[tektas]

Evanivitch said:

Alfa Romeo GT 2.0JTS can easily be had for that money. Not the best engine, not the lowest maintenance, but all the issues are generally well known and it's a lovely place to be.

If you can get one with Q2 and 17ich wheels then it should handle and ride quite nicely (as opposed to 18s thay are a bit rough).

+1

I have one since last year, put 10k miles on it since then.

Lovely car, wonderful looks and apart from maintenance, hasnt cost me a penny.

[Timmay0]

How about a Mazda RX8? Prices have dropped through the floor, meaning you can get a decent one for no money at all, and still have plenty of cash left over in the unlikely event that you do need to do any engine work.
This for example is a fantastic car for the money:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[anonymous-user]

Timmay0 said:

How about a Mazda RX8? Prices have dropped through the floor, meaning you can get a decent one for no money at all, and still have plenty of cash left over in the unlikely event that you do need to do any engine work.
This for example is a fantastic car for the money:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

"In the unlikely event"... Are you joking?

Go for something sensible, unless you like buying oil.

[Timmay0]

Taz1383 said:

"In the unlikely event"... Are you joking?
Go for something sensible, unless you like buying oil.

I had mine for 3 years, didn't need anything above standard servicing and used at most 2l of oil per year - I would check the level every couple of weeks along with other fluids, as I expect most people would, and generally would not need to top up. Problems with the RX8 engine are massively exaggerated, and the money you save buying one compared to another comparable car (350z / 330i) could always sit in an emergency fund which probably wouldn't ever get touched.

[Evanivitch]

Timmay0 said:

Problems with the RX8 engine are massively exaggerated, .

And how many miles did you do in that time? 15,000?

[Timmay0]

Evanivitch said:

And how many miles did you do in that time? 15,000?

Yeah, about that. I doubt anyone doing serious mileage would consider one in the first place because poor MPG is an issue with the RX8.
I'm not suggesting that the engines are perfect, just that they aren't the untouchable mess that they're made out to be.

[Evanivitch]

Timmay0 said:

Yeah, about that. I doubt anyone doing serious mileage would consider one in the first place because poor MPG is an issue with the RX8.
I'm not suggesting that the engines are perfect, just that they aren't the untouchable mess that they're made out to be.

They're bot untouchable messes you're right, but they do need an engine rebuild at 60-80,000 miles. And oil. Lots of it. And to be driven to redline once a drive. So they're neither suited to short journeys or long, but irregular and leisure use.

[Classy6]

Thanoj said:

Saab 9-3?

@ the ripe age of 21!

OP you completely contradicted yourself by mixing uncommon with BMW 1 & 3 series.

On that basis, this thread's got VW Golf GTI / GTD ALL OVER IT. Quick, great looking cars, insurance should be average and running costs more than reasonable.

[kiethton]

Skoda Fabia VRS
Skoda Octavia VRS (golf gti with cheap insurance)

Volvo C30 T5

Seat Ibiza cupra (they did a good looking bocenegra -spelling? Too!)

All should be better on insurance and perform better than their cousins