First insurable... brisk car? £3-4k max
Discussion
Hi all, so I'm soon (more like May next year so not SOON), but soon) looking for a new car to replace my existing 2009 Fiesta 1.25. As of May 2019 it will be the start of my third year of driving (and mark 2 year ownership of my Fiesta). I've always been a car enthusiast, so right from the get go I chose the little Fiesta for its engaging handling and reliability.
Now I'm ready to move on, I want a car with a bit more poke (hence brisk and not fast, as I'm aware anything 'fast' will bugger me for insurance).
- Will have 2 years driving experience
- Hopefully have 2 years NCB
- Existing car is £900 p/a fully comp for second year driving with 1 years NCB
So my criteria for my new car:
- Quick enough; my Fiesta is only 80 hp and while it is fun to drive, it really doesn't get anywhere fast. I like the idea of ~150hp+ as a starting point really, not necessarily just to be quick but also I think sometimes 80hp is less safe than 150hp for a lesser experienced driver
- 5 seats would be nice, but not neccessary
- Decent ish of fuel - my existing Fiesta is surprisingly poor on fuel for a 1.2 so it I don't even think a 2.0 would be too much of a shock for me
- RELIABLE - ultimately I need a car that is massively dependable. I have had absolutely ZERO issues with my Fiesta, touch wood. I don't want my new car to be too far from the same.
- Fun... I want a car that is REALLY fun to drive
- Sound - I want a car that sounds good
-Engaging handling
- No more than £3-4k to buy
- Cheap to insure (as I said currently paying £900 fully comp on 09 Fiesta with 1 years NCB)
The sort of cars I've looked at were a brand new Fiesta ST lease, however I've kind of gone off the idea of a lease, but that puts you in the right kinda boat in terms of what I'm after.
What do you think about a Clio RS 200?
Clio 182?
Had a look at Miata's/MX5, but insurance is steep, as is a Civic Type R
A used Mk7 Fiesta ST seems massively out of budget, but that would be my ideal car I think - again might help with some ideas.
Thanks very much in advance!
Now I'm ready to move on, I want a car with a bit more poke (hence brisk and not fast, as I'm aware anything 'fast' will bugger me for insurance).
- Will have 2 years driving experience
- Hopefully have 2 years NCB
- Existing car is £900 p/a fully comp for second year driving with 1 years NCB
So my criteria for my new car:
- Quick enough; my Fiesta is only 80 hp and while it is fun to drive, it really doesn't get anywhere fast. I like the idea of ~150hp+ as a starting point really, not necessarily just to be quick but also I think sometimes 80hp is less safe than 150hp for a lesser experienced driver
- 5 seats would be nice, but not neccessary
- Decent ish of fuel - my existing Fiesta is surprisingly poor on fuel for a 1.2 so it I don't even think a 2.0 would be too much of a shock for me
- RELIABLE - ultimately I need a car that is massively dependable. I have had absolutely ZERO issues with my Fiesta, touch wood. I don't want my new car to be too far from the same.
- Fun... I want a car that is REALLY fun to drive
- Sound - I want a car that sounds good
-Engaging handling
- No more than £3-4k to buy
- Cheap to insure (as I said currently paying £900 fully comp on 09 Fiesta with 1 years NCB)
The sort of cars I've looked at were a brand new Fiesta ST lease, however I've kind of gone off the idea of a lease, but that puts you in the right kinda boat in terms of what I'm after.
What do you think about a Clio RS 200?
Clio 182?
Had a look at Miata's/MX5, but insurance is steep, as is a Civic Type R
A used Mk7 Fiesta ST seems massively out of budget, but that would be my ideal car I think - again might help with some ideas.
Thanks very much in advance!
How old are you? That has a bigger impact on insurance prices.
How about an early abarth 500? get the cheapest one you can find, spend the change on a new timing belt (at that price it will be almost 10 years), drop links and strut mounts and it should be sorted for another few years of motoring.
They sound good, have 135bhp, weigh nothing, get 45mpg and the engines are bullitproof. Spares are cheap if anything does break.
How about an early abarth 500? get the cheapest one you can find, spend the change on a new timing belt (at that price it will be almost 10 years), drop links and strut mounts and it should be sorted for another few years of motoring.
They sound good, have 135bhp, weigh nothing, get 45mpg and the engines are bullitproof. Spares are cheap if anything does break.
Ransoman said:
How old are you? That has a bigger impact on insurance prices.
How about an early abarth 500? get the cheapest one you can find, spend the change on a new timing belt (at that price it will be almost 10 years), drop links and strut mounts and it should be sorted for another few years of motoring.
They sound good, have 135bhp, weigh nothing, get 45mpg and the engines are bullitproof. Spares are cheap if anything does break.
19, that's why I've got to be so specific on the car I choose!How about an early abarth 500? get the cheapest one you can find, spend the change on a new timing belt (at that price it will be almost 10 years), drop links and strut mounts and it should be sorted for another few years of motoring.
They sound good, have 135bhp, weigh nothing, get 45mpg and the engines are bullitproof. Spares are cheap if anything does break.
Ah good shout with the Abarth, forgot to mention them but that was actually on my list. They're a lot cheaper than I expected and they still look fresh. How is the reliability on them? I do have contacts (both my step father and my girlfriends dad are mechanics), but I really don't want to have to do anything but basic maintenance on my car.
JPL123 said:
19, that's why I've got to be so specific on the car I choose!
Ah good shout with the Abarth, forgot to mention them but that was actually on my list. They're a lot cheaper than I expected and they still look fresh. How is the reliability on them? I do have contacts (both my step father and my girlfriends dad are mechanics), but I really don't want to have to do anything but basic maintenance on my car.
They are pretty reliable by virtue of how simple they are. The Engine is an evolution of the old Fiat FIRE engine and they are bombproof.Ah good shout with the Abarth, forgot to mention them but that was actually on my list. They're a lot cheaper than I expected and they still look fresh. How is the reliability on them? I do have contacts (both my step father and my girlfriends dad are mechanics), but I really don't want to have to do anything but basic maintenance on my car.
The suspension can be a weak point but the design is simple and parts are cheap so they don't cost much to fix, even less if you are willing to pick up the spanners and have a go yourself (a very rewarding hobby too).
I recently bought one for my wife as her first car (She's 27). No NCB and carrying a provisional for less than a year her 1st year insurance is only £400.
Ransoman said:
They are pretty reliable by virtue of how simple they are. The Engine is an evolution of the old Fiat FIRE engine and they are bombproof.
The suspension can be a weak point but the design is simple and parts are cheap so they don't cost much to fix, even less if you are willing to pick up the spanners and have a go yourself (a very rewarding hobby too).
I recently bought one for my wife as her first car (She's 27). No NCB and carrying a provisional for less than a year her 1st year insurance is only £400.
I'm struggling to find them much less than around £4-5k though, which would unfortunately mean I'd have to go down the finance route with the car if I were to get the car for May time or about then. I like the idea of such a lightweight car like the Abarth which is why it appeals to me so much though. Being Fiat related it sort of worries me in terms of reliability based on nothing but a stigma I think - everything I've read seems to indicate these cars are pretty damn reliable. Any other suggestions, it's to keep my options open because based on price I'm unsure whether the 500 is an option yet The suspension can be a weak point but the design is simple and parts are cheap so they don't cost much to fix, even less if you are willing to pick up the spanners and have a go yourself (a very rewarding hobby too).
I recently bought one for my wife as her first car (She's 27). No NCB and carrying a provisional for less than a year her 1st year insurance is only £400.
.I had a Clio 182 and found that it wasn't popular with some insurers. Can't remember who I was with (one of the big insurers I'm sure) and when I bought it they said they didn't insure them (despite the fact I'd previously had much faster cars throuogh them).
Your money would buy a very low mileage Twingo 133 which would be a step up from the Fiesta (they sound fast - and handle really well - but without actually being genuinely quick!). I love our little one.
Your money would buy a very low mileage Twingo 133 which would be a step up from the Fiesta (they sound fast - and handle really well - but without actually being genuinely quick!). I love our little one.
Alfa Romeo Mito 1.4TB?
They seem to be low insurance group.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
MIni Cooper
120bhp and lots of fun
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Should be able to get a decent mileage Swift Sport by next May
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=year-...
If you can't stretch to an ST why not the Zetec S?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
They seem to be low insurance group.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
MIni Cooper
120bhp and lots of fun
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Should be able to get a decent mileage Swift Sport by next May
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=year-...
If you can't stretch to an ST why not the Zetec S?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I was in a similar situation to you, passed my test at 17 and was in a 64bhp Polo 1.2 for a year back in 2015. As soon as I hit my 1st Years No claims I moved to a Polo 1.6TDI 90bhp (which was an awful car...) at that time I was 18 and the insurance renewal was £500 cheaper than the 1.2 Polo.
Kept the Polo TDI for 2 years, however one year in while I was 19 I decided I wanted a MK5 Golf GTI. Insurance was coming back at around £2000. So I waited. By the time I was 20 the insurance quote was HALF vs me being 19. Honestly my best advice is just wait until you’re 20 then go for it.
On my 3rd years no claims anniversary I ended up getting a 2015 Mini Cooper S F56, great little car and plenty of power (200bhp). Only insurance group 26 so cost me £680 a year to insure. I would highly recommend looking at an R53 Mini Cooper S 2002-2006, stay away from the R56 2006-2010 as they had awful Peugeot engines, 2010- Onwards are fine though but maybe out of budget.
Kept the Polo TDI for 2 years, however one year in while I was 19 I decided I wanted a MK5 Golf GTI. Insurance was coming back at around £2000. So I waited. By the time I was 20 the insurance quote was HALF vs me being 19. Honestly my best advice is just wait until you’re 20 then go for it.
On my 3rd years no claims anniversary I ended up getting a 2015 Mini Cooper S F56, great little car and plenty of power (200bhp). Only insurance group 26 so cost me £680 a year to insure. I would highly recommend looking at an R53 Mini Cooper S 2002-2006, stay away from the R56 2006-2010 as they had awful Peugeot engines, 2010- Onwards are fine though but maybe out of budget.
JPL123 said:
I'm struggling to find them much less than around £4-5k though, which would unfortunately mean I'd have to go down the finance route with the car if I were to get the car for May time or about then. I like the idea of such a lightweight car like the Abarth which is why it appeals to me so much though. Being Fiat related it sort of worries me in terms of reliability based on nothing but a stigma I think - everything I've read seems to indicate these cars are pretty damn reliable. Any other suggestions, it's to keep my options open because based on price I'm unsure whether the 500 is an option yet .
If you want some insurance friendly fun the the cars below are a good place to start the Suzuki Swifts have gone up insurance wise due to their popularity the Abarths are very reliable but they might be a bit high insurance wise but there are two options with the same drivetrain with more or less horsepower..1.4T Alfa Mito Veloce in 120/140 & 155bhp form:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Grande Punto Sporting T Jet
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Punto Evo Sporting T Jet
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Suzuki Swift Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Also take a look at the Astra which in 1.6T form is a very potent piece of kit that are surprisingly sensible on insurance wise:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Seat Ibiza FR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
From all of these suggestions, it appears I could only really insure the Panda 100hp which would cost me about £1k, the rest of them are all £2k+, or at least without a black box. Any suggestions for other little sporty hatches like the Panda 100hp that might be about the same to insure? Moto, Mini, Swift Sport, Twingo 133 all well over 2k.
So long as you can tolerate absolutely rock hard suspension, panda 100 all the way. They also keep their value very well, and I’m sure in about 20 years (not that I expect you to keep it that long), they will be considered stone cold classics. Just bear in mind they aren’t refined in any way, interior is crap, steering wheel and seat bolsters peel.
For other cheapies, have you looked the semi classic/retro route? You can still (just) get a decent 205 GTi for your budget, and it won’t depreciate.
For other cheapies, have you looked the semi classic/retro route? You can still (just) get a decent 205 GTi for your budget, and it won’t depreciate.
Try a Lexus IS200
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Or a 2.0 N/A Mondeo in Titanium spec sometimes these workout cheaper than a small hatch:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Also by going up in power you have to expect to pay more for insurance 2k for a no black box policy is actually pretty good, if you don't want to pay more I'd say you're better off building up more no claims.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Or a 2.0 N/A Mondeo in Titanium spec sometimes these workout cheaper than a small hatch:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Also by going up in power you have to expect to pay more for insurance 2k for a no black box policy is actually pretty good, if you don't want to pay more I'd say you're better off building up more no claims.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff