What reasonably powered car to buy for the driving test?(24)
Discussion
I plan to take the driving test next summer after graduating from university despite my older age of 24. I have had driving experience before when I had many driving lessons but abandoned the idea of taking the test when I went to university.
So now I am looking for I car to buy for the test and to drive therefore after for a good number of years.
I am looking for a car with a decent amount of power (300bhp+),
Under £10,000, maybe slightly over if need be
Preferably a coupe, if not then a 4-door saloon (absolutely no hatchbacks).
Perhaps around 10-12 years old.
I am not too bothered about whether it is manual, in fact I think I would enjoy having paddle-shifters.
So far the car that best meets my description is the Jaguar XK, (2006-09 models). Insurance is a tad expensive (£2500 or so) but not nearly as high as some other cars in this power range. And I would love to have a V8. Also looked at the XF but the insurance is a lot more expensive than on the XK for some reason.
So now I am looking for I car to buy for the test and to drive therefore after for a good number of years.
I am looking for a car with a decent amount of power (300bhp+),
Under £10,000, maybe slightly over if need be
Preferably a coupe, if not then a 4-door saloon (absolutely no hatchbacks).
Perhaps around 10-12 years old.
I am not too bothered about whether it is manual, in fact I think I would enjoy having paddle-shifters.
So far the car that best meets my description is the Jaguar XK, (2006-09 models). Insurance is a tad expensive (£2500 or so) but not nearly as high as some other cars in this power range. And I would love to have a V8. Also looked at the XF but the insurance is a lot more expensive than on the XK for some reason.
Although you say you're not bothered about the gearbox I would definitely recommend going manual for a first car.
A colleague bought an automatic straight after passing his test and he's embarrassingly hopeless when he has to drive a manual hire car. A few years driving initially a manual will mean the skill sticks with you for life.
I'd also suggest something a bit slower will ultimately make you a better driver but suspect I'm wasting my time with that one!
A colleague bought an automatic straight after passing his test and he's embarrassingly hopeless when he has to drive a manual hire car. A few years driving initially a manual will mean the skill sticks with you for life.
I'd also suggest something a bit slower will ultimately make you a better driver but suspect I'm wasting my time with that one!
DOCG said:
I plan to take the driving test next summer after graduating from university despite my older age of 24. I have had driving experience before when I had many driving lessons but abandoned the idea of taking the test when I went to university.
So now I am looking for I car to buy for the test and to drive therefore after for a good number of years.
I am looking for a car with a decent amount of power (300bhp+),
Under £10,000, maybe slightly over if need be
Preferably a coupe, if not then a 4-door saloon (absolutely no hatchbacks).
Perhaps around 10-12 years old.
I am not too bothered about whether it is manual, in fact I think I would enjoy having paddle-shifters.
So far the car that best meets my description is the Jaguar XK, (2006-09 models). Insurance is a tad expensive (£2500 or so) but not nearly as high as some other cars in this power range. And I would love to have a V8. Also looked at the XF but the insurance is a lot more expensive than on the XK for some reason.
I'm sorry, I know we are all car enthusiasts but you want a Jaguar XK as a first car?So now I am looking for I car to buy for the test and to drive therefore after for a good number of years.
I am looking for a car with a decent amount of power (300bhp+),
Under £10,000, maybe slightly over if need be
Preferably a coupe, if not then a 4-door saloon (absolutely no hatchbacks).
Perhaps around 10-12 years old.
I am not too bothered about whether it is manual, in fact I think I would enjoy having paddle-shifters.
So far the car that best meets my description is the Jaguar XK, (2006-09 models). Insurance is a tad expensive (£2500 or so) but not nearly as high as some other cars in this power range. And I would love to have a V8. Also looked at the XF but the insurance is a lot more expensive than on the XK for some reason.
Buy a Corsa or a Polo like everyone else, get some no claims bonus!
My first car was a Corsa. Guess what, I crashed that.
Get yourself a cheap, manual car and learn to drive it properly. When you have mastered it move up to something a little quicker. This is not only the sensible way, but the most fun an satisfying. Don't peak too soon lad.
You get used to power very quickly and you will be wanting more and more very quickly, but won't have built the experience to handle it.
You get used to power very quickly and you will be wanting more and more very quickly, but won't have built the experience to handle it.
snowandrocks said:
Although you say you're not bothered about the gearbox I would definitely recommend going manual for a first car.
A colleague bought an automatic straight after passing his test and he's embarrassingly hopeless when he has to drive a manual hire car. A few years driving initially a manual will mean the skill sticks with you for life.
I'd also suggest something a bit slower will ultimately make you a better driver but suspect I'm wasting my time with that one!
I am willing to consider a less powerful car, as long as it isn't a hatchback. Do you have any specific suggestions with regards to a model? Maybe a 4 door saloon with 200-250 horsepower. A colleague bought an automatic straight after passing his test and he's embarrassingly hopeless when he has to drive a manual hire car. A few years driving initially a manual will mean the skill sticks with you for life.
I'd also suggest something a bit slower will ultimately make you a better driver but suspect I'm wasting my time with that one!
xjay1337 said:
I'm sorry, I know we are all car enthusiasts but you want a Jaguar XK as a first car?
Buy a Corsa or a Polo like everyone else, get some no claims bonus!
My first car was a Corsa. Guess what, I crashed that.
I can't imagine crashing anything, I am very risk averse compared to other people in their 20's. Buy a Corsa or a Polo like everyone else, get some no claims bonus!
My first car was a Corsa. Guess what, I crashed that.
As for hatchbacks, I despise the little things. A very cheap saloon would be much more my style.
I know alot of the above sounds like people p1ssing on your chips but they are right.
I know you are older and wiser than the average 17/18 year old passing their test, but you are lacking in experience.
If we ran a poll or who crashed (however minor) their first car I suspect the percentage would be high. I crashed mine twice in first year, reversed into a flag pole in a car park and then lost control on an ice patch. The result was a smashed bumper from the flag pole, a bent wheel from the curb and I also smashed a winger mirror. The car was worth £250 quid though so it didn't matter. Had I been in a nicer car it would have been very expensive.
Perhaps a nice middle ground is something like a Suzuki swift sport, nippy enough to be interesting without being too fast for a new driver ? I know you said no hatchbacks but struggling to think of a fun-ish car that isn't a hot hatch, alot of coupes seem to be rwd which might be a better choice for a 2nd car
I know you are older and wiser than the average 17/18 year old passing their test, but you are lacking in experience.
If we ran a poll or who crashed (however minor) their first car I suspect the percentage would be high. I crashed mine twice in first year, reversed into a flag pole in a car park and then lost control on an ice patch. The result was a smashed bumper from the flag pole, a bent wheel from the curb and I also smashed a winger mirror. The car was worth £250 quid though so it didn't matter. Had I been in a nicer car it would have been very expensive.
Perhaps a nice middle ground is something like a Suzuki swift sport, nippy enough to be interesting without being too fast for a new driver ? I know you said no hatchbacks but struggling to think of a fun-ish car that isn't a hot hatch, alot of coupes seem to be rwd which might be a better choice for a 2nd car
Edited by Roboticarm on Thursday 31st October 17:57
DOCG said:
xjay1337 said:
I'm sorry, I know we are all car enthusiasts but you want a Jaguar XK as a first car?
Buy a Corsa or a Polo like everyone else, get some no claims bonus!
My first car was a Corsa. Guess what, I crashed that.
I can't imagine crashing anything, I am very risk averse compared to other people in their 20's. Buy a Corsa or a Polo like everyone else, get some no claims bonus!
My first car was a Corsa. Guess what, I crashed that.
As for hatchbacks, I despise the little things. A very cheap saloon would be much more my style.
Roboticarm said:
I know alot of the above sounds like people p1ssing on your chips but they are right.
I know you are older and wiser than the average 17/18 year old passing their test, but you are lacking in experience.
If we ran a poll or who crashed (however minor) their first car I suspect the percentage would be high. I crashed mine twice in first year, reversed into a flag pole in a car park and then lost control on an ice patch. The result was a smashed bumper from the flag pole, a bent wheel from the curb and I also smashed a winger mirror. The car was worth £250 quid though so it didn't matter. Had I been in a nicer car it would have been very expensive.
Perhaps a nice middle ground is something like a Suzuki swift sport, nippy enough to be interesting without being too fast for a new driver ? I know you said no hatchbacks but struggling to think of a fun-ish car that isn't a hot hatch, alot of coupes seem to be rwd which might be a better choice for a 2nd car
Is there any downside to having RWD as a first car? I thought it may be better to have a rwd drive car.I know you are older and wiser than the average 17/18 year old passing their test, but you are lacking in experience.
If we ran a poll or who crashed (however minor) their first car I suspect the percentage would be high. I crashed mine twice in first year, reversed into a flag pole in a car park and then lost control on an ice patch. The result was a smashed bumper from the flag pole, a bent wheel from the curb and I also smashed a winger mirror. The car was worth £250 quid though so it didn't matter. Had I been in a nicer car it would have been very expensive.
Perhaps a nice middle ground is something like a Suzuki swift sport, nippy enough to be interesting without being too fast for a new driver ? I know you said no hatchbacks but struggling to think of a fun-ish car that isn't a hot hatch, alot of coupes seem to be rwd which might be a better choice for a 2nd car
Edited by Roboticarm on Thursday 31st October 17:57
Something like a small and light hatchback doesn't seem all that safe to me, the centre of gravity is high so they look unstable and there doesn't seem a lot of material around the driver to protect them and absorb some of the impact in the case of crash.
otolith said:
If you pass your test in an automatic you won't be able to drive a manual on your licence.
To be honest - take your test with your instructor and then think about getting a car.
This +1To be honest - take your test with your instructor and then think about getting a car.
Your instructor will, hopefully, have chosen a car with great visibility, a good turning circle and a fairly forgiving manner.
You want to take your test in the easiest car to drive. No point taking a test in a car with blind spots. In something with plenty of go you’ll probably fail on speeding because you’re concentrating on other things.
Also I’m sure an examiner will be more concerned about letting you through on some minor faults ( if that happens) if he knows you’re straight off in the v8 you’ve brought to the test centre.
Miserablegit said:
otolith said:
If you pass your test in an automatic you won't be able to drive a manual on your licence.
To be honest - take your test with your instructor and then think about getting a car.
This +1To be honest - take your test with your instructor and then think about getting a car.
Your instructor will, hopefully, have chosen a car with great visibility, a good turning circle and a fairly forgiving manner.
You want to take your test in the easiest car to drive. No point taking a test in a car with blind spots. In something with plenty of go you’ll probably fail on speeding because you’re concentrating on other things.
Also I’m sure an examiner will be more concerned about letting you through on some minor faults ( if that happens) if he knows you’re straight off in the v8 you’ve brought to the test centre.
Find an instructor who offers an intensive course over several consecutive days & take your test at the end of the course. Much better than the odd lesson once a week.
Then buy whatever floats your boat - or that you can get insurance for as a newly qualified driver.
Edited by paintman on Thursday 31st October 18:22
paintman said:
+2.
Find an instructor who offers an intensive course over several consecutive days & take your test at the end of the course. Much better than the odd lesson once a week.
Then buy whatever floats your boat - or that you can get insurance for as a newly qualified driver.
A very reasonable suggestion. Find an instructor who offers an intensive course over several consecutive days & take your test at the end of the course. Much better than the odd lesson once a week.
Then buy whatever floats your boat - or that you can get insurance for as a newly qualified driver.
Edited by paintman on Thursday 31st October 18:22
Before going to university I was nearly at the level of being able to pass the test (attempted once and failed), I was very proficient with a manual a gearbox but had a couple of major faults on signalling. I did most of my driving in 1.8 litre Audi A3 so not too down on power.
I wouldn't want to have to bother buying a cheap car, keep it for just a year or two and then buy a much better car. So I would rather just buy a decent first car.
DOCG said:
Is there any downside to having RWD as a first car? I thought it may be better to have a rwd drive car.
Something like a small and light hatchback doesn't seem all that safe to me, the centre of gravity is high so they look unstable and there doesn't seem a lot of material around the driver to protect them and absorb some of the impact in the case of crash.
My view is that a fwd is less likely to catch a new driver out than rwd, especially as most learner cars are fwd so that's what the drivers have learnt to control.Something like a small and light hatchback doesn't seem all that safe to me, the centre of gravity is high so they look unstable and there doesn't seem a lot of material around the driver to protect them and absorb some of the impact in the case of crash.
The high centre of gravity thing is probably relevant to SUVs but these days traction control etc handles alot of it.
In terms of car size, some bit cars fair badly in crash tests and some small ones do amazingly well, not sure there is a general rule these days
Edited by Roboticarm on Thursday 31st October 19:12
Roboticarm said:
My view is that a fwd is less likely to catch a new driver out than rwd, especially as most learner cars are fwd so that's what the drivers have learnt to control.
The high centre of gravity thing is probably relevant to SUVs but these days traction control etc handles alot of it.
In terms of car size, some bit cars fair badly in crash tests and some small ones do amazingly well, not sure there is a general rule these days
Interesting, I was under the impression that rwd cars were generally more stable. But I can imagine that the handling characteristics may be quite different but I would imagine it would only make a difference when trying to drive in a performance manner. The high centre of gravity thing is probably relevant to SUVs but these days traction control etc handles alot of it.
In terms of car size, some bit cars fair badly in crash tests and some small ones do amazingly well, not sure there is a general rule these days
Edited by Roboticarm on Thursday 31st October 19:12
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