Best first car for an enthusiast?

[DREJ]

Hi everyone. I'm new to the forum.

I've been into cars (rally, tuning supercars, JDM etc.) for quite a while now but am yet to buy my first car. I've saved up quite a bit of money and am ready to make the purchase.

I'm 19 so the main thing is insurance. My budget is £10,000 and am willing to spend up to that much as I've been saving for this reason, but I need to keep my insurance down for obvious reasons.

Obviously I'm not expecting anything significantly fast or sporty, but I was hoping to get some suggestions for some fun, relatively quick and good handling cars that I could start with that wouldn't kill me on insurance.


Cars like WRXs, evos, focus/fiesta ST, basically all hot hatches are out of the question in terms of insurance but if anyone has any recommendations is greatly appreciate it.


Cheers.

[WonkeyDonkey]

I know it's PH cliché....

MX5?

Was my first car, taught me a lot about tinkering that has carried over to every car since.

Learnt how to do all maintence on it. Modifying is also a doddle due to the amount of space in the engine bay.

I bought mine in 2010, was a 54reg. Cheaper to insure than a Ford focus at the time. Don't know about now.

[Cylon2007]

Another vote for an MX5 when my youngest was looking at insurance quotes the MX5 was the cheapest, great little cars as well.

[XR]

Firstly well done for saving up so much.

First thing that springs to my mind is an MX5. An early Eunos would be my choice (better spec, lsd etc) Buy the best one you can find for maybe half your budget, enjoy it and have some fun!

[DREJ]

Cheers for the replies guys. I've thought about an MX5, but I'm not sure if I can fully get behind a 2 seater at this point. I'll definitely consider it when it comes down to it after this situation has blown over. Do you guys have any other recommendations for a 4/5 seater?

Cheers and thanks for the help guys.

[ZX10R NIN]

As above keep it simple to begin with & then work your way up, spend around 3k for a nice MX-5 & leave the rest in the bank for when you want to upgrade.

[Dave Hedgehog]

DREJ said:

Cheers for the replies guys. I've thought about an MX5, but I'm not sure if I can fully get behind a 2 seater at this point. I'll definitely consider it when it comes down to it after this situation has blown over. Do you guys have any other recommendations for a 4/5 seater?

Cheers and thanks for the help guys.

if a sports car is out the next best thing is going to be a manual RWD 1 or 3 series

[DREJ]

I wish. This would be the top of my listm Definitely wouldn't be able to get insured on a 1 series let alone a 3 series. To be honest, anything RWD pushes up the insurance so high when you're only 19 and have no NCB

[Trevor555]

Dave Hedgehog said:

DREJ said:

Cheers for the replies guys. I've thought about an MX5, but I'm not sure if I can fully get behind a 2 seater at this point. I'll definitely consider it when it comes down to it after this situation has blown over. Do you guys have any other recommendations for a 4/5 seater?

Cheers and thanks for the help guys.

if a sports car is out the next best thing is going to be a manual RWD 1 or 3 series

I guess you'll be looking at warm hatchbacks.

Fiesta ST-line

Suzuki swift

Fabia Monte Carlo, they do a 109bhp one

I haven't driven all of these types of cars, but I'd guess the Fiesta would probably be one of the best. Anyone?

[ZX10R NIN]

With insurance in mind I'd say a Fiesta Zetec S is a good shout:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

As is the Alfa Mito Veloce as it comes in 95/105/120/140 & 155bhp specs so you should be able to find one that fits:

95

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

105

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

120

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

140

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

155 I don't think you'll be getting good insurance numbers on these.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Suzuki Swift Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

[Petrolsmasher]

Fiesta st 2015 shape, so much fun and very controllable handling wise. Not sure on insurance though.

If insurance is high a 2014 shape swift sport is a really good fun car aswell and very reliable.

[ChrisH72]

I'd second a Mk7 fiesta zetec s. My friends 17 yr old son has one and it's a great little car. His is the older 125bhp but you'd get a nice 140 for way under budget. I think the red edition with the black wheels is particularly smart. When they first came out I had a test drive in one and it went extremely well, obviously not quite an ST but a great alternative if insurance is an issue.

[ChrisH72]

Actually, on second thoughts, I've reread your original post and perhaps a fiesta wouldn't really do it for you.

If I were you I would save a bit more yet. Buy a cheap fun car like the swift sport for a couple of grand and build up a year or two no claims. You won't lose money on it and then you can buy something considerably better when insurance comes down.

Just don't crash it!

[Jag_NE]

You will love any car if it’s your first. I’d get a cheap shed, get a years driving and ncb under your belt. You will probably ding the car at least once, you won’t care too much. Sell it for what you paid and then get something nicer than you could insure right now.

[InitialDave]

ChrisH72 said:

I'd second a Mk7 fiesta zetec s. My friends 17 yr old son has one and it's a great little car. His is the older 125bhp but you'd get a nice 140 for way under budget. I think the red edition with the black wheels is particularly smart. When they first came out I had a test drive in one and it went extremely well, obviously not quite an ST but a great alternative if insurance is an issue.

Mm, those drive really nicely while still being "sensible".

[MC Bodge]

Buy something cheap that you won't be too precious about. Enjoy maintaining it and tinkering with it.

Drive it.

[pistonhead345]

Golf Mk6 1.4 tsi 122hp is a good shout I’ve just picked one up for my second car at 20 and It’s perfect not too bad on insurance and can pick one up for 3-4k

[CanoeSniffer]

Honestly, it’s absolutely not what you want to hear, but if you can’t afford to insure something you really want then keep the cash tucked away for when you can insure a proper car. If you half-arse it now for insurance’s sake you’ll regret it.

Classic insurance may be reasonable? I insured a TVR Chimaera at 20 for something like £600 with an agreed value classic car policy.

[SWoll]

Out of interest OP, how much would it cost to insure something you would actually really want to drive?

At a similar age to you (back 1995) I bought a 205 GTI, accepting the fact the insurance was going to be incredibly expensive.

My logic was I'd rather have a £5k car I love and pay £5k in insurance over 2 years than a £7.5k car I feel nothing for and pay £2.5k in insurance over the same period.

[MC Bodge]

You could do much worse than one of these:



Zetec-S 1.6 petrol. Not the fastest 0-60, but a great, old school, chassis and DIY-able. Buy the best available.

They still look good and wear their years very well. We have a 1.4 and it is a great little car.

Edited by MC Bodge on Thursday 7th May 09:34