First Car for a 34yr Old
Discussion
Hello and happy new year!
This is finally going to be the year that I have a driving license, thing is I'm not entirely sure what car I should get.
I know you guys know your stuff so any advice is greatly appreciated.
Budget - up to £15k (flexible)
My estimated mileage - 15k miles/year
Living in London (zone 3) and have parking, I also have family up in Scotland and enjoy getting out to the country so I'll be driving a mixture of long and short distance (erring more on long distance).
With new regs coming in I'm thinking I most definitely need to get something that comes under ULEZ. I thought this was just hybrids and EVs but it would seem there are a few petrol options to consider.
No kids or wife so not really worried about boot space.
Part of me thinks I could do with a decent hatchback or coupe, maybe even spend more, the other part is thinking do I go down the route of buying a total banger just so I can build my experience?
I can be quite flexible on the cost, at the same time, I don't want to spend just for the sake of spending, and if I can make a saving on my budget then great!
Would be really great to thoughts, thanks!
Allan
This is finally going to be the year that I have a driving license, thing is I'm not entirely sure what car I should get.
I know you guys know your stuff so any advice is greatly appreciated.
Budget - up to £15k (flexible)
My estimated mileage - 15k miles/year
Living in London (zone 3) and have parking, I also have family up in Scotland and enjoy getting out to the country so I'll be driving a mixture of long and short distance (erring more on long distance).
With new regs coming in I'm thinking I most definitely need to get something that comes under ULEZ. I thought this was just hybrids and EVs but it would seem there are a few petrol options to consider.
No kids or wife so not really worried about boot space.
Part of me thinks I could do with a decent hatchback or coupe, maybe even spend more, the other part is thinking do I go down the route of buying a total banger just so I can build my experience?
I can be quite flexible on the cost, at the same time, I don't want to spend just for the sake of spending, and if I can make a saving on my budget then great!
Would be really great to thoughts, thanks!
Allan
Is the 15k pa a typo ? Just seems quite a lot for a new driver.
As a new driver expecting to drive long distances I suggest you want to avoid “superminis” as you’ll constantly find some idiot on the motorway tailgating you because you’re in a smaller car - it’s a distraction you could do without.
Likewise I doubt you’ll want something too big to park in London.
Something sensible would be golf- sized
Something PH would have a v8 or be made by Lotus.
As a new driver expecting to drive long distances I suggest you want to avoid “superminis” as you’ll constantly find some idiot on the motorway tailgating you because you’re in a smaller car - it’s a distraction you could do without.
Likewise I doubt you’ll want something too big to park in London.
Something sensible would be golf- sized
Something PH would have a v8 or be made by Lotus.
Hmm, My initial thought for the motorway journeys would be something like a 3 series.
Decent balance between long haul capabilities and not _too_ big for town; Looking on autotrader you could get a fairly recent (17) reg for £1500ish.
I'd strongly suggest getting something with parking sensors & reversing camera; In London (And in general!) it makes things much easier, and much safer.
Decent balance between long haul capabilities and not _too_ big for town; Looking on autotrader you could get a fairly recent (17) reg for £1500ish.
I'd strongly suggest getting something with parking sensors & reversing camera; In London (And in general!) it makes things much easier, and much safer.
Miserablegit said:
As a new driver expecting to drive long distances I suggest you want to avoid “superminis” as you’ll constantly find some idiot on the motorway tailgating you because you’re in a smaller car - it’s a distraction you could do without.
Some of the fastest, most aggressive drivers on the motorways seem to be people in supermini s
tboxes - Probably because they can't bear to be in the car for any longer! 
As you say, anything smaller than midsize hatch will be crap on the motorway - NVH, wind-resistance etc.
Thanks everyone for all the replies. It's amazing how active this community is.
I'm listing down everything you recommend so I can dig into them more later.
Really good points on the parking sensors and motorway handling etc.
Just a quick one on price as I see it's come up a few times, to clarify, I'm looking at around £15k cash budget, not £15 per annum (maybe it was read as lease cost per annum?).
Hope that makes sense.
I'm listing down everything you recommend so I can dig into them more later.
Really good points on the parking sensors and motorway handling etc.
Just a quick one on price as I see it's come up a few times, to clarify, I'm looking at around £15k cash budget, not £15 per annum (maybe it was read as lease cost per annum?).
Hope that makes sense.
Some good advice here. Just to build on these comments:
- Do not spend £15k on your first car. It will get damaged, we all had scrapes in our first year of driving. I’d pay around £5k or under. Plus insurance will be pricey without no claims
- Get something small, but not tiny. Easier to park and still perfectly good for the motorway. I think a Polo or Fiesta is ideal, or a Golf or Focus if want a little bigger
- Don’t buy something sporty. Engine size between 1-1.4 litre will be plenty pokey enough. Anything more and you’re adding risk and expense as a new driver.
By way of an example, my first car was an MG Midget. Spent more than twice the purchase price on insurance and maintenance, broke down regularly, and nearly killed myself in it. Do as I say, not as I do.
- Do not spend £15k on your first car. It will get damaged, we all had scrapes in our first year of driving. I’d pay around £5k or under. Plus insurance will be pricey without no claims
- Get something small, but not tiny. Easier to park and still perfectly good for the motorway. I think a Polo or Fiesta is ideal, or a Golf or Focus if want a little bigger
- Don’t buy something sporty. Engine size between 1-1.4 litre will be plenty pokey enough. Anything more and you’re adding risk and expense as a new driver.
By way of an example, my first car was an MG Midget. Spent more than twice the purchase price on insurance and maintenance, broke down regularly, and nearly killed myself in it. Do as I say, not as I do.
Haltamer said:
Hmm, My initial thought for the motorway journeys would be something like a 3 series.
Decent balance between long haul capabilities and not _too_ big for town; Looking on autotrader you could get a fairly recent (17) reg for £1500ish.
I'd strongly suggest getting something with parking sensors & reversing camera; In London (And in general!) it makes things much easier, and much safer.
Where are these bargains, I am setting off now. Decent balance between long haul capabilities and not _too_ big for town; Looking on autotrader you could get a fairly recent (17) reg for £1500ish.
I'd strongly suggest getting something with parking sensors & reversing camera; In London (And in general!) it makes things much easier, and much safer.
stubbedout said:
Thanks everyone for all the replies. It's amazing how active this community is.
I'm listing down everything you recommend so I can dig into them more later.
Really good points on the parking sensors and motorway handling etc.
Just a quick one on price as I see it's come up a few times, to clarify, I'm looking at around £15k cash budget, not £15 per annum (maybe it was read as lease cost per annum?).
Hope that makes sense.
It was the 15000 miles per year that was being questioned. Seemed high for a new driver.I'm listing down everything you recommend so I can dig into them more later.
Really good points on the parking sensors and motorway handling etc.
Just a quick one on price as I see it's come up a few times, to clarify, I'm looking at around £15k cash budget, not £15 per annum (maybe it was read as lease cost per annum?).
Hope that makes sense.
Miserablegit said:
It was the 15000 miles per year that was being questioned. Seemed high for a new driver.
Ahhhhh got you, I got a taste for domestic holidays in 2020, there's a lot more of the UK I'm keen to explore (also family in Scotland), planning on many long weekends away this year (cognizant we need to get out of lockdown first 
).DoubleD said:
Doesn't seem that high.
Not for someone that has been driving for a long time, but does seem high for someone that has reached the age of 34 without needing to drive for either work or pleasure... Assuming the OP will continue to not need to drive to commute then that suggests nearly 300 miles each and every weekend?It seems you’re determined to take issue with my post any way you can.
15k pa for a 34 year old driver who has not yet passed his test seems high. That is based on the fact that he has lived his life using public transport / a bike/ a horse/ lifts from others and has managed without a car until now. To go from no car use to 15000 miles a year seems high but it is, or course, only my opinion.
Miserablegit said:
It seems you’re determined to take issue with my post any way you can.
15k pa for a 34 year old driver who has not yet passed his test seems high. That is based on the fact that he has lived his life using public transport / a bike/ a horse/ lifts from others and has managed without a car until now. To go from no car use to 15000 miles a year seems high but it is, or course, only my opinion.
You're imaging things. 15k pa for a 34 year old driver who has not yet passed his test seems high. That is based on the fact that he has lived his life using public transport / a bike/ a horse/ lifts from others and has managed without a car until now. To go from no car use to 15000 miles a year seems high but it is, or course, only my opinion.
As I am guessing you have got to the age of 34 without a license I am guessing you are not a car person.
Stick to something relatively new and petrol.
Really small cars like a Toyota Aygo, twingo, Adam, KA although are great city cars will get tiring on motorway trips and longer outings. I wouldn't want to do 15k in one myself. They are brill at nipping round town though and are cheap. 15k would get you a brand new car.
The next size up are better (think fiesta, Corsa, Clio, 208, Mazda 3, yaris) and you would get something really nice in your budget. Check insurance as it can vary wildly from car to car but I would recommend getting something with 100bhp+. It just makes it a more relaxed drive than thrashing the life out of a less powered car. This size is a good compromise around town as it's still small but more comfortable. You won't get brand new but should get something pretty close to new.
The next size up again (think focus, astra, 308, civic, auris, etc will give a bit more comfort and more practicality. But will be slightly more expensive to buy and run and possibly insure (but it doesn't always follow). Bit bigger though so needs a bit more thinking about around town.
Most modern cars are super reliable so don't worry about it too much but general wisdom is Japanese cars are more reliable.
Think about what you really want in a car. Auto or manual? Does it need to be A specific colour? Does it need dab radio? Does it need a larger fuel tank to minimise fill ups. Is ride comfort a priority over handling? Must it have 5 doors or will 3 be fine? Is mpg a priority? Are running costs a priority? (Think more expensive services, more expensive tyres and probably most importantly for the 1st year insurance)
As a totally left field choice would a Citroen C4 cactus work for you? It's a good sized, got squishy bits all over to avoid impact of low speed prangs and looks pretty funky too!
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2020100646...
Stick to something relatively new and petrol.
Really small cars like a Toyota Aygo, twingo, Adam, KA although are great city cars will get tiring on motorway trips and longer outings. I wouldn't want to do 15k in one myself. They are brill at nipping round town though and are cheap. 15k would get you a brand new car.
The next size up are better (think fiesta, Corsa, Clio, 208, Mazda 3, yaris) and you would get something really nice in your budget. Check insurance as it can vary wildly from car to car but I would recommend getting something with 100bhp+. It just makes it a more relaxed drive than thrashing the life out of a less powered car. This size is a good compromise around town as it's still small but more comfortable. You won't get brand new but should get something pretty close to new.
The next size up again (think focus, astra, 308, civic, auris, etc will give a bit more comfort and more practicality. But will be slightly more expensive to buy and run and possibly insure (but it doesn't always follow). Bit bigger though so needs a bit more thinking about around town.
Most modern cars are super reliable so don't worry about it too much but general wisdom is Japanese cars are more reliable.
Think about what you really want in a car. Auto or manual? Does it need to be A specific colour? Does it need dab radio? Does it need a larger fuel tank to minimise fill ups. Is ride comfort a priority over handling? Must it have 5 doors or will 3 be fine? Is mpg a priority? Are running costs a priority? (Think more expensive services, more expensive tyres and probably most importantly for the 1st year insurance)
As a totally left field choice would a Citroen C4 cactus work for you? It's a good sized, got squishy bits all over to avoid impact of low speed prangs and looks pretty funky too!
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2020100646...
Mid spec Focus.
Cheap, reliable, good value and do enough things reasonably well.
Very under rated cars.
Well under budget. Cheap tax, good MPG and fully loaded Titanium X spec.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008052...
Cheap, reliable, good value and do enough things reasonably well.
Very under rated cars.
Well under budget. Cheap tax, good MPG and fully loaded Titanium X spec.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008052...
Edited by Rick101 on Sunday 3rd January 12:09
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