First car? Open to “alternative” choices
Discussion
I'd be staying well away from a 4 banger diesel 1 series at that price. You're asking for trouble.
Reading through this thread you seem to be moving further away from the suitable cars and closer to borkage. A BMW or Audi won't have a spec like some of the other 'lesser' brands at this price point. Swift Sport and then drop the seats down if you need to carry anything big would be my shout. Deal with that for a few years and then your insurance will tumble once you hit 25 and the world is your oyster. You can always hire a van or a larger car for the once a year moment you might actually need to haul something large.
Unless the Scottish market is different to the South coast, you'll struggle to get a MINI R53 that's had a supercharger service for less than £2k. It'll also have oil leaks and will teach you a thing or two about car maintenance that you might not have wanted to learn... The steering pump on mine gave out and caused me to lose all steering on a bend last month at 30mph. That wasn't a fun experience.
My first car was the 1.4 Astra ZNR posted earlier. It was very practical but hateful and felt like a big metal tank. I wish I'd got the Swift 1.5 GLX I test drove on the same day and even today regret it some 7 years later.
Reading through this thread you seem to be moving further away from the suitable cars and closer to borkage. A BMW or Audi won't have a spec like some of the other 'lesser' brands at this price point. Swift Sport and then drop the seats down if you need to carry anything big would be my shout. Deal with that for a few years and then your insurance will tumble once you hit 25 and the world is your oyster. You can always hire a van or a larger car for the once a year moment you might actually need to haul something large.
Unless the Scottish market is different to the South coast, you'll struggle to get a MINI R53 that's had a supercharger service for less than £2k. It'll also have oil leaks and will teach you a thing or two about car maintenance that you might not have wanted to learn... The steering pump on mine gave out and caused me to lose all steering on a bend last month at 30mph. That wasn't a fun experience.
My first car was the 1.4 Astra ZNR posted earlier. It was very practical but hateful and felt like a big metal tank. I wish I'd got the Swift 1.5 GLX I test drove on the same day and even today regret it some 7 years later.
biggbn said:
Swift Sport is a great shout, or Ignis Sport if you can find a solid one. I'd steer clear of a diesel BMW at that budget, yet a clean 316/318ti compact woukd be a good intro to rwd. No balls of fire but fun, different and cheap.
nobrakes said:
LandOTheBrave said:
nobrakes said:
Young Luke, remember that anything you buy in your budget will need fixed/serviced.
Like others have said, you’ll need to compromise. Try and get over the ‘more modern’ feeling and don’t get wound up about spec.
A 1.6 Focus looks like a pretty ok motor to start with.
If you’re in that budget, a BMW or Alfa will ruin you.
Be prepared to travel for the right car.
There’s a lot of truth in buying on condition rather than mileage/year, too.
Girls don’t care what year your car is.
Yeah definitely. Since i’ve waited a while now I don’t mind spending a little bit more for something “nicer”. Thing is the insurance for something like a 118d is not far off at all what it is for a 1.8 civic or a 1.9 tdi a3. Basically the quotes don’t seem to vary that much regardless of the power and engine type therefore i’d much rather spend to get a better spec car. Obviously I don’t want to get something that won’t be financially feasible to run, but if I can get the next model up for not much more than the cooking ones, then I’d much prefer that. If I could find a m47 118d for around 2k I’d be happy, the 120d are cheaper to buy but insurance dearer. A3 could be an option but dependent on the engine, don’t really see many Golfs at this price point Like others have said, you’ll need to compromise. Try and get over the ‘more modern’ feeling and don’t get wound up about spec.
A 1.6 Focus looks like a pretty ok motor to start with.
If you’re in that budget, a BMW or Alfa will ruin you.
Be prepared to travel for the right car.
There’s a lot of truth in buying on condition rather than mileage/year, too.
Girls don’t care what year your car is.
Edited by LandOTheBrave on Tuesday 13th July 12:33
You’ll get years out of that and it’ll allow you to save up for your next motor, too.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106304...
Cheap as chips to get serviced. Adequate go.
pb8g09 said:
I'd be staying well away from a 4 banger diesel 1 series at that price. You're asking for trouble.
Reading through this thread you seem to be moving further away from the suitable cars and closer to borkage. A BMW or Audi won't have a spec like some of the other 'lesser' brands at this price point. Swift Sport and then drop the seats down if you need to carry anything big would be my shout. Deal with that for a few years and then your insurance will tumble once you hit 25 and the world is your oyster. You can always hire a van or a larger car for the once a year moment you might actually need to haul something large.
Unless the Scottish market is different to the South coast, you'll struggle to get a MINI R53 that's had a supercharger service for less than £2k. It'll also have oil leaks and will teach you a thing or two about car maintenance that you might not have wanted to learn... The steering pump on mine gave out and caused me to lose all steering on a bend last month at 30mph. That wasn't a fun experience.
My first car was the 1.4 Astra ZNR posted earlier. It was very practical but hateful and felt like a big metal tank. I wish I'd got the Swift 1.5 GLX I test drove on the same day and even today regret it some 7 years later.
All I hear are good thing about the Swift i’m sure they’re great cars but from day one i’ve wanted something bigger. I seen Swifts go cheap and had a look at them but honestly just not what i’m feeling. The Focus I liked originally but the issue really is that i’ve seen the spaceship Civics for similar price which to my eye look better inside and out. Sadly I keep missing out on every good one that comes up. I wouldn’t mind spending nearer 2000 but by the looks of it that extra money doesn’t get you any more sort of car.Reading through this thread you seem to be moving further away from the suitable cars and closer to borkage. A BMW or Audi won't have a spec like some of the other 'lesser' brands at this price point. Swift Sport and then drop the seats down if you need to carry anything big would be my shout. Deal with that for a few years and then your insurance will tumble once you hit 25 and the world is your oyster. You can always hire a van or a larger car for the once a year moment you might actually need to haul something large.
Unless the Scottish market is different to the South coast, you'll struggle to get a MINI R53 that's had a supercharger service for less than £2k. It'll also have oil leaks and will teach you a thing or two about car maintenance that you might not have wanted to learn... The steering pump on mine gave out and caused me to lose all steering on a bend last month at 30mph. That wasn't a fun experience.
My first car was the 1.4 Astra ZNR posted earlier. It was very practical but hateful and felt like a big metal tank. I wish I'd got the Swift 1.5 GLX I test drove on the same day and even today regret it some 7 years later.
LandOTheBrave said:
All I hear are good thing about the Swift i’m sure they’re great cars but from day one i’ve wanted something bigger. I seen Swifts go cheap and had a look at them but honestly just not what i’m feeling. The Focus I liked originally but the issue really is that i’ve seen the spaceship Civics for similar price which to my eye look better inside and out. Sadly I keep missing out on every good one that comes up. I wouldn’t mind spending nearer 2000 but by the looks of it that extra money doesn’t get you any more sort of car.
Being your first car, you're probably overthinking it a bit. No matter what you'll get you'll always look back with misty eyes no matter how sh*t it is because it's your first car. If a Civic is available in your budget then go get it - even at £2.3k and try and haggle down. But don't get too hung up, you can always just get a Focus now and then in a couple of years get yourself a Civic at a better price point, or something even better. Any car is better than no car - I've not had a car for two months now and it sucks!Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff