First car finally at 22!
Discussion
Hi! Right finally I have gotten round to saving enough money for a car after having my license for nearly 5 years! I'm just looking for a bit of info/ some ideas on what a good first car would be, I obviously want to drive something faster than my mum's 1.6 astra but I dont plan on going out racing or anything 
just want something close to 0-60 in 10 seconds, for around 6-7k, insurance not a problem. Thanks!
just want something close to 0-60 in 10 seconds, for around 6-7k, insurance not a problem. Thanks!
I dont mean to sound patronising but have you actually run any insurance quotes for cars you might be looking at? Having held a licence for five years will bring your premium down a bit but still being 22 with (im assuming) zero NCB you could be in for a bit of a shock. And the insurance might eat more of that 6-7k than you think.
Also its not my place to tell people what do with their money but are you sure its wise to spend so much on a first car?
Also its not my place to tell people what do with their money but are you sure its wise to spend so much on a first car?
You're at a decent age to insure more than a 1 litre Polo but you don't have the experience to insure an M3 either so I would look at something which won't depreciate much, is fairly nice to look at, nice to drive and won't kill you on running costs. Probably something German - maybe a BMW 318i or an Audi A4 1.9tdi. Run that, build up some no claims and then chop in for something a bit more gutsy.
martin84 said:
I dont mean to sound patronising but have you actually run any insurance quotes for cars you might be looking at? Having held a licence for five years will bring your premium down a bit but still being 22 with (im assuming) zero NCB you could be in for a bit of a shock. And the insurance might eat more of that 6-7k than you think.
Also its not my place to tell people what do with their money but are you sure its wise to spend so much on a first car?
Yeah that's fair enough, I have looked and im not including the money for the insurance, the 6-7k would be all on the car! Obviously I dont really know anything about cars, hence why I thought I could get some advice so you're not being patronising! As for spending that much on a first car, I can't see why not, i've just skipped the usual 2k clio/206/focus etc. and want something to keep me going for a few years.Also its not my place to tell people what do with their money but are you sure its wise to spend so much on a first car?
6potdave said:
You're at a decent age to insure more than a 1 litre Polo but you don't have the experience to insure an M3 either so I would look at something which won't depreciate much, is fairly nice to look at, nice to drive and won't kill you on running costs. Probably something German - maybe a BMW 318i or an Audi A4 1.9tdi. Run that, build up some no claims and then chop in for something a bit more gutsy.
Thanks but could i get a semi decent one of these for 6-7k? I like the audi.Well thats a fair point on wanting a good newish reliable car but most people will have the odd bump or scrape in their first real year of driving and you'd rather do that to a 500 quid Polo than to a nice 6 grand BMW wouldnt you? Also take it from me you can get bored and a year on want a different car as you want to try different things. I dont think you need to buy something ultra cheap and small, i think you could get a decent smaller engined 3 series or something. I still have my T Reg Mondeo Zetec after three years which is spritely enough for me. What sort of car would you want? Big? Small? Two door? Four door? Hatchback? etc
martin84 said:
Well thats a fair point on wanting a good newish reliable car but most people will have the odd bump or scrape in their first real year of driving and you'd rather do that to a 500 quid Polo than to a nice 6 grand BMW wouldnt you? Also take it from me you can get bored and a year on want a different car as you want to try different things. I dont think you need to buy something ultra cheap and small, i think you could get a decent smaller engined 3 series or something. I still have my T Reg Mondeo Zetec after three years which is spritely enough for me. What sort of car would you want? Big? Small? Two door? Four door? Hatchback? etc
well i was looking at spank new and paying it off through finance, but ive heard bad things about that, actually thought of a fiesta zetec S, its a bit more than i want to pay though, and i think id rather a bigger car than that. A few of my friends have Type-R's they are a good size and quite nippy, but dont want that as 3 of them have it. As for the scratches ... aint gona happen this thing will be like my baby 
smarties89 said:
well i was looking at spank new and paying it off through finance, but ive heard bad things about that, actually thought of a fiesta zetec S, its a bit more than i want to pay though, and i think id rather a bigger car than that. A few of my friends have Type-R's they are a good size and quite nippy, but dont want that as 3 of them have it. As for the scratches ... aint gona happen this thing will be like my baby
Well yes having a car so nice that you'd hate to see it hurt is another way of doing it. Ive come across theories that giving 17 year olds really nice cars which they love is actually a better way to keep them safe as they wont want to hurt it and will be more sensible. Obviously you're not 17 but the principle is there.I would urge against finance, you'll always pay more than its worth and by the time its paid the car will be worth half what you've drip-paid them. And during the lease technically its not your car, and if you ran into trouble like losing a job or something and couldnt pay it you wouldnt be able to sell the car to raise any money should that need arise. I would always stress against the HP route if you have the option of buying a car outright for cash. Then its yours.
Im looking at a 2008 Mazda 6 for sale right now for under 6k. Avoid diesel models but the 6 is a nippy car with very good handling and isnt a bland Focus or anything and is bigger than a Fiesta and isnt a Type R. 2.0litre engine so unsure of what that'd cost you to ensure.
Don't throw your money away on a new/nearly new car, or on finance.
Spend £2-3k on a Focus or something, and work out what you like and what you don't like. Too small? Too slow? Like the handling? Good, it gives you a direction to move in and then in 6 months you can sell it on at minimal loss and buy something in the right direction.
Blow your budget on the deposit for a nearly new Audi diesel and then in 3 months when you realise it is the dullest thing going, you have no money, you have lost £3k on it, and you can't sell it until you've dealt with the finance.
All IMHO, of course.
Spend £2-3k on a Focus or something, and work out what you like and what you don't like. Too small? Too slow? Like the handling? Good, it gives you a direction to move in and then in 6 months you can sell it on at minimal loss and buy something in the right direction.
Blow your budget on the deposit for a nearly new Audi diesel and then in 3 months when you realise it is the dullest thing going, you have no money, you have lost £3k on it, and you can't sell it until you've dealt with the finance.
All IMHO, of course.
Nicecupoftea raises a good point, anybody can think of what car they want as their first but until you start driving you dont know whats neccessarily suited to you. You might prefer something bigger or smaller or overtime will find things you dont like about it. If you buy it cheap and you own it thats no problem, you can change it, but i would never advise locking yourself into finance when you dont really know what car is best suited to your needs. Theres things people dont think about until they start driving regularly which can only come with experience and may change your opinion on the car.
At 22 with 7K I would buy a Focus ST (I am bias, had one at 20 for 2 years amazing car)
6.9 to 60mph - 6.3 with £800 worth of tunning
Much better than your friends Type-R's and if you don’t like the mental orange buy it in Grey - Great sleeper
All depend on what you want to spend on fuel and insurance ect. I would run a few car's through a comparison site to gauge what typical insurance group you can afford.
6.9 to 60mph - 6.3 with £800 worth of tunning
Much better than your friends Type-R's and if you don’t like the mental orange buy it in Grey - Great sleeper
All depend on what you want to spend on fuel and insurance ect. I would run a few car's through a comparison site to gauge what typical insurance group you can afford.
There you go.
Insurance group 20
0-60 under 6 seconds
160+ mph
Be careful now.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3013303.htm
Insurance group 20
0-60 under 6 seconds
160+ mph
Be careful now.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3013303.htm
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