The first car!

[smarties89]

Hi!
I posted a thread a while ago asking for ideas for my first car, obviously being a bit naive and inexperienced I just wanted to splash around 6k on the fastest thing I could find :P after a bit of discussion and deliberation the general feel was that I was spending too much on a first car and maybe I should buy a cheaper and more sensible car... Obviously this is the sensible approach, I just feel that I wont be contempt with a standard car.

Basically I'm just trying to compile a list of cars that would be good to start with, I have my eye on a Fiesta ST ... I know is contradicting what i just said, but to be fair I could get something much worse than that.

Looking to spend around 3-4k on it, so if I do end up slamming it into a wall i can just buy another one

Few cars I'm looking at are:
Mazda 3
Fiesta ST
Focus ST
Clio Sport
Audi A3

Do you think these cars are best left for a second/third car? or should I just go for it? I'm very indecisive!! help! thanks

• edit* Is there any cars that are cheapish (2.5-4k) that i could run for maybe 2 years, arent slow as hell and dont look like an old banger? / fun to drive ... I know I dont ask for much

Edited by smarties89 on Wednesday 10th August 22:09

[denniswise9]

All sound like a waste of money for a first car.

You'll spend the same amount again on insurance essentially ripping yourself off.

Get a 1.25 Fiesta Zetec and hoon it around and see how you get on - you'll proboably crash that anyway.

After a couple of years get something more exciting.

[911p]

smarties89 said:

Mazda 3
Fiesta ST
Focus ST
Clio Sport
Audi A3

Do you have about £10k a year available to insure any of those? If not, you'll never be able to insure any of 'em.

[Donatello]

As discussed earlier today... get something classic that has rarity (ie. cheaper to insure as less are involved in crashes than a Fiesta 1.25 Zetec) and will make you smile everytime you get in it!

[smarties89]

denniswise9 said:

All sound like a waste of money for a first car.

You'll spend the same amount again on insurance essentially ripping yourself off.

Get a 1.25 Fiesta Zetec and hoon it around and see how you get on - you'll proboably crash that anyway.

After a couple of years get something more exciting.

I had a look at the insurance for some of them, it was quite pricey but not so ridiculous that it put me off. Yeah i guess everyone has said that but I'd prefer something at least 1.6 engine. just waited a bit longer than most people for my first car so kinda want it to be a bit flashy..

[Arthur Daley]

Get some insurance quotes, you will not ensure any of those unless you have unlimited resources.

[smarties89]

Arthur Daley said:

Get some insurance quotes, you will not ensure any of those unless you have unlimited resources.

The quotes came out at around £2500 fully comp all in, not too bad?

[Donatello]

smarties89 said:

The quotes came out at around £2500 fully comp all in, not too bad?

You must have more money than sense! I paid £1,600 for my first year at 17 on a Saxo VTR. I look back now and see what a tit I was as I should have bought something st and rare so I didn't need lube to phone the insurance company!

[Arthur Daley]

Is that your own policy or a named driver on your parents?

£2500?! None of those cars are especially 'amazing', may aswell wait a few years, develop your driving skills then insure one in a few years for a third of that.

[smarties89]

maybe i should just get a motor bike :P

[aka_kerrly]

Are you really prepared to pay over £5k insurance?

[slomax]

my mate has just bought a hyundai accent 1.5 from 1998...

its ste, but a clean solid car and his insurance is 2.5k.....

buy cheap, buy rubbish, dont crash then upgrade in a year or two....

[Jame5]

smarties89 said:

The quotes came out at around £2500 fully comp all in, not too bad?

You may be able to afford that every year but in all honesty you're mugging yourself off by throwing that money away.

I know the temptation to just bite the bullet and go for it but think about that for a second. 2 and a half grand.... a year!!! Wait a couple of years and save that money and then you can buy big at an age where the insurance companies won't just pull your pants down and go in dry.

There's also a lot to be said with getting something cheap and ''nippy'' so you can learn your own limits and also when you have the inevitable trip backwards through a hedge, it's no too painful to move on.

[anonymous-user]

smarties89 said:

The quotes came out at around £2500 fully comp all in, not too bad?

That doesn't actually sound too bad for those cars, considering prices i've heard of lots of 17 year olds paying that on normal hatchbacks.

If you can afford it, go for it. Just try not to drive like a tit, maybe take your car on a trackday so you can get a feel for what it can do in a safe environment.

[wackojacko]

If your quotes are that cheap go for it ! I have done.

We are with Admiral and have a multi car policy mine is laughably cheap for my car to age ratio.

Something quicker will be coming in November

[smarties89]

wackojacko said:

If your quotes are that cheap go for it ! I have done.

We are with Admiral and have a multi car policy mine is laughably cheap for my car to age ratio.

Something quicker will be coming in November

exactly, Its hard weighing up the price of insurance and a good car against cheaper insurance and a hunk of junk... imo it would be worth it, just think i might regret it after a while ...

[obscene]

smarties89 said:

maybe i should just get a motor bike :P

Do it. They're more fun.

[ecommsmith]

doogz said:

You got a quote for a years insurance, for yourself, on a Focus ST, for £2500?

Where?

+1

I'd buy one today.

The Fiesta ST's a good car, I own one, but the combined 28mpg and insurance costs could be a killer for you. Luckily I do less than 5k miles a year and lucked out on £700 insurance quote with 2 years NCB.

[lunchbox]

smarties89 said:

exactly, Its hard weighing up the price of insurance and a good car against cheaper insurance and a hunk of junk... imo it would be worth it, just think i might regret it after a while ...

Saving THOUSANDS for something only slightly slower? Definitely worth it. Bear in mind none of those cars you listed are particularly exciting. An Audi A3 is still a ordinary mid size shopping hatchback.

[smarties89]

lunchbox said:

smarties89 said:

exactly, Its hard weighing up the price of insurance and a good car against cheaper insurance and a hunk of junk... imo it would be worth it, just think i might regret it after a while ...

Saving THOUSANDS for something only slightly slower? Definitely worth it. Bear in mind none of those cars you listed are particularly exciting. An Audi A3 is still a ordinary mid size shopping hatchback.

valid point, but for me they would be quite exciting?