Second car... Help?
Discussion
Hi there everyone, new to this forum TODAY so genuinely sorry if i've posted this in the wrong place! If it needs to be moved, i'll understand and would be a great help if you tell me where it should be moved to. You're probably already thinking tl;dr (too long, didn't read) but bear with me. I'm currently 19 years old, passed my test Dec 2010, got my pass plus and looking for my own car.
At the moment i drive my parents 1.2L 2010 fiesta (lucky i know) but hopefully should be getting an apprenticeship soon so i'll need my own car to transport me there every day (live 5 mins from college so walk at the moment).
I'm hoping for something that i can rag the poop out of, preferrably RWD, 1.6L+, goes like stink and i can modify it so i can say "yeah, i did that". Don't know that much about mechanics but i'm learning and my dad's a mechanical engineer so he can help (hoping to become an engineer in the future too). Something that'll teach me the basics and a little bit more about the whole running of a car and has low insurance, cheap parts etc...
I have been looking at Golfs, A3s, 318s and such like just as a general platform to get started on. I probably look like i'm dealing with things a bit out of hand for me as i've not got much of a clue on car performance and what changing things inside the car will do, but i'm willing to learn and love getting my hands dirty! (and no, that's not a euphemism)
Sorry if this isn't in the right place again, but if it isn't, mind sending me a message to tell me where to put it!
Any help at all will be greatly appreciated, thanks for your time if you got this far!
James
At the moment i drive my parents 1.2L 2010 fiesta (lucky i know) but hopefully should be getting an apprenticeship soon so i'll need my own car to transport me there every day (live 5 mins from college so walk at the moment).
I'm hoping for something that i can rag the poop out of, preferrably RWD, 1.6L+, goes like stink and i can modify it so i can say "yeah, i did that". Don't know that much about mechanics but i'm learning and my dad's a mechanical engineer so he can help (hoping to become an engineer in the future too). Something that'll teach me the basics and a little bit more about the whole running of a car and has low insurance, cheap parts etc...
I have been looking at Golfs, A3s, 318s and such like just as a general platform to get started on. I probably look like i'm dealing with things a bit out of hand for me as i've not got much of a clue on car performance and what changing things inside the car will do, but i'm willing to learn and love getting my hands dirty! (and no, that's not a euphemism)
Sorry if this isn't in the right place again, but if it isn't, mind sending me a message to tell me where to put it!
Any help at all will be greatly appreciated, thanks for your time if you got this far!
James
Amateurish said:
Budget? Won't a 1.6+ size engine crucify you on insurance costs?
Yeah probably :P budget i'm gonna say... £2.5k for the car itself, then maybe... £1.5k maybe £2k stretch for insurance!I just want a car that i can rag round and modify! when i get my 3 years no claims i'm thinking RX8, can get one of them for £1.5k/year on insurance when i get 3ync
What about a newish seat Ibiza cupra, or even a Leon cupra, there always fun to drive, and you could even get the diesel sport Leon, which a good mate of mine has, and in 3rd it goes like poop of a shovel! If your looking for a faster car, or a cliche boy racer car, what about a tidy civic type r around 2005 2006 of the old shape model?
I'd be checking on insurance quotes first thing. It's a very cruel game and can throw a nasty spanner in the works especially at your age. When I first passed my test 20 months ago with my 1.4 pug 206 I was getting quotes of £3.5K upwards, eventually got it down to £1,300 but it took a lot of research and playing around with the system to get it to that price in my name legally. It's something you will have to learn to do especially if you want to look at the bottom end of performance cars and work your way upwards.
Luckily I managed to do it again this year to get my 206 GTi which is group 28 even though im only 18 insured for £1500 in my name.
Dont be tempted to insure your car in your parents name just because it saves a few quid. You wont build up any no claims bonuses. Therefore when you come to the point of having to insure a car in your own name your back at square one and the price goes back through the roof. I was happy to take a big hit in my first year and my second year and I will probably still take a big hit in my third year. But at the moment im behaving(at times in moderation) and building up my no claims. So soon I will be able insure even more stupid and unpracticall cars for pennies.
Luckily I managed to do it again this year to get my 206 GTi which is group 28 even though im only 18 insured for £1500 in my name.
Dont be tempted to insure your car in your parents name just because it saves a few quid. You wont build up any no claims bonuses. Therefore when you come to the point of having to insure a car in your own name your back at square one and the price goes back through the roof. I was happy to take a big hit in my first year and my second year and I will probably still take a big hit in my third year. But at the moment im behaving(at times in moderation) and building up my no claims. So soon I will be able insure even more stupid and unpracticall cars for pennies.
/\ Agree /\
Firstly welcome, great to hear a young person wanting to become a mechanical engineer! Being one myself, starting at 16 in a day release scheme, its a great occupation, makes chats in the pubs interesting when you can say how your job is better than being sat in an office all day!
Anyway back to the question.
I too was also looking for a car with those specs, wanted RWD if possible etc, then started looking at yanks. A while ago, I was getting quoted as a kid around £1200 on a 4th Gen Camaro with a V6. It won't set the world on fire, but would be pretty unique and they just keep going. Only limitation were limited mileage insurance which made it limiting for an everyday car.
Insurance will be the killer for most people your age. Its just pricing people off the road nowadays. I'm only 24 with 4 years NCB and now and paying sub £400 for Full comp policies, so maybe getting just a little jalopy for a few years might be an idea.
Firstly welcome, great to hear a young person wanting to become a mechanical engineer! Being one myself, starting at 16 in a day release scheme, its a great occupation, makes chats in the pubs interesting when you can say how your job is better than being sat in an office all day!
Anyway back to the question.
I too was also looking for a car with those specs, wanted RWD if possible etc, then started looking at yanks. A while ago, I was getting quoted as a kid around £1200 on a 4th Gen Camaro with a V6. It won't set the world on fire, but would be pretty unique and they just keep going. Only limitation were limited mileage insurance which made it limiting for an everyday car.
Insurance will be the killer for most people your age. Its just pricing people off the road nowadays. I'm only 24 with 4 years NCB and now and paying sub £400 for Full comp policies, so maybe getting just a little jalopy for a few years might be an idea.
James D said:
My mate has somehow dragged me into a hole i don't think i'll be able to get out of... the world of the Rover 25 
Found one with 14900 miles for under £1.8k... 1.6L... damn, need to check with the parents in the morning on that one!
Nothing wrong with that - I had one (1.6) for a couple of years - fairly nimble and faster than a 1.6 has any right to be (110bhp). Plenty of bolt-ons from the MGZR if you want to mess about with it.Found one with 14900 miles for under £1.8k... 1.6L... damn, need to check with the parents in the morning on that one!
A word of warning though - your first car is a rite of passage, but be careful. It might just be talk, but "ragging" your car around is asking for a prang in the first couple of months, and if you think insurance is expensive now...
James D said:
My mate has somehow dragged me into a hole i don't think i'll be able to get out of... the world of the Rover 25
Found one with 14900 miles for under £1.8k... 1.6L... damn, need to check with the parents in the morning on that one!
While I've owned the 200 its based on and would defend it as being a genuinely decent car, I'd question the value of spending 1800ish on it simply because its got low mileage. These can typically be found for about a grand and I'd actually be concerned that the mileage is too low.Found one with 14900 miles for under £1.8k... 1.6L... damn, need to check with the parents in the morning on that one!
I'm also not sure on the benefits of the 1.6, you'd be looking at only 10bhp over the 1.4 so if it bumps up the insurance cost a lot it might not be worth it.
Wow, thanks all for your feedback, very useful! The Rover 25 i've found, it apparently has only had 2 previous owners and they didn't use it much as they were quite senior (this is what i've read). Also the Rover 25 spare parts come in at pennies (£25 for a rear bumper) and is much more expensive for, say a Leon Cupra (£115 rear bumper).
The reason i've never really wanted a rover is because my mates one is absolute pants! he's poured loads of money into it (admittedly it's getting better) but also my dad keeps making jokes about it, along with me! (e.g. it can accelerate at 9.81m/s... when dropped out of a hercules air carrier :P ) so if i now get a rover, people will start poking fun at me! Childish i know but to be fair, with a few simple mods and a remap i'm sure i'll have it going from 105bhp to 140bhp with only a couple hundred quid. Also been quoted only £1600ish for insurance which is a lot better than anything else i've found (MG ZR = £4400) (Golf GTI = £3100).
Need to get this damn apprenticeship first before i can go around making any offers and also will have to clear it with my parents (still living at home) but until then, thanks so much for all your help guys, it's much appreciated! any more advice will be gladly accepted
The reason i've never really wanted a rover is because my mates one is absolute pants! he's poured loads of money into it (admittedly it's getting better) but also my dad keeps making jokes about it, along with me! (e.g. it can accelerate at 9.81m/s... when dropped out of a hercules air carrier :P ) so if i now get a rover, people will start poking fun at me! Childish i know but to be fair, with a few simple mods and a remap i'm sure i'll have it going from 105bhp to 140bhp with only a couple hundred quid. Also been quoted only £1600ish for insurance which is a lot better than anything else i've found (MG ZR = £4400) (Golf GTI = £3100).
Need to get this damn apprenticeship first before i can go around making any offers and also will have to clear it with my parents (still living at home) but until then, thanks so much for all your help guys, it's much appreciated! any more advice will be gladly accepted
James D said:
NadiR said:
I'd look into getting a E30 318i, meets all your requirements, and there reasonably priced.
Welcome to PH!
Nice one, i'll look them up!Welcome to PH!
Mine has had a few modifications (stainless exhaust, lowered suspension, Hartge wheels and soon to have bigger brakes), but I couldn't tell you about power modifications. Most people seem to end up putting in 24v 6 cylinders from the E36, but this would crucify your insurance premium...
I'd also recommend looking on e30zone for more information.
Welcome to PH!
ETA - http://pistonheads.com/sales/3507277.htm
Edited by E30Addict on Monday 27th February 10:03
MK1 MX5, Any Sierra, Triumph Dolomite, Capri if they are still available cheaply, E21, E30, E36, MGF, MK1 MR2, Volvo 340/360, Volvo 240/740 (yes really) and pretty much anything else old.
You might get a classic policy on some of the above, you will have to do some work on all of them at some time or other, but they are RWD, available cheaply, would be interesting to some people and you will find people have already modified similar cars in the past so knowledge already exists.
You might get a classic policy on some of the above, you will have to do some work on all of them at some time or other, but they are RWD, available cheaply, would be interesting to some people and you will find people have already modified similar cars in the past so knowledge already exists.
1.6 will have more torque than the 1.4, but I would steer clear of a low miles start stop car. Go for an honest one with normal miles.
No way will you see a 30% hike in power without some seriously expensive work. Don't forget you will spend more money on modified insurance than buying a car with that performance to begin with.
I would go classic - Dolly or a Spit.
No way will you see a 30% hike in power without some seriously expensive work. Don't forget you will spend more money on modified insurance than buying a car with that performance to begin with.
I would go classic - Dolly or a Spit.
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