Best First Car for a Petrol Head?
Discussion
Hi guys.
Just looking for some ideas for a first car. Like the title says, I am a bit of a car nut but, after getting insurance quotes on what I would consider small but fun cars, I keep coming back disappointed with prices of £5000 plus for cars that cost less than £2000 to buy eg a Suzuki Ignis Sport etc.
So, my question is this: what car would you recommend to a 17 year old petrol head who wants something fun to drive but not stupidly expensive to insure? My total budget is around £5000. It doesn't have to have 4 seats, but does have to be a petrol with a manual gearbox and, if possible, rear wheel drive.
Any ideas cause I'm stumped?
Just looking for some ideas for a first car. Like the title says, I am a bit of a car nut but, after getting insurance quotes on what I would consider small but fun cars, I keep coming back disappointed with prices of £5000 plus for cars that cost less than £2000 to buy eg a Suzuki Ignis Sport etc.
So, my question is this: what car would you recommend to a 17 year old petrol head who wants something fun to drive but not stupidly expensive to insure? My total budget is around £5000. It doesn't have to have 4 seats, but does have to be a petrol with a manual gearbox and, if possible, rear wheel drive.
Any ideas cause I'm stumped?
I was going to suggest old shape Mini, but you want RWD, so some sort of BMW, perhaps.
At 17, insurance will be your problem.
I'd get something that can be "optimised" without the need to inform the insurance of "modifications". A properly sorted standard car is often better than a souped-up one
(and no insurance implications 
)
At 17, insurance will be your problem.
I'd get something that can be "optimised" without the need to inform the insurance of "modifications". A properly sorted standard car is often better than a souped-up one
(and no insurance implications )The only thing I can think of that will fulfill all of your criteria and be insurable for you is an old 1.3l Morris Marina. That being said, the insurance should be sensible and skinny tires and rwd should make it a bit of fun.
Oh and DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FRONT YOUR INSURANCE! It may seem cheaper now, but you will not build up any NCB and if your provider finds out they will cancel the policy leaving you with a nasty black mark on your record that will probably inflate your premiums for life.
Oh and DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FRONT YOUR INSURANCE! It may seem cheaper now, but you will not build up any NCB and if your provider finds out they will cancel the policy leaving you with a nasty black mark on your record that will probably inflate your premiums for life.
pingu393 said:
I was going to suggest old shape Mini, but you want RWD, so some sort of BMW, perhaps.
At 17, insurance will be your problem.
I'd get something that can be "optimised" without the need to inform the insurance of "modifications". A properly sorted standard car is often better than a souped-up one (and no insurance implications )
I was actually thinking of an old mini. The car doesn't HAVE to be RWD, so it's definitely an option. Are they eligible for classic car insurance? I would think so, but I'm not sure.At 17, insurance will be your problem.
I'd get something that can be "optimised" without the need to inform the insurance of "modifications". A properly sorted standard car is often better than a souped-up one
(and no insurance implications )chrisispringles said:
The only thing I can think of that will fulfill all of your criteria and be insurable for you is an old 1.3l Morris Marina. That being said, the insurance should be sensible and skinny tires and rwd should make it a bit of fun.
Oh and DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FRONT YOUR INSURANCE! It may seem cheaper now, but you will not build up any NCB and if your provider finds out they will cancel the policy leaving you with a nasty black mark on your record that will probably inflate your premiums for life.
Morris Minor surely? It's slow, but low-speed fun is still fun...Oh and DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FRONT YOUR INSURANCE! It may seem cheaper now, but you will not build up any NCB and if your provider finds out they will cancel the policy leaving you with a nasty black mark on your record that will probably inflate your premiums for life.
AlexiusG55 said:
Morris Minor surely? It's slow, but low-speed fun is still fun...
Cue the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooBJ2Z2sZvo
The way to do it: Get the cheapest reliable car you can, in the lowest insurance band possible. Build up your NCB, put the money you would otherwise have spent on insurance and petrol into a savings account, then a few years down the line buy a decent car and get a good insurance discount.
The way not to do it: Buy the most powerful car you can possibly afford, spunk thousands on insurance, crash it into a wall, spend even more on insurance and end up with a succession of s
tty cars until you retire.
The way not to do it: Buy the most powerful car you can possibly afford, spunk thousands on insurance, crash it into a wall, spend even more on insurance and end up with a succession of s
tty cars until you retire.BorkFactor said:
Can't be that bad? I am 19 and an MX5 is about as cheap as it gets - circa £600!
At 18, having had my licence for 6 months and no more driving experience since, I could not get it below £3k for an early 1.6. If I'd only just got my licence it would be around £4k. Both quotes with parents on the policy living in rural Scotland.OP, forget about anything sporty for a couple of years, run something small and entertaining and save up for a couple of years so you can afford something a little more fruity then.
chrisispringles said:
At 18, having had my licence for 6 months and no more driving experience since, I could not get it below £3k for an early 1.6. If I'd only just got my licence it would be around £4k. Both quotes with parents on the policy living in rural Scotland.
Now that is strange, I live in the Scottish Highlands 
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