Ideal first car?

[Hammy13]

Hi guys, I'm new to the forums and I could use some help.

I just inherited 12,000 and I want to use it to buy my first car. What I was wondering is would it be sensible to buy something quick such as a Renault Clio sport? Or would you suggest that I start slow and maybe get something faster down the line? I've been quoted 3100 on the Clio sport which I'll admit is abit steep, but not bad considering I'm 17!

[David87]

PH will tell you that spending £12k on a first car is mad and you'll probably crash it. They will then say spend a little on something interesting like a phase one 106 Rallye and save the rest. PH will be right too.

That said, if you're very sensible you could spend the lot on something that won't lose any money and then not crash it.

[Baron Greenback]

I 2nd that! not long back a PH wanted a 1988 Nova for £1k and was quoted £4+ insurance with £1k exess! So realy you have approx atleast half to spend on car and only the cash to spend on 1 year insurance! Crazy world!

[ovlov60]

Get something cheap and learn to maintain it yourself. As already said you'll probably put a dent in it. Something with Group 1/2 insurance and get your no claims built up (assuming you don't have to make a claim!).

You don't need a hot hatch to have fun driving. Some of the most fun I had was in my old Renault 4, 34BHP but a bloody good laugh to drive.

[Hammy13]

That's probably what I'll do then. Get a cheap run around and then go all out in a couple of years! Cheers guys

[Codswallop]

Most young drivers seem to lack imagination when it comes to buying their first car, and they end up with a Corsa, Fiesta, Clio etc. Young people also tend to crash such cars. A lot. This means small hatchbacks often have a high insurance loading, so you may be better off buying a more unusual car (even if it is a higher insurance group).

Look at an older Saab 93 2.0t, Volvo s40 t4 etc, or maybe even a classic car. There's also fun sportscars such as the MGF/ TF, MR2, Mx5 etc, which would be great fun. All can be had for under £3k, and should be simialr insurance to a lukewarm small hatchback.

[HeatonNorris]

Codswallop said:

Look at an older Saab 93 2.0t, Volvo s40 t4 etc, or maybe even a classic car. There's also fun sportscars such as the MGF/ TF, MR2, Mx5 etc, which would be great fun.

All of which will be largely uninsurable for a new driver.

[8potdave]

+1 for the cheapy. £3100 to insure a Clio is ridiculous no matter how old you are! Remember you have that to pay again in a year, and again and again, etc. Very easy to oversee these details when excitement gets in the way but you will more than likely have to sell and downgrade to something cheap which is much worse than starting out that way.

[CBR JGWRR]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3658180.htm

A few years back you would be able to insure it too...

[HeatonNorris]

Something like a Fiat Seicento Sporting is a great first car.

Very cheap to buy, and under the old 20-group insurance bandings, they came in at just group 3, so were affordable to insure for young drivers.

Massive grin factor, a little off-beat, and depreciation free.

[Codswallop]

HeatonNorris said:

Codswallop said:

Look at an older Saab 93 2.0t, Volvo s40 t4 etc, or maybe even a classic car. There's also fun sportscars such as the MGF/ TF, MR2, Mx5 etc, which would be great fun.

All of which will be largely uninsurable for a new driver.

You might be surprised how little relavence insurance groups have to insurance prices. Been there recently, seen it for myself. It's worthwhile thinking outside the box occasionally.

[Baron Greenback]

kit car on limited milage! outside the box enough! hehe!

[Baron Greenback]

Ok back to reality!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4046736.htm
106 45k milage £1.6k

[Hammy13]

Codswallop said:

HeatonNorris said:

Codswallop said:

Look at an older Saab 93 2.0t, Volvo s40 t4 etc, or maybe even a classic car. There's also fun sportscars such as the MGF/ TF, MR2, Mx5 etc, which would be great fun.

All of which will be largely uninsurable for a new driver.

You might be surprised how little relavence insurance groups have to insurance prices. Been there recently, seen it for myself. It's worthwhile thinking outside the box occasionally.

I can vouch for that! I've been getting some ridiculous quotes for small hatchbacks. I mean 4800 on a fiesta zetec! However out of sheer boredom I though I'd do a quote for a Mondeo st220 and it came out at 3700. I really don't understand how it works!

[bertieg]

Codswallop said:

You might be surprised how little relavence insurance groups have to insurance prices. Been there recently, seen it for myself. It's worthwhile thinking outside the box occasionally.

i think you'd be surprised how little anything at all apart from age has to do with the price of young drivers insurance. irrelevant if its a clio or a corvette, it'll be steep

[PH lurker]

Think of the depreciation, and money you might want/ need a little further down the line. I don't know your exact situation but I'm sure that would help you a lot (part way to a decent mortgage deposit) to get on the property ladder.

Also, ahve a look:
http://track-days.co.uk/sales/4067637.htm

http://track-days.co.uk/sales/4065626.htm

http://track-days.co.uk/sales/4038567.htm Bit more money.

And loads of others; Polos, Lupos, Pandas, Minis (1990s cooper?), Focus, Clio, Puma, MX-5, Fabia and many more.

[CBR JGWRR]

bertieg said:

Codswallop said:

You might be surprised how little relavence insurance groups have to insurance prices. Been there recently, seen it for myself. It's worthwhile thinking outside the box occasionally.

i think you'd be surprised how little anything at all apart from age has to do with the price of young drivers insurance. irrelevant if its a clio or a corvette, it'll be steep

When I was 17 that Corvette would have cost 5.7k to insure... (Same as any hatchback)

[jamesedwards]

I'm slight older than you and looking for what would be a decent first car as well as I may (if things preveil) have an income of a decent wage for my/our age with little outgoings. 205 GTI has struck a chord,(1.6 not 1.9 due to insurance), they're relatively quick and quirky and it's something not too modern that can be used to learn a bit more than the basic mechanical knowledge I already have. Anyway, my point was I'm saying that because you have money without the commitment of outgoings and may have to wait years and years and years until the oppertunity comes about again to choose something you really want, go for it. Long as it isn't too rapid that you kill yourself. That defeats the objective..

[HeatonNorris]

Just faked up some quotes using my home address and some cars as examples, really to debunk the idea that some cars aimed at more mature drivers will be nice and cheap to insure:

(18 year old, new driver, works as a shop assistant, TPF&T)

Seicento Sporting: £1.8k
MX5: £4.5k
Passat 1.8T (B5 shape): £3.9k

[treetops]

Volvo 850