First car suggestion

[TwinTurbot]

Hi people, having posted on the 'general gassing' forum a while back asking for suggestions for a first car I received a very positive response and have decided to get a Japanese car for my first.

This is where you guys come in, I have a budget of £2,000 for the car and insurance is something ill come to once I've decided on a specific model. I've been looking at seventh generation Civics, either EP or EU body styles, so does anyone have any useful information for these?

Similarly, I'm open to all recommendations so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Regards,
TT

[Neith]

TwinTurbot said:

Hi people, having posted on the 'general gassing' forum a while back asking for suggestions for a first car I received a very positive response and have decided to get a Japanese car for my first.

This is where you guys come in, I have a budget of £2,000 for the car and insurance is something ill come to once I've decided on a specific model. I've been looking at seventh generation Civics, either EP or EU body styles, so does anyone have any useful information for these?

Similarly, I'm open to all recommendations so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Regards,
TT

Didn't see your original post, but how old / how much no claims do you have? I drive a EP3 (the Type-R) at the minute, but insurance is ridiculous for them (and is part of the reason I'm selling it for a faster car, but paying less for insurance).

I can only really help out on the EP Civics; if your insurance won't cover a Type-R, the Sport is another option. If I remember correctly it's a 1.6 VTEC. It isn't quick by any means but has a lot of nods to the Type-R (same front splitter, side skirts, twin exhaust). I considered getting one of these as a first car, but couldn't find a nice one when I looked. If you need the performance, I can't fault the Type-R as a performance hatch but it depends on whether you can live with horrendous road noise, terrible MPG and one of the most rattling interiors I've ever known

Problems to watch are corrosion in the backbox, problems with the steering (not self-centering properly, EPS not working at all, etc) and electrical issues (they love to blow bulbs from what I've seen, particularly the bulbs behind the speedo). Engine is absolutely bulletproof.

To be honest, for £2,000 you might be able to get a Type-R (EP3s have plummeted in value recently), but £2k for a EP3 would probably only get you a really old, tired one that's been thrashed to death. £2k should get you a decent Sport though if you wanted to go that route.

I have to be honest, my EP3 has been pretty unreliable, but the garage I bought from I've heard horror stories about since so that'll explain it.

If there's anything else you want to know, let me know and I'll see if I can help. Can't go far wrong with a Japanese car as far as I'm concerned.

[LancerG]

mmmmmm

Toyota MR2 mk2
Nissan 200SX Touring

Insurance too high ? Buy a mk2 MX5

Nothing wrong with the Honda, just not my first choice

[RedAndy]

Didn't see your first topic either: but deffo Jap all the way.

Some budget options:
Almera GTi - poor man's reliable Focus ST
Primera GT - anonymous but actually really quick and very reliable
Honda Type R accord - if you can get a decent one at that price
Legend V6 - barge fun
Xedos 9 2.3 Miller - more barge fun. debadged and de chromed they look quite sinister.
Xedos 6 2.5 - underrated car.
MR2 - Mk3 is a steal at the moment
Celica - even the mighty GT4 is getting that cheap now
late 90s facelift impreza wagon sport 2000. it's 90% WRX for 50% insurance
Prelude 2.2 - make sure the steering works

All cheap, and as long as the rust is under control then they will be great reliable cars and guarantee you won't see (m)any coming the other way!

basically: go for something a bit big and from the late 90s. They are cheap cos people perceive them to be expensive to run, and from a time when the japs made proper cars not anodyne white goods liek they do now.




If you dont mind being a hairdresser: MR2 Roadster or Mk2 Ttop. Or a honda del Sol, or MX5. Cracking cars, a bit unusual/different/exciting as they are 'verts.

Deffo Jap though. Done others myself - always come back to jap.

[Marf]

If you don't need four seats then an Mk2 MR2 N/A

[FD3Si]

Your age and driving history would be good - for instance, if you're 20 with no NCB, and want anything reasonably high performance, at least half of your budget will be consumed by insurance straight away.

[RedAndy]

oh in that case then yeah, the cheapest micra/yaris/etc you can get hold of and use a 10 month accelerator to build NCB. As a long shot try almera + corolla sized cars too, but don't hold your breath.

[james_gt3rs]

Do some insurance quotes before considering a car at all TBH. You probably won't even be able to insure a Micra for much less than £2000

[SR20]

1.0 K11 Micra.
Small, reliable, easy to fix if anything did happen to go wrong, and insurance won't rape you.

[Crazysteve]

18, no ncb... you are a bit limited.
My oldest son's first car was a 1 ltr swift. tbh not a bad little motor. http://ssoc.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?8-Swift
easy to work on and parts a plenty..
don't know why but my other son went to get quotes for a swift and these had gone up big style.
Instead bought a 1.1 05 plate getz for under £1500 and half the price for the insurance.

[Ash-GT]

I would look for a clean toyota starlet 1.3 SR, they are quite sporty for a first car and will be under 2k, should also be sensible to insure.

[MrGeoff]

Gaz. said:

Chaps he's 18 with no NCB, he isn't going to insure any of this lot in a month of sundays.

Buy some £500 rot box and trouser the other £1500 quid, get a year's NCB and you will be able to insure more interesting cars. A 1.1 106 will still give you freedom, it'll get you places and as it is your first car you will love it anyway and look back through rose tinted glasses and what an excellent car it was.

Exactly this, if anything it'll give you a few laughs when you reminisce, I know my first car did, it was a 1996 Corsa. I'd never buy another one but I've got fond memories of it and I'll be honest the rest follows. Years pass and you end up driving the car you want and more importantly insuring it for sensible money.

[Tib]

MrGeoff said:

Gaz. said:

Chaps he's 18 with no NCB, he isn't going to insure any of this lot in a month of sundays.

Buy some £500 rot box and trouser the other £1500 quid, get a year's NCB and you will be able to insure more interesting cars. A 1.1 106 will still give you freedom, it'll get you places and as it is your first car you will love it anyway and look back through rose tinted glasses and what an excellent car it was.

Exactly this, if anything it'll give you a few laughs when you reminisce, I know my first car did, it was a 1996 Corsa. I'd never buy another one but I've got fond memories of it and I'll be honest the rest follows. Years pass and you end up driving the car you want and more importantly insuring it for sensible money.

Precisely this. I have fond memories of my sheddy 1 litre corsa.

Earn your stripes man!