30 year old.. Passed test this summer.. What car?

[white_wolf87]

Hi all, I live in zone 4 West London and I never really felt the need to learn to drive until I got a job in Slough..

So learnt to drive this summer and now I need to get a car.. I was amazed at how expensive insurance is even though I'm 30, ncb must make a huge difference.

Anyway I'm looking to get a car for under 5-6k
I would commute down the m4 to Slough (45 min) and to my parents in the Midlands (2 hours)

Based on this I was thinking of getting something like a motorway cruiser.. Raised the idea of a ls430 with my dad and he called it a white elephant that would cost a tenner to drive around the corner..

So my other idea is a VW golf or polo, or a seat Leon

My wild car idea is a volvo s60 d5..

Does anyone have any other ideas?

[parabolica]

An old Lexus/Volvo/A.N.Other barge is a good call as they’ll be cheap to buy and ins should be reasonable. Nothing wrong with a golf/polo/Seat but ins will be high because they are typical cars for someone who just past their test therefore consider more risky. I’d say stick with the barge idea. Most are a lot more economical than most people perceive.

[white_wolf87]

Yes exactly I thought if I'm doing a lot of motorway routes a barge might not be the worst idea.. Until I need to park it

[Jimmy Recard]

I wouldn’t say a Volvo S60 diesel is a “wild car”

[white_wolf87]

Haha I know but as a first car should I be going for a wild car? The volvo looks cheap and comfortable...

I did go through a one week mx5 phase but it just doesn't seem practical on the motorway

[Jimmy Recard]

I think the S60 is a great idea, to be honest. I’d much rather drive an S60 than a Golf or Polo. Get a manual one though

My joke was just referring to what you wrote!

[parabolica]

If you’re zone 4 and west London then you’ll be pretty close to me (Kew); my street is littered with exec size cars and SUVs so you’ll be fine - my 6 series isn’t the easiest to park either. Beside, being able to tight-park a big car is an invaluable skill once you’ve learnt it!

[Davie]

S60's with the bigger wheel / wider tyre options have utterly dire turning circles... in fact even the smaller wheeled ones are pretty hopeless too.

Could be a factor for new driver/ city parking.

That said, a sort of 2004 /2005 era face-lift manual with the older 163bhp diesel engine is a great shout... how the do the mpg they do is beyond me!

[blearyeyedboy]

^ Whether S60 or not, getting something with parking sensors is probably fling to cost you less than paint repairs of you live in Zone 4 and you're getting used to parallel parking.

S40's / V50's are not as robust but cheaper, still comfy on a long trip and a bit lighter on fuel. S60 still the better car but better a good S40 than a bad S60.

Wild card: C30?

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

Which shape S60 do you refer to? A new shape with higher miles, or a lower miler old shape?

[white_wolf87]

The shape wouldn't phase me.. The reliabiliy and comfort are the most important aspects (hence the ls430) , as my car maintenance skills are limited to what I can see on youtube.

C30.. Why is this a better alternative to the S60? Is it just better value for money?

[CubanPete]

S60 d5 sounds like a great choice.

If you want to go small, I would be looking at the fiesta personally.

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

white_wolf87 said:

The shape wouldn't phase me.. The reliabiliy and comfort are the most important aspects (hence the ls430) , as my car maintenance skills are limited to what I can see on youtube.

C30.. Why is this a better alternative to the S60? Is it just better value for money?

OK, on the old shape I can comment, having driven a number of them, not so the new one.
Your budget should get you in something low milage, probably 50K.

The old shape S60 is in many ways a great car, and it fits the brief of mile muncher better than the vast majority of cars out there. It has no sporty pretensions, it is highly comfortable, and very relaxing generally to drive. It could carry CAR Magazine's old nickname of 'motorised sofa' which is what their GBU section referred to the MK3 Granada as.

C30's are nice enough, useless rear boot aside, which won't accept gold clubs or a buggy, but it is no miler muncher in the way the S60 is.

It sounds like the S60 could well meet your brief, just avoid one with the sports suspension option, which somewhat ruins their brilliant ride quality.

Edited by Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah on Saturday 28th October 16:03

[white_wolf87]

Okay great I'll have a search for used S60 cars in the London and Midlands regions

The main issue I wanted to clear up is if this sort of car was a sound choice or if I should be going for a classic first car choice etc

[blearyeyedboy]

white_wolf87 said:

C30.. Why is this a better alternative to the S60? Is it just better value for money?

Before I sound at odds with the other posters, let me be clear: the S60 sounds better suited to your brief.

The main advantage to a C30 would be that it's shorter to park while still buying a car with Volvo seats for longer journeys... but lacking other factors that make the S60 a far better mile muncher.

TL, DR: if there's a well priced S60 and you can learn to park it where you live, it's likely to be a better option than a C30.

[white_wolf87]

I'm in a House of Fraser waiting for my gf to get a makeover.. So no one needs to worry about TL;DRs

Okay are there any other comfortable motorway / hour journey cars I should consider as a first time driver?

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

OP. Go and take a look at this car, it looks like it's a great car, well speced (read the extended description) and it's on your doorstep as far as I can see.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[SCEtoAUX]

Single? Lambo
Engaged? Boxster
Married? Honda Jazz

[white_wolf87]

Great thanks I'll go to Uxbridge on Monday and check that car out!

Is this car a good shout?

https://www.gumtree.com/p/volvo/volvo-s60-d5-auto-...

Edited by white_wolf87 on Saturday 28th October 17:01

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

white_wolf87 said:

Great thanks I'll go to Uxbridge on Monday and check that car out!

Is this car a good shout?

https://www.gumtree.com/p/volvo/volvo-s60-d5-auto-...

Edited by white_wolf87 on Saturday 28th October 17:01

You pay your price and take your choice. These Volvo's can take very high miles so I wouldn't worry about this, but I get the impression that the other one looks far more loved. No mention of number of owners, service history could be anything, but def not full or he would have said. Old cream leather can look very shabby too.

It could be a good one, it may not be. Google 'common Volvo S60 issues' (all cars have their weak areas) so you go armed in the knowledge of what to look for, then view it to check it out. I'd go to see the green one first, so if it is a good one like it appears to be you have the yardstick to judge by.