Yes...another WHAT? First Car thread...

[JandyA]

Sorry for being another nuisance and asking on advice for my daughters first car.... She is soon to pass her test (fingers crossed) and gain her full automatic license.

She is 25 and we live in a fairly rural area, the car will not be used on a daily basis as she works from home, it is more for popping to the gym (1 mile away) or to get her hair done (again around 1-2 miles away)... There will be the occasional trip into town which is around 20 minutes away along a dual carriageway.... Therefore it is something that will be little used...

She has a budget of around £2-£3K Max for the car alone and another £1Kish for the insurance for the year..... all the usual things... safe is the biggest priority and nothing too powerful....

For example, she has found a 2001 plate VW Beetle, comes with 12 month breakdown cover, and is MOT'd till December 2018... Also comes with 6 month warranty... this is from our local dealer. The price is £1495 and her first years insurance comes in at around £1K..... She has always loved Beetles hence her choice...

I'm a little worried about this choice due to the 2.0 engine.... Do you think its a good idea?

She keeps going on at me that it needs to look nice (yes that really is her main priority grrr)

Anyway, any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!

[Silverage]

I’m going through the same with my daughter at the moment. She’s a bit younger than yours but all she’s bothered about is the colour of the car. She’s looking at Fiat 500’s at the moment.

I’ve been running a few insurance quotes today and after expecting the worst, was surprised at quite a few being below £1000. That’s for a new 18 year old driver.

[JandyA]

Thanks for your reply!

Yes I was quite surprised at some of the insurance quotes, being that they are quite reasonable

My daughter is obsessed with getting something 'girly & cute" ..... bloody hell its a car ! lol!

Fiat 500's fit the bill perfectly but they are outwit her budget at the moment.

[Integroo]

JandyA said:

For example, she has found a 2001 plate VW Beetle, comes with 12 month breakdown cover, and is MOT'd till December 2018... Also comes with 6 month warranty... this is from our local dealer. The price is £1495 and her first years insurance comes in at around £1K..... She has always loved Beetles hence her choice...

Not saying it is a bad choice, but just want to let you know that the twelve month breakdown cover is about thirty quid with the AA/RAC, and the six month warranty is likely a third party one and not worth the paper it is written on (and in any event you have consumer rights to fall back on if it is a lemon), so don't let these be deciding factors.

If I were buying at this end of the market, I would spend a little less, buy privately on condition, and accept if your 600-800 quid car dies, it's only 600-800 quid . . .

[Shiv_P]

Mk6 fiesta 1.25. Decently cheap on insurance for me, great fun to drive and reliable if cam belts etc are done on time. Very slow though at 75bhp.

[Goldfever4]

Integroo said:

Not saying it is a bad choice, but just want to let you know that the twelve month breakdown cover is about thirty quid with the AA/RAC, and the six month warranty is likely a third party one and not worth the paper it is written on (and in any event you have consumer rights to fall back on if it is a lemon), so don't let these be deciding factors.

If I were buying at this end of the market, I would spend a little less, buy privately on condition, and accept if your 600-800 quid car dies, it's only 600-800 quid . . .

In my mind, if you're paying £1000 on insurance you might as well spend £1500 instead of £1000 on the car.

[ZX10R NIN]

Get her the Beetle it sounds like a good car.

[ScoobyChris]

Don't worry about the 2.0 engine - if it's the 115bhp one then it's fairly lazy (0-60 in over 10 seconds) and won't be troubling the skin on any rice puddings

Chris