Fun to drive, cheap to buy/insure/maintain car pre-2006?

[anonymous-user]

So Im close to buying my first car, tried my dads corsa c 1.0 2003 that was a pretty okay car, also my friend has an octavia mk2 1.9tdi that was crazy good, I love that car already, but obviously the insurance is just laughable so gonna get back to that later when my insurance gets lower. What other cars are there that are fun to drive and cheap to insure, generally not bad looking, and have 5 seats? Looked at some E30's but insurance is still not good, around the same as the octavia. I have no issues with older cars, as long as they are reliable if you look after them, I dont want to buy into a car that brokes down every week even If I look after it carefully. Ideas? Im 18.

[hooblah]

Literally, nothing. Not at your age. You're stuck with high insurance premiums unless it has a tiny engine. However if I was in your position I would recommend an Aygo. Definitely more fun than a Corsa.

[Truckosaurus]

I'd normally suggest a sensible saloon that isn't especially popular with other young drivers, as that gets you good insurance prices, such as the Octavia TDi. Sorry.

[Xcore]

2.0t Saab 93/5 cheap to buy and cheap to maintain.

[aka_kerrly]

Xcore said:

2.0t Saab 93/5 cheap to buy and cheap to maintain.

im fairly certain that insurance companies will rape a 17 year old with a Saab turbo. i had one when i was 21 and it was more to insure than my Golf Gti 16v.

personaly i think a lot of kids have too high expectations these days. In the late 90s early 00s nearly every 17 year old had a 20 year old Fieata/205/nova with a 1.0l worth sub £1k an we all had great fun and were precious about our NCB as it was the only way to justify upgrades. hence at 18 we moved to 1.3-1.8ish engines an by 19/20 with 3years ncb you could insure a GTI for same as first year 1.0l

[tbourner]

I think the old adage of:

"cheap, fast, reliable - pick 2"

applies here. You just won't get something cheap to insure, fun to drive, and easy to maintain. If there was; everyone would have one and it wouldn't be cheap to insure any more!

[Princeprawn]

Although the Octavia is wicked, the mk1 fabia is really good, get the right wheel and body combo and it looks pretty timeless. As your 18 any car you get your hands on will be fast.

Edited by Princeprawn on Friday 18th May 20:56

[MrAverage]

i'd recommend something like an aygo/107/c1 they are fun little cars with little to go wrong. they handle well, go reasonably well and sound pretty good too.

probably not what you wanna hear but they are cheap to run and should be semi sensible to insure.

[RizzoTheRat]

Truckosaurus said:

I'd normally suggest a sensible saloon that isn't especially popular with other young drivers, as that gets you good insurance prices, such as the Octavia TDi. Sorry.

I'm sure I remember someone on here discovering that a big volvo estate was surprisingly cheap for a young driver to ensure, presumably because not many young drivers even drive them let alone crash them.

[Integroo]

Suzuki Ignis Sport?

[aka_kerrly]

RizzoTheRat said:

I'm sure I remember someone on here discovering that a big volvo estate was surprisingly cheap for a young driver to ensure, presumably because not many young drivers even drive them let alone crash them.

maybe ten years ago.

[Integroo]

RizzoTheRat said:

I'm sure I remember someone on here discovering that a big volvo estate was surprisingly cheap for a young driver to ensure, presumably because not many young drivers even drive them let alone crash them.

This advice gets rolled out all the time. It isn't true!

[anonymous-user]

Thx for the replies, I think I go with the fabia, driving that octavia and seeing friends going over 300k miles with it made me sure that brand is worth every penny. Cheers!

[Kawasicki]

1999 Yaris 1.3

Peugeot 306 1.4 or 1.9td

[aka_kerrly]

Integroo said:

This advice gets rolled out all the time. It isn't true!

We will be waiting a long time before a 17 year old posts screen shots of insurance quotes showing a Swedish turbo tank to be less than a Aygo on a like for like policy.

Actually, sod it!!!! I "should" be working an need a distraction... off to Go compare.

Based on a 17year old with full licence for 4 months, zero no claims, no accidents , no points etc, TPFT social domestic and commuting to 1 place of work, work full time as as admin staff in finance office , car value £1500 Toyota AYGO 1.0VVT 3 door..

Cheapest quote with black box from Admiral is £1202 per year paid in one go. Cheapest quote without a black box £1503


Same details with a Saab 93 hatchback 2.0T SE 150hp worth £1000

Cheapest quote with a black box from Admiral £6865 cheapest quote without a black box £7720

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF ME THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND!!!!

[anonymous-user]

If you don't need the five seats then this could be good fun for a year or two:

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

the 0.7 means it is relatively (for your age!) cheap to insure, and I bet you wouldn't lose much money when you trade it in for something with a bit more bite when you have 2 years NCD under your belt.

If you do need the space you are, unfortunately, in the land of, old, eco boxes; a 1.4 SE civic from the early 00's may be a good shout, these are definitely grandma spec, but with some creative (declared!) mods you might enjoy it - please don't play around with the exhaust, it will sound st.

[Princeprawn]

I have a MK2 golf GTi insured for £80 a year as it's a classic car would a 17 year old get some sort of deal on classic car insurance.

[trickywoo]

Suzuki Swift mk3 in 1.5 form is fun to drive. 100bhp and 900kg.

They have a slightly shopping car image which may be insurance friendly but are great to drive.

[alorotom]

Princeprawn said:

I have a MK2 golf GTi insured for £80 a year as it's a classic car would a 17 year old get some sort of deal on classic car insurance.

You used to get really good classic deals just with some stipulations.

I was originally getting a 1972 1600 beetle for my first car, insurance was peanuts with the provisio I couldn’t use it between 10pm and 7am - it was stolen before I bought it though

My best friend at the time was given a £8000 budget for his first car amd insurance and decided to go left field and bought a TVR wedge on a classic policy rather than the typical fiesta his parents expected

This was c.1999 though and I doubt this is the same now

[Jimmy Recard]

Princeprawn said:

Although the Octavia is wicked, the mk1 fabia is really good, get the right wheel and body combo and it looks pretty timeless. As your 18 any car you get your hands on will be fast.

Edited by Princeprawn on Friday 18th May 20:56

Is "the right wheel and body combo" flat blue and plastic wheel trims?

I think I'd rather have his dad's Corsa C