Buying a new/used car as a young driver in employment

[F-E]

Hi all,

I currently drive a 2005 SEAT Ibiza 1.4 that was my mother’s previous car. In the next year I intend to buy and own my own car for casual and commuting use to my apprenticeship.
I want somthing more unique and that is fun to drive and not a killer on insurance. I wouldn’t be interested in a black box if avoidable.
I’ve looked around and the VW up gti looks like a fun choice as it’s cheap and has everything I need, nothing I don’t. This would be leased on pcp.

Could anyone recommend other cars to look at. Used cars too. No more than £8 for a used car. I’ve quickly looked at 2005 era bmw 1 or 3 series so far.

Thanks

[alorotom]

Not going to get much for £8?!

Anything remotely interesting or sporty will be mega money for insurance black box or otherwise

[F-E]

£8,000

Doesn’t have to be necessary that sporty like an mx5 just fun and slightly unique like the up would be or a fiesta

[alorotom]

Seriously, run some quotes on maybe you’re top5 ideal choices and then see ... insurance is a mare

[Mandat]

F-E said:

This would be leased on pcp.

Leasing or purchasing via PCP are two very separate things.

[F-E]

Yeah insurance is the pain. A 2008 2litre diesel 3 series seems about 2-4K and the insurance is 6k a year which is crazy. The up is little over £200 a months to pcp and Insurance is 2.5k. So it seems like an obvious win for the little up gti. Especially as a used car is less predictable and repairs would be more frequent.
Maybe I could get the up a little cheaper if I could lease a used demo car from the garages but that I would think about closer to the time

[Tomo1971]

I paid £808 for my first insurance in ‘88 for a £5k Ford Escort 1.3L, I know it’s all relative but £2.5k on insurance just seems mental.

My 2nd year was cheaper and 3rd went down substantially.

ETA, that 800 quid would be 1500 in today’s money, not quite as bad.

Ps, are the ‘just drive’ schemes from Peugeot and others any benefit?

Edited by Tomo1971 on Monday 28th May 08:10

[F-E]

Yes it’s really high. This is without a black box and only having my license a year and a half. I don’t blame insurance bring so high for young drivers as I know plenty of people my age who have had bangs and scrapes, it’s just a shame all that is reflected to everyone else’s insurance

[Du1point8]

Have some fun and get a classic car and learn how to keep it on the road at the same time, win win.

classic cars are generally cheaper to insure, more fun and have a character of their own.

an MGB may cover the boxes and is something a little different.

[F-E]

I’d definitely love something like that however I could do with decent motorway fuel economy as I would be driving 45-60 mins to work each day at some point.
I’m also tall and broad shouldered so I might not fit well though I’d be curious to look into a classic

The most sensible option is probably a 1.6 diesel polo, however insurance wasn’t much less than the up gti and I imagine it would be a little dull to drive compared to it

[StuTheGrouch]

Suzuki Swift? If insurance is a killer on the 1.5 or 1.6 sport then there is the 1.3 option

[Wacky Racer]

F-E said:

£8,000

Doesn’t have to be necessary that sporty like an mx5 just fun and slightly unique like the up would be or a fiesta

You would get a very nice MX5 for around £5k, £8k would put you in a mint low mileage Mk 3.

Running costs are peanuts, and insurance shouldn't be too bad.

Much more fun than a dull Euro box.

Snags are only a two seater, and not much space in the boot.

I've just bought one and love it, but it's only a Sunday car to be fair.

[F-E]

Ah ok both good ideas I think. Though I think with an mx5 it would be in a sports car kind of catagory which could really bump up cost. And I’ve heard the swifts are fun I’ll have another look

[Osmoliver]

I bought a Toyota Yaris T sport when I was 19. It was a fantastic car! It was reasonable to insure and extremely reliable. The 1.5l vvti made it quite fun to drive. I even used to take it on track occasionally towards the end of my ownership. A highlight for me was consistently passing Lotus Elises in the wet at Cadwell Park. Back in the pits the drivers were asking what modifications I'd made, the answer was none!

[Hammy98]

What age are you and do you have any years no claims?

1 years NCB and experience under your belt should see a decent discount and will give you access to a few sportier choices.

I'd look at running quotes for:

Fiesta Zetec S - s1600 ltd edition if you can find one
Mini Cooper - 1.5 would be PCP, should be the same price as the UP
Citroen DS3 - Either 1.6VTI or 1.2 Puretech
Corsa 1.4 Black edition - Last generation
BMW 118i 1.5 - same engine as the Mini. Would be PCP, insurance is hit or miss.

Do you have the 8k saved up or are you considering financing it? If financing I'd be inclined to get a bank loan and do it that way, you'll get a better interest rate and it means the loan is not tied to the vehicle so you're free to sell it and pay off the loan in the worst case.

Benefit of PCP on either the Mini, BMW, or the UP is that you should in theory spend less on maintenance due to having a decent manufacturer's warranty.

[F-E]

Haha it is surprising what some small cars can do.

I’d be 18 nearly 19 when I would buy the car.
This would be money I would save up though if I went for £8 financing could be a decent option to not drain my account too much too quickly.

I think I prefer the idea of pcp on a new car for the cover and protection you get also the fuel mileage is often much better too