First Enthusiast Car
Discussion
For the past year I have been driving a Citreon C3 for a first car and now that I have built up my first year of no claims. I'm interested in getting something a bit nicer. My requirements are that it handles really well, goes a little bit faster than my current car and it can be practical to carry more than two people. Hence why an NA MX5 would be nice but it is not practical for what I need.
I am UK based so any pony cars are very hard and very expensive to maintain.
I Currently have a budget of £5000-£6000 this would be including insurance and tax. Which is also why something like a Golf is out of the question as much as I would like one, the insurance would bleed me of all my money.
Any help is much appreciated
I am UK based so any pony cars are very hard and very expensive to maintain.
I Currently have a budget of £5000-£6000 this would be including insurance and tax. Which is also why something like a Golf is out of the question as much as I would like one, the insurance would bleed me of all my money.
Any help is much appreciated
Edited by JukeC on Thursday 26th July 16:39
Edited by JukeC on Thursday 26th July 16:40
For the past year I have been driving a Citreon C3 for a first car and now that I have built up my first year of no claims. I'm interested in getting something a bit nicer. My requirements are that it handles really well, goes a little bit faster than my current car and it can be practical to carry more than two people. Hence why an NA MX5 would be nice but it is not practical for what I need.
I am UK based so any pony cars are very hard and very expensive to maintain.
I Currently have a budget of £5000-£6000 this would be including insurance and tax. Which is also why something like a Golf is out of the question as much as I would like one, the insurance would bleed me of all my money.
Any help is much appreciated
I am UK based so any pony cars are very hard and very expensive to maintain.
I Currently have a budget of £5000-£6000 this would be including insurance and tax. Which is also why something like a Golf is out of the question as much as I would like one, the insurance would bleed me of all my money.
Any help is much appreciated
Edited by JukeC on Thursday 26th July 16:39
Edited by JukeC on Thursday 26th July 18:13
Shiv_P said:
Get on autotrader/PH, filter 0-8s acceleration, petrol manual hatchback & saloon and stick every single car into an insurance price comparison site and see what they come out with.
I noticed mk4 mondeos are usually cheap for the power available
Do those comparison site searches add anything to your Credit Record? I noticed mk4 mondeos are usually cheap for the power available
I'm sure they don't but it seems like you can't breathe nowadays without someone adding it to your file.
Lee540 said:
Any big Mercedes.. you'll be suprised I bet on insurance. Stuff that isn't on the radar of youth.. I had a C280 Sport with the factory AMG kit when I was 18, peanuts to insure.. most of my mates wanted to buy a Saxo VTS
To be fair to the saxo it was a laugh to driveEdited by Lee540 on Thursday 26th July 16:42
JukeC said:
What would something like an audi a3 be like insurance/tax wise?
Less than £150/yr for me. Might be different for you though!.... You need to do quotes for you and your specific circumstances to make sensible insurance comparisons. What's cheap for one person might not be others, and vice versa.
When someone asks what is a good first enthusiast car, the answer is almost always MX5.
And if that isn't the answer. An old civic is usually the alternative. I wouldn't go with what I have (The EP2)
You'd preferably want to go earlier, EJ9's, EH2's, any EG or EK. They handle well as standard and plenty of aftermarket support.
Main benefit is if you want to improve your driving. Those standard skinny wheels and low power means you can push the car to its limits at safe and legal speeds. This way when insurance is cheaper and money is better. You can be confident knowing whatever car you get you'll be safe in.
And if that isn't the answer. An old civic is usually the alternative. I wouldn't go with what I have (The EP2)
You'd preferably want to go earlier, EJ9's, EH2's, any EG or EK. They handle well as standard and plenty of aftermarket support.
Main benefit is if you want to improve your driving. Those standard skinny wheels and low power means you can push the car to its limits at safe and legal speeds. This way when insurance is cheaper and money is better. You can be confident knowing whatever car you get you'll be safe in.
As a MK1 MX5 owner (although selling soon) I find it hard to find a proper 'enthusiasts' car for young drivers that could replace it. I'm currently daily driving an old Volvo whilst the MX5 is off the road to be sold, and have found it hard to find something that I could call a 'replacement'.
Just to throw a few things out there, ideas I've had are MK2 Golf, E36 Coupe, EK/EG Civics. Or if you fancy something a little newer, maybe an R53 Mini (if insurance allows)
Things like Clio 182s, MK6 FSTs etc are great track cars, but personally not what I'd call an enthusiast car. Feel free to disagree
Just to throw a few things out there, ideas I've had are MK2 Golf, E36 Coupe, EK/EG Civics. Or if you fancy something a little newer, maybe an R53 Mini (if insurance allows)
Things like Clio 182s, MK6 FSTs etc are great track cars, but personally not what I'd call an enthusiast car. Feel free to disagree
SaggyOstrich said:
Mk6 Fiesta ST? They go pretty well, handle good and are cheap on insurance.
I would go with this. Will be great fun after the C3.The OP made it clear he needs to carry more than 2 people, so there’s no point suggesting an MX-5. In later years when he’s in a position to make do with 2 seats, or have a 2nd car, then he can try MX-5 ownership.
Get one of these:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
One of these will be sensible on insurance & you'll have owned an Alfa, they're also a decent steer.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
One of these will be sensible on insurance & you'll have owned an Alfa, they're also a decent steer.
Lee540 said:
Any big Mercedes.. you'll be suprised I bet on insurance. Stuff that isn't on the radar of youth.. I had a C280 Sport with the factory AMG kit when I was 18, peanuts to insure.. most of my mates wanted to buy a Saxo VTS
I had a 1994 C280 Sport back in 2000 - probably the most disappointing car I ever had. Edited by Lee540 on Thursday 26th July 16:42
Just buy something else OP!
Billy.RS said:
As a MK1 MX5 owner (although selling soon) I find it hard to find a proper 'enthusiasts' car for young drivers that could replace it. I'm currently daily driving an old Volvo whilst the MX5 is off the road to be sold, and have found it hard to find something that I could call a 'replacement'.
Just to throw a few things out there, ideas I've had are MK2 Golf, E36 Coupe, EK/EG Civics. Or if you fancy something a little newer, maybe an R53 Mini (if insurance allows)
Things like Clio 182s, MK6 FSTs etc are great track cars, but personally not what I'd call an enthusiast car. Feel free to disagree
And I shall Just to throw a few things out there, ideas I've had are MK2 Golf, E36 Coupe, EK/EG Civics. Or if you fancy something a little newer, maybe an R53 Mini (if insurance allows)
Things like Clio 182s, MK6 FSTs etc are great track cars, but personally not what I'd call an enthusiast car. Feel free to disagree
lolHow are you defining "enthusiasts' car"?
For me, it's anything that has clearly been designed with 'driving fun' at the top of the list of requirements. The 182 (172, 16v, Wiliams...) all seem to have driving pleasure as an important element, so if you haven't driven one and experienced it, you need to!
RSTurboPaul said:
Billy.RS said:
Things like Clio 182s, MK6 FSTs etc are great track cars, but personally not what I'd call an enthusiast car. Feel free to disagree
And I shall lolHow are you defining "enthusiasts' car"?
For me, it's anything that has clearly been designed with 'driving fun' at the top of the list of requirements. The 182 (172, 16v, Wiliams...) all seem to have driving pleasure as an important element, so if you haven't driven one and experienced it, you need to!
i'd advise a young driver to experience many different aspects of enthusiastic motoring, and not try to find the 'perfect' car too early. So, cars that have one fantastic, defining characteristic but major flaws elsewhere are fine to get experience and enjoy different things. V8s, V6s, convertible, great handling, mid-engined, great sound, supple suspension, sports suspension and more.
i suggest MX5, Clio, old Jag, MR2, CTR, 2CV, Beetle, Alfasud (any left?)
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