First car....for a 30 year old!

[graz638]

Hello,

I've recently passed my driving test at the age of 30, and I'm looking for any recommendations with regards to cars!

Insurance wise, I'm in a slightly different position compared to a 17/18 year old, in that it's quite a lot lower, even for something a bit quicker!

I've been looking at the new Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost, which look very nice, as well as some Mini's (Cooper/Cooper D/Cooper S), but then I'm also thinking realistically should I be going down the cheap/cheerful 'banger' route for 2 years and then look at getting something nicer?

I plan on doing quite a few miles (10k per year minimum), so I'd rather have something that is reliable/comfortable nonetheless!

Thanks in advance

Ben

[flibbage0]

If you are doing 10k miles a year I would look at getting something like a Ford Focus, a bit more refined than the fiesta and there are plenty to choose from

[Monkeylegend]

Budget?

[graz638]

Sorry should've included budget!

Ideally below £13k, but again if I go down the cheap/cheerful route, then I wouldn't use anywhere close to this amount!

[strath44]

I second the Ford Focus or similar medium sized route, just that bit more settled and comfortable.

You don't really have any benchmark for drive-ability or power so you are trailblazing your vehicular path at this stage to find out what you like!!

Also and this is very important don't go committing to 5 years finance on something at this stage as if you don't like it it will be quite some time before you can change without being totally upside down equity wise - depending slightly of the purchase route.

A 2 year lease deal would work quite well - not a fan myself but the seat Leons are popular on lease and you can get a good spec on a 2 year lease with 10k miles and minimal deposit for £150 - £250+ a month.

This is just picked at random its not the best (nor worst) deal just an example!

https://carleasespecialoffers.co.uk/car/product/85...

I think this would be a good route or even dropping to a 12 month deal to dip your toes in the water and find out what you are after from a car.

I would avoid the banger route unless you fancy doing some wrenching yourself, concentrate on driving for now!

[healey2]

graz638 said:

Sorry should've included budget!

Ideally below £13k, but again if I go down the cheap/cheerful route, then I wouldn't use anywhere close to this amount!

I'd do just that, get an old low miles Honda that's comfortable enough and rack up the miles and experience in that, also look at safety ncap ratings as being safe in a first car is important

[Bumblebee7]

I would go for a mid size hatchback, especially with the amount of miles you plan to do. Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Toyota Auris, VW Golf or similar. I recently drove a new Hyundai i30 and was very impressed, I'd happily have one over a golf. I would buy something around the £7-9k mark. It's within your budget, should be reliable in that bracket, not too new to still be very expensive not quite old enough to cause too much of a headache. I would buy instead of lease if it's your first car and your lack of experience may still result in the odd scratch although your age should mean maturity will be higher so I wouldn't stress too much about a banger for a first car. Good luck and report back with what you get.

[strath44]

Kia Ceed is a good one to look at as well.

Are you using cash or finance - if you don't mind me asking?

[graz638]

Thank you very much for the suggestions so far. Please keep them coming!

With regards to funding, I could do entirely cash, but I might consider splitting cash/finance and maybe look at a small low rate personal loan, as I think it's more cost effective than HP. I definitely want to avoid going down the PCP route, although leasing is something I hadn't even considered before.

[Feirny]

5/6 year old Volvo C30?

[jamei303]

I'd also suggest a Focus on a short lease. It's always been good driver's car and should be a useful benchmark against which to judge future cars you might be interested in.

You could buy a nearly new one but probably not much point because it would be the old model, nothing wrong with it, but I suspect a lease deal on a new one would make more financial sense than buying a 13K used one and selling it down the line.

[aka_kerrly]

graz638 said:

Hello,



Insurance wise...... it's quite a lot lower, even for something a bit quicker!

but then I'm also thinking realistically should I be going down the cheap/cheerful 'banger' route for 2 years and then look at getting something nicer?

I plan on doing quite a few miles (10k per year minimum), so I'd rather have something that is reliable/comfortable nonetheless!

Ben

Nothing at all wrong with any of your initial suggestions at the upper end of your budget, I'm a little bit more of fan of the Mini than the Fiesta . You may also want to consider the Alfa MITO 1.4T -deceptive fast an relatively cheap to insure.

Personally though I'd not spend your full budget on a first car & find a nice example of an early Mini Cooper like this for not even £3k for a 2007 on 49k then blast around in it without being too precious. After a year or 2 with that useful budget you could get something far more entertaining an you won't have lost a great amount on the Mini, there are some seriously high mileage nasty looking ones for £1500-2000!
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...




Hell you may even consider keeping the Mini as a daily an using your £10k + 2 years top ups to purchase something for the weekend like an Lotus Elise or something of that nature on a second limited mileage policy..........

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say Kia Cee'd in 4 Tech form, they're reliable with reasonable pace:

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

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

The one below still 4 years worth of warranty left:

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

They also come in the swifter GT Tech form which adds an extra 70bhp & a more purposeful look:

Pro Cee'd GT Tech

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

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

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

Cee'd GT

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

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

Or the Astra 200 in Elite/SRI trim which are great value & mean you get a good newish well spec'd car.

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

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

If you wanted to spend half of your original budget you can land a very nice Giulietta Veloce:

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

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

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

Or near the top end of your budget the Sportiva Nav:

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

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

1.6T Focus Titanium X 150/180

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

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

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

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

Peugeot 308 GT

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

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

[strath44]

+1 on not blowing your full available budget on the first car, the focus & alfa cheap routes above are both good and if you have a bump (which being male and a new driver is statistically high - apparently, we all know that's just a conspiracy) won't be quite so annoying on a £8k car!

[ilikejam]

I see ZX10R has suggested the Giulietta, which is what I was going to do. I might have suggested spending £7k-£8k on a Cloverleaf though - that would be a pretty cool first car!

[Cooper2]

graz638 said:

Hello,

I've recently passed my driving test at the age of 30, and I'm looking for any recommendations with regards to cars!

Insurance wise, I'm in a slightly different position compared to a 17/18 year old, in that it's quite a lot lower, even for something a bit quicker!

I've been looking at the new Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost, which look very nice, as well as some Mini's (Cooper/Cooper D/Cooper S), but then I'm also thinking realistically should I be going down the cheap/cheerful 'banger' route for 2 years and then look at getting something nicer?

I plan on doing quite a few miles (10k per year minimum), so I'd rather have something that is reliable/comfortable nonetheless!

Thanks in advance

Ben

I am over 30 and also recently passed my test. Insurance for me was over £1000 and with a black box. Hoping that the cost falls significantly once I reach my first year.

[ZX10R NIN]

ilikejam said:

I see ZX10R has suggested the Giulietta, which is what I was going to do. I might have suggested spending £7k-£8k on a Cloverleaf though - that would be a pretty cool first car!

I would have listed it but it's his first car so I thought the cooking version would be a good place to start insurance wise & in terms of go.

[ilikejam]

ZX10R NIN said:

ilikejam said:

I see ZX10R has suggested the Giulietta, which is what I was going to do. I might have suggested spending £7k-£8k on a Cloverleaf though - that would be a pretty cool first car!

I would have listed it but it's his first car so I thought the cooking version would be a good place to start insurance wise & in terms of go.

The 1.4 is a great engine. It's spritely enough really, and what it lacks in oomph compared to the 1.8 it makes up for in weight saving and the front end becomes a bit more chuckable.

[Some Guy]

Feirny said:

5/6 year old Volvo C30?

Or a newer V40. Get the 2.0 though if getting a diesel.

[CJ1]

Another vote for the Mini! I have a 2015 Cooper S, I absolutely love it. What’s the point in getting a boring car like a Focus.

The Cooper S has 200bhp yet will average 45mpg, good reliable engines. For your budget you could get a nice 2016 car, mine was £10500 with fairly high miles (70k).

This one is in near London, 18000 miles and new would’ve been close to £25000.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...