Reasonably quick car with cheap insurance?

[HPeart7]

Hi I’m 20 years old and insurance companies are giving it to me sideways on anything that’s over 200bhp and I don’t expect that to change much for a few years... so I’m looking for something that’s cheap on insurance but still has that quick, fun feel when you drive it. I have a budget of around 15k any recommendations would be spot on.

I was looking at Fiesta ST’s but the interior is just horrific and has never been there strong point.

[Strong Horse]

15K is good money but I would not even spend half that on a car but thats just my preference.

Any of the regular hatchbacks such as a Golf or Focus with the higher engine output will be plenty quick while being cheap to insure. You could probably buy a Golf 1.4 TSI or Focus 1.5 Ecoboost for your money and if you get the higher output those cars are really quite pokey.

I know there will be people here with many more horses than I am used to rolling their eyes at my description of a regular Focus being quick but speed is all reletative.

[robemcdonald]

Don’t wait. You could be married with kids in five years.
Look at something like an Elise or VX220. You might even get it one a classic policy (maybe you have to be 21?)
Neither will cost too much to run and you won’t lose any money either with a bit of luck.

[Strong Horse]

I would look at something like this Focus 1.6 ecoboost.

Its got almost 180 ponies and does 60mph in under 8 seconds.

You will also have money left over and good change from 15k

Its not an ST so insurance should be reasonable.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

[Montybaber]

Abarth 595? fun and feel quite rapid and I seem to remember they were cheap to insure

[Strong Horse]

But dont worry about running an old beater. Its almost a right of passage and you can join with stories of how crap your first car was. I remember my first car breaking down and whilst I was sitting under a tree waiting for Mr Green flag to rescue me a cyclist crashed into my car breaking his shoulder bone.

After 24 insurance plumets assuming you have some no claims bonus behind you. Save your money until then is my suggestion.

[Hatethisbit]

5 years is still a hell of a long time to wait if you're in the mood for something though. What about something like a 1.4 TSI golf mentioned earlier then getting it mapped?

[Strong Horse]

Hatethisbit said:

5 years is still a hell of a long time to wait if you're in the mood for something though. What about something like a 1.4 TSI golf mentioned earlier then getting it mapped?

Nice to see someone agrees with me. I had a quick rummage on Google and the Focus ecoboost 1.6/1.5 and Golf TSI 1.4 can be chipped for around 220HP which is more than enough.

To put that into perspective the MKV Golf GTI only makes 197HP. The original BMW M3 had about the same.

[Strong Horse]

petrolhead4 said:

OP isn't going to be remapping if he can't even get insurance on standard 200HP cars. It sounds like a non-option?

Its up to the driver if they did chose to inform the insurance company. I have never modified a car but many people who do simple stuff like this wont declare it.

But in all honesty any hatch back car with 140+ HP will be sufficiently quick when you bury your foot in the accelerator for daily excitement.

My Romanian friend had his BMW 320D coupe with 150HP up to 140 MPH on the autobahn. I'm sure a bigger engine would have gone faster but its more than enough for daily driving.

Unfortunately he was arrested by the police for buying diesel from a lorry driver. His car is underpowered in many peoples eyes but he certainly never felt the car needed more power.

Later the turbo exploded and there was a fat repair bill.

[anonymous-user]

My 20yr is nephew is driving my old celica TSport (190bhp). He has 1 yrs no claims and is paying around £800 year I think.

About £2k will get you a decent one (dont ask what he paid me...).

It's reasonably quick, the interior is nothing to write home about, but mine all worked with 155k miles.

Relatively easy to work on yourself, I'm no home mechanic but did brake discs, idle control, O2 sensor myself.

Run for a year or so, then upgrade when insurance is more reasonable.

[robemcdonald]

petrolhead4 said:

robemcdonald said:

Don’t wait. You could be married with kids in five years.
Look at something like an Elise or VX220. You might even get it one a classic policy (maybe you have to be 21?)
Neither will cost too much to run and you won’t lose any money either with a bit of luck.

What millennial is going to be married with kids at 25. Being mid 20s, I know 0 people who are married with kids. Most of us in that demographic can't even afford a deposit on a mortgage, let alone raise a child.

So no twenty year olds are married or have children? The statistics would seem to disagree with your anecdotal evidence.
The point I was making was the OP is unlikely to be in this position again. No commitments and a lot of disposable income. He should go for it. Buy something decent not a chipped up shopping trolley.

[Michaelbailey]

My Insurance on my Audi S4 B5 is £675 and ive just turned 22. Has 265hp stock and im modifying up to 450-500hp. Have a look at ones already modified as modifying mine is costing in the region of 10k. I think I know one for sale actually that has 500hp and he wants something like 6/7k for it.

Cheap quick cars to insure i found are audi tt 225 bam. I had a VW Corrado VR6 2.9 when I was 19 which cost me 1300 to insure. 800 the following year. I wouldn't spend 15k and that's me who was in exactly the same scenario at exactly the same time (I was looking at an audi rs4 B7). I went for a cheaper car (S4) with the possibility of improving. Means financing wasn't necessary up to my eyeballs. Try a few sites and try directline as they have always been cheapest for me. Steer clear of beemers (v expensive to insure) and try think slightly outside the box. typical quick cars like fiesta st's and civic type r's etc. will cost more in insurance in my experience.

[Michaelbailey]

petrolhead4 said:

What millennial is going to be married with kids at 25. Being mid 20s, I know 0 people who are married with kids. Most of us in that demographic can't even afford a deposit on a mortgage, let alone raise a child.

Im 22 with a house and currently buying it a new kitchen. I know 3 guys my age and one 23 who are married and one of them has 2 kids!

[Integroo]

petrolhead4 said:

What millennial is going to be married with kids at 25. Being mid 20s, I know 0 people who are married with kids. Most of us in that demographic can't even afford a deposit on a mortgage, let alone raise a child.

Five of the 19 first year trainees at my work are getting married this week. Quite a few of my mid twenties friends are getting married (though equally a lot are not).

[Michaelbailey]

Michaelbailey said:

My Insurance on my Audi S4 B5 is £675 and ive just turned 22. Has 265hp stock and im modifying up to 450-500hp. Have a look at ones already modified as modifying mine is costing in the region of 10k. I think I know one for sale actually that has 500hp and he wants something like 6/7k for it.

Cheap quick cars to insure i found are audi tt 225 bam. I had a VW Corrado VR6 2.9 when I was 19 which cost me 1300 to insure. 800 the following year. I wouldn't spend 15k and that's me who was in exactly the same scenario at exactly the same time (I was looking at an audi rs4 B7). I went for a cheaper car (S4) with the possibility of improving. Means financing wasn't necessary up to my eyeballs. Try a few sites and try directline as they have always been cheapest for me. Steer clear of beemers (v expensive to insure) and try think slightly outside the box. typical quick cars like fiesta st's and civic type r's etc. will cost more in insurance in my experience.

Also to further my point check saloon insurance prices and avant insurance prices. I found avants are HUGELY cheaper. An RS6 C5 (don't buy one) in saloon form was 3k and avant was 1.5k

[Gio G]

OP - define cheap please? £1,000 a year - £300 a year???

G

[Monkeylegend]

Michaelbailey said:

My Insurance on my Audi S4 B5 is £675 and ive just turned 22. Has 265hp stock and im modifying up to 450-500hp. Have a look at ones already modified as modifying mine is costing in the region of 10k. I think I know one for sale actually that has 500hp and he wants something like 6/7k for it.

Is that insurance for the unmodified Audi

How much difference to the premium do the mods make at 500bhp, out of interest?

[Michaelbailey]

Monkeylegend said:

Is that insurance for the unmodified Audi

How much difference to the premium do the mods make at 500bhp, out of interest?

goes up to about £800 with sky insurance. Mods don't really make a difference with sky insurance ive found but if I stuck with direct line it would triple

[Monkeylegend]

Michaelbailey said:

Monkeylegend said:

Is that insurance for the unmodified Audi

How much difference to the premium do the mods make at 500bhp, out of interest?

goes up to about £800 with sky insurance. Mods don't really make a difference with sky insurance ive found but if I stuck with direct line it would triple

That's very good for 22 years old and 500 bhp.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say go for an Alfa Giulietta in either Veloce/Sportiva/QV trim will be fine & you won't have to spend mad money either which means you have more to spend on the next car.

Veloce

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

Sportiva

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

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

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

QV Line