Unusual first cars

[anonymous-user]

I'll soon be helping my son (17yo) to buy his first car. I'm thinking of spending £2k as it should get something the right side of shed territory. Looking at insurance, a 1.3 Suzuki Swift is £1300 to insure and to my surprise, a 1.6 petrol Ford Focus is only £1100 and there are loads more to choose from. This got me thinking, are there are other choices for a first car beyond the obvious Fiestas, Corsas etc?

[thel33ter]

I went out looking to spend around 1.5-2k on my first car. Ended up with a £690 focus estate with 69k on the clock. It was a good deal, but also left me with £1000 to replace the cambelt, tyres, and a few small bits that needed doing, jobs which would probably still have been required having spent more initially. Definitely worth looking for mid sized older hatches, typically cheaper to insure than the smaller options.

Nissan note/Almera/primeras are dull, but reliable and extremely cheap to insure.

[nav2014]

Smart crossblade or roadster?

[kuro]

nav2014 said:

Smart crossblade or roadster?

One crossblade for sale in the UK.

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

[anonymous-user]

I suspect bigger is better as he’ll want something he can fit 3 or 4 mates in. He seems interested by the prospect of a Focus.

[anonymous-user]

thel33ter said:

Nissan note/Almera/primeras are dull, but reliable and extremely cheap to insure.

Mmmmm the Almera looks like a good prospect. Especially in low mileage, Nanny spec.

[SWoll]

A nanny spec Nissan Almera. Your lad is going to love you.

[anonymous-user]

SWoll said:

A nanny spec Nissan Almera. Your lad is going to love you.

Indeed. Showed my wife and she said “No. I wouldn’t drive that and neither will he!” Shame as there seem to be some bargains to be had.

[Jag_NE]

Most young lads wont give a monkeys about reliability, old nissans wont appeal and I can see how a Focus would. Very decent for a first car.

You are right about insurance costs not directly correlating with size etc. I got an old Audi 80 as my first car, the insurance wasn't any worse than some much smaller cars. Probably related to its sloth like potential for progress.

[ZX10R NIN]

My nephew passed a month ago & I got him a 2008 1.6 147 Collezione 80k £1649.00 to buy £1349.00 to insure he loves it especially the interior.

[joropug]

There were some weird cars insurers seemed to forget about when I was 17 ish.

After trying everything on the insurer sites I was convinced I wanted a:
-2 seater
-1.6
-4wd
-Off road
-Convertible



A Suzuki x90...

https://bestcarmag.com/gallery/suzuki-x90/page/1


Was a similar story when I bought my Honda Accord Type R - it was £1700 to insure at 19 with 2 years NCD. A Civic Type R was untouchable insurance wise until I was 21.

[fattiereturns]

The little Ibiza's are quite smart and bargain insurance

[RazerSauber]

My other half found that Mk3 Petrol Mondeo's were oddly cheap to insure as a first car, 1.8's and 2.0's. I bought one as a temporary car and was loads cheaper than my Range Rover at the time, despite having no available NCD to use on it vs 7 years!

worth a look on price comparison sites while you're browsing.

[designforlife]

Toyota bB if you can get him insured on one. £2k should buy a tidy one privately.

1.5 auto, toyota Yaris mechanicals/chassis/suspension, so parts are easy enough to get. Timing chain driven and generally very reliable.

There is also a 1.3, but they are on the slow side of slow.

[anonymous-user]

ZX10R NIN said:

My nephew passed a month ago & I got him a 2008 1.6 147 Collezione 80k £1649.00 to buy £1349.00 to insure he loves it especially the interior.

This is a very good call, will take a look at these as well. He might prefer the practicality of the Focus but the Alfa looks nicer.