Need big car advice

[Kollli]

Hi guys I'm just looking for a little advice on car buying. I turn 17 soon and plan on (hopefully) passing my test by February. I want to start looking now as I really want to get the best car I can afford. My budget is about 3.5k for the car + insurance for a year, so I realise I can probably get myself a half decent little hatch back. But... I really would like a bigger car, like an estate car or something, mainly because it would need to carry my kayak and bike among other camping things. My first idea was something like a pre 2000 Subaru Impreza wagon because I just think they're just cool and more or less in my price range. The only thing about this would be the car is probably going to need fixing from time to time with its age but I really don't mind as I'd love to have a car to tinker with, and old cars are generally easier to work on. My job will pay for parts and I don't really mind as I plan on making it a hobby anyway. I'm in north wales too if that makes a difference with insurance?
So basically, is getting a bigger car even a viable option for a first time driver? If so, what are some decent options? I've got an open mind

[gman88667733]

You'll find that at 17, insurance on any Subaru will be crippling... Check insurance quotes before committing!

[sparks_190e]

Insurance as mentioned will be your biggest hurdle. MPG and running costs don't really matter too much if you prefer a bigger car and know going in it'll cost more to run. An old estste Merc on classic insurance might be a good shout....

[Bumblebee7]

sparks_190e said:

Insurance as mentioned will be your biggest hurdle. MPG and running costs don't really matter too much if you prefer a bigger car and know going in it'll cost more to run. An old estste Merc on classic insurance might be a good shout....

You might struggle with a classic policy at that age. I just got classic cover on my MX5 and that was a battle due to my age (I'm 28) despite owning two other cars and a motorbike. Apparently most underwriters would prefer if you waited until after you're 30 before getting a classic

I would try and run some pretend insurance policies on a fake name, using the same road but different door number to where you currently live. Enter your details as if they're a year in advance (so just passed test etc.) Living in Wales should help massively with insurance, I paid only £480 as a 19yo for my insurance as I was living in Cornwall at the time.

Once you have a benchmark for your first year insurance you can work backwards and figure out what you have left to run the car and maintenance. Given your other hobbies I would aim for something reliable and ideally not common for someone of your age (the more common the car, the more crash stats insurers have and often the more insurance costs). I'd look at something like a Skoda Octavia, Mondeo, Mazda 6, Honda Accord, Toyota Avensis etc. I think in general Subaru will be more to insure but definitely worth running some dummy quotes. Very useful to add your parents as named drivers and play around with things like where it's stored overnight, your mileage etc.

[RazerSauber]

Something like a Mondeo estate might fit the bill? They offer a 1.8 variant which was cheap to insure for me. A Mk5 Astra Estate might fit the bill too? Alternatively, if you're not interested in carting other people around and it's mostly for you, try getting insurance quotes on something like the 1.3 diesel Astra Van? No idea what insurance on that will be like but it's worth a shot.

[nobrakes]

Mondeo. Buy on condition.

Don’t worry about mileage, bells and whistles, or even which model (as long as it’s insurable).

A boggo spec will be cheaper to buy and insure, and maintain, and your canoe won’t know the difference or care.

[Jamescrs]

I'd look at the common cars like Mondeo, Insignia, Octavia etc. All should be cheap to buy and repair as and when things go wrong, plentiful supply as well

[Flumpo]

Not cool, but rover 75 estate or an x type estate?

[Roboticarm]

North Wales (outside of certain areas like Wrexham) will work on your favour in terms of insurance, or atleast it would have back when I worked in insurance.
I remember this specifically as a mate from uni was paying a fortune for his car insured in Leeds, I told him (I know, I know it's technically not in the spirit of the policy but the did go home all hols and most weekends) to try his parents address in North Wales (mold) the insurance came down by over a grand

Don't always assume insurance group is the main issue either, try a few different types of car are different values. For example under a grand used to be a red flag, car worth £1500 often cheaper.

Again my knowledge is a few years old from selling insurance part time whilst at uni but the general principles rarely change