Which car should I buy for my first ?

[Deloa1]

I'm 17 from the UK and looking for a first car. Something tuneable please.

[Lazydriver23]

Any specific needs, seats, petrol or diesel,etc.. As above need to check insurance as I know I paid a fortune for my first car at 17 not too long ago. Also, what sort of budget do you have?

[Deloa1]

Lazydriver23 said:

Any specific needs, seats, petrol or diesel,etc.. As above need to check insurance as I know I paid a fortune for my first car at 17 not too long ago. Also, what sort of budget do you have?

I wouldn't pay more than 4k for initial price, preferably petrol, 2litre or less , i don't mind anything else.

[Lukas239]

Good luck getting insured on anything modified/tuned at 17. Obviously you were going to declare the mods...

[Deloa1]

Bump Bump

[mikey P 500]

All about what you can get insurance on, need to run some quotes and go from there. Sometimes a family car can insure for less than the typical small hatch as less young drivers buy them. A friend for example paid less to. Insure a 1.6 406 at 17 than a 1.1 106. So pick something a bit left field of the normal corsa, fiesta, polo.

[lornemalvo]

There is a car that's absolutely perfect for you, I bought my wife one recently and I'm stunned how good it is. Don't get fixated on performance and 0 to 60 times, they're pretty meaningless in the real world. You need something that's fun to drive yet cheap to run, until you can build up some no claims bonus for a few years. Your perfect car ? A Skoda Citigo ( I imagine the equivalent VW Up and the Seat Mii are just as good.) They are brilliant fun, drive like a go kart, have a good ride, and have amazing space inside. They have a 1 litre 3 cylinder engine that's full of character and they are quick enough. I can't imagine any car being cheaper to insure and in your price bracket, probably £30 to tax.. They are small but not tinny, really well made and they are safe. Take it from someone who's owned over 60 cars over the years, of all types, you will not do better than a Citigo.

[Sporky]

My mum had a Citigo - it was ace.

[ZX10R NIN]

Insurabce will be your biggest obstacle but I have found the the Alfa Mito comes back with decent numbers insurance wise, they come in 95/105/120/140/155 BHP form although I doubt you get a sensible quote on anything past the 105 spec.

Veloce 95

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

105

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

120

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

140

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

155

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

Clio TCE Dynamique 100

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

Mazda2 Sport

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

Check the registratios to see how much they'll cost to insure then make a decision.

[s3 akr]

Fiat 500 TwinAir - been looking at these for my daughter as her 1st car when she hits 17 next year. Should be able to buy a decent one and insure it within budget.

[nav2014]

MkI Escort, no tax or mot and you can tune it with a hammer.

[lornemalvo]

nav2014 said:

MkI Escort, no tax or mot and you can tune it with a hammer.

For £4000? really?

[valiant]

Something small and chuckable. Aygo , Citigo, Fiat 500 etc.

You learn so much more by trying to squeeze every bhp out of a low powered small car that weighs fk all than you would jumping straight into a higher powered, heavier car.

Forget tuning, the insurance will take most of your budget.

[nav2014]

lornemalvo said:

For £4000? really?

Ok I may have missed the budget part, but this is close enough and pre-tuned: https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1161877

There's a driveable one at £4k if you fancy driving it back from Portugal... Good learning curve, take a hammer for repairs/ tuning.

[ZX10R NIN]

Not heard from the OP in a while, maybe he's still trying to pick himself up from the numbers that appeared on his screen when entered the reg of a warm hatch.

[TREMAiNE]

Deloa1 said:

2litre or less

not going to happen.

+1 for a CitiGo/UP!/Mii
Cheap insurance, decent amount of kit, great ride, fun to drive, cheap to run.