Help solve my car buying dilemma - Page 1 - Car Buying

pistonhead345

Original Poster

88 posts

78 months

[report]

[news]

Sunday 5th April 2020

Hi I’ve been looking for a car for about 3-4 months now and I’ve just been going round in circles picking something then changing my mind the next day and still haven’t stuck to anything

Requirements
-Budget £5k/6k
-Had to be petrol due to emissions
-Hatchback/Small Coupe
-Around 150hp at least
-Has to be reliable without any common engine or gearbox issues
-Cheap to insure as I’m only 20

I found a few cars and I’ll explain briefly the problems I found with them

BMW 118i/120i - Very common chain issues that makes it impossible to drive without worrying about it

Seat Boca - A lot of forums seem to be saying avoid even when I posted it on here, there’s a high change of having to pay for an engine replacement

Alfa Giulietta - Fits most of the categories but I’m just not fond of the styling of the car

Golf GTI/ Mazda 3 MPS/ Audi S3 - Cars like these I have no chance of getting insurance for less than 4-5k unfortunately

If anyone can help would be much appreciated sorry for the essay

Nickp82

3,943 posts

122 months

[report]

[news]

Sunday 5th April 2020

Couple of suggestions, no idea about insurance cost;

Seat Leon 1.4 TSi FR (125bhp but it’s a good engine that feels swift)

Mazda 3 2.0 Sport

Civic Type-R (probably too high on insurance but worth a try)

ZX10R NIN

30,521 posts

154 months

[report]

[news]

Sunday 5th April 2020

pistonhead345

Original Poster

88 posts

78 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 6th April 2020

Nickp82 said:

Couple of suggestions, no idea about insurance cost;

Seat Leon 1.4 TSi FR (125bhp but it’s a good engine that feels swift)

Mazda 3 2.0 Sport

Civic Type-R (probably too high on insurance but worth a try)

Leon looks a little out of my price range for a decent mileage one

I like the Mazda 3 but I’d rather wait till I can afford to insure an mps

Yeah civic is way to high for insurance
Thanks for your help

pistonhead345

Original Poster

88 posts

78 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 6th April 2020

ZX10R NIN said:

Cheers mate appreciate the help on every topic I post

The DS4 and the Volvo still come in quite high for insurance but the Sri Astra looks decent

pistonhead345

Original Poster

88 posts

78 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 6th April 2020

Bowlers said:

Abarth 500
Mito Cloverleaf/Quadrifoglio Verde
Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart
Suzuki Swift Sport (ZC32S)
Renault Twingo 133

Don’t really like the look of any of those cars tbh thanks though

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

219 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 6th April 2020

pistonhead345 said:

Hi I’ve been looking for a car for about 3-4 months now and I’ve just been going round in circles picking something then changing my mind the next day and still haven’t stuck to anything

Requirements
-Budget £5k/6k
-Had to be petrol due to emissions
-Hatchback/Small Coupe
-Around 150hp at least
-Has to be reliable without any common engine or gearbox issues
-Cheap to insure as I’m only 20

I found a few cars and I’ll explain briefly the problems I found with them

BMW 118i/120i - Very common chain issues that makes it impossible to drive without worrying about it

Seat Boca - A lot of forums seem to be saying avoid even when I posted it on here, there’s a high change of having to pay for an engine replacement

Alfa Giulietta - Fits most of the categories but I’m just not fond of the styling of the car

Golf GTI/ Mazda 3 MPS/ Audi S3 - Cars like these I have no chance of getting insurance for less than 4-5k unfortunately

If anyone can help would be much appreciated sorry for the essay

20 year old, no need for practicality and £6k burning a hole in your pocket. There must be a 100 great cars you could pick. Just avoid the dullness that most others choose.

Maybe consider classic or more niche vehicle.

pistonhead345

Original Poster

88 posts

78 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 6th April 2020

300bhp/ton said:

20 year old, no need for practicality and £6k burning a hole in your pocket. There must be a 100 great cars you could pick. Just avoid the dullness that most others choose.

Maybe consider classic or more niche vehicle.

Just don’t wanna buy something that after a few months could cost me thousands and my insurance is currently £1700 on an old Toyota so my options are really limited

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

219 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 6th April 2020

pistonhead345 said:

Just don’t wanna buy something that after a few months could cost me thousands and my insurance is currently £1700 on an old Toyota so my options are really limited

It might be different today, but I've found over the years that niche and classic cars have often been very cheap to insure compared to normal hatchbacks. But I haven't been your age for quite a while and it has been a few years since I checked prices for anyone else.

To put it in perspective. When I was your age, I had mates driving Vauxhall Nova's (some with 2.0 litre conversions), Escort XR3i's or RS Turbo's, Sierra 2.0 or 2.9 V6 4x4 ones. All were the "in" cars back then.

I had a 3.5 litre Triumph TR7 V8 and a 5.3 litre V12 Jaguar XJ-S. I could insure both of them fully comp for cheaper than any of my mates paid for insurance on 1 vehicle. Some where still 3rd part fire & theft too.

So I'd say it is well worth having a look about. You might need to contact a few specialist insurers, not just the comparison sites though.

Kit cars have also often enjoyed cheap insurance.

To give an example of 20 year old pricing. I know my mates used to pay £1200-1800 for insurance for the above cars. My TR7 V8 cost me at the same time £350 fully comp, all mods declared.

Sadly the world has changed a bit and many of the great classic bargains are now pricey and £6k doesn't get much in the kit car market either. This is compounded by the fact that interesting rwd cars vanished from many car makers lines up, as did anything sporty or coupe/roadster like, for a number of years. Which means cars of a certain age, just don't offer the same options as the choice I probably had when I was your age.

But, even for the sake of elimination. It might be worth getting some prices on some different vehicles. As for costs, well a £6k hatch will bleed money in deprecation. Whereas some classics of a certain age/type may hold their money well come resale time.

Z3
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-BMW-Z3-2-8-2dr/274...

XK8
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

944
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Boxster
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 6th April 16:09

pistonhead345

Original Poster

88 posts

78 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 6th April 2020

300bhp/ton said:

It might be different today, but I've found over the years that niche and classic cars have often been very cheap to insure compared to normal hatchbacks. But I haven't been your age for quite a while and it has been a few years since I checked prices for anyone else.

To put it in perspective. When I was your age, I had mates driving Vauxhall Nova's (some with 2.0 litre conversions), Escort XR3i's or RS Turbo's, Sierra 2.0 or 2.9 V6 4x4 ones. All were the "in" cars back then.

I had a 3.5 litre Triumph TR7 V8 and a 5.3 litre V12 Jaguar XJ-S. I could insure both of them fully comp for cheaper than any of my mates paid for insurance on 1 vehicle. Some where still 3rd part fire & theft too.

So I'd say it is well worth having a look about. You might need to contact a few specialist insurers, not just the comparison sites though.

Kit cars have also often enjoyed cheap insurance.

To give an example of 20 year old pricing. I know my mates used to pay £1200-1800 for insurance for the above cars. My TR7 V8 cost me at the same time £350 fully comp, all mods declared.

Sadly the world has changed a bit and many of the great classic bargains are now pricey and £6k doesn't get much in the kit car market either. This is compounded by the fact that interesting rwd cars vanished from many car makers lines up, as did anything sporty or coupe/roadster like, for a number of years. Which means cars of a certain age, just don't offer the same options as the choice I probably had when I was your age.

But, even for the sake of illumination. It might be worth getting some prices on some different vehicles. As for costs, well a £6k hatch will bleed money in deprecation. Whereas some classics of a certain age/type may hold their money well come resale time.

Z3
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-BMW-Z3-2-8-2dr/274...

XK8
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

944
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Boxster
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

thanks ill have a look into these types of cars to see if theres anything i like

MorganP104

2,605 posts

159 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 6th April 2020

Has no-one mentioned the Fiesta ST?

No? How about a Fiesta ST? laugh