Young Driver Looking For First car
Discussion
Congrats on passing your test. Nothing wrong with being a car nut and wanting something decent.
However, I’m sure I won’t be the only one to steer you away from a 400pm lease deal at 17 when you’re already trying to save up.
There’s another similar thread about fun cars for 5k which you should read. If I were you I’d be buying a used warm hatch like the swift sport. Plenty of poke for a first car and if you have been doing track stuff (karts presumably?) then you’ll really appreciate its light weight, sharp handling and rev hungry motor.
However, I’m sure I won’t be the only one to steer you away from a 400pm lease deal at 17 when you’re already trying to save up.
There’s another similar thread about fun cars for 5k which you should read. If I were you I’d be buying a used warm hatch like the swift sport. Plenty of poke for a first car and if you have been doing track stuff (karts presumably?) then you’ll really appreciate its light weight, sharp handling and rev hungry motor.
ChrisH72 said:
Congrats on passing your test. Nothing wrong with being a car nut and wanting something decent.
However, I’m sure I won’t be the only one to steer you away from a 400pm lease deal at 17 when you’re already trying to save up.
There’s another similar thread about fun cars for 5k which you should read. If I were you I’d be buying a used warm hatch like the swift sport. Plenty of poke for a first car and if you have been doing track stuff (karts presumably?) then you’ll really appreciate its light weight, sharp handling and rev hungry motor.
Indeed, £400pcm is £9,600 over two years excluding any deposit you would have to put in, that's with insurance, tax and servicing on top. Any car will give you freedom which is what you really want at your age. Get something reliable and fun, and fun doesn't have to be fast. My first car was a Fiat Panda, it was really slow and yet it remains my favourite car I've ever owned. I think the Swift Sport is a great suggestion. Could also look at MX5's if the insurance isn't prohibitive.However, I’m sure I won’t be the only one to steer you away from a 400pm lease deal at 17 when you’re already trying to save up.
There’s another similar thread about fun cars for 5k which you should read. If I were you I’d be buying a used warm hatch like the swift sport. Plenty of poke for a first car and if you have been doing track stuff (karts presumably?) then you’ll really appreciate its light weight, sharp handling and rev hungry motor.
Just to add, even after spending the £9,600 over 2 years you'll have nothing to show for it. Even a cheap car will retain some value over 2 years.
You'd be better off keeping some money aside to go out with mates and do fun stuff. The novelty of the new car will wear off very quickly and you'll still have to keep making payments.
You'd be better off keeping some money aside to go out with mates and do fun stuff. The novelty of the new car will wear off very quickly and you'll still have to keep making payments.
I understand concern on money however without trying to boast I've worked in central London in a investment company for over a year and haven't brought myself or really spent any of the money I've earned. The main reason 400£ was my soft limit is even with 400£ less a month I can still save enough for a deposit in the time frame I need. With regards to an MX-5 that was my first thought along with a GT86 however I really need 4 seats as I imagine a lot of my first years of driving will be carrying people around.
Thanks
Ethan
Thanks
Ethan
However good you think you are on a track, it won't prepare you for dealing with Mr/Mrs Miggins in Tesco's car park, and the random placement of bollards and other street furniture. You WILL hit stuff. Don't buy a nice car to start. Get something where you won't me madly frustrated driving at the speed limit, get black box insurance so you can get 1 year's NCB and be careful. Even changing the audio system will up your insurance to even more mad levels, so keep it stock.
gareth h said:
I’d check insurance first, my17 year old kids in low power hatchbacks were £1200/year, something quicker could easily be 3-4k
RandomEDP said:
without trying to boast I've worked in central London in a investment company for over a year and haven't brought myself
Thanks
Ethan
Thanks
Ethan
Have you tried getting quotes from any of the insurance comparison websites for a Fiesta ST or Mercedes A250 yet?? just for the crack i thought I'd see what a 17 year old who has just passed his test living in london working in the finance industry would have to pay for fully comprehensive cover with a £500 excess, on a £13k mercedes a250 bluetech.
Out of 120 companies on GoCompare NONE would provide a quote. Hence so many 17 year olds have Citreon C1s, Aygos , etc etc.
At 17/18 if you can master getting >90% of a 1.0 C1s potential its better than being precious an timid or worse over confident in something capable of far higher speeds.
aka_kerrly said:
Have you tried getting quotes from any of the insurance comparison websites for a Fiesta ST or Mercedes A250 yet?? just for the crack i thought I'd see what a 17 year old who has just passed his test living in london working in the finance industry would have to pay for fully comprehensive cover with a £500 excess, on a £13k mercedes a250 bluetech.
Out of 120 companies on GoCompare NONE would provide a quote. Hence so many 17 year olds have Citreon C1s, Aygos , etc etc.
At 17/18 if you can master getting >90% of a 1.0 C1s potential its better than being precious an timid or worse over confident in something capable of far higher speeds.
It sounds like you’ve already made your mind up but I wouldn’t lease. It will cost far more than buying a decent used car outright. If the aim is to save for a house deposit you will save significantly less by using a lease.
I also didn’t want a stereotypical young persons car so tried to find something a little different. I ended up with an Audi A2 which was insured for under £800 for my first year (and I still enjoy it 6 years later!). They’re quite old now though so I imagine you would want to go for something a bit newer.
I wouldn’t bother looking for anything with particularly exciting performance. You’d be paying far more for insurance and probably only get to benefit from the higher performance a handful of times (especially in London).
I also didn’t want a stereotypical young persons car so tried to find something a little different. I ended up with an Audi A2 which was insured for under £800 for my first year (and I still enjoy it 6 years later!). They’re quite old now though so I imagine you would want to go for something a bit newer.
I wouldn’t bother looking for anything with particularly exciting performance. You’d be paying far more for insurance and probably only get to benefit from the higher performance a handful of times (especially in London).
Edited by T-J-C on Thursday 13th August 18:07
I've just bought a Fiesta ST3 and it is a very exciting drive. I like it a lot. Certainly doesn't compare to my 1978 Vauxhall chevette 1.3 (in bright yellow) which I bought for 600 quid when I was 17!
I know we are all different, but I'm quite sure that if I'd had the ST back then I would most likely be dead.
I know we are all different, but I'm quite sure that if I'd had the ST back then I would most likely be dead.
Get a loan for 9k at around 3-4% apr, as you work in investments you'll get that this is the smart option:
Buy a 208 GTI for around 6K
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/201909302...
Your insurance will be around 2.6k leaving you £400 to service the car a year down the line & you also have an asset that's worth 3-4k at the end of two years.
Buy a 208 GTI for around 6K
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/201909302...
Your insurance will be around 2.6k leaving you £400 to service the car a year down the line & you also have an asset that's worth 3-4k at the end of two years.
GreatGranny said:
We've suggested not spunking £400 pcm on a 'hot hatch' at 17, you've ignored it.
Not sure what you wanted to hear? Oh look someone who works in the city at 17 and can afford £400 + insurance on a nice new lease car! Great!
Good luck
Sorry OP, caught me at a 'bloody time waster youngster who want everything now' moment.Not sure what you wanted to hear? Oh look someone who works in the city at 17 and can afford £400 + insurance on a nice new lease car! Great!
Good luck
Very unfair of me and I apologise.
However I still wouldn't recommend a £400 lease at 17.
Have you tried to get a quote? Not sure but you may need to be 18.
Also lot can change in 4 years. Your career may have taken off and you can afford a better car but you'll be tied into that lease until the end unless you want to pay early penalty charges.
Loan over 3 years, Swift Sport/MINI Cooper etc and just enjoy driving.
ZX10R NIN said:
Get a loan for 9k at around 3-4% apr, as you work in investments you'll get that this is the smart option:
Buy a 208 GTI for around 6K
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/201909302...
Your insurance will be around 2.6k leaving you £400 to service the car a year down the line & you also have an asset that's worth 3-4k at the end of two years.
Thanks this is really useful, I wouldn’t need to get a loan as I have enough saved up. I will take this into consideration thanks.Buy a 208 GTI for around 6K
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/201909302...
Your insurance will be around 2.6k leaving you £400 to service the car a year down the line & you also have an asset that's worth 3-4k at the end of two years.
My advice is always to get something used and not particularly quick as a first car. You'll make mistakes, it'll end up getting a few battle scars here and there and it's never a good idea jumping straight into a performance car with little to no driving experience on the public roads. I know it's sensible/boring to hear, but i think you'll thank yourself afterwards.
If you do really want to get something with a little bit of go, why not try a warm hatch? Swift Sport, Twingo 133, something like that. I personally think it's a good thing to slowly and progressively work your way up the power-ladder and you may be surprised how much fun you can have in those sorts of cars. They're also very good on track and cheap to buy and run.
If you do really want to get something with a little bit of go, why not try a warm hatch? Swift Sport, Twingo 133, something like that. I personally think it's a good thing to slowly and progressively work your way up the power-ladder and you may be surprised how much fun you can have in those sorts of cars. They're also very good on track and cheap to buy and run.
IamJacksContempt said:
Just to confirm if I have got this right, you live and work in central London?
Doesn’t that pretty much render the prospect of owning a hot hatch as pointless?
If I were you I’d instead get a basic city supermini/a class or whatever and get a motorbike for the fun stuff.
Sorry, should of made this more clear I work in central london but I live in the outskirts (Havering). A lot of my driving would be country lanes etc.Doesn’t that pretty much render the prospect of owning a hot hatch as pointless?
If I were you I’d instead get a basic city supermini/a class or whatever and get a motorbike for the fun stuff.
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