First Car Choices
Discussion
I am only 15 and wont be driving for at least 18 months but my mother has promised me a car next summer all I have to do is insure it when needed. And with this being the best news EVER i started hunting immediatly:
Im thinking either:
a 1.4 Fiat Grande Punto
or
a 1.2 Corsa
what do u think? other suggestions will be helpful but the car must be under 1.6 litres and preferably have a wee bit of sporting credentials
Im thinking either:
a 1.4 Fiat Grande Punto
or
a 1.2 Corsa
what do u think? other suggestions will be helpful but the car must be under 1.6 litres and preferably have a wee bit of sporting credentials

Well standord stuff really. Corsa's, Clio's, Fiesta's etc etc
Im just about to turn 17 myself, just bought a 1.2 Corsa. Not what i was after at all when i first started looking but you have to put up with it, your not going to get anything too flash as a first car sadly
But just keep your eyes open for a nice cheep car to come up for sale. Got lots of time so just keep browsing until you find something good!
Im just about to turn 17 myself, just bought a 1.2 Corsa. Not what i was after at all when i first started looking but you have to put up with it, your not going to get anything too flash as a first car sadly
But just keep your eyes open for a nice cheep car to come up for sale. Got lots of time so just keep browsing until you find something good!I would go for a fiat seicento sporting had one as my second car (first was a 1.1 5 door punto my dad got me for free every pannel had a bash in it and died on me after 4months then moved on to fiat seicento sporting) these weigh the same as a fag packet and go really well for a 1.1 cheap to insure and great on fuel and kept me grining every time i drove it. i would say it is like a new age mini all the fun and Reliability worth a look at.
Mark_Karting said:
SMKurt said:
your not going to get anything too flash as a first car sadly
I know I checked the insurance for a Clio 182 and a Corsa VXR. They are both well into 5 figures for a 17 year old in their first year I'm 17, got a 1.2 clio. I look after it, treat it nicely, and am learning a lot about driving and the car.
Get a small, cheap car and treat it well, my car gets a good clean inside and out every week!
SMKurt said:
Well standord stuff really. Corsa's, Clio's, Fiesta's etc etc
Im just about to turn 17 myself, just bought a 1.2 Corsa. Not what i was after at all when i first started looking but you have to put up with it, your not going to get anything too flash as a first car sadly
But just keep your eyes open for a nice cheep car to come up for sale. Got lots of time so just keep browsing until you find something good!
My 18 year old mate had a 320i msport droptop so don't say you can't.Im just about to turn 17 myself, just bought a 1.2 Corsa. Not what i was after at all when i first started looking but you have to put up with it, your not going to get anything too flash as a first car sadly
But just keep your eyes open for a nice cheep car to come up for sale. Got lots of time so just keep browsing until you find something good!MICK E90 M3 said:
SMKurt said:
Well standord stuff really. Corsa's, Clio's, Fiesta's etc etc
Im just about to turn 17 myself, just bought a 1.2 Corsa. Not what i was after at all when i first started looking but you have to put up with it, your not going to get anything too flash as a first car sadly
But just keep your eyes open for a nice cheep car to come up for sale. Got lots of time so just keep browsing until you find something good!
My 18 year old mate had a 320i msport droptop so don't say you can't.Im just about to turn 17 myself, just bought a 1.2 Corsa. Not what i was after at all when i first started looking but you have to put up with it, your not going to get anything too flash as a first car sadly
But just keep your eyes open for a nice cheep car to come up for sale. Got lots of time so just keep browsing until you find something good!
1.9 TDI
Pays close to £4000 for the insurance. All paid for by his mum.
So yeah it is possible to have a nice car but your going to have to have a good bit of spair money.
scotty_d said:
I would go for a fiat seicento sporting had one as my second car (first was a 1.1 5 door punto my dad got me for free every pannel had a bash in it and died on me after 4months then moved on to fiat seicento sporting) these weigh the same as a fag packet and go really well for a 1.1 cheap to insure and great on fuel and kept me grining every time i drove it. i would say it is like a new age mini all the fun and Reliability worth a look at.
My mate had a sporting for a while and the insurance wasn't that cheap. Sure he said the insurance company said it was because it was a sporting. My first car was a corsa b, wasn't cheap to insure. Had to go through my parents quite a few years back before they started getting strict on named drivers. That was just over the £1000 mark. I think anything like a corsa or saxo is classed as a 'boy racer' car. Maybe an older VW Polo or Fiesta. I'm still carefull at what cars i look at now because of insurance. JJCW said:
Did you see TG last week? All about the Volvo!!! 
I thought Clarkson got it bang on with the Volvo!
When I got my first car (a Range Rover) it was absolutely ideal. Safe, cheap to buy and had loads of space. Plus, the fact it'll be slow and handle like a barge means you're less likely to stuff it through a hedge trying to show off to your mates.
If you're anything like me, as soon as you pass you'll want to go on roadtrips with all your mates. An old Volvo estate would be pretty much perfect. Chuck a load of people/bags in it and bugger off for a weekend. Can't do that with a supermini. Plus, the fact that it's not a Clio/Corsa/Saxo and is the size of a house makes it cool...
Exiting times, youre getting a car. But why get something like a 1.2 corsa? Doesnt that ruin the exitment? Enjoyable cars can be found for half the price of a mundane 3k 1.2 sxi or similar. There are so many cars that could be affordable and more exiting and quicker. A Peugeot 306 dturbo or maybe something even more difrent like a pre-gm saab 900 (belive it or not insurance isnt bad on either for a young driver). Get something older? I'm 19 and drive a volvo 240glt, love the 240 shape. No reason you couldnt get a merc 190e or an old audi 80.
If you want to keep the insurance price down then I would 2nd the Fiat Seicento Sporting. Like driving a go kart! Going to be cheap on fuel and a lot of fun to throw about. I had a na1.9 diesel Seat Ibiza on a N plate as my first car. I was on the insurance as a named driver with my share working out at nearly £1k. Struggled to get that below 32mpg however hard I drove it, averaged low 40's, and would get up to 100mph without much trouble. Got a bit more grunt than the Fiat, but reckon the Fiat handles better.
My suggestion would be get something that is a laugh to drive, ie the fiat. And keep the insurance down. Aim to get something you really want at 19/20 when you will hopefully have a couple of years no claims. Otherwise you are going to be throwing loads away on insurance. £4k on insurance, you could have bought a 3.2 Alfa GT with that money by the time you are 20. I think Jon944S2 is the exception and puts us all to shame 

Edited by Jack Butcher on Wednesday 8th July 09:00
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