6k car for 18 year old
Author
Discussion

MR Kirbyz

Original Poster:

561 posts

176 months

Tuesday 1st February 2011
quotequote all
I am looking for a new car and have a budget of £6000
I am 18 so obviously insurance will be a factor,
I dont really like classic cars but would love a convertible, but not sure about the insurance side of this?
so what car should i get?

Also, sorry if this is in the wrong place it's my first post

Cemesis

771 posts

179 months

Tuesday 1st February 2011
quotequote all
Would you consider something like a MK4 Astra convertible? The 1.8 might not be too bad to insure.

You can get a BMW E46 convertible for that money now but with insurance and running costs you are probably better off with the Astra.


Haytch

183 posts

177 months

Tuesday 1st February 2011
quotequote all
Usual PH response but MX-5, I have a feeling you may need the rest for the insurance. I get quotes of around 4k for a 1.6 '5 and I'm 18.

Sf_Manta

2,269 posts

208 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
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Look into Pass Plus courses, and skid pan courses, should help reduce the insurance bill a bit.

As for cars, there's the odvious MX5, but could also consider a soft top Smart Car.

morrellski

117 posts

185 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
quotequote all
Get a little eurobox (106 that kind of thing) for 400quid and save the rest for a few years when you can afford to insure something interesting. I know its not the most exciting answer but anything that is insurable at 18 wont be that special so might as well save until you can insure something that is.

chrisispringles

893 posts

182 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
quotequote all
morrellski said:
Get a little eurobox (106 that kind of thing) for 400quid and save the rest for a few years when you can afford to insure something interesting. I know its not the most exciting answer but anything that is insurable at 18 wont be that special so might as well save until you can insure something that is.
This. You'll feel like a right wally if you spend all your money running something vaguely interesting now and can't afford something properly exciting in a few years time as a result.

Diabolik

1,222 posts

178 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
quotequote all
I'm 19 at the moment, my first car at 17 cost £2.8k and I still felt I had spent too much after I'd bought it. Yes it was a nice car, but not only did it cost me more, I am bored of it now and finding an 'upgrade' for the next car is much harder too. Start with a crappy car then the motoring world is your oyster.

Hence why I've 'downgraded' to a car worth £1.5k .

JonRB

78,314 posts

289 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
quotequote all
£6000???!!! Jesus Christ.. my first car was a banger on third party insurance.

You'll probably spend as much as that on insurance, so why not get something cheaper? You'll probably crash it within the first 6 months anyway.

Desk20

173 posts

252 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
quotequote all
Haytch said:
Usual PH response but MX-5, I have a feeling you may need the rest for the insurance. I get quotes of around 4k for a 1.6 '5 and I'm 18.
We have an MX-5 that my 18yo son can have, but can’t get the insurance for anything like that, I think the cheapest so far is around 8k. Where have you found it for 4K?
The cheapest quote for the most boring eurobox is 4K, so he expects to take that route eventually unless the MX-5 can be insured for less.


Mr Kitten

996 posts

244 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
quotequote all
Jeepers... bank £4k - spend a grand on insurance and the other grand on whatever you can insure and is vaguely interesting!

Either that or coke and hookers... etc.

theironduke

6,995 posts

205 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
quotequote all
As others have said i'd be spending 500 on a reliable nag with a tiny engine, keep your nose clean for a couple of years and build some NCB. It's worth saving and being patient, that way it is soooo satisfying when "proper" cars become realistic... smile

twazzock

1,930 posts

186 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
quotequote all
Desk20 said:
We have an MX-5 that my 18yo son can have, but can’t get the insurance for anything like that, I think the cheapest so far is around 8k. Where have you found it for 4K?
The cheapest quote for the most boring eurobox is 4K, so he expects to take that route eventually unless the MX-5 can be insured for less.
Try Admiral. I could get a £2k quote on a 1.6 MX-5 last year (probably gone up this year with same details) 18, licence held for a year, 0 NCB, parents as named drivers etc.

If I had £6k to blow I'd only want to spend about half of that tops, save the rest for when I don't have to spend £1500+ on insurance!

BoRED S2upid

20,767 posts

257 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
quotequote all
JonRB said:
£6000???!!! Jesus Christ.. my first car was a banger on third party insurance.

You'll probably spend as much as that on insurance, so why not get something cheaper? You'll probably crash it within the first 6 months anyway.
Im 32 and STILL haven't ever spent over £6000 on one car! the youth of today.

Haytch

183 posts

177 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
quotequote all
Desk20 said:
We have an MX-5 that my 18yo son can have, but can’t get the insurance for anything like that, I think the cheapest so far is around 8k. Where have you found it for 4K?
The cheapest quote for the most boring eurobox is 4K, so he expects to take that route eventually unless the MX-5 can be insured for less.
Endsleigh and Quinn are the cheapest I've seen. Also if you have 2 or 3 cars in your household put them all on a multicar policy with Admiral and see if that works out cheaper overall.

GreatGranny

9,519 posts

243 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
quotequote all
morrellski said:
Get a little eurobox (106 that kind of thing) for 400quid and save the rest for a few years when you can afford to insure something interesting. I know its not the most exciting answer but anything that is insurable at 18 wont be that special so might as well save until you can insure something that is.
Ok, lets just imagine for a minute that he wants to spend the whole £6k on the car.

Do you remember when you were 18? Would you buy a £400 car when you could have a £4k+ car?

OP - You may struggle getting insurance at a decent price for any convertible and I would rather have a coupe than an Astra soft top. they are pretty mingin'.

A few suggestions below

Panda 100 hp

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2426762.htm

Grande Punto

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2419408.htm

Ibiza Sport

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1918761.htm



PlainSpain

28 posts

176 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
quotequote all
You'd have to be pretty dim to spend £6k at 18 TBH. Sure, it's your money (presumably!) and you can do what ever you want, but i'd strongly advise against it.

You will get bored of it fairly quickly and end up taking a big hit on it when you sell - not something you want to be experiencing at a young age!

As said, you could crash it and could render you uninsurable for years if you make a big claim.

There are plenty of very good cars these days for much less than £3k nevermind £6k!

If i were you i'd buy something like an old Merc 190E for under a £1k and see what the insurance will be you might be surprised.

Otherwise just pick up the usual first time fodder for £500 - 106/Fiesta/Saxo etc.

Trust me.

Desk20

173 posts

252 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
quotequote all
twazzock said:
Try Admiral. I could get a £2k quote on a 1.6 MX-5 last year (probably gone up this year with same details) 18, licence held for a year, 0 NCB, parents as named drivers etc.

If I had £6k to blow I'd only want to spend about half of that tops, save the rest for when I don't have to spend £1500+ on insurance!
Thanks Twazzock; I’ll get him to give admiral a try, but he has been on the case for a while, so probably already tried them.

Before he passed his test last year he was getting quotes of £1500 to £2000 (quotes were for when he had a full licence). Unfortunately premiums shot up just before he passed, suddenly he was faced with the 4k minimum.

The MX-5 only becomes possible because he won’t have to pay for the car in the first place, so can offset some of the insurance cost.

130R

6,933 posts

223 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
quotequote all
I always thought convertibles were more expensive to insure. I'd look at something like a Mini One or a Fiat 500, something newish and, hopefully, reliable that won't depreciate like a rock.

Desk20

173 posts

252 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
quotequote all
Haytch said:
Endsleigh and Quinn are the cheapest I've seen. Also if you have 2 or 3 cars in your household put them all on a multicar policy with Admiral and see if that works out cheaper overall.
Thanks, we do have several other cars, but they are on classic policies, so not really suitable for multi car deals.
E.g. MGB V8 - £100 and MG Midget with loads of mods £150 to insure.

But its worth going round the same companies again I suppose, you never know, things may have improved in the last few months.rolleyes

theironduke

6,995 posts

205 months

Wednesday 2nd February 2011
quotequote all
Desk20 said:
Thanks, we do have several other cars, but they are on classic policies, so not really suitable for multi car deals.
E.g. MGB V8 - £100 and MG Midget with loads of mods £150 to insure.

But its worth going round the same companies again I suppose, you never know, things may have improved in the last few months.rolleyes
On convertibles... When i was 19 (may have been just 20) i had a BMW E30 318 Convertible as my only car, iirc i was paying 500 a year third party, but prices have gone mental since then frown