[hab92]

I've recently passed my driving test and am a 17 year old male. I'm looking for a car to buy that won't cost a lot and the insurance shouldn't be too expensive (which in my case will probably mean around £2000+). What do you guys think would be an ideal car for me? Also, can I have some of your own experiences at this age? Thanks.

[Freedom810]

Same situation as you mate, the standard type of cars you should be looking at are...
Clio's
Corsa
Fiesta
106/206
Saxo
Polo
Punto etc
Thats not saying you can't go for other types of cars, I've found you just have to look around and check insurance prices, if you don't mind paying more for insurance and less for a car you could get a mazda 323 or a beamer, this is what I think I'm going to do but I can see why some people might feel its a waste of money. Good luck though and congrats on passing, I'm just about to book mine

[hab92]

Originally Posted by Freedom810

Same situation as you mate, the standard type of cars you should be looking at are...
Clio's
Corsa
Fiesta
106/206
Saxo
Polo
Punto etc
Thats not saying you can't go for other types of cars, I've found you just have to look around and check insurance prices, if you don't mind paying more for insurance and less for a car you could get a mazda 323 or a beamer, this is what I think I'm going to do but I can see why some people might feel its a waste of money. Good luck though and congrats on passing, I'm just about to book mine

Thanks, and good luck to you too. I was thinking about a Punto or a Skoda Fabia but I'll just have to keep on looking to see if anything good comes up.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by hab92

Thanks, and good luck to you too. I was thinking about a Punto or a Skoda Fabia but I'll just have to keep on looking to see if anything good comes up.

Whats is you budget?

[Decadence]

Don't get one of those 3 cylinder Corsa things...the engine is awful and only designed to complete 60,000 miles before expiring.

[eric pisch]

Originally Posted by Decadence

Don't get one of those 3 cylinder Corsa things...the engine is awful and only designed to complete 60,000 miles before expiring.

30,000 miles more than an avg vauxhall then

[baldrick]

Cheap and cheerful is the way to go at first. Get a couple of years experience and NCB behind you then move up to something a little nicer/more powerful!

Depending on your requirements/preference the Kia Picanto is quite a cheap car and shouldn't cost much to insure. My wife had one and whilst I wouldn't have choosen it over my Clio Trophy it was a perfectly capable car.

One thing to remember if you're considering older, cheaper cars is what maintainence they are going to need in the near future! When they start getting up above 60,000 miles you are looking at some biggish bills ie. new cam belt, catalytic converters etc... so saving a few hundred might not be worth it in the long run...

[hab92]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Whats is you budget?

I don't have a set budget at the moment but most likely won't be spending any more than £1300-£1500 on the car itself, but I if I can find a bargain then obviuosly I'll try my best to go for it.

[hab92]

Originally Posted by Decadence

Don't get one of those 3 cylinder Corsa things...the engine is awful and only designed to complete 60,000 miles before expiring.

Would that include an R reg Corsa with 1.0 engine... if it is, then it's funny you say that as we have one of those which isn't being driven, but it always seems to have a problem with it.

[thesilverfox]

How long do you intend to keep the car before getting something larger? That assumes you are going to head that way (I did).

When I was 18 in 2003, I had a £3000 1997 R reg 1.25 MKIV Fiesta Chicane. I racked up 30k miles in 4 years and sold it part ex for £1500 with the miles at 50'000. Not too bad for a 10y/o car at 50k. Took me all summer to save up for it, but so glad I did.

My advice to you is to think carefully about what you buy for £1500. I looked long and hard at many cars in this price range before deciding to buy at the £3k bracket. My example cost me barely a penny to run in expenses, other than rubber and general consumables (oil changes, air/pollen filters etc), though I get the feeling a completely cheap motor could have cost a few bob in repairs.

Normally, you wouldn't mind; but as I was a student, I needed something that would hold out until I got my degree and could afford something better. If you are planning to keep the car a while longer and the bank of mum and dad won't fund it, then think long and hard

[qwerty321]

2 years ago I got a 1998 R reg Corsa 1.4 firstly to learn in. Also used it for a year after I passed and in that year used it a fair bit on Motorways.

Never had any major issues with it. There was just some grinding noise when turning right but that was there when we purchased it. Wasn't hugely economical at around 35mpg on motorways, but never missed a beat.

Cost about £1000 and sold it for £450 after putting about 20,000 miles on it, had 90k on the clock when sold. Also had a bump in it so the body work wasn't in that good condition.

[hab92]

[QUOTE=qwerty321;10629087] Also used it for a year after I passed and in that year used it a fair bit on Motorways.
QUOTE]
That's one thing I would definitely have a problem with and I wouldn't trust it.

[fraggle]

I would imagine with the cost of unsurance for a new driver, the running costs would be a very small percentage of the overall costs.

Even the car would cost less than the insurance.

Avoid anything French - they might be nice and funky, but funky isn't any good sitting unable to go anywhere.

For older cars, VW Polo, Fox, Ford Fiesta, Corsa, or something Honda or Toyota if you can afford it & the insurance.

Newer cars, same as above plus the Kia-like things.

[thesilverfox]

Originally Posted by fraggle

I would imagine with the cost of unsurance for a new driver, the running costs would be a very small percentage of the overall costs.

Even the car would cost less than the insurance.

Avoid anything French - they might be nice and funky, but funky isn't any good sitting unable to go anywhere.

For older cars, VW Polo, Fox, Ford Fiesta, Corsa, or something Honda or Toyota if you can afford it & the insurance.

Newer cars, same as above plus the Kia-like things.

I should add to my last comment in respect of yours - the other reason I spent 3k on a car, was as you rightly state - the insurance was such a big proportion of the cost of ownership.

Owning a £1500 car when insurance is £1600 is absurd. Even 3rd Party F&T quotes can be higher than that for some postcodes etc. At least buying something half decent qualified the insurance premium for me at least - I do appreciate some people will feel differently of course!

I was dead keen to rush out there with the £1500 I saved up, but friends who did rush out, ended up with lemons. Their fault to a degree, as there are many £1500 cars out there that are brilliant; but how many first-time buyers will pick out that peach? Unless well versed, I'd say not many.

It's so hard to be patient though, when freedom is so close ... unless you can stick a few more winter months cycling 70 miles a week of course and save up some more cash!