First Car

[Frizz]

Right, I passed my driving test with 3 minors (and 6 days left on my theory until it expired ), a little over a week ago. I'm now in the market for "My First Car"!

Basically, I'm looking for ideas. I've scoured eBay, but it seems like a nightmare to realistically find anything decent.

Also, it'd be really helpful if I could get some hints on what to look out for. If there's anything I should be weary of. *Notes Bodhi's recent issue with his Golf* :X

Considering I'm quite lazy, the process of actually getting a car seems fucking long-winded tbh. Finding insurance for a car I haven't bought yet, and then taxing and servicing and running the fucker if and when I do. Aaaargh.

I would drive the parents cars, but insurance companies won't insure me on them (Beemer's) until I'm 25. Meaning I'd have to go abroad and pay through the nose. *****. So I have to make do with the missus' Clio. I feel my sexuality bending.

Any help much appreciated.

 

[DaGaffer]

Budget?

 

[Tom]

Unless you're on a good wage, its going to be the usual Punto/Corsa/106 brigade for your first year.

Don't buy new, or nearly new. You'll spend a fortune in depreciation, and you probably can't afford that (even though you think you can). Save buying a new car for 5-10 years down the line, when your insurance will be much cheaper.

Oh, and take some further tuition - or you'll crash.

 

[Bodhi]

If your parents both drive Beemers get them to buy you something brand new with free insurance, worked a treat for me. Although I did end up with a Cinquecento (Sporting I'll have you know, that extra 16bhp makes all the difference), so you may want to sort your own out.

 

[GDW]

Just be aware that cars over five years of age are money boxes on wheels. Make sure you can afford the running costs before you jump in.

I remember my first car many moons ago, a 1979 Mini Clubman GT. It cost me £400 (in 1987), had knackered piston rings, a shot rear subframe and a six inch hole in one of the front wings. I swear I must have spent at least £1,000 over the next three years keeping it road legal.

 

[old.user4556]

Just be aware that cars over five years of age are money boxes on wheels. Make sure you can afford the running costs before you jump in.

I remember my first car many moons ago, a 1979 Mini Clubman GT. It cost me £400 (in 1987), had knackered piston rings, a shot rear subframe and a six inch hole in one of the front wings. I swear I must have spent at least £1,000 over the next three years keeping it road legal.

Modern cars are quite a bit better than that though, and will happily go round the clock a couple of times. It also depends on the car, but typically cheap cars will look shoddy quicker than a quality motor.

Take my M roadster, it was the same age as my dad's escort (1998) and had done 20k miles more, yet there was no rust, no rattles and the paintwork looked mint. His escort is rusting at every panel gap, the interior looking very tired and the trim looking rough.

My first car was a 1995 (i got it in 2001) Ford Fiesta, a little under £1000. Ok, it was slow and it was a shitbox, but it was very cheap on fuel, cheap on insurance, cheap for parts and it was mechanically simple - no electric gizmos really apart from windows, so it was very Haynes manual when it came to maintaining it. It ran without a hitch for over a year until I traded it in.

A modern equivalent would be something like a Clio 1.2 - cheap fuel, cheap tax, cheap insurance, cheap-ish parts, cheap tyres and it's one of the safest cars in its class with a four star safety rating.

Something like this?

My wildcard would be a Ford Puma 1.4, it got best hot hatch (well, the 1.7 did) in 1997 and they still look pretty modern. Being a 1.4, the usual budget car applies - tax/insurance/fuel/parts, but it'll be quite fun to drive. Very good chassis.

Failing those, get a Fiesta 1.1 for mega cheap money, if it blows up after a year then buy another one .

 

[mank!]

Oh, and take some further tuition - or you'll crash.

wrong, two years of driving after passing first time and not a single incident to speak of.

except blowing a speaker.

at 21 you shouldn't get fucked over with insurance as badly as if you were 17, but i wouldn't bother looking at anything with an engine bigger than 1.2, maybe 1.4 at a push.

however i drive a crappy m reg clio so what do i know?

oh, and my masculinity is intact. just about. although i accidentally walked into the ladies the other night.

 

[Tom]

wrong, two years of driving after passing first time and not a single incident to speak of.

*dons flameproof hat*

....that you're aware of

 

[mank!]

don't be pedantic. if i'd had an accident, i'd know about it. in fact, my car would probably crumble and fall apart around me.

 

[GDW]

* watches Tom's flameproof hat catch fire*

 

[Meatballs]

1.4 Almera, reliable and spacious compared to a corsa or 106

 

[Frizz]

Well, the budget's about +/-£1k. So nothing too new or extravegant. Cheers for the help though.

 

[Tom]

For that money, I'd look at a 306 diesel. Very reliable motor, and extremely cheap to run. Good handling as well.

 

[old.user4556]

One of my colleagues at work has a 306 diesel, has done 80k miles and has had nothing really wrong with it at all other than the usual maintenance.

She loves it.

 

[confused]

Imo got for something like a 206 or fiesta, solid reliable cars also punto yaris...

 

[TUG]

Citroen Xsara, same as a 306 as good as... better built too. Looks aren't to everyones tastes but I prefer Xsaras over 306's

 

[Bodhi]

Xsara's are ok, bit bland and you get nasty lift-off oversteer in the VTS. I'd go for a small Fiat if I had the choice again, either a Punto or a Cinquecento Sporting. They're a lot nippier than other superminis, are just as reliable and pretty easy to fix. Rust is no longer an issue either. Whilst 306's are cheap to run, they certainly ain't reliable...a friend has a T-reg one with average mileage and it has far more broken than my crusty old high-mileage N-reg Golf.

 

[JBP|]

Simply buy the best car you can afford.

 

[Garok]

Xsara's are ok, bit bland and you get nasty lift-off oversteer in the VTS. I'd go for a small Fiat if I had the choice again, either a Punto or a Cinquecento Sporting. They're a lot nippier than other superminis, are just as reliable and pretty easy to fix. Rust is no longer an issue either. Whilst 306's are cheap to run, they certainly ain't reliable...a friend has a T-reg one with average mileage and it has far more broken than my crusty old high-mileage N-reg Golf.

Had the same problem with my old L reg-306. They seem to have a hidden self destruct button on so when you have one problem you kinda find 4 or 5 are round the corner. Central Locking broke on mine (ment I could not lock the bloody thing), then windows went.. Fan went then Head gasget blew.

Would recomend if going for an older car you try to aviod as much eletrical stuff as possible (window's central locking etc) since its friggin expensive to replace.

 

[Crash]

If your parents both drive Beemers get them to buy you something brand new with free insurance, worked a treat for me. Although I did end up with a Cinquecento (Sporting I'll have you know, that extra 16bhp makes all the difference), so you may want to sort your own out.

hehe my first was a Cinquey too! mine only had like 20bhp LOL so 16 is a big difference :< me <3 900cc engine