The FIRST CAR thread - ALL Questions and Suggestions HERE ONLY

Driving, driving lessons, vehicles...

Announcements Posted on
TSR launches Learn Together! - Our new subscription to help improve your learning 16-05-2013
Sign in to Reply
  1. JC.'s Avatar
    • TSR Legend
    • Location: Underneath an MGB V8!
    • Posts: 12,640
    Re: first car for a boy - punto??
    (Original post by addagrrr8)
    i agree with jc but not a hotrod cos youll wrap it round a lamp post...


    try a mustang or corvette..
    Which is why I suggested a Ford pop. Run the original ford side valve engine this year and go cross flow pinto next year.
    Standard pops do well to hit 60! :cool:
  2. prettyblueeyes's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Location: london
    • Posts: 3,031
    Re: first car for a boy - punto??
    For that age group, most small hatchbacks with a small engine are fairly similar in terms of insurance - everyone I know has paid pretty much around £1000 for their first year on their first car. My insurance is £850 on a Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 engine, a boy I know paid £1200 for his Fiat Punto, most people I know are somewhere in the middle on similar cars. The only people I know who drive Puntos are boys, but then the group of cars that most young people drive is relatively small (Polos,206s,corsas,puntos, clios etc) so there are always going to be drivers of both sexes with the same car!
    Last edited by prettyblueeyes; 27-02-2008 at 08:40.
  3. DDS's Avatar
    • Peer Of The TSR Realm
    • Location: Not sure
    • Posts: 1,555
    Re: first car for a boy - punto??
    Get a corsa or a astra.
  4. SweetDreams_x's Avatar
    • Full Member
    • Posts: 76
    First Car
    I'm starting my Driving Lessons next month (YAY! )
    So now I'm looking into cars so I have a general idea of what I'd like to go for. My mums putting me on her insurance.
    I love the Golf TDIs (although the insurance will be a bummer, and it's not a very realistic choice at the moment!)

    So at the moment I'm looking into Peugeot 206's. Are these usually a good and realiable car?

    Does anyone know any other cars that are good for first time car owners for 17 year olds?

    Thankyou.
  5. Rian1988's Avatar
    • Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
    Re: First Car
    What is your budget for the car and budget for insurance?
  6. MichaelGoodwin's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Location: Birmingham
    • Posts: 210
    Re: First Car
    My first car was a '95 Fiat Punto. it cost £700 to buy, and the insurance was £1100, for third party only.
    It was really good, started every time, a tank of fuel (about £40) would be good for at least 300 miles.
    I got that when I was 17.
    Now that I've got 2 years no claims, I can afford a 2000 Ford Focus - much nicer!

    Hoope you get sorted

    Mike
  7. jaw's Avatar
    • Banned
    Re: First Car
    yaris, fiestas kas etc.. Not to be unhelpful, but there are a million and one posts like this, have a little search in the motoring section, and if 2 or 3 models in particular stick out, come back with some more specific questions, and you'll probably get a bit more useful advice rather than the same generic responses you'll get as the same in all of these threads..
    Last edited by jaw; 28-02-2008 at 18:59.
  8. ellfaz's Avatar
    • Exalted Member
    • Location: Preston
    • Posts: 289
    Re: First Car
    (Original post by MichaelGoodwin)
    My first car was a '95 Fiat Punto. it cost £700 to buy, and the insurance was £1100, for third party only.
    It was really good, started every time, a tank of fuel (about £40) would be good for at least 300 miles.
    I got that when I was 17.
    Now that I've got 2 years no claims, I can afford a 2000 Ford Focus - much nicer!

    Hoope you get sorted

    Mike
    Where was that insurance from? And was it in your own name?
  9. yvonnay's Avatar
    • Exalted and Worshipped Member
    • Location: Birmingham
    • Posts: 982
    Re: First Car
    I'm looking at getting a Ka which I have found, looks pretty decent. It's going for 750 and is a 1998 one, but I think i would need to view first.
  10. jus-mi's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Posts: 2,778
    Re: First Car
    arghh car hunting is a nightmare!!...and those comparison sites are even worse!!!....i looked on diamond insurance ...and they quoted me £5k for compreh-watever..even tho i am a new driver most other places like tesco quoted me £2k....with a pegeout 206....i want a car ive passed but my budget is low...am looking at ford fiestas and my budget is 2k or less, and 2k is like a very tight stretch lol
  11. yvonnay's Avatar
    • Exalted and Worshipped Member
    • Location: Birmingham
    • Posts: 982
    Re: First Car
    (Original post by jus-mi)
    arghh car hunting is a nightmare!!...and those comparison sites are even worse!!!....i looked on diamond insurance ...and they quoted me £5k for compreh-watever..even tho i am a new driver most other places like tesco quoted me £2k....with a pegeout 206....i want a car ive passed but my budget is low...am looking at ford fiestas and my budget is 2k or less, and 2k is like a very tight stretch lol
    2k!!! you're lucky, my budget is like 1k and thts really stretching it
  12. jus-mi's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Posts: 2,778
    Re: First Car
    Don't get me wrong part of it has to go towards insurance, ive decided to go under my dads insurance thingy!!....most of the really cheap cars are really rubbish or something is wrong with them....arghh!!!...and i need 1 badly lolol....i dnt like public transport except trains lol
  13. JC.'s Avatar
    • TSR Legend
    • Location: Underneath an MGB V8!
    • Posts: 12,640
    Re: First Car
    FFS not again...
    Last edited by JC.; 29-02-2008 at 23:37.
  14. Syntax Terrier's Avatar
    • Benevolent Member
    • Location: Great Britain
    • Posts: 624
    Re: First Car
    (Original post by jus-mi)
    most of the really cheap cars are really rubbish or something is wrong with them....arghh!!!...and i need 1 badly
    You say you have 2,000 quid to spend and going on your father's insurance? What's that 700 quid because you're female?

    £1,300 will get you Proper Mint car. My 600 quid, 10 year old Rover 220 SDi starts every time, accelerates well, good fuel usage.

    Get a diesel because my first primary sources say they are more reliable.


    And SweetDreams_X-Princess Pink Flowers,

    A small Corsa is most likely the cheapest to insure.
  15. Minardi's Avatar
    • TSR Idol
    • Location: Rollin' In Me Tractor
    • Posts: 9,475
    Re: First Car
    (Original post by JC.)
    FFS not again...

    QFT.
  16. np_desi's Avatar
    • Benevolent Member
    • Location: London
    • Posts: 638
    Suggest to me a small car :)
    Hey guys! I am looking for a small car, ideally 1.1 litre engine, max 1.3 litre engine.

    I will be doing approx 75 miles a day, with quite a bit of it being motorway mileage. So can any1 suggest to me any cars?

    The cars I have looked at so far are:

    VW Polo
    Nissan Micra
    Peugeot 207
    Vauxhall Corsa
    Renault Clio
    Toyota Yaris
    Ford Ka
    Vauxhall Agila <<< looks yuck!:eek:

    Also, I came across HYUNDAI GETZ... How is Hyundai as a company making cars? I mean reliable?

    I saw the following car on Cargiant:
    http://www.cargiant.co.uk/style_smal....asp?Id=370899

    Seems ok for the price, but is it worth it? According to the following site, its not:
    http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/used-p...ate=76&issue=0

    My requirements are:
    PREFERABLY Manual
    Small engine as said above.
    Cheap on insurance
    Cheap on road tax [if possible]
    £4300 budget
    Mileage approx 20-30000 max...

    [I know with the budget I can't get it all, so will have to compromise somewhere...]

    I am based in london, so something local
    would be nice [to view/buy]
  17. xximstrongerthanthatxx's Avatar
    • Banned
    • Location: Bristol
    • Posts: 614
    Re: Suggest to me a small car :)
    Ford Ka..anything after 2001 would be sutible really, i have it and it's an excellent nippy car
  18. Cherry Kisses's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Location: Edinborough
    • Posts: 3,151
    Re: Suggest to me a small car :)
    Im also going to say Ford Ka
    Check out Autotrader
  19. alanmcg's Avatar
    • Benevolent Member
    • Location: London
    • Posts: 817
    Re: Suggest to me a small car :)
    Following on from another thread.. Ford Ka is dated, built down to a price and not that modern. But it is said to be great fun to drive and having spent some time on the motorway in one it seemed alright. £4300 would get you one with change. Dated on safety, only 3 stars.

    Looking at your list:
    VW Polo - Reliability issues, pay a lot for the badge. Older models within budget.

    Nissan Micra - Within you budget, insanely easy to drive and very comfortable, if lacking in excitement. Within your budget, common driving school car. Electrical gremlins but otherwise ok.

    Peugeot 207 - Too new, don't think you could get a decent one for £4300. Unknown quantity but said to be better than the 206. If you meant 206 you could get a decent one for that sum but it will depreciate like nothing else now a new one is out.

    Vauxhall Corsa - New one outside your budget, old version nowhere near as good but comfortable, common and therefore cheap to service/run. Easy to drive as number of driving school Corsas show. A tad overpriced and stingy on extras.

    Renault Clio - Renault make me nervous on the reliability. Want to watch the bonnet catch issue, safe cars though and supposed to be entertaining. New models outside budget.

    Toyota Yaris - See how you find the driving setup/central speedo. As long as they're serviced they will not break. Though when they do it might cost you a fair bit. New outside budget.

    Ford Ka - see above. Replacement due.

    Vauxhall Agila - Cheap but not a lot else positive to say for it. Definite no no for motorway miles. Replacement due. Basically a re-badged Suzuki Wagon R.

    Hyundai Getz - Hyundai = owner of Kia. Korean company known for long warranties and reliable if cheaply made cars. Interiors can be pretty naff, residual values not great, mechanicals reliable. Replacement due.

    Other cars to consider:

    Ford Fiesta - similar to the old Corsa, but supposed to be more entertaining to drive.

    Citroen C2 - Funky styling, may fall apart. Bit small.

    Honda Jazz - repeatedly wins awards, higher mileage older models within price range. Holds value well. 1.4 might be useful.

    Skoda Fabia - more grown up car, Volkswagen mechanicals for a cheaper price. Combination of Golf and Polo bits. 1.4 and 1.2 should be alright on the motorway.

    Seat Ibiza - Volkswagen Polo dressed as a Seat. Same issues, very similar car. May be less expensive.
  20. * Catrin *'s Avatar
    • Exalted and Worshipped Member
    • Location: Home
    • Posts: 979
    Re: Suggest to me a small car :)
    Ford Fiesta...i love it!
Sign in to Reply
Share this discussion:  
Article updates
Moderators

We have a brilliant team of more than 60 volunteers looking after discussions on The Student Room, helping to make it a fun, safe and useful place to hang out.

Reputation gems:
The Reputation gems seen here indicate how well reputed the user is, red gem indicate negative reputation and green indicates a good rep.
Post rating score:
These scores show if a post has been positively or negatively rated by our members.