The Student Room Group

Should I get an Audi TT as a first car

I have found so many cheap, second-hand Audi TTs from 2010 for about 3k. I will be 19 when I look to get my first car. I really want a sporty and good-looking car for under 5k and the Audi TT seems good. What do you lot recommend and would insurance be too high?

Reply 1

I would look at insurance first before purchasing, as you might find out the insurance will be far higher than what you paid for the car. I can't recommend a car someone else will, but insurance wise, I can tell from your age, and your first-time car will be high.

Best look at insurance comparison sites to see for yourself.

Reply 2

Original post by Faultybot
I would look at insurance first before purchasing, as you might find out the insurance will be far higher than what you paid for the car. I can't recommend a car someone else will, but insurance wise, I can tell from your age, and your first-time car will be high.
Best look at insurance comparison sites to see for yourself.

I've know it is expensive, but is it that much more than other cars. thnx

Reply 3

First-time new driver plus age, also it would depend where you live and where you will keep it at night would also matter as well. I would say around 3k. For a sports car, maybe 4k or higher.

In my experience, I paid around £800 without a blackbox, with £1500 for a 2 litre SUV

Reply 4

Original post by Faultybot
First-time new driver plus age, also it would depend where you live and where you will keep it at night would also matter as well. I would say around 3k. For a sports car, maybe 4k or higher.
In my experience, I paid around £800 without a blackbox, with £1500 for a 2 litre SUV

how much do black boxes decrease the price? is it worth it

Reply 5

Black box insurance - also called telematics - is a type of car insurance which sees a small device fitted out-of-sight in your car and it measures how well you drive in order to reward safe drivers with discounted insurance.

For me it wasn't worth the price as for my situation it was more expensive. In your case it can be cheaper but you need to look on your comparison websites for your situation, I can't give you a fixed number as everyone's situation is different.

Reply 6

Original post by Faultybot
Black box insurance - also called telematics - is a type of car insurance which sees a small device fitted out-of-sight in your car and it measures how well you drive in order to reward safe drivers with discounted insurance.
For me it wasn't worth the price as for my situation it was more expensive. In your case it can be cheaper but you need to look on your comparison websites for your situation, I can't give you a fixed number as everyone's situation is different.

thnx a lot

Reply 7

Putting a named driver like your parents can help decrease it. They can't be the main driver otherwise it would be classed as insurance fraud.

Reply 8

I can't really recommend it, as you'll be paying a pretty high insurance for a premium car + new driver, and Audis of this age are cheap for a reason, most are over 100k miles and getting to the point where they need some expensive servicing - timing systems, clutch, transmission, brake kits, subframes etc, most costing over £1000 as these cars aren't cheap to work on. I've owned both an 06 & 08 Audi and the 08 is off the road while I save £2000 for a new clutch 😅

Reply 9

Original post by Faultybot
Black box insurance - also called telematics - is a type of car insurance which sees a small device fitted out-of-sight in your car and it measures how well you drive in order to reward safe drivers with discounted insurance.
For me it wasn't worth the price as for my situation it was more expensive. In your case it can be cheaper but you need to look on your comparison websites for your situation, I can't give you a fixed number as everyone's situation is different.

I think it also needs to be made clear that they have the ability to cancel your insurance based loosely on the data they get from the box and you don't really get much appeal which leads to a lot of controversial cancellations (and is a large part of why I would always pay for full cover rather than cheap out)

Reply 10

Original post by StriderHort
I think it also needs to be made clear that they have the ability to cancel your insurance based loosely on the data they get from the box and you don't really get much appeal which leads to a lot of controversial cancellations (and is a large part of why I would always pay for full cover rather than cheap out)


That is why I didn't get a blackbox cover when looking for a first car last year. The car I went for with a 1.6L engine with the blackbox fitted would of cost around 1.4k to 1.7k, without 3k minimum on another hand, I looked at the same make of vehicle but with a 2L engine.

The comprehensive with business added on was only £820. This year only cost me an extra £100 with added protection NCD.

Reply 11

Original post by StriderHort
I can't really recommend it, as you'll be paying a pretty high insurance for a premium car + new driver, and Audis of this age are cheap for a reason, most are over 100k miles and getting to the point where they need some expensive servicing - timing systems, clutch, transmission, brake kits, subframes etc, most costing over £1000 as these cars aren't cheap to work on. I've owned both an 06 & 08 Audi and the 08 is off the road while I save £2000 for a new clutch 😅

Thanks that is really helpful
Do you know any other good sporty cars that would suit my demands?

Reply 12

Are you ready to pay the pretty high insurance cost for your first sports car? Some insurance companies might not even cover it, so you may need to look for something else.

Have you looked at insurance comparison sites to see if it's in your ballpark financially? I'm asking so you won't get a surprise on how high it would be.

Reply 13

Original post by Faultybot
Are you ready to pay the pretty high insurance cost for your first sports car? Some insurance companies might not even cover it, so you may need to look for something else.
Have you looked at insurance comparison sites to see if it's in your ballpark financially? I'm asking so you won't get a surprise on how high it would be.

will do
Original post by hh1209
I have found so many cheap, second-hand Audi TTs from 2010 for about 3k. I will be 19 when I look to get my first car. I really want a sporty and good-looking car for under 5k and the Audi TT seems good. What do you lot recommend and would insurance be too high?


Id get a few car insurance quotes to see what the insurance is likely to be like before doing anything.
Car insurance can be a bit horrific at the best of times for young drivers, even for normal/basic cars. It can be even worse for cars that are sporty etc.

Reply 15

Original post by Emma:-)
Id get a few car insurance quotes to see what the insurance is likely to be like before doing anything.
Car insurance can be a bit horrific at the best of times for young drivers, even for normal/basic cars. It can be even worse for cars that are sporty etc.

ty

Reply 16

Have you decided what car you're going for? So we all know if you have changed your mind on a sporty car.

Reply 17

Original post by Faultybot
Have you decided what car you're going for? So we all know if you have changed your mind on a sporty car.

Probably my dad's Golf TDI (2008) or a second-hand Polo GTI for 3k. Thanks for all the input, I got quotes for insurance and it is far too high so I will settle for a cheaper, less sporty car or even just borrow my dad's.

Reply 18

As you have discovered, most new drivers cannot obtain affordable insurance for sporty cars. It is in any event better to drive a low powered car for the first year or two and then move onto something more sporty. It may also be a good idea to take an advanced driving course before getting something sporty. I recall going from 1.4 litre Renault 5 (front wheel drive) to a BMW 325i (rear wheel drive) a few months after passing my driving test (this was years ago). I scared myself and everyone else silly, but then went a did a police driving course.

Reply 19

PS: a cheap way into fun motoring is to buy a classic car. For example, an MG Midget or a Triumph Spitfire isn't an expensive car. They are not fast by modern standards but are a lot of fun. Ideally they should be kept indoors to avoid rust. Once more experienced, for lots of 80s fun, try a Peugeot 205 GTi or a Mark II VW Golf GTi although these are quite expensive.

NB: old cars are analog, not digital, and you must expect to get your hands dirty if you own one. They will break down (they're decades old), but they can often be fixed by the roadside, because they are relatively simple machines, mechanical and not electronic.
(edited 10 months ago)

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