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First car advice

Hey, so I'm 17 and looking to buy my first car.

I'm looking for a car with a relatively low price (I'm also looking to buy second hand so a car that tends to hold its quality is important), is mechanical, has sat nav, and has a touch screen. A car thats relatively durable is important too as I live in the countryside so I will need a car that can drive on any type of road and terrain.

Insurance costs is also important but not my main criteria point

Thank you!

Reply 1

hjgugu

The functionality you list does not equate with low purchase price or £3k+ insurance.
A compromise would be fitting all season tyres on a FWD which would help with the grip in mud and snow if you dont't go off road. If you need more, a Suzuki Swift 4x4 or 4WD Honda CRV

Reply 2

hjgugu

.............or panda 4x4 but unlikely to be as durable

Reply 3

ray_m_23

Original post by florverc

Hey, so I'm 17 and looking to buy my first car.
I'm looking for a car with a relatively low price (I'm also looking to buy second hand so a car that tends to hold its quality is important), is mechanical, has sat nav, and has a touch screen. A car thats relatively durable is important too as I live in the countryside so I will need a car that can drive on any type of road and terrain.
Insurance costs is also important but not my main criteria point
Thank you!

Normally I follow the rule 'no French cars' but I had a Renault Clio as my first car when I was 17 (bought it off my cousin, the only reason I got a French one) and it never let me down once, despite what I put it through. For context I live in Somerset so do a fair amount of countryside driving with narrow, 1-car wide roads.
Fairly fuel efficient and fairly cheap to fill (even at the PEAK of fuel prices I probably didn't put in more than £45-50 for a full tank from almost empty), not super zippy but enough for small town / small city / country driving. Easy to park. Pretty safe as well. My insurance was fairly low at the time, I was with Adrian Flux from provisional and got a good deal when I passed, and then went with a black box policy which lowered the price by a few hundred, I think it was £1.2k a year when I passed (Jan 2020).
If you're not a fan of a Clio, you can't go wrong with a Ford Fiesta.
I'd stay away from super compact cars like the KA, Hyundai i10 or Fiat 500 because if you're in a crash, there is less space between you and the thing you hit and you're more likely to be injured. You'll also have f-all boot space which isn't ideal if you want to carry more than 2 large shopping bags.
If you're dead set on a touchscreen, you might find it difficult to find a car within your budget - you can always get one fitted later, but a touchscreen really should not be at the very top of your priority list. Ease of driving, functionality and safety should always be your top priorities when considering a vehicle.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 4

oligti

VW Polo 6R / Seat Ibiza / Skoda Fabia are reliable and solid. Toyota Yaris are good too, but make sure you get a well looked after one. Whatever car you look at, make sure it has a trustworthy owner, has had all the services it needs etc. And service it when you buy! :smile:

Reply 5

Old Skool Freak

Original post by florverc

Hey, so I'm 17 and looking to buy my first car.
I'm looking for a car with a relatively low price (I'm also looking to buy second hand so a car that tends to hold its quality is important), is mechanical, has sat nav, and has a touch screen. A car thats relatively durable is important too as I live in the countryside so I will need a car that can drive on any type of road and terrain.
Insurance costs is also important but not my main criteria point
Thank you!

Hi,

If I were you, for your first year I wouldn't bother with anything too fancy while you're inexperienced. Chances are, you'll have a few scuffs and scrapes while you get some driving experience (unless you've already had plenty of practice on private land). If this happens on an old car, you won't be too bothered... but if it happens on something you've spent a lot of money on, you'll be annoyed, no? Once you've got some driving experience (and a years No claims), then, by all means look to get something a bit better.

Ford and Vauxhall are good, as they're both very popular brands with people (they tend to be the choice for people to buy with their own money (i.e. not company car, or lease purchase)). Peugeot is a popular French brand in the UK as well, they look stylish and IMHO, they tend to age a lot better than many other cars. As they are so popular, parts and maintenance / servicing are also cheap, and pretty much any mechanic can do them. As said in another post, if you're buying privately make your own judgement about the owner and how the car has been driven. For example, if you compare "Doris", who only uses the car to go to Church, Bingo and to see the grandkids, she's likely to be a better bet than "Kev" who thrashes the 1 litre engine like it's a hot-hatch. On that note, avoid anything that's been kitted out, as it's often a way of hiding a multitude of sins.

As @ray_m_23 said, don't worry about the car stereo. In fact, I wouldn't bother with any "in-house" sat-nav, as the maps may be out of date (unless the previous owner has been very proactive), so many new roads won't be listed at all. Instead, put aside, say £3-400 so you can upgrade the car stereo at your leisure, if it's that important to you. That sort of money will get you a modern entry level touch-screen head unit from a well known band (e.g. Sony; Pioneer; JVC; Kenwood etc) with Apple / Android car play... so it will use Google Maps (or whatever is your preferred app). The unit itself will probably cost about £150-200, but the price includes all the other bits and pieces, and fitting it as well. You'll be able to use it as a touch screen, and you don't have to worry about updating your maps (it can be a lot of hassle to update an older 'Non-car-play' unit). And it will be modern, provided your phone gets the latest updates.

Original post by oligti

German cars can be horrendously expensive for parts (and bear in mind Seat's and Skoda's are basically VW's in Primark clothing). VW parts won't be as expensive as some of the more premium German brands (e.g. BMW, Mercedes etc), but still substantially more than Fords or Vauxhalls. Also, some mechanics may think you're a rich kid in a German car and will rip you off when servicing... although you can't beat a "German" for sheer street cred. A good German car will reward you with many years of loyal and reliable service (as well as a good image); a bad German car will rob you of your bank balance and your sanity. Again, I would save this for the next car.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 6

WaftingMagma

I’m in a similar position. I normally use autotrader but I have a tough time vetting cars and I don’t know anyone who is knowledgeable enough about them either.

Reply 7

Old Skool Freak

Original post by WaftingMagma

I’m in a similar position. I normally use autotrader but I have a tough time vetting cars and I don’t know anyone who is knowledgeable enough about them either.

Well known car services like The AA can provide a comprehensive inspection for you... but they're expensive (circa £150-200).

However, your local mechanic can probably be bribed by a few beers and a Friday afternoon takeaway if you're on a budget and ask them nicely.

A basic HPI check is well worth the £30, for that final piece of mind.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 8

WaftingMagma

Original post by Old Skool Freak

Well known car services like The AA can provide a comprehensive inspection for you... but they're expensive (circa £150-200).
However, your local mechanic can probably be bribed by a few beers and a Friday afternoon takeaway if you're on a budget and ask them nicely.
A basic HPI check is well worth the £30, for that final piece of mind.

I don’t know my local mechanic unfortunately.

Reply 9

Old Skool Freak

Original post by WaftingMagma

I don’t know my local mechanic unfortunately.

Well there are some garages / mechanics who will offer you this service... just do some research.

Even if you don't know them personally, if you go past one every day they'll probably recognise you as a local person. What's the worst that can happen if you were to go up, explain your situation, and ask if they are willing to help? They'd just say it's not a service they can offer and possibly give you another recommendation. It's not like they'll file a lawsuit against you for merely asking.

It's also in their interests, as inevitably the car will need servicing, maintenance etc. so you'll be a potential new customer for them, in future... if you were happy with their advice / recommendation(s)

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 10

WaftingMagma

Original post by Old Skool Freak

Well there are some garages / mechanics who will offer you this service... just do some research.
Even if you don't know them personally, if you go past one every day they'll probably recognise you as a local person. What's the worst that can happen if you were to go up, explain your situation, and ask if they are willing to help? They'd just say it's not a service they can offer and possibly give you another recommendation. It's not like they'll file a lawsuit against you for merely asking.
It's also in their interests, as inevitably the car will need servicing, maintenance etc. so you'll be a potential new customer for them, in future... if you were happy with their advice / recommendation(s)

I’ll talk to my old instructor and see if she could help somehow.

Reply 11

lalexm

Original post by florverc

Hey, so I'm 17 and looking to buy my first car.
I'm looking for a car with a relatively low price (I'm also looking to buy second hand so a car that tends to hold its quality is important), is mechanical, has sat nav, and has a touch screen. A car thats relatively durable is important too as I live in the countryside so I will need a car that can drive on any type of road and terrain.
Insurance costs is also important but not my main criteria point
Thank you!

Your selection criteria seems a little contradictory. You are looking for a car with relatively low price, but insurance cost is not your main criteria. I hope you know that if you choose a car that isn’t in the lowest insurance groups, say 1, 2 or 3, your annual insurance cost might be £5k+, at least of the first couple of years.