Car Advice

[Onza Kieron]

Hey.

Basically i'll be driving in February and I want to know ideas for cars. Initially I was hoping for a Mk1 or 2 Escort but it doesnt seem a practical option. Mum and Dad want me to get an MG Midget or a Defender.

I was keen on an old car with abit more character than getting a saxo/golf/nova etc. You know what I mean but then something made me change my mind abit....

I was in Brett Penfolds Saxo VTR yesterday and today and was really impressed with it. I think its kind of cool in yellow and it was nippy and just seemed a fun car. I've looked around on insurance for cars like this and it seems VTR's are about the best performance car for insurance cost. I'm not too fussed about initial cost of a car as parents will be paying out for some of it so anything up to about 3K. something that on my mums insurance wont be pushing £1600 a year and isn't dodgey or a shed. Best I have found is the old old, mk2 civic ( I think) 1.5 lsi.

Anyway, any ideas?

Please don't say Novas or Metros or anything.. too far though please. Quite like 106 rallye, 306, clio mk1...

[Fish-Finger-er]

look around is all i can say, and do your research.

any particular reason why your looking at small cars? as theres some pretty rapid saloons in similar insurance groups to the old civic lsi's. are the lsi's not group 12 or 10 or something.

perhaps look at a 2.0 focus. only group 8 insurance(or a 1.8 focus) would be a nice modern, reliable, not too common for someone of your age to own car. (nice 3 door example in black or silver like)

trouble is cant see what you really like. as you appear to like your classic's etc. but then if you love your classics. then surely a clean tasteful novas got a shedload more appeal than a mk1 clio.

obviously other classics include minis etc.

[Onza Kieron]

I like minis but theyre sort of.. done. Like they're slow (in my opinion), uncomfortable (i'm near 6,5'') and I'm just not too keen on the looks. I used to want one. I don't want something chavvy and something inside says a yellow saxo is but I like the idea of sitting on the floor in a little sporty looking hatchback. Focus could be a good option, I'll get on gocompare after Father Ted and check that one up.

[Greetings]

An old CRX from '92?

[TomR]

First off, fronted insurance is bad, and should you crash theres a good chance you'll get found out as it's something theyre trying to crack down.

I'd say go for a 1.8 astra mk4 or focus, both solid cars with few problems, cheap parts should you get anything wrong and not a backbreaker on insurance of running costs.

[AdamAllen]

POLO.

[Onza Kieron]

Not quite following the 'fronted bit'? is that what it is to be on your parents' insurance?

I'm gunna look into a Focus now (what a christmas eyy) and aan astra and see what happens.

Also on the subject parents let me and sister open 1 present tonight. Mine was some L plates and a homemade card saying I have as many driving lessons as I need to pass. I like the sound of that. ]]

[Tom Booth]

I like minis but theyre sort of.. done. Like they're slow (in my opinion), uncomfortable (i'm near 6,5'') and I'm just not too keen on the looks. I used to want one.

Pfft. 6.5" an I still fit in mine

Eitherway, unless you can afford copious amounts of time in the garage and rediculous bills, don't get a Mini. Mines the baine of my life at the minute but I would'nt get rid of it for the world.

My sister had a 1.1 SX Saxo, lasted her 5 years with no breakdowns, was a smart car too. Cheap to run good insurance and low tax. I can't see what more a first car could offer?

First car and speed don't go together. At all.

Specially when it comes to the 'I' word.

[Onza Kieron]

Haha I knew i'd anger a member of 'The Mini thread'.

No disrespect to Minis. They're a cool car and have plenty of character, I know what you mean about rustworm but still i'm sure theres some nice examples to be had out there, just don't realy fancy one, not yet in life anyway...

Just been pleasantly suprised with an old crx too. The first ones (mk1 I guess) have come up at £1500ish to insure, 1.6 and basically a two seater, seems tempting. They're abit ugly but i'd live with it I think. Anyone know if they're rwd by any chance?

Thanks for the advice so far though. Anyone know how to buy a car that hasn't been flogged or in an accident, other than HPI check and looking for obvious signs?

[Nuke Bowel]

first post in ageeeeees.

but yerr.

focus fella.

crashed my'n, it stood up to alot. the assesor couldn't believe it held it's shape as it did.

i'm going to buy another one after crimbo, my advise is either 1.6 or a 1.8 though, i have owned a 2 ltr, and i can easily afford another, but 1.8 is a lighter block, more torque and is more tuneable

ohh. and cheaper to run

my focus 2.0 was costing me 20 quid to fuel each day

[Robwalker]

Mk1 CRX's are horrible looking, atleast go for a Mk2 or dont bother. A VTR or quicksilver would be nice, but its easier just to pickup a 106 GTI that has been owned by old lady drivers so shouldnt have been ragged really. Rallyes are just very expensive and pretty rare.

How about the new fiestas?

[Greetings]

Nope, front wheel drive

If you're interested, I think you should look for the '92 1.6i with 143bhp. Absolutely stunning car. Looks much better than the first models as well

There's also a 1.6L v-tec developing 160bhp but you won't notice much difference between that and the 1.6i as long as you keep the weaker version at high revs. The v-tec will definitely be MUCH more expensive, and might be more expensive to insure as well (dunno about the policies in the UK).

The car has a pretty large boot, you can easily get 2 bikes in and lots of luggage. There's a problem with passengers though, it doesn't really have proper seats in the rear. None the less, you can temporarily accommodate 5 people, they just won't feel too comfortable. Fuel consumption is good, about 7.3L/100km. Don't like the gearing though, if you're planning to drive fast on motorways, be prepared to have to rev the engine.

[Onza Kieron]

Yeah, love the two newest fiestas out, havent priced one up though really. Is there any insurance companies that are better than others. I'll probably be modding the car, not stupidly but say..wheels, exhaust, maybe brakes, then interior and that (do I need to declare bucket seats?) and lowering.

Cars i've considered are

Old old old Honda civic

Clio mk1-4

Focus

Fiesta

CRX

Golf

Mk1+2 Escort

Mini

Saxo

106

206

306

Polo

Thats all I can think of for now, if anyone thinks I've missed an essential one out let me know please.

[Nuke Bowel]

Is there any insurance companies that are better than others. I'll probably be modding the car, not stupidly but say..wheels, exhaust, maybe brakes, then interior and that (do I need to declare bucket seats?) and lowering.

http://www.emodifiedcarinsurance.co.uk/

[Robwalker]

Im with quinn-direct, thats pretty good, cheapest quote i got on a 106. Adrian Flux are ment to be pretty good, but if you have a 106 and sign up for membership with them you can get discount for it.

I wouldnt go for a golf, 306 fiesta or escort just because there all a bit too 'big', as in actually size of the car not engine, for a first car. A saxo and a 106 are pretty much the same car, pretty nice as that one. Dont get a 206, unless your gay, or a hairdresser.

Think about MPG too, you dont actully realise how expensive petrol becomes untill you actully start driving! I can quiet easilly do £100 a month on petrol and i only have a 1.0L 106 lol.

[Alexxx]

I'd also look at a Rover 25 Bit of an old mans car but there sure are nippy if you get the 1.4i

It's what i've got and is good on fuel, and good on the insurance too £1000 with Endsleigh! And if you really want you can easily get the bumpers etc. from a MG ZR to make it a bit more appealing to the eye!

[The Riddlers]

Sorry to piss on your biscuits....

But you really think youl be able to get insured on something like a VTR, or a 1.6 Civic as a first car? Your mums insurance company will laugh at her, and tell her where to stick it! They KNOW what goes on....

99% of peoples crashes occour within the 1st year of driving....do the 'normal' thing and buy something cheap and slow for a year, insure it on your own policy and youl get some no-claims...which mean alot!!

You can still get good cheapo cars....I bought a 1.4 K reg fiesta 6 months ago with central locking, leccy windows, TnT and was mint inside and out (no dents or rust) for £250. It went straight through its next MOT, was faster than these new 1.25 Zetecs, and still did 120 easily. And if you stuff it? So what? Imagine banging a 3k car after a few months of driving! And it'd fit bikes in the back too

Whats that insurance company that search all the others for you?? Elephant.co.uk or summin? Try them! I got my insurance £300 cheaper through them!

[Onza Kieron]

Mum rang her company and they were giving her serious quotes of like £1900 for a 2.5 turbo diesel land rover 90. I think your over exaggerating. Then my mate Brett (planet x boy on here) has just got insured on a VTR on here.. If it means any more i'm also going to be going for a plus test too.

I might have a look into rovers, they look quite a tidy sort of car. I'm not an idiot who wants to drive fast everywhere and just because I want alloy wheels does not mean that, I'll leave that to the ones in Novas and Fiat Chiqueniueueieneuto's

[The Riddlers]

serious quotes of like £1900 for a 2.5 turbo diesel land rover 90.

Thats a serious quote? Jeez! £1900...thats shocking!

Maybe its just an age thing then! I had the hump at having to pay £600 on my mk1 turbo'd golf!

Pass plus will take a bit off....but dont forget, not all companies accept it.

Good luck to you! If you can get insurance etc sorted, then go for it!

[Onza Kieron]

£1900 is shitloads but I don't want something that big, its like 1500 on my parents' brand new mk5 2ltr tdi Golf. Just examples really.. The amount I want to drive exceeds the fact its stupidly priced.

[Nuke Bowel]

Sorry to piss on your biscuits....

But you really think youl be able to get insured on something like a VTR, or a 1.6 Civic as a first car? Your mums insurance company will laugh at her, and tell her where to stick it! They KNOW what goes on....

99% of peoples crashes occour within the 1st year of driving....do the 'normal' thing and buy something cheap and slow for a year, insure it on your own policy and youl get some no-claims...which mean alot!!

You can still get good cheapo cars....I bought a 1.4 K reg fiesta 6 months ago with central locking, leccy windows, TnT and was mint inside and out (no dents or rust) for £250. It went straight through its next MOT, was faster than these new 1.25 Zetecs, and still did 120 easily. And if you stuff it? So what? Imagine banging a 3k car after a few months of driving! And it'd fit bikes in the back too

Whats that insurance company that search all the others for you?? Elephant.co.uk or summin? Try them! I got my insurance £300 cheaper through them!

17, 2.0 re mapped focus to 162 bhp.

modified.

audio declared.

239 fully comp

[Fish-Finger-er]

Sorry to piss on your biscuits....

But you really think youl be able to get insured on something like a VTR, or a 1.6 Civic as a first car? Your mums insurance company will laugh at her, and tell her where to stick it! They KNOW what goes on....

99% of peoples crashes occour within the 1st year of driving....do the 'normal' thing and buy something cheap and slow for a year, insure it on your own policy and youl get some no-claims...which mean alot!!

its not as bad as you think, at 17, round my area when i was 17. it was near enough £1200 for a male tpft, regardless of what car you had up to a certain point. i had a swift gls, then a 306 1.4, then a seat ibiza 1.4 in my first year of driving, all came in at around £1200. my mates 1.2 punto was £1220, another lad had a cinq, and that was just under £1200, another lad had a vtr for £1270. it was only when you got to group 9/10 that they started increasing in price.

although i do think stuff like crx's and the like are very ambitious for a first car

and luke, didnt know your crashed your focaye,get hurt or do much damage?

but they really are sensible first cars, there not common for a young person to drive, they look pretty good/expensive(sit a v reg focus 3 door in black, next to a 51 plate fiesta 3 door in black and the focus instantly looks about 10 times as better) their big enough for carting stuff/people around, and also if you keep it for ages, getting a 1.6/1.8/2.0 is a perfectly respectable car with a decent enough image for when you go for job interviews or whatever at 20/21(part of the reason prawn chose his audi was cos it looked respectable/well presented when he went on site visits), there reliable, there cheap as for parts, and if you do bin it at low speed theres no shortage of similarly coloured focus's in scrap yards you can nick a bumper/bonnet off etc.

[Onza Kieron]

17, 2.0 re mapped focus to 162 bhp.

modified.

audio declared.

239 fully comp

Care to explain more?

And yeah, hadn't even considered a CRX until now really. Been looking at rallyes again, the do look pretty sweet I have to say with the arches and different steelies. If I got one of them I wouldn't want to change any bits around either. Ahhh I dunno.

[Siders77]

First car I had was a 1.1 Fiesta, was paying £1800 TPFT which was a group 5 or soemthing silly

Just got myself insured on a Saxo VTR for £2100 which is a group 7

Sounds expensive but I'm happy enough as I'm only 18 and only had a licence since October this year.

I'd say the same as others really, go for something fairly small with a low insurance group.

I don't see how people are getting insured for like £600 on a 2.0 or w/e. All the companies I've tried have all been about £1800

[Simon]

17, 2.0 re mapped focus to 162 bhp.

modified.

audio declared.

239 fully comp

Sorry, but that's either bullshit or completely dodgy.

Not a chance in hell you'd get that at my age and a lot older, let alone your age.