k.b

Right,my current situation is that i am 18 years old(did ya guess?) and i am looking into buying a first car around about the end of december with about 2 grand to spend possibly more depending on my spending urges over the next couple of months.i have had thoughts on cars such as nissan almera 1.6sri,primera 1.6si,106 xsi and so on.for most of these cars that i have looked at i have obtained rough quotes of between £1400 to £2000 which i would be happy to shell out for since its around 120 to 160 a month.

any hints on other cars around the same sort of standard within reach financially would be great.i would of course like a car with a decent suspension set up because i like the firm ride and the handling would also like something with remotly sporty seats although i know these probably wotn be availiable in alot of cars in my range although its nice to dream.

would also prefer it to be reasonably powerful.obvious this would be relative to size and weight of the car and i doubt i would chance it on anything over 100bhp which realisticly is powerful enough.

i think i started havering towards the end there but thanks for reading and any opinions and comments are welcome

thanks in advance
bryan

Vegescoob

Any car you think you might be interested in get an insurance quote first. I think insurance costs might be the main deciding factor in what you buy.

taffyboyo

106 1.3 rallye

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Do a LOT of work NOW on insurance, before you set your heart on something you can't afford but really, really want:

When my lad was 17 and needed a car to learn in (as well as lessons with a school), we were shocked to find that passing your test or not, has no effect on your premium.
It's ALL age and SEX related. Girls are apparently better drivers than boys (whoever thought THAT one up has obviously NEVER seen 'em learning to drive round here )

One of his first quotes was from Norwich Union ("Quote me Crappy"):

Nothing like the ads, no "it's green with 4 doors, quote me happy".

He spent about 20 minutes inputting data for a quote for him and me in a 1.0 litre Fiesta worth about £450, and was quoted £2600

He now has an "N" reg Renault Clio Oasis 1.2, insured in my name for it's first year, with him as first driver, through CIS, for about £400, but TPFT only.

Good luck!

Alcazar

LEE-WRX

iTrader: (7)

my sister in law paid £898 tpft on a 1.1 j plate fiesta, that was before she had passed her test. It pays to look in the back of some of the modding mags for phone numbers to try before you buy, and get badly stung.

mini or a cinq are ya best bets for cheap insurance, early mini's that is, great fun to drive, as long as you're not 6ft 6.

good hunting

Lee

Tidgy

Might be worth buying a small car say a 106 1.1 getting 1 years no claims full comp then getting something bigger. the first year i had a 106 paid £1300 fc. second year i bought myself a brand new astra sri 1.8 16v (123bhp) and paid £1300 fc. one years no claims make a massive difference also consider getting your pass plus.
106 is a good larf for blasting around. a mate of mine has just bought a 106 rally not sure what his insurance is but its got about 120bhp standard, so im told, so insurance is gonna be very pricey.

NotoriousREV

Seeing as you're 18 start looking around at manufacturers that offer free insurance on new cars. Your £120-£160 a month could then be put towards buying the car instead. Once the manufacturers free scheme is over, they normally give very competative quotes for the subsequent years.

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Have a look at a Ford.

Compared to similar manufacturers with similar engine cars, they are normally two or three insurance groups lower.

My wife has a Ford Ka, ok it's only got a 1.3 engine with 60bhp, it looks a little girly, the brakes aren't up to much and the steering is a little light, but with all that in mind, it's only a Group 3 car.

Parts are cheap, the yearly service is about £120 at Ford, with a big service around the £150-180 mark. The handling is good and when I had an Impreza, there were days when I'd rather take the Ford Ka!!! No need to wait for the oil to warm up ( ), very nippy around town, copes well with speed bumps, comfy and ones with air con are as little as £2k and only 4 years old!

Endure that for a year or two until you get some NCB underyour belt and you're laughing.

The Fiat Cinq Sporting (1.3) is a similar insurance group and a fun car, although the build quality leaves a lot to be desired. The 1.0/1.2 are group 2.

Try them before writing them off!

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Sorry I'm sure I could have phrased that better!!!

"Try them, before deciding you don't want one!!"

UK ITR

My advice would be to forget the cars power and get a car that corners well and is fun to drive! The best tool to learn your trade

smithy1981

Do what i did and get a mini! Bloody marvelous cars, if owt goes wrong its cheap to fix and they handle well good! So much fun its unbelievable. Im about to part with mine and its going to break my heart.

My parents bought me my 1st for 300 quid, i thought i aint driving round in that, once i got used to its character i had a smile a mile wide everytime i chucked it round the bends.

I then got a much nicer one with all the bells and whistles, lent it to my girlfriend for a couple of days and one month later she owned one too!

Scoob+Bike=Fun

seen as you like subarus, why not a justy?

matt85

I cant believe nobody has mentioned a Saxo VTR yet!

You can definately pick one up for less than 2k although a lot of them will have been thrashed so i would look at a standardish one-lady-owner type example.

0-60 9ish seconds, handles like a go-kart and a nice looking car as well.

They are group 7 insurance so neither here nor there really but TPF+T wouldnt be too extortionate i imagine.

Not much better than VTR's especially since the a*se has fell out of the market for them so you can pick them up for peanuts.

I had one when i was 17 and absolutely loved it.

Cant fall off really.

prodriva

I would also recommend a mini. I had an 850 as my first car, so slooooow but the handling was great. My second one was a cooper look-a-like with an MG Metro 1275 engine in it. I put some nice wide 10" wheels on it and it was probably the best handling car I have ever owned. all in all they are great cars to learn in and are very easy to fix. When the 1275 engine popped I found a mini breakers with a 1000cc engine and had the old one removed and the new one fitted with a few goodies from 1275 for £175 all in. Ok, this was about 10 years ago but you get the idea, they are just excellent beginners cars.

k.b

recent thoughts have been tunring towards a 1.6 escort lx around r reg.what are the thoughts on this car?

Scoob+Bike=Fun

I've got a nice looking 1.6 EFI escort cab in deep metalic red with 17's and recaro's
pm for pics if you want?, and it's for sale

Jap2Scrap

Was gonna say the VTR myself. I've got a VTS and the handling is really good. Only downside is the price of parts compared to a mini, for example.

Just to add don't bounce the valves too often by hammering through the red-line. Mine's now in the shop with a bill of the best part of a grand.

Kev_turbo

Peugeot 106 rallye as said above.

1.3 engine. 100bhp. No electrics to go wrong and handles really well

R1916v

Other half has just bought a 1 litre micra (M reg), her first car (although she is 24), so 0 ncd.

Fully comp, her and me came it at whopping £260. Have driven it a few times and it aint half bad, gearbox is great, really short precise throw!

And silly mpg...

chaos.

Good advise above, something good in the corners and not high powed.

Otherwise, you'll bin it!

'specially when it starts understeering on a roundabout into a wall ....

john banks

Another vote for Ford Ka, or a Fiesta Zetec 1.25 from a few models back. The Fiesta Zetecs drive very much like a Puma - my wife's had both. Both cheap, both handle really nicely, fairly safe on the limit.