Another first car thread!

Gaygle · 20 Dec 2010 at 17:10

Morba said:
Cheap to buy, mass made, reliable, cheap to run. In their respective markets they are suitable choices, no?

Not to mention decent to drive, fairly well put together and are becoming increasedly stylish.

For someone wanting a value for money A-B motor, that's reliable, cheap to fix, good looking, comfortable, fun to drive and modern, one of the main Ford range (Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo) is bound to fit their needs.

InvaderGIR · 20 Dec 2010 at 17:39

Joshy said:
My advice really would be to get some quotes and go from there.

I wouldn't have thought insurance would be too bad at 22 even without any NCB.

This is very much a good point. At 21 with 0NCB, 1 accident and driving since 17 I had good quotes on most things really, sub £1k for ~200bhp cars. At 22 with 1 NCB I was looking at £300 on things like a 2.0 Focus.

markomania · 20 Dec 2010 at 21:13

Just done a quote with tesco as I'm a named driver on mums policy with them, thought it might make some difference

Fiesta ST with her added, voluntary excess £500

Total £1899.68

It isn't realistically going to drop much below that with others is it?

7k is too high for me currently

Joshy · 20 Dec 2010 at 21:16

The only way to know for certain is to get on the phone.

That seems a touch high to me, but I'm not used to doing quotes without any NCB.

Bell/elephant/admiral are good for young drivers so give them a shout. NCB doesn't seem to matter too much with them either.

Rich1988 · 20 Dec 2010 at 21:17

tesco in my experience = fail for quotes, seriously man try all the different companies, phone them up for the best deals, moneysupermarket are they best for young drivers of the comparison sites.

markomania · 20 Dec 2010 at 21:19

Focus 1.6 Zetec 3 door with tesco = £1345.17

I'll give the others a go and if I'm having no luck by then will hit the phone at the weekend!

ajstan · 20 Dec 2010 at 21:21

griffo_001 said:
And as an added bonus they're not a Vauxhall

Comments like this annoy me, the mk1 focus which was recommended now looks very dated and has a horrific interior.

IMO a mk5 astra would be a much better bet - It does all this:

Morba said:
Cheap to buy, mass made, reliable, cheap to run. In their respective markets they are suitable choices, no?

AND you can get a much newer car for your money.

Joshy · 20 Dec 2010 at 21:29

ajstan said:
Comments like this annoy me, the mk1 focus which was recommended now looks very dated and has a horrific interior.

I'm not sure if I agree with the astra recommendation (I'm sure someone else will over soon to "discuss" that with you

) but I do agree with the bit about the Focus.

I'm always taken back to see how many people recommend the MK1 Focus in threads like these even when the budget does stretch to a MK2. Every MK1 Focus this side of a RS looks like an old car, cheap car. No ifs, no buts. They've aged horribly.

griffo_001 · 20 Dec 2010 at 21:32

ajstan said:
Comments like this annoy me, the mk1 focus which was recommended now looks very dated and has a horrific interior.

IMO a mk5 astra would be a much better bet - It does all this:

AND you can get a much newer car for your money.

It was a joke

Yes you're right, the Mk1 Focus has a dated interior and the Astra would be newer, and in many ways its the better car. I'd still have the Focus though

ajstan · 20 Dec 2010 at 21:33

Joshy said:
I'm not sure if I agree with the astra recommendation (I'm sure someone else will over soon to "discuss" that with you ) but I do agree with the bit about the Focus.

I'm always taken back to see how many people recommend the MK1 Focus in threads like these even when the budget does stretch to a MK2. Every MK1 Focus this side of a RS looks like an old car, cheap car. No ifs, no buts. They've aged horribly.

I'm fully aware that I'm going to get ripped apart for recommending a Vauxhall - but I don't think it's justified. It's a solid, good, cheap to run car.

ajstan · 20 Dec 2010 at 21:34

griffo_001 said:
It was a joke Yes you're right, the Mk1 Focus has a dated interior and the Astra would be newer, and in many ways its the better car. I'd still have the Focus though

Why? Ford isn't exactly a prestigious badge is it?

griffo_001 · 20 Dec 2010 at 21:40

ajstan said:
Why? Ford isn't exactly a prestigious badge is it?

Prestigious, no. Quality, maybe? One thing you can't deny is that since the MK1 Mondeo Ford have grown a reputation as a company who can make boring cars handle brilliantly, and as someone who enjoys driving that's why I'd have one. It may not be the one for the OP, but as I said, its the one I'd have.

But as you rightly say, its the one everyone wants, so the price makes no sense when compared directly with the Astra, so if you only care about getting from A to B then the Astra is probably the better option.

Lopéz · 20 Dec 2010 at 21:42

ajstan said:
Why? Ford isn't exactly a prestigious badge is it?

What's prestige got to do with anything?

Why would you recommend an Astra V over a Focus? What does it do that is better?
I could not choose an Astra V over a Focus personally, the Astra is very average to drive compared to the Focus (1 and 2, not driven any newer ones)

markomania · 20 Dec 2010 at 21:46

Same info as tesco but with elephant this time

ST = £1697.83

Taking my mum off as a named driver adds £1k

Focus = £1143.39

If only my dad hadn't had an accident 2 months ago I could add him!

Joshy · 20 Dec 2010 at 21:52

Lopéz said:
What's prestige got to do with anything?

Why would you recommend an Astra V over a Focus? What does it do that is better?
I could not choose an Astra V over a Focus personally, the Astra is very average to drive compared to the Focus (1 and 2, not driven any newer ones)

Personally the fact that it doesn't look virtually identical to a 1997MY £1000 banger would be a big bonus.

I can't see why you'd particularly want an "exciting" drive in an average cooking hatchback either. You buy these cars for value, reliability and comfort. And in that order.

InvaderGIR · 20 Dec 2010 at 21:52

Birmingham is rubbish.

Joshy · 20 Dec 2010 at 21:56

InvaderGIR said:
Birmingham is rubbish.

I think it is the lack of NCB that is biting him more than the Postcode.

iaind · 20 Dec 2010 at 21:56

I think the focus has aged really well, some of the later special editions that this budget would buy look great.

Excitement was never mentioned, but a decent drive is a benefit regardless of the car.

markomania · 20 Dec 2010 at 22:11

iaind said:
I think the focus has aged really well, some of the later special editions that this budget would buy look great.

Excitement was never mentioned, but a decent drive is a benefit regardless of the car.

With my car history (ka 1.3, corsa 1.2, fiesta 1.2) most things will equal exciting to me

Lopéz · 20 Dec 2010 at 22:43

Joshy said:
I can't see why you'd particularly want an "exciting" drive in an average cooking hatchback either.

Because you've got to drive it every day.

You buy these cars for value, reliability and comfort. And in that order.

Great, the Focus does all three better.

Oh and your reason for not choosing the Focus?

Personally the fact that it doesn't look virtually identical to a 1997MY £1000 banger would be a big bonus.

Nice one. I can see value, reliability and comfort were top of the tree when you made that choice.