First time car options.

HankScorpio

HankScorpio

HankScorpio

Associate
Joined
28 Apr 2011
Posts
2,158
Location
North West
Hello all

I'm 27 and having my first driving test on the 16th and looking to get a car after this.(Hopefully) I'm training as a secondary teacher at the mo, so would like a car to avoid busing it with the kids, which is what I'm doing at the mo and it's no fun. :(

In terms of the best deals for me, I was thinking of getting a cheap banger, since the insurance quotes are around 2k for new drivers with 0 no claims. So something to offset the massive first year insurance bill.

I was also considering buying a new car, as some come with 3 years free insurance, but can't seem to find any deals at the mo.

There's also car leasing, or just add fuel deals. These seem to require 2 years no claims. There's also the caveat of having to pay 3k deposit which you'll lose.

I'm beginning to consider getting a sub 1k car on gumtree and just getting the cheapest 3rd party insurance to get me my first year no claims.

Also don't have anybody in the family that can drive. Except an uncle who lives 4 miles away.

Just after some advice that can save me money, don't really have anybody who can tell me this stuff. Cheers! :)
 
Obligatory get a used fiesta post.
/thread

Better off with a used car to start with. Any small hatch will do. Fiesta Corsa yaris etc.
As usual people will moan about corsa's without even owning one on here but I've had two of them (one which was my first car) and they were trouble free for me. Cheap to maintain but don't expect a luxurious ride.
 
Last edited:
If you've had your provisional licence for a while try getting a quote with Aviva. They ask for length of time you've held your licence including the time you've held the provisional licence.

My insurance was half the price of quotes else where.
 
godinman said:
Turbo lag and being off boost are different things and turbo engines usually provide more low down grunt than N/A engines.
Click to expand...

??? What does that have to do with this thread at all ???

Edit: Nevermind I see where you're trying to post :D
 
Last edited:
ADT said:
Obligatory get a used fiesta post.
/thread

Better off with a used car to start with. Any small hatch will do. Fiesta Corsa yaris etc.
As usual people will moan about corsa's without even owning one on here but I've had two of them (one which was my first car) and they were trouble free for me. Cheap to maintain but don't expect a luxurious ride.
Click to expand...

This. You want reliable and cheap to insure, so a small petrol hatchback is the way to go.

It's worth checking the local main dealers in case they've taken one as a trade-in and they want shot of it.
 
Seat Ibiza in my opinion best first cars group 5 insurance descent size and not killed kike corsas and fiestas. So far 3 of my mates went for one after pass and loved it to point of driving them to death!!
 
A Yaris is a very decent first car. Costs next to nothing to run and is far more reliable than any Ford or Vauxhall.
 
 
Last edited:
HankScorpio said:
Thank you :)

Oh, why's that? Had heard those are good first time cars.

What about these.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...cars/quicksearch/true/price-to/1000?logcode=p

http://www.gumtree.com/p/ford/full-...est-well-looked-after-9-months-mot/1099906746

http://www.gumtree.com/p/hyundai/hyunda-getz-1.3-gsi-mot-d-5-door-£650-no-offers-/1100717594

http://www.gumtree.com/p/nissan/nissan-micra-1.3i-16v-ally-/1100660047
Click to expand...

They're nasty cars, personally I never had one but I wanted one when I first started driving. What put me off them is watching a couple of my friends that had them spend every single penny they had in fixing them.

The clio is not bad, can have some issues though.
Fiesta is very good.
Micra is excellent (if you're looking to get from A to B). My other half has had one for a year and a half and its been flawless even though she has neglected it since day one.
I had a corsa when I first started driving, I found it to be quite good and was peanuts to run and maintain. Look for clean low owner examples.
 
Get your self something cheap, small and common.

Cheap because you will crash it, everyone does.
Small, because it gives greater tolerances for parking etc.
Common, because parts 1st and 2nd hand will be easy to find and cheap.

or you can go down the route my step father chose for me and get a 110 defender, bit of a shock going from a fiesta to that.
 
Problem I'm having is the insurance. Cheapest quote I've found is 1.6k for that 2006 Punto above with 0 years 0 months licence and 0 no claims.

Tried Aviva and they quoted me 3.5k, even though I put my licence as 5 years, since they count the provisional.
 
Gj passing your test.

Elephant was the cheapest for my first year, perhaps give them a try. The bigger engine you get the more pricey it is, my first car which I still have is a Rover 25 1.4, I think on my 3rd year with a full license I looked at getting a bigger car but even at 1.6 the insurance price almost doubled.

You will definitely pay a massive premium though, that cannot be escaped. It's the con of a new driver.

For a starter car I would agree with everyone else, something cheap below 1k that you won't get angry about damaging, and preferably a manf that is still in business. The best I can think of is Ford. My personal choice would be a Focus.
 
I'd have thought with you being a little older the prices would have been a bit better - apparently not.

Tbh it'll be complete pot luck whatever you buy at the kind of money you're spending, you would be far better off looking at a list of cars then buying the one that seems in the best conditions with the longest not and best history.

Puntos are pretty crap, but not that expensive to fix, Clio's are ok, fiestas good, Micra's generally bomb proof. If any one of the cars you are looking at are significantly cheaper to inside than the other, just buy it. Check as many as you can with the same company to see what's going to cost less

Fire some older relatives or partner onto your policy if they've been driving a while
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom