Good first car?

Nuclear Fusion · 29 Mar 2016 at 17:01

So basically I am looking to buy my first car as I will be graduating this summer and starting a graduate job as a software consultant (hence a fair bit of travelling visiting clients etc). Insurance quotes surprisingly don't seem to vary much by car/engine size, so considering my height (6ft 3) I am considering a larger car like a mondeo or passat. I originally had £3k as a rough budget but I am pretty flexible if it is worth spending more. I had a test drive of a Passat B6 2.0 TDI Highline today, very comfy, actually pretty fast given its size and loaded with features. It's £4700 for a 58 plate with 108K mostly motorway miles and I have to say I am tempted. Any good? Or other suggestions? Thanks

Arthur Hucksake · 29 Mar 2016 at 19:18

What sort of mileage you likely to do?

Audi A3 could be an option as an inbetween type. TDI Sportback.

ultralaser · 29 Mar 2016 at 19:19

A4 S line as a first car?! Hahaha

Arthur Hucksake · 29 Mar 2016 at 19:24

ultralaser said:
A4 S line as a first car?! Hahaha

Why not if you drive sensible? Tidy handling will get you out of a pinch and the safety features are spot on.

No need to be driving around in 1 litre noddy cars any more if the insurance isn't much different and you've got speed cameras everywhere.

Nasher · 29 Mar 2016 at 21:54

Insurance will be high on any Audi as a first car. Most people go with a shed for the first few years. The risk of minor bumps and scrapes for a new driver is high and you don't want to be forking out for expensive repairs.

Arthur Hucksake · 29 Mar 2016 at 22:23

Nasher said:
Insurance will be high on any Audi as a first car. Most people go with a shed for the first few years. The risk of minor bumps and scrapes for a new driver is high and you don't want to be forking out for expensive repairs.

It really amazes me how people manage it.

Saw a P plate practically trying to become part of another car the other day. Someone who has officially passed their test right up someone's arse, already just over the 40mph limit. Wtf is wrong with them.

Not sure if you can park in a spot safely? Then don't.

I'd say if your sensible and have a nicer motor, you are more likely to be considerate and careful.

miikeeyy92 · 29 Mar 2016 at 22:28

ultralaser said:
A4 S line as a first car?! Hahaha

I have an A3 as my first car. Not too bad on the insurance, only thing out of the ordinary to pay for was some paint bubbles. Been rather cheap really.

TheVoice · 29 Mar 2016 at 22:38

How much is "not too bad"?

When I was 21 it was nearly £2k for a 1.6 Astra.

miikeeyy92 · 29 Mar 2016 at 23:04

TheVoice said:
How much is "not too bad"?

When I was 21 it was nearly £2k for a 1.6 Astra.

It was roughly £1000 on a 2.0T, but I had a year and a bit no claims from my mums car, both parents on my policy, and I was a mechanical engineer for the year, not student, which helped, but still not ludicrous.

Nuclear Fusion · 29 Mar 2016 at 23:15

Not sure on mileage, probably up to 10K a year but it's hard to say until I start the job. I should add that I have been a named driver on my parent's car for about a year and a half so although it is a first car for me, I have been driving around for a bit so hopefully not too much risk of scrapes anymore. The parking sensors on the passat in the OP should help prevent that though! I'm getting quotes of around £850 a year online for insurance, hopefully I might be able to get that down a little bit more with haggling.

The Audis are that bit more expensive however, so I would need to go for an older model/more miles/lower spec compared to VW etc. Is there much in it between an A4 and Passat other than badge really?

Begbie · 29 Mar 2016 at 23:16

I added parents to my policy, saved me quite a fair bit too!

Blackhawk47 · 30 Mar 2016 at 09:30

Nasher said:
Insurance will be high on any Audi as a first car. Most people go with a shed for the first few years. The risk of minor bumps and scrapes for a new driver is high and you don't want to be forking out for expensive repairs.

If he is a graduate then he must be 21+ years old I guess?

Why not? It's not as if he is 17...

iaind · 30 Mar 2016 at 09:34

Hyperbole and sweeping statements are always rife in these sorts of threads.. so many people fail to comprehend that insurance is highly personal and you can't apply your own experience in such a blanket way to others asking for help. Comments like "insurance on any audi will be high" are completely useless and almost certainly incorrect

-Mike- · 30 Mar 2016 at 10:15

Make sure you have business use on that policy if you'll be driving around to clients etc.

Molemanmus · 30 Mar 2016 at 10:38

ultralaser said:
A4 S line as a first car?! Hahaha

I had a Galant VR4 (2.5 twin turbo

) as my first (age 21)...it all depends on circumstance.

Bego2K · 30 Mar 2016 at 10:42

Had a mk4 Ford Escort Cabriolet for my first car... Rust bucket.

cheesyboy · 30 Mar 2016 at 12:13

£4.7k for that Passat seems a bit high. Would have thought it should be about £1k lower.

I've had a 2006 B6 estate for about 5 years. It's been very reliable, and I don't treat it nice. Boring, though. Other than motorway journeys, I prefer driving our Polo, to be honest.

Ryan-3 · 30 Mar 2016 at 12:28

Molemanmus said:
I had a Galant VR4 (2.5 twin turbo ) as my first (age 21)...it all depends on circumstance.

Nice.

Blackhawk47 · 30 Mar 2016 at 13:01

iaind said:
Hyperbole and sweeping statements are always rife in these sorts of threads.. so many people fail to comprehend that insurance is highly personal and you can't apply your own experience in such a blanket way to others asking for help. Comments like "insurance on any audi will be high" are completely useless and almost certainly incorrect

Agreed, mine costs £550 on a new TT 2.0 TFSI and I'm 24. Which I think is pretty good considering my age and I've only got a couple years no claims.

It depends on so many factors its useless discussing it.