Buying first car (Civic ep2, Mg zr, punto sport?)

zingrock

zingrock

zingrock

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12 Jul 2016
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Hey folks, first post here,

Looking to buy my first car in a couple of months, want some advice!

Bit of info about me:
21 years old, been riding motocross and bikes since a young age, been riding on the road since 16 and currently ride a kawasaki er6f.
Finally in a financial position to get a car, just passed my test (competent driver since 15)
I have 4 years no claims on a bike, which some insurers will take into account I have heard.
3 points on my license (pesky mobile camaras)
Budget of around £2k, insurance budget of around £1.5k (fingers crossed).

Having driven many of my friends cars, I really liked the 1.4 civic, and have always lent towards jap cars.
Originally had a pipe dream of getting the ep3 type r as my first car, but my 3 points, limited budget and age, I've lowered my sights.

A few questions:
Can I get a decent enough 1.6 civic sport and insurance for my budget?
Bearing in mind I'm used to going 0-60 in 4 seconds, will the 108bhp vtec be enough or will I get bored? (obviously I'm not expecting anything like that, but I think a 1.2 corsa would feel like a cruiseliner)
Are there any pokier alternatives, jap or not, with just as good styling but similar cost?

Any advice would be appreciated
 
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You in the UK? Being able to drive since 15 sounds nice and legal...

For mininum hassle I'd aim for a Civic that's been looked after - especially if the alternatives are a Punto or an MG. Look for one where the owner hasn't been scrimping on maintenance. Recent spend and a decent service history. Half decent brand tyres on all four corners and matching on each axle at least. Take a look at the MOT history and avoid something that's had lots of advisories.

Go for condition over mileage. High mileage is OK as long as it's got the service and repair history to back it up (preverably receipts rather than a stamped book).
 
My bad Uriel, as edited above I meant I've been competent at physically driving since 15 (lived on farm), but only passed my test very recently as I've always put the bike first.

Thanks for advice on civic, I do like them, open to any alternatives, punto and mg were just ones in my head
 
If your after something japanese, cheap to buy, cheap to run, with a little bit of fun that doesnt have the insane insurance premium can I suggest a Yaris T-Sport?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201603232254996

They aren't going to be a patch on your bike, but I moved from a 45bhp 1996 1.2 corsa upto one of those as my 2nd car and it positively felt like going at warp speed in comparison. I dont think your going to find much else with that kind of reliability that does the 0-60 sprint in less than 9s for this money. If I remember correctly the 1.4 Civic is only 88bhp as well, you would need the 1.6 to hit 108bhp (but even then there a good 250KG heavier than the yaris so the 103bhp in one of these will feel much quicker).

I personally wouldn't touch a Punto or MG when you could have one of these.
 
1500 for a toyota is also wow, Im just more biased to Honda but what he said also ^^

Budget of around £2k
Click to expand...

relatively a paupers budget, theres only one choice which is the Honda of course. So long as you get a decent example, it should be reliable which for older cars is usually the larger cost vs purchase
 
I must admit I probably prefer a civic to a Yaris. But given his budget and wanting something fun I can't think of any Cvici that matches that model of Yaris.
 
I think you made a god like forum post there with giving him that advert/advice. He should jump up from his chair and go chase that down. Your reasoning was great, weight is a massive deal for a small nippy car and yea that could be an amazing first car though I dont know that car exactly Ive not heard complaints from owners/drivers and afaik Toyota are top reliability.


Its too old for any exact price but this site is generally good - http://www.parkers.co.uk/
 
Yea they certainly ticked my boxes when I got mine. Thinking about it I'm 99% certain I was 21 when I bought mine!

I remember looking at things like the Saxo VTR / Corsa SXI as well but the insurance on both of them was insane compared to the Yaris. Somehow it managed to avoid the huge insurance premium being slapped on everything that I wanted.

They dont handle as well as a Saxo / 106, but with a set of Tien lowering springs and some powder coated alloys they take on a much better look and actually become a decent laugh to drive. (This was mine when I had one)

CIMG4179.jpg


If I remember rightly you can even save a bundle on tyres. As standard they come with 185/55/15 tyres but 195/50/15 also fits on the rim without issue. 195/50/15 is a ridiculously cheap tyre size and you can get decent rubber (Rainsport 3's) fitted for £50 a wheel.
 
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Fitted at a normal garage with no mates rates? I'd be intrigued to know the tyre size, otherwise it's not really comparing like for like. Even then it's still essentially 20% cheaper than you paid and I struggle to think of another normal car where you would be putting those tyres on for 50 quid a wheel. Even at 205/55/16 which is the most common tyre size there is they come in at 57.
 
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Fitted at halfords autocenter booked online, 225/45/17 XL

Obviously it's not quite like for like, but just saying that 50 quid a corner isn't ridiculously cheap, not for that tyre anyway
 
You must have got an especially good deal then given that they are currently listed as £73 a corner.

Zmhq3aX.jpg


In percentage terms thats essentially 40% more expensive. I get that if you have the cashe an extra £20 per tyre isn't tons of money, but if your running things on a budget I think you will struggle to find a tyre size any cheaper than 195/50/15, it's certainly cheaper than the 14's I have to find on my other halfs Micra.
 
Just found my email receipt - they were £60.99 in April.

Anyway, not derailing the thread any further - I'm just saying I dont think £50 a corner for midrange tyres is "ridiculously cheap", that's all :)
 
If its the choice of the three listed then its the Civic all day. Just try and tell yourself you are getting a car for the practicality, they will be slow. Leave it to the bikes for your fun!

For 2k you could also look at fiestas / focus's / astras, that kind of thing. They wont be nippy, but again, leave that to the bike.
 
Wow that yaris is a shout right there. Definetly worth looking into cheers binssy, and I do quite dig the look of yours!

Yeah I had the 1.6 civic sport in mind anyway, really like the look of them, only mentioned the 1.4 as its the one I've driven! The 3 listed are by no means what I've narrowed it down to, just ones I'd been thinking of.

cheers for advice so far chaps, keep it coming
 
Avoid the MG ZR's, I had a facelift one for about 18 months and it rattled like there was no tomorrow and most of the trim fell off. HG failed about a month after I sold it too.
 
zingrock - you might want to edit that last Yaris link. I think you left your postcode and search details in there.

I've changed the link in my post quoting from you (post # 17) - you can copy that in if you like. (once removed from the link the x miles from postcode will default to whichever was the last postcode you had on the site).
 
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