The new car condundrum for an older first time driver

AssaTM

AssaTM

AssaTM

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Hi all,

I'm relatively late to the learning to drive game (Lack of patience and just putting it off mainly) so I'll be one of those new drivers that's 30+ on the road :cry:

However, this is where my question comes in! traditionally it's always the case you get a beat up or cheaper first car and just roll with it until you upgrade it in a year or two after, however given my age and the fact I'm in a financially better position than the traditional 17 year old i'm at a crossroad... i'd like to think i'm quite responsible and would drive within my bounds, and I quite appreciate all of the comforts of a modern car so would it be daft of me to look to get a relatively modern say Fiesta, Puma etc and then just keep that for however many years, rather than buy a cheaper car that I know i'll want to lose in a year anyway...

Is the common consensus this sounds absolutely fine for a (somewhat) more level headed/older driver? any advice would be great please! even if it is just reaffirming what i'm saying to make me feel better :D
 
Given that you're not <21 years old, insurance will already be substantially cheaper, so I would agree with you in your choice for something more modern like a Fiesta/Puma :)
 
I would say before all of that, that you run some quotes for prospective purchases and just make sure you're happy with typical quote price for insurance.

Would seem a waste of time to find a car you like and buy it, and then find it's more than you want to pay to insure it.
 
Do you really know what car you want long term? You might regret buying that fiesta and holding on to that for multiple years just to make the depreciation worthwhile. Even as an older newly qualified person, insurance won't be cheap if you live anywhere remotely urban, and so will be channeled into cars you may not like.

However, if you are able to jump into a relatively large car with okay insurance, go for it.
 
I agree completely that paying over the odds for insurance just wouldn't be worth it, for a brand new (Just for insurance comparison purposes) vehicle i'm looking at around a grand give or take, which i'm absolutely fine with given it would be my first car.

It's just that stereotype of you always prang your first car etc etc, but i've always associated that to age rather than difficulty driving

In all honesty it would just always be the new model of Fiesta, Puma or the ilk i'll go for, i've always wanted to own a 350z for example but lets be honest, it's not gonna be my commuting car is it so I guess with age the responsibility has now kicked in :cry:
 
AssaTM said:
It's just that stereotype of you always prang your first car etc etc, but i've always associated that to age rather than difficulty driving
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Just lack of awareness/care in my opinion.

I'm 22 and been driving since 17, myself nor any of my close friends (about 10 of them) have had any prangs/bumps :)
 
I learned to drive late too at 38 in 2013 and bought my first new car (Smart Fortwo Auto) in February 2019 after owning a 2007 107 and 2007 Smart Fortwo both of which were around 5k.

My insurance last year was just over £ 160 fully comp and the only prangs I’ve had in my new car was a scuff on the left wing mirror casing and a scratch on the drivers side door card that I did with my key.

Also a minor scrape on the passenger side corner which is barely visible unless you know it’s there and in fact when they picked my car up for a service and did a cosmetic check they noticed the wing mirror but not this little scrape I speak of.

Got most of it out with meguiars ultimate compound.
 
AssaTM said:
Hi all,

I'm relatively late to the learning to drive game (Lack of patience and just putting it off mainly) so I'll be one of those new drivers that's 30+ on the road :cry:

However, this is where my question comes in! traditionally it's always the case you get a beat up or cheaper first car and just roll with it until you upgrade it in a year or two after, however given my age and the fact I'm in a financially better position than the traditional 17 year old i'm at a crossroad... i'd like to think i'm quite responsible and would drive within my bounds, and I quite appreciate all of the comforts of a modern car so would it be daft of me to look to get a relatively modern say Fiesta, Puma etc and then just keep that for however many years, rather than buy a cheaper car that I know i'll want to lose in a year anyway...

Is the common consensus this sounds absolutely fine for a (somewhat) more level headed/older driver? any advice would be great please! even if it is just reaffirming what i'm saying to make me feel better :D
Click to expand...

I was you a few years ago. You will still curb, ding and bump whatever you buy, it's as inevitable as death and taxes. That said, you don't have to buy a heap. I got a fairly high spec 2011 1.8 Honda Civic with lowish mileage for around £5k in a private sale, which obviously wasn't a p.o.s, but wasn't anything fancy either (although I couldn't face getting the gutless 1.4 engine so 'upgraded' there). It's old enough that I don't care about the odd 'blemish' but like most I'd rather my car didn't look like it'd escaped a battlefield.

Obviously with a few years more experience my next set of wheels should stay in better condition for longer as far as stuff that's under my ability to control.

Bare in mind the used market now is pretty wild though now - on AutoTrader cars like mine as far as age/spec/mileage are being sold by dealers for around what I paid 4 years ago so you will get less for your money than you would have pre-rona.
 
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I think any new driver has a higher chance of damaging their car its part of learning.

But life is short. Buy what you want and can afford. Modern car with lots of driver aids only makes things easier.
 
I would just a get a Focus/Astra in a decent spec like Titanium X or Elite. Ten a penny and with plenty of power for a new driver. Drive that around for a year or two then look at something more bigger.
 
Was about 20 years since passing my test before I had any kind of bump or scrape - then managed to clip a gate post I'd been through 100s of times and was pretty much following my own tracks from earlier so no idea how I did it (fortunately no real damage) and had someone reverse into my parked vehicle within a short space of time.
 
Cars with high NCAP ratings tend to be the cheapest to insure, I know the new Puma rates very high so that would be a good call
 
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