Looking to drive after a 20 year break, don't know what the second hand market is like...

happy_2008 said:
Might want to book your driving lesson now, heard its an absolutely joke nowadays to book a drive test and if you do get an appointment it will be at least 6 months away.
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My first lesson is today. Test are available in September in my area at the moment.
 
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@Moley Good luck luck with your test and well done for deciding to get behind the wheel again.

Can I ask what happened in the accident?

Just curious, but totally understand if you prefer not to elaborate.
 
bainbridge said:
@Moley Good luck luck with your test and well done for deciding to get behind the wheel again.

Can I ask what happened in the accident?

Just curious, but totally understand if you prefer not to elaborate.
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It’s not easy to talk about, but I’ve always been completely honest and open about it - which is one of my ways of dealing with it, and after 20 years reflection I can be honest with myself too about it.

I was driving home on a bank holiday weekend, lost control of my car coming out of a roundabout and found myself upside down on the side of the road. Unfortunately the car had ploughed through a young couple while flipping and with 20 mins the young girl died of her injuries.

With hindsight I was driving a car that I had no business driving, it was too powerful for my level of driving experience - a Nissan Skyline R33 GTS - and I had always been one of those drivers who drove towards the top end of the speed limit and I was keen to get home for the long bank holiday weekend to spend time with my new girlfriend. It appears that I accelerated too hard out of the roundabout and with the wheels not being straight, the turbo kicked in before I was ready and the backend flew out and I couldn’t bring it back into control.

My lack of insight and forethought devastated the world of several families that day and it’s taken 20 years for me to forgive myself and seek closure.

Whilst it was an accident and came completely out of the blue, I was responsible and it was my fault and the sheer terror of the possibility of it happening again is what has held me back from driving ever since.
 
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Wait until you pass your test first as its harder than ever!

For £250 a month get into a PCP for something newish from a main dealer ideally. Lots of choice past your test first find something you like the look of go from there do a lot of research on the internet as lots of scams around, lots of dodgy cars around nowadays with expensive to fix hidden faults or design flaws (hence main dealer will be a safer purchase).

You can get a fairly decent Renault Clio for around £250 a month.
 
Drangueos said:
I would problably check the price of insurance to decide what car.. but probably a golf or something japanese
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I'm looking at Ford Focus's now actually as that's what I've been driving in for my lessons.
 
Moley said:
I'm looking at Ford Focus's now actually as that's what I've been driving in for my lessons.
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You might want to look at the recent door seal forum thread on here. Not saying that it's a reason not to buy a Focus, but folks on there have been mentioning the door seals coming off is a common fault on the MK3/3.5s, so just something to be aware of. Of course, all the usual checks and advice when looking at any second hand car still applies.
 
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Moley said:
I'm looking at Ford Focus's now actually as that's what I've been driving in for my lessons.
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Worth keeping in mind that for the 1.0 ecoboost in older models the wet timing belt is due at 10 years / 125k miles (from memory). It's very labour intensive so can be costly. I can't remember the year, but they switched to a chain - I believe there may still be a fair bit of labour to do the oil pump belt though.
 
bjmnz said:
Worth keeping in mind that for the 1.0 ecoboost in older models the wet timing belt is due at 10 years / 125k miles (from memory). It's very labour intensive so can be costly. I can't remember the year, but they switched to a chain - I believe there may still be a fair bit of labour to do the oil pump belt though.
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Thanks, good to know. I’m test driving a 2 year old car today.
 
bjmnz said:
Worth keeping in mind that for the 1.0 ecoboost in older models the wet timing belt is due at 10 years / 125k miles (from memory). It's very labour intensive so can be costly. I can't remember the year, but they switched to a chain - I believe there may still be a fair bit of labour to do the oil pump belt though.
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I would not want to be leaving a wet belt that long with the high amount of failures they have. They fall apart and start blocking oil pathways. It's best to avoid anything with a wet belt really.
 
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bjmnz said:
Worth keeping in mind that for the 1.0 ecoboost in older models the wet timing belt is due at 10 years / 125k miles (from memory). It's very labour intensive so can be costly. I can't remember the year, but they switched to a chain - I believe there may still be a fair bit of labour to do the oil pump belt though.
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2018 they switched to chain belt. I made sure my Dad got a 18 or newer plate when he went for a Ford Focus.
 
When my wife started driving 3 years ago now, we got her a used Toyota Aygo, 59 plate, she works 3 days a week has been a great little card, nice and reliable, good fuel economy
 
I had a break from driving as I was commuting by train so I was starting with 0 ncb...at mid 40's age
12 year old micra 1.2 was about 500 the first year, but now in year 3 it's dropped down to about £250 per year.

I'd probably do something similar for the first year to get that ncb... Small Japanese car
 
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