1st Car Options

[Peter450]

Meh I hate emissions laws, I mean it's laughable, A 1993 Corolla liftback with a 1600cc engine has 113 bhp, like a 1.8l 2003 ( okay, it's a 98 model, bus still) astra, yet has better MPG ( 38 instead of 36). At least it has more torque.

Engines should be tuned for as much power as possible while maintaining reliability, not (co2) emissions .

In a sports or performance car maybe, but no one buying one of these is going to be that interested in anything other than running costs and MPG, if your buying a car just to get from A to B, then your going to want the best possible MPG and tax, rather than another 20 to 30hp, which will still = a not very sporty car, and now one thats going to cost more to run aswell, which goes againt the sole reason for buying it in the first place

 

[NerveAgent]

8.5 Seconds? Where are you getting that from?

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/Detail.aspx?deriv=14881

From the same site you are looking at but for the car I mentioned I bought earlier in the thread...

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/Detail.aspx?deriv=18572

 

[Janesy B]

From the same site you are looking at but for the car I mentioned I bought earlier in the thread...

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/Detail.aspx?deriv=18572

Oh right, a 'sportier' model geared for faster acceleration...

 

[NerveAgent]

Not quite sure what your point is there

 

[iaind]

It's a compromise for a start, if they achieve it by gearing then it's going to be a much less comfortable cruise

 

[[TW]Fox]

To be honest you cant go driving around in a 1.25 Fiesta at 24, they are cars for 17 year olds, you'd be better off with a Focus.

 

[NerveAgent]

It's a compromise for a start, if they achieve it by gearing then it's going to be a much less comfortable cruise

Oh right, does that change the fact that I said a car does 0-60 in 8.5 seconds then?

 

[Janesy B]

Oh right, does that change the fact that I said a car does 0-60 in 8.5 seconds then?

No, but 0-60 give a tiny idea of how quick a car is. For example a Focus ST170 does 0-60 only half second faster but I know for a fact it would eat your Astra SXI for lunch

 

[iaind]

To be honest you cant go driving around in a 1.25 Fiesta at 24, they are cars for 17 year olds, you'd be better off with a Focus.

While I agree that a Focus is better, I don't really see an issue with driving a Fiesta at 24....

 

[[TW]Fox]

Engines should be tuned for as much power as possible while maintaining reliability, not (co2) emissions .

Thats a ridiculous idea, there is no need for ever increasing power in economy vehicles. Nobody buys a Corolla to go fast - they buy it to be an A to B car. Economy is preferable in these cars to power - and if you continually increased power you'd end up with a 250bhp 1.8 Corolla which was pretty expensive, whats the point?

 

[Janesy B]

While I agree that a Focus is better, I don't really see an issue with driving a Fiesta at 24....

I do feel like a bit of a yoooof in my Fiesta I must admit

More of an image thing I guess...

 

[NerveAgent]

Its sure would, the ST170 is a bit crap though thats why a chose a Leon Cupra R back in my clean licence days. Lets not take it that far off topic

 

[Janesy B]

Its sure would, the ST170 is a bit crap though thats why a chose a Leon Cupra R back in my clean licence days. Lets not take it that far off topic

The Leon Cupra R's closest competition is the MK1 Focus RS, bit unfair comparing a ST170 to a LCR.

 

[iaind]

I do feel like a bit of a yoooof in my Fiesta I must admit

That's probably your friday nights in maccy d's car park though p

Depends how self conscious you are I guess - I wouldnt really want one but that's purely because I prefer bigger cars, at 17 I was driving a diesel mondeo!

But fiestas are popular with the young'uns because they're a decent, small, cheap car. If you happen to be a 24 year old who wants a decent, small, cheap car then they're still ideal - just that most 24 year olds want a bit more than that

 

[Will]

To be honest you cant go driving around in a 1.25 Fiesta at 24, they are cars for 17 year olds, you'd be better off with a Focus.

That a Focus would repesent a better drive and be only slightly more costly to run I don't dispute, but you clearly live in a different world than me if you think most 24 year olds don't drive small engined town cars!

 

[[TW]Fox]

That a Focus would repesent a better drive and be only slightly more costly to run I don't dispute, but you clearly live in a different world than me if you think most 24 year olds don't drive small engined town cars!

He has an opportunity to do better, at 24 even as a new driver the insurance will cost a negligable amount more on a Focus, so there is simply no need to go the Fiesta route

 

[Joshy]

Maybe he is one of those people with the irrational fear of "Big" cars?

 

[Saint]

Maybe he is one of those people with the irrational fear of "Big" cars?

haha!

Looking at around £1200 for insuring a 1.6 Focus Zetec. Think I might have to just bite the bullet and pay a lot for the first year - can't really get it any cheaper in my situation. 25 next year so hopefully the premium will reduce a fair bit.

Thoughts on the car choice?

 

[[TW]Fox]

Carlsberg dont make first cars, but if they did, they'd probably be Focus 1.6 Zetecs.

 

[Joshy]

Good car choice I say! The Focus seemed to be a great all round car - They're nice runabouts but can offer the odd "thrill" if you're so inclined - It should suit you well!

Be thankful that you learned to drive when you did if you think £1,200 is a lot for your first year of driving! I'm paying nearly double that for my second year .

Just out of interest, what sort of quotes are you getting on a Fiesta?

I might get shot for staying this, buuuuuut if might be worth running a quote for a Chrysler Neon? I understand that they are pretty dire cars, but you do get quite a lot of a dire car for your money, and from my old research they seemed to be dirt cheap to insure.