Should be passing my test soon, so I'm researching some cars. I've got a budget of 3k and I was looking for something a bit quicker than a standard 1.2. I've been looking at the 1.6 zetec s, mk6. Also the C2 gt 1.6, things like that. I understand it's a bit of a gamble as I want something reasonably reliable yet all the cars in this price range are high mileage.. 8. If I have go get a 1.2 or 1.4 I will, but I would much rather a bit of power. Any recommendations welcome!
1st car recommendations for 23yr old. Something nippy?
- Thread starter morguk
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It's not really balls though - or at least not for the average young male. Sure there are larger cars that are the exception but in general smaller cars are significantly cheaper for new drivers to insure.
OP don't get fixated on engine size, you really need to drive a few of these cars as you can find that going from say a 1.4 to a 1.6 (assuming all na) doesn't really give you a whole lot of extra power. Don't touch the citroen with a barge pole they're rotten little things.
OP don't get fixated on engine size, you really need to drive a few of these cars as you can find that going from say a 1.4 to a 1.6 (assuming all na) doesn't really give you a whole lot of extra power. Don't touch the citroen with a barge pole they're rotten little things.
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Get a Mondeo, focus, BMW and the usual spec me thread posts.
To be honest. your first car should be something that you don't spend a lot on and don't really care about. this is because you will crash it somehow. Either someone will crash into you or you will crash into them. Or maybe you'll reverse into something.
I got a £230 Clio. Lasted me a full year but someone decided to crash into whilst it were parked up.
To be honest. your first car should be something that you don't spend a lot on and don't really care about. this is because you will crash it somehow. Either someone will crash into you or you will crash into them. Or maybe you'll reverse into something.
I got a £230 Clio. Lasted me a full year but someone decided to crash into whilst it were parked up.
to be honest, 1.2 cars are fairly nippy nowadays, even back in the day of nova's and stuff my mates 1.2 was fine.
If you want some advise, stick with something cheap and cheerful for a year. get a years ncb and some good driving experience and then go for the 1.6 or 2.0 you want. You have less chance of speeding tickets, crashes and so on in the smaller engine car and it will get you pretty much from a-b in the same time. It should be cheaper to run too.
If you want some advise, stick with something cheap and cheerful for a year. get a years ncb and some good driving experience and then go for the 1.6 or 2.0 you want. You have less chance of speeding tickets, crashes and so on in the smaller engine car and it will get you pretty much from a-b in the same time. It should be cheaper to run too.
Associate
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Honda civic Sport 1.6 ep2 2005 reg, £3-4k should get a nice one, low insurance group 6, looks nice, and not too slow either. Compared with your crappy fiesta's and corsa's would take a honda civic over them cars any day!
^ I mostly agree with this man, although as a first car I'd spend less and get the 2001-2004/5 pre facelift model so I have more reserve cash for something better once you have 1/2yrs ncb and driving experience.
Mine never went wrong bar usual service items, very easy to drive, light steering, seated quite high and gearstick is very comfortable on the centre console and indeed to me as a first car felt pretty nippy compared to other people I knew getting corsas, clios etc which were smaller, slower, and cost up to 1k more to insure! Mad.
Mine never went wrong bar usual service items, very easy to drive, light steering, seated quite high and gearstick is very comfortable on the centre console and indeed to me as a first car felt pretty nippy compared to other people I knew getting corsas, clios etc which were smaller, slower, and cost up to 1k more to insure! Mad.
Soldato
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Alfa 147 of some engine spec?
The insurance premiums seem realistic on Alfa's. Mine is ridiculously low at aged 40 (2.5 V6 is less than my Fiat 1.9JTD), however the guy who lives upstairs just replaced his Citroen Berlingo with a 147. He is 26 and found it cost less than 15 pounds a year more on renewal.
The insurance premiums seem realistic on Alfa's. Mine is ridiculously low at aged 40 (2.5 V6 is less than my Fiat 1.9JTD), however the guy who lives upstairs just replaced his Citroen Berlingo with a 147. He is 26 and found it cost less than 15 pounds a year more on renewal.
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Clio 172.
We found this, replaced a 57 plate 1.9 Astra with a 61 plate 2.0 Alfa Giulietta and the premium dropped quite a bit.
Soldato
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Lol'd at the 172, though in his price range 
If I was in your circumstances, I would probably choose the EP2 Civic Sport, if insurance allow.
Type R styling without the Type R costs, It looks good, Its a Honda so should be reliable (If looked after properly)
If I was in your circumstances, I would probably choose the EP2 Civic Sport, if insurance allow.
Type R styling without the Type R costs, It looks good, Its a Honda so should be reliable (If looked after properly)
I was going to say I didn't crash my first car, nor did someone crash into me, then I read the last sentence and yup, I did reverse into something - my own house
Buy something moderately fun, without too much power and you're onto a winner. I bought an E36 318is and it was more fun to drive than my E46 330i - wish I still had it now.