First car: Corsa/206/Other?

[SiD the Turtle]

I'll soon to be taking my practical and so I'll be needing a car once I've passed. I'm 22 so insurance is a big problem. So what would you recommend?

I learn with the AA in a Ford Focus 1.6 and the instructor recommends the Corsa, though I don't know if they are powerful enough from looking around.

The next obvious choice is the Peugeot 206, but I've never driven one.

If not one of those, what?

I reckon I could spend about 2-3K maximum.

 

[Jonnycoupe]

At 22 insurance is more of an annoyance every driver goes thru, not really a 'big problem'

Corsa is one the cheaper cars to insure, although oddly the 1.2 is less than the 1.0. A 306 could make a good buy too, not sure what 206's you can get at that budget. I'd suggest you get some quotes for an idea, using directline site, very easy to change the models to get an idea of RELATIVE costs to each other.

 

[oweneades]

I would have to suggest the ford focus 1.6 tbh. I am assuming that the one you are learning in is a new model focus).

However I am unsure of what ones you get within your budget.

The corsa is an ok car but thats it. Its just ok. Same goes imo for the 206.

TBH If I were you I would test drive some different cars you are interested in and see which one you like the most. (as everyones opinion is different).

On the insurance front you will be quite suprised at what you can insure. Some bigger engined cars (up to say a 1.8) will still be affordable depending on the make and model.

For example I am 20 and it was only £100 more for me to be insured on my Fabia vRS (130bhp 1.9TDI) than my old Fabia sport (1.4 75bhp).

EDIT: One other thing is hte trim level of a car can have quite large implications on the cost of the insurance. For example when I was looking at golfs I could insure the 1.9 TDI 130 SE model yet they (norwich union) wouldn't quote me on a 1.9TDI 130 GTI. Same car, same performance just different trim level.

This is not the case for all cars (focuses were all the same for me regardless of trim on the same engine size) however it may be something to take into consideration.

 

[chenko]

I'll soon to be taking my practical and so I'll be needing a car once I've passed. I'm 22 so insurance is a big problem. So what would you recommend?

I'm 21 and ive had a Japanese Import since I was 20... and I know someone who is 21 who pays more than me on a Fiesta (granted I have no idea why).

Small doesn't automatically mean its cheap to insure.

A focus is a nice car... better than any corsa tbqh

 

[SiD the Turtle]

Hmm Fabia sounds nice. I bit off my budget though.

 

[cymatty]

Either a focus 1.6 (has to be 3 door though) or a Saxo VTR insurance isnt as bad as you would think at your age.

 

[Gribs]

Get something big and older. You'll get a lot more car for your money. It'll be quicker, safer and probably cost less to insure than most small cars.

When I was 19 I changed cars from a 1.2 Nova to a 2.0 Cavalier. It had twice the power, double the insurance group yet still cost about £100 less to insure a year.

 

[Logsi]

Ive got a Ford Fiesta Zetec 1.4 2005 here and insurance is dire at my age,17. Luckily i put it on a family members and its now £500 for fully comp!

Take a look at the Fiesta Zetec S 1.6, they are nice cars!

 

[paradigm]

First car: Corsa/206/Other?

Other out of that list. Get something larger with a larger engine, you will only regret it later if you don't.

 

[Kitchster_uk]

Good advice from some of the others tbh, get something beter than a) a corsa (terminally dire and there are corsa owners here that hate themselves for buying one) or b) a 206 that'll drop to bits. A mate had the 2.0 GTI 138 bhp, 4 years old and it was in worse condition than my 14 year old GTO. Loads of stuff failed, including the cat, passenger seat wouldn't 'stick' in position, airbag light on, onboard computer was also a compulsive liar. Avoid tbh.

As said, the Focus or if you want a sportier look, how about a Puma? Nice cars and the 1.4 should be plenty cheap for you to insure.