First Car (mature driver)

[Somnambulist]

Being a Londoner I got away without really needing to drive for a long time but for a few reasons that's changed and I'm now close to booking my practical test, so hopefully I'll have passed soon and will need something to drive. Alas, I know very little about cars. Learning in a DS3 and not enamoured with that.

I'm 32 so I'm not sure if that will come into play with first-time-driver insurance (I'm sure it'll still be high and BR5 seems to be a Cat E area too...) and I have a bit more money to spend than a 17 year old, but at the time from what I've gleaned from skimming treads I probably shouldn't be looking to spend too much either for the usual reasons.

Driving would mostly be town runaround with occasional motorway/longer distances. Only real list of wants would be:

• 5-door, don't want it to be cramped in the back
• As good an interior/comfort (for longer drives) as I could expect for a first car
• The usual reliability/economy/cost of any parts etc stuff
• Decent visibility/vision/driving position or whatever you'd call it
(• Love my hi-fi so something I could stick a CarPlay receiver in and some better speakers although this might be something that's dead-easy to do on most cars)

I've searched a bit and seen things like Civics, Grande/Evo Puntos, Mazda 2s, Ibizas, Fabias - anything in particular that's recommended? I've looked at places like Honest John and all he ever recommends is a Yaris 1.3, but I don't want the same car as my mum! I don't really want something like a Fiesta either just because they seem so ubiquitous, although I recognise that's not a strong reason not to consider one!

 

[Somnambulist]

I'd probably want the next size up in cars if you're in your 30's. Look a the Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Seat Leon etc.

I did consider that, although obviously I'll have to see how insurance compares.

I wouldn't splash out to much on a first car. Get something oldish but still good.

That's the plan!

They are ubiquitous because they are the best small car on the market, arguably. The Punto is a terrible prehistoric thing which dates from 2005 and is remarkably still being sold new.

Not buying a Fiesta because it's common is like buying a Blackberry because everyone has android or iPhone..

This is true. I assume though that like the Corsa or Clio or something, lots of them on the road + lots of young people driving them = probably end up paying more for insurance than something which less young people drive? I'm sort of working on the assumption picking something likely less common but still good means I can save a bit on insurance.

 

[Somnambulist]

Thanks for the replies! Having looked at the Civic more the visibility out the back doesn't look very encouraging so I'll probably scratch that off the list. Re the suggestion of a Focus... I'm not adverse to that idea at all as they're still relatively compact and I'd be happy with something practical and sensible. The Mazda 3 looks great too and would tick the Japanese box (I suppose that would be a case of reliability v.s. cheaper parts/repairs with the Ford?).

Postcode-wise as said I'm Cat E which is the 2nd worst but that's only one part of the equation.

 

[Somnambulist]

Focus's are also very reliable mate, even compared to a Mazda 3. Don't be convinced that because a car is Japanese, nothing will go wrong!

Although a friend of mine had a Mazda 3 sport which was a really nice place to be! Great cars

Noted. I do like the interior of the 3 compared to the Focus though...

What don't you like about the DS3 as that might sway what people recommend?

My instructor has the Cabrio version. I obviously don't have anything to compare driving it to, but it feels stiff and certainly isn't very forgiving going over humps and bumps in the road. The visibility feels only 'ok' - the A pillars seem to obstruct my vision a bit, the windows a bit pokey and I feel like I've been in cars where the mirrors offer a better view.

This guy is on the money imo.

That said not seen any mention of budget so not sure if that might be a factor (or if you're looking @ new?)

Wouldn't be new; first car and all. I was thinking (not including insurance) up to about £3k? I could go up to £4-5k if I wanted to but for a first car I don't want to go mad.

 

[Somnambulist]

I passed at 35 a few months back and ended up with Mazda 2 Sport, perfectly decent car - recently nippy for what it is, good size for my purposes and I like the looks. Learned in a Civic (nice car but poor visibility due to spoiler), Corsa (ok, didn't want the associated boy racer baggage ), and a Kia Proceed. I was looking at Fiesta sized cards after passing and the Mazda 2 (11 plate) was reasonably priced (4k) and insurance wasn't too crazy (£600).

Congrats!

 

[Somnambulist]

My workmates are outstounded you can get a Maserati for the prices on Autotrader some of them are listed at! £1400 for a new headlight though?!

 

[Somnambulist]

No garage so I'll have to pass.

 

[Somnambulist]

Bump. Life and driving instructor holidays got in the way but I took my test this morning and passed (first attempt)! Just had to deal with a suicidal pigeon but otherwise it went without incident! Now I really need to go through this thread again and start looking seriously.

 

[Somnambulist]

How often do you have people in the back? It's just that 3 doors are generally cheaper, and the amount of space between the 3 and 5 doors is exactly the same, being the same car and all, just a 3 door means it's a two step process to get in the back, so if you hardly have anyone in the back, who cares

I'm not completely married to the idea of a 5 door as long as it'd be a 3 door that doesn't require too much contorting to get into the back, as I'd be doing stuff like picking my parents up to take them to dinner etc and they're both over 60. I'd imagine that probably won't be an issue on a slightly larger car. A few hundred quid difference isn't an issue in the grand scheme of things though.

Re Civics, dat rear visibility though? Or do all you owners have the rear camera installed?

 

[Somnambulist]

If I lived in London I'd get something cheap that you don't really care about too much. It WILL get damaged at some point.

I'm only technically in London (Borough of Bromley) - it's pretty much suburbia round here, with ever increasing urban sprawl if you go North and the Kent countryside not far to the South.

 

[Somnambulist]

When you apply for insurance they do ask you how long you have held your license I imagine when you enter 2 months it automatically inflates the price a few times over. They then ask you about age and NCB, etc.

As a first car and having just passed you would be best going cheap. Like <£10K for sure. An old civic, polo or focus will suffice with a 1.6 engine max. Or you could just not drive at all for a couple of years. Wait for the amount of years you have held a license to increase. Even without any NCB the fact you have held a license for 3 years will make a difference to premiums especially when combined with your age.

If you really need a car then go cheap on the first one for the first 2 years. After that you can get something decent with a nice engine.

<£5K more like, and that'd be including insurance!

It's been busy at work all week so I haven't had much down-time to look and play with quotes, and doing 12hr shifts means either side of a decent commute = no time to look at home either (last day tomorrow though) but I have booked my first Pass Plus lesson with my instructor; it may or may not make any difference to insurance but it's stuff I obviously wasn't able to do as a learner with the motorway driving, and keeps me getting practice/experience as I don't want a long gap between passing and actually having a car.

 

[Somnambulist]

Did my first Pass Plus today, 2/6 modules done (Town Driving and Dual Carriageways so nothing haven’t done already, although I did get the chance to stay on some carriageways for longer than when I was learning and do some overtaking!), much more importantly, his car - a DS3 - was being serviced as someone had gone into the back of him while he was stationary at some lights, so he’d been given a dual control Fiesta in the interim.

First different car I’ve driven. I can totally see what people mean when they say they’re fun to drive - handling was way nicer, gear selection easier and the clutch was more forgiving... the braking I did not like though, at all. Seemed super sharp! Like nothing, nothing, wham harsh braking. Interesting experience though. Motorways next week...

 

[Somnambulist]

Yeah I've read about the 3 v.s. 5 door thing in regards to tight spaces! Slightly bigger is fine in the Ford's case as the Focus looks a bit nicer on the inside than the Fiesta. I know the amount of cheap looking plastic shouldn't be high on the priority list for a first car but...

Oh and forgot to mention. When you think you know what kind of car to get, look for the owners club website / forums. Often there'll be a buyer's guide stickied somewhere. These are invaluable for knowing what to look out for when you go and actually view the cars. "Ah it's a minor clunk, they all do that sir", but the owners forum says "that's a rare clunk, but if it's got it, a 4-figure bill looms", you'll save yourself a fortune.

Thanks!

My dad suffers from glaucoma and although the optician he uses is 100% sure he's fit to drive still, it's gotten slightly worse lately so to be a good boy he's informed the DVLA and just done an eye test with a DVLA affiliated optician who sends the results off to them and they make the ultimate decision on whether he can still hold his license. He'd be royally ****'ed if they took it away from him, but if they did he has a late 2000's high spec Fabia that I would apparently have first dibs on (assuming insurance wasn't £££), so I'm sort of waiting to here what happens there before oogling at any more Civics on Autotrader (starting to develop an attachment...). Only thing is that it's an auto - well, not a proper one but an automatic for all intents and purposes - and I was planning on sticking to manual for a while a least seeing as I've only just learnt.

 

[Somnambulist]

I'd grab the Skoda. High spec, and presumably it's been in a family so you know its history (servicing, mechanical sympathy, etc). It's your first car, so you'll get a good chance to learn more about what you want / don't want from your second car. You might even decide you want to get an auto again

I'm assuming down the line most cars are going to be hybrid and transitioning to electric eventually, and they're all autos so I'll be driving automatic eventually, it's just that I've got used to learning in a manual and it seems sensible to keep my education in one going rather than changing a big variable straight away! We'll see what the DVLA say though, he'd be gutted if he couldn't drive any more so I'd hope he gets good news.

Got my actual license in the post today. Still doesn't feel like I've passed. Motorway driving next week on the M25, then that just leaves country lanes, driving at night and all-weather driving which I presume is going to be mostly theoretical unless he has a snow machine and wind turbine handy.

 

[Somnambulist]

Pass Plus done, going round the M25 was interesting.

Dad's car - he's fit to drive so won't be selling the Fabia.

Honda Civic - I've developed a thing for these after all the recommendations, I love the shape, interior looks a lot better than a lot of cars around the same price etc. Wouldn't mind the panoramic sun roof either! Guess I better see if I can test one out to see how it feels to drive and how I feel about the vision etc. Insurance quote permitting...

1) what spec/trim level should I be looking at?
2) should I always be looking at the 1.8 over 1.4 petrol? (quick interwebs says the 1.4 is a bit gutless?)
3) 16 vs 17" wheels? (interwebs seems to suggest the former are better?)

 

[Somnambulist]

Assuming you still have the £5000 ish budget than I would recommend going for the EX-GT it was the highest trim available and has everything your origional budget requires. Anything less and you will be sacrificing some feature somewhere. You are correct that the 1.4 is gutless, the 1.8 petrol is the one to go for unless you do high mileage at which point the 2.2 diesel becomes a contendor.

The 16" wheels might offer more comfort and be cheaper to put tyres on, but I think you will find all the high spec models come with the 17"s and you would likely have to sacrifice something from your requirements to get the 16" wheels. With that in mind I just wouldn't worry about them and just accept the wheels that come on the car you want.

Something like this would still be my recommendation https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201707257709426

If you do go for a civic try and stick with 2009 onwards cars, they had a facelift then that improved lots of little bits and they are just a little nice all around than pre 09 models.

Thanks. There's only a couple of EX-GT's on Autotrader, this being the other one (much closer to me), presume despite being a 2011 model the similar price is down to it having 1.25k miles on the clock. £5k ish was my limit although I wanted that to include insurance as well, but I'm selling all my guitars as I never play any more so perhaps I can ignore that bit!

 

[Somnambulist]

Ok so the playing around with insurance quotes has begun. Without experimenting too much with variables that might result in knocking a few quid off here and there and just using some comparison sites, something like a 1.8 Civic EX-GT seems to be around the £800-1200 mark (ones with black boxes fitted at the cheap end). Things like a Focus and Leon (looked at Titaniums in the 1.6 region for instance) were around £800-1000 mark. Obviously far more of them available on AutoTrader than the Hondas and getting a 2009 onwards EX-GT for under £5K looks like it might require patience and/or haggling.

All in all cheaper than I expected though.

 

[Somnambulist]

Yea it is a hard trim level to find I must admit. Me and my partner had a good 6 hour round trip to get hers as it met our needs perfectly. Ultimately it's up to you how many toys you are happy to loose for going for a lesser model. If I remember rightly the trim levels go SE -> ES -> EX and then the GT pack was an option on any of them. I think if you can find a ES GT you actually get almost everything the EX has save for the leather seats and navigation, both of which were available as options as well so it is possible to find an EX GT that isnt an EX GT if that makes sense. If It were me I'd try and stick to the EX, but you might find the ES gives you everything you want as well.

The EX also has HID/xenon lights with automatic height adjustment, although I'm not sure how big a difference the former makes and the latter isn't important since I want to stick a decent CarPlay thingy in. I quite like the velour-y looking seats that pop up occasionally which seem miles better than the bog-standard cloth ones, although no idea what the quality is like (does remind me of my dad's old Accord though).

Scouting Autotrader on the daily; so far candidates are...
This ES - nearest to me!
This ES which is completely the wrong side of London (long way round on the M25)
This ES and this EX from the same dealer - accessible by Tube

Definitely prefer the grey to the black but I'll take what I can get. Price seems rather low on all 3. Checking as many places as I can for other stuff though.

 

[Somnambulist]

I read the first few posts of this thread, then jumped to the end. I saw the initial requirement of 5 doors and plenty of room in the back, then i get here and see polo/swift/rio recommendations. I guess you downsized a little?
I'm sure it's been mentioned, but there's a boring octavia to fit every budget.

No, people are just talking amongst themselves! I'm 100% looking for a Civic as per my last couple of posts.

 

[Somnambulist]

Still looking. There's this private seller EX that came up the other day (not a fan of silver but it has all the gubbins) but hasn't replied to my email yet asking a few questions. Checked out an ES fairly local to me but dealer seemed dodgy as they said the car had been got from Honda Bedford (who aren't actually a Honda garage any more) and in between being part-ex'ed and being put on AT it had clocked up another 1600 miles. Bit pricey too.

Still looking at the Windsor one and this one and there's also this one in Ashford although their number isn't listed as being part of any garage I can see. All I want for xmas is a car...