First Car

Solari

Solari

Solari

Permabanned
Joined
14 Nov 2002
Posts
5,555
Location
Kent
Alright chaps,

Passed my driving test not too long ago and am in the market for a first car. I have a few mates that I've been viewing a few cars with (who are pretty hot in the mechanics dept.) and have come across a few duds.

Any suggestions as to what I should really be looking for in the region of £700-£1000? I was thinking either:

a) VW Golf - due to reliability and reputation
b) Ford Escort - easy and cheap to repair

I think the idea of getting a new car with 1 year's free insurance is a bit of a joke seeing as you instantly lose a few grand as soon as you buy the car (ie: resale value).

I'm over 25 so the insurance isn't too much of a killer. Have a quote of £737 with £150 excess for a 1.8 '94 VW Golf CL. I was looking at something 1.6ish or thereabouts as I'd like to drive to Cornwall and other places without having a hairdryer engine that'd pack up on the way easily.

Any suggestions or am I on the right tracks?
 
Solari said:
Any suggestions as to what I should really be looking for in the region of £700-£1000? I was thinking either:

a) VW Golf - due to reliability and reputation
b) Ford Escort - easy and cheap to repair

I think the idea of getting a new car with 1 year's free insurance is a bit of a joke seeing as you instantly lose a few grand as soon as you buy the car (ie: resale value).

I'm over 25 so the insurance isn't too much of a killer. Have a quote of £737 with £150 excess for a 1.8 '94 VW Golf CL. I was looking at something 1.6ish or thereabouts as I'd like to drive to Cornwall and other places without having a hairdryer engine that'd pack up on the way easily.

Any suggestions or am I on the right tracks?
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i take it your just looking at TPFT quotes?

might be worth looking at something jap, an old civic maybe??
 
For £700-1000? Won't get a focus for that
I'd recomend trying to find a Mondeo, should be able to get quite a good one for tha price, not a ghia x though (unless very very lucky)
 
vw mk 3 mate absolute tank, drove my 97 gti into the ground over 6 years, never missed a beat. all i did was change the oil and put brake pads in it, before i let the ex have it when we split, and it still goin strong :cool:
 
Jimmi said:
i take it your just looking at TPFT quotes?

might be worth looking at something jap, an old civic maybe??
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Nope, that was comprehensive (seeing as so many people hit and run, or don't have licences and insurance these days I think comp is worth the extra £150 or so) :D

I definitely think PAS is essential, as nice as it'd be to have arms like popeye, I'd rather avoid the hard work parking etc.

EDIT: Aren't Mondeos a bit big for a first car... no kids (as of yet!). Plus the parking is a bit tight round my area!
 
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Solari said:
Nope, that was comprehensive (seeing as so many people hit and run, or don't have licences and insurance these days I think comp is worth the extra £150 or so) :D
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Its not worth it though, if you ever had to make a claim... with the value of the car being so low it will hardly ever be worth repairing it so it will just be written off after a major accident. So you will end up with a small sum minus the excess and the joys of a claim under your name.

You'd be better putting the £150 on red down your local casino :cool:
 
Fair enough with the insurance. Is it two thirds of the value of the car in a claim = write off?

As I was looking to spend between £700-£1000 I was a bit concerned about having a smash up and having to fork out the same amount again for a new car with TPFT.
 
Mk2 Mondeo, 'nuff said.


A Golf for that money will be a shed.

Escorts were great (mum ran one for 10 years, all it ever had replaced was exhausts + tyres). Scrapped it @ 150,000 miles. However, the Mondeo is just a much better car and can be had for that kind of money. :)
 
Solari said:
EDIT: Aren't Mondeos a bit big for a first car... no kids (as of yet!). Plus the parking is a bit tight round my area!
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Nah. The difference between something like a Golf and a Mondeo isn't anything to write home about in the real world.
 
PMKeates said:
Nah. The difference between something like a Golf and a Mondeo isn't anything to write home about in the real world.
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Fairy nuff..

This kind of thing would do me fine then. Fully comp is a bit expensive so for a £700 car, TPFT is £697.70 fro Elephant (I can get it cheaper from another firm I know due to having Pass plus and good theory test scores)

One other Q - are trade sellers generally to be avoided? I've been looking private tbh.

EDIT: Which year did Mk2s come out? Excuse my ignorance :)
 
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Solari said:
Fair enough with the insurance. Is it two thirds of the value of the car in a claim = write off?

As I was looking to spend between £700-£1000 I was a bit concerned about having a smash up and having to fork out the same amount again for a new car with TPFT.
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sometimes it only has to be over half, it depends who your with, and the insurance companies valuation of it will be a lot less than you paid for it, ********... :(
 
Jimmi said:
i think some companies who mainly insure young drivers give some kind of discount......but i could be talking complete BS :cool:
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Yep, if you get 35/35 and a good score on the Hazard perception (I managed 66/75 which I think is considered good), and have less than 10 minor faults on your driving test, some companies that deal with new drivers (not just young ones) will give you an additional discount (along with extra discount for pass plus).
 
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