First Car

Patriach · 1 Sep 2009 at 23:08

Hi there.

Im looking to purchase my 1st car, Ive just started taking lessons, there expensive :eek:

. But ive got £500 saved up for a 1st car. I would like to be insured on my parents car, but i highly doubt i will ever get insured (Mitsubishi L200 Trojan & Vauxhall Vectra).

I have no idea what to look for, other than i want some speed...but not so much ill top me-sen. I would also like to take part in Auto-Solo's, so under a 1.4 is a MUST!

EDIT: Also, i dont want anything unreliable, i havnt got deep pockets! Good condish is also a good thing needed, if possible for £500!

Patriach · 1 Sep 2009 at 23:17

Hmm...To be fairly honest, im not that keen on the Peugeot 205's, they look to boxy :/

Are Punto's worth having a ganders at?

Patriach · 1 Sep 2009 at 23:18

ic0n said:
500 is not much as a lot of cheap cars are getting scrapped due to gov scrapage thing

best bet if most important thing for you is price look round garages at the back where they keep the cheap stuff and ask them to give you a call if they get something in for 500

as for what car i would say saxo or 106 something small and light for speed no point getting something big and fat like a polo as with a 1.1L engine its not going to move

but sorry to say unless u go get a 1.4-1.6 your not going to be that fast

I dont really want out and out speed, but i want lightness and acceleration.

Patriach · 1 Sep 2009 at 23:52

I have been told to buy a Suzuki Swift GTi, but there around £600 out of my budget, but are they worth the extra dough?

Patriach · 2 Sep 2009 at 00:04

Janesy B said:
No.

As said, AX GT or 205 XS.

And what sites should i look for these on? Ive tried Ebay to no avail, and pistonheads doesnt have a great selection.

Patriach · 2 Sep 2009 at 00:14

InvaderGIR said:
None on there either, just had a quick gander.

Seems they aren't about.

To be honest, if I was was the OP I'd just find a small light car with a 1.3 / 1.4 engine and buy it.

Thing is, im not sure whats small and quite light with a 1.3/1.4 engine, other than the Swift GTI ive been told to get, but its WAAAY out of my price range.

Patriach · 2 Sep 2009 at 09:17

paradigm said:
WAAAAY out of your price range? You said it was £600, you have £500. Can't be difficult to find £100 can it?

They look to be about £1100, so its £600 out of my price range.

Ill look into the 106 and Novas.

Patriach · 2 Sep 2009 at 12:35

Just come back from a driving lesson, went very smoothly, instructer is convinced ive driven before. (4th lesson, and im doing a 3point turn

). Ive seen the cars youve suggested, only gripe is i have sworn i will never get a rover or MG, a mate had an MG TF, the headgasket blew, ruined the engine and subsequently ruined the car.

Some-one said a Mondeo being cheaper than a Fiesta?

- 2.0l Mondeo TPFT - £2000

- 1.3l Twincam 16V Suzuki Swift TPFT - £1700

- 1.6l Focus TPFT - £1500

I know all but the Mondeo are out of price range to buy a car, but give around 4 weeks and i should have around a Monkey to splurge.

I will have a good ol' gander at insurance for Fiesta 1.25's and the like.

Patriach · 2 Sep 2009 at 14:04

miniyazz said:
Cheaper to insure, not cheaper to buy. And headgasket/major repairs can happen unexpectedly on any car, don't rule one out just because you happen to know someone who had an expensive problem with theirs..

Those were insurance quotes for me. I stated i passed my test last month on the online thing.

Patriach · 3 Sep 2009 at 11:13

Right, my budget has gone up by about £500, so effectivly doubled. I got a nice pay bonus today

.

Patriach · 3 Sep 2009 at 17:28

matt_fsr said:
Nice - Are you still stuck on the 1.4 engine limit, or can that be ditched?

Still sticking to the 1.4l max, as Auto-Solo's limits are 1000cc and 1400cc.