looking to buy first car - older or newer car?

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I'm looking at getting my first car, and am torn as to how much to spend. I could get a mk1/mk 1.5 focus in whatever spec I wanted for around £4,000, or a lower end mk2 (say a 115bhp 1.6l zetec climate)for around £6000. Insurance for either is very reasonable at £550-£700 (benefit of being 23 when getting own insurance for first time), so the real question would be is it worth paying the extra for a mk2 which I would assume would lose more of its value over the length of ownership (probably 2 years) but would be a nicer car to live with, or would it be better to get the cheaper car that would be almost as good?
 
Personally I'd spend a grand on a first car, run it for a year or two then sell it on and buy yourself something nice. Reasons being-

1) No matter what you buy to you it will be awsome. My 1.5 Hyundai Pony was the best car ever. Plainly it wasn't but try telling me that when I was 17.

2) Insurance will be a PITA with no NCD, this will limit your choices.

3) Your likely to prang it. Not definately but its a strong possibility. Might only be a small parking bump but its an easier pill to swallow on a sub 1k car.
 
Personally I'd spend a grand on a first car, run it for a year or two then sell it on and buy yourself something nice. Reasons being-

1) No matter what you buy to you it will be awsome. My 1.5 Hyundai Pony was the best car ever. Plainly it wasn't but try telling me that when I was 17.

2) Insurance will be a PITA with no NCD, this will limit your choices.

3) Your likely to prang it. Not definately but its a strong possibility. Might only be a small parking bump but its an easier pill to swallow on a sub 1k car.

The insurance is no problem, as I said above a 2l petrol is £700 and the 1.6 with vct is £600 - and thats before a 15% discount I can get through my sister who works for the insurer. And whilst I could see driving around ~£3k focus I don't think theres any need to go for an old banger when I've got a good ammount saved up and could get something decent at the very least. The parking prangs and the like are the biggest concern, as I'm very out of practice driving - I passed the test three years ago but hardly driven since (no need to drive where I went to uni, could walk anywhere), but I could always get a bit of practice in my dads old volvo before christmas and buy in the new year (i the hope dealers may be having slow post christmas trade and more willing to negotiate), so even thats not too much of a problem.

But between the two options of older focus & more free cash (which will just sit in the bank), or newer focus with more cash tied up in the car, what would you all do?
 
The insurance is no problem, as I said above a 2l petrol is £700 and the 1.6 with vct is £600 - and thats before a 15% discount I can get through my sister who works for the insurer.

That TPFT though or fully comp? I personally wouldn't want to drive anything worth more than £1500 or so without fully comp, especially in my first year of driving.

At the end of the day its your money so its got to be your choice. One thing I will say though is having sold my car this summer for £800 I'd say you can get some good cars for less than a grand. Sure mine had 117k on the clock but it drove as well as when I bought it on 63k and it sure looked the part in terms of exterior condition.
 
i'm in the exactly same position as you, with exactly the same choices!!! this is abit surreal tbh...

my decision is yet to be made, but i'm leaning towards a 03 one for about £3500.

have seen a 54 for about 5K, not seen many new shapes for 6k though.

i love the 3 door so deffo getting one of those...

(oww btw, not my first car, i'm 27, with 6 years ncb:)

i sometimes think the older styling is better, but other times i'm thinking the new shape one will look better for longer...

let me know what you do and i will reciprecate.
 
I was in the same position as you and I got myself a nice Focus; 4 or so years old, low mileage. Been a great first car - service is low etc and as stated, insurance is pretty good. Obviously, you are most likely to crash in your first year, but doesnt mean you will :D
 
That TPFT though or fully comp? I personally wouldn't want to drive anything worth more than £1500 or so without fully comp, especially in my first year of driving.

At the end of the day its your money so its got to be your choice. One thing I will say though is having sold my car this summer for £800 I'd say you can get some good cars for less than a grand. Sure mine had 117k on the clock but it drove as well as when I bought it on 63k and it sure looked the part in terms of exterior condition.

Those are fully comp
 
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