Suggestions for a first car

Jez · 19 Nov 2006 at 19:39

No they arnt :confused:

They have near identical consumption to the 1.8, and in the scheme of things are superbly economic engines. My post above states that as the actual reason for not bothering with the 1.8....

digitalwolf · 19 Nov 2006 at 19:42

So 25-30mpg from a 2.0l Focus is good? :confused:

Also did they do a 3 door 2.0l Focus with leather seats? Got a fetish for leather lol.

Jez · 19 Nov 2006 at 19:44

Whats wrong with 25-30mpg as an average fuel consumption? You wont get any better in the 1.8 i assure you, the extra 200cc is going to make no difference to how much fuel you use really.

Leather wise, they did leather options in the fiesta's and mondeo's (class below and above the focus), so i'd be suprised if there wasnt leather available in the focus too

digitalwolf · 19 Nov 2006 at 19:46

There is leather in the 1.8 Collection.......not sure if they did the collection in the 3 door 2.0 Focus though.

Insurance will be higher on the 2.0 Zetec (Ins gp 9).

Anders0n · 19 Nov 2006 at 19:50

Mr Jack said:
All of them?

Seriously one company will give one person a great quote and another a pants one; the only way to get a good price is to phone round.

Having said that, Quinn seem to be really good at the moment. They're also the first company to offer me a renewal quote I couldn't knock a hundred quid off by ringing round. Confused.com (despite annoying adverts) seem to be good for getting a good price for you.

I meant which companys are known for being cheaper than others for new drivers. It would be a real pain to check all companys out.

Confused.com come up with £2000+ all the time. They also say Quinn direct wont quote me! Useless.

Both my mum and her partner are both with direct line. Would they give me some sort of discount because of this?

digitalwolf · 19 Nov 2006 at 19:53

Anders0n said:
I meant which companys are known for being cheaper than others for new drivers. It would be a real pain to check all companys out.

Confused.com come up with £2000+ all the time. They also say Quinn direct wont quote me! Useless.

Both my and her partner are both with direct line. Would they give me some sort of discount because of this?

NUD/ Direct Line both say 21+

Bell give a stupid price along with elephant etc.

Quinn were the cheapest for me.

Mr Jack · 19 Nov 2006 at 19:54

Anders0n said:
I meant which companys are known for being cheaper than others for new drivers. It would be a real pain to check all companys out.

Yes, it will. It's still going to be your best way to get a good price. Make yourself a cup of tea, get the yellow pages out and start phoning.

Confused.com come up with £2000+ all the time. They also say Quinn direct wont quote me! Useless.

I rest my case. I went to confused after ringing around twenty or so companies and they still shaved £80 off my best price so far.

Both my and her partner are both with direct line. Would they give me some sort of discount because of this?

Very, very unlikely.

Stellios · 19 Nov 2006 at 20:03

I meant which companys are known for being cheaper than others for new drivers. It would be a real pain to check all companys out.

Ring around and ask, its all you can do. I tried all the ones on here that are said to be good, and they were quite pricey. Its repetitve and boring, but websites like confused.com can be absolute rubbish. Its a pain, but its the best way.

Confused.com come up with £2000+ all the time. They also say Quinn direct wont quote me! Useless.

They were useless for me, cheapest they came up with was £1700, and churchill, direct line, NFU Mutual and Bell all beat that.

Both my and her partner are both with direct line. Would they give me some sort of discount because of this?

Ill be very very surprised. Its doest mean because they are good drivers that you are lower risk.

Anders0n · 19 Nov 2006 at 20:38

Just tried the monysavingexpert one. Quinn direct yet again come out on top with the same old price of £1,385.03.

I'm going to try some of them direct now.

Stellios said:
Ring around and ask, its all you can do.

All I've been doing is online quotes. Should I be ringing up instead?

Anders0n · 19 Nov 2006 at 21:29

Do Quinn Direct quote anything less than £1385.03? I just put in a 1991 Fiesta Bonus and it still comes up the same! :confused:

Also, just tried churchill a bell, both were £2000+.

Mr Jack · 19 Nov 2006 at 21:54

Anders0n said:
Do Quinn Direct quote anything less than £1385.03? I just put in a 1991 Fiesta Bonus and it still comes up the same!

I would guess that it's based on what damage they expect you to do to someone else's car? So there's a bottom cap regardles of the car you drive. I dunno, I've never been very sure how insurance companies conjure up their premiums.

I mean my insurance with them is £570 for next year.

Behemoth · 19 Nov 2006 at 22:54

Nissan Almera !.4 are nice cars, not too bad on the insurance either, group 5 insurance they are.

Anders0n · 19 Nov 2006 at 22:56

Mr Jack said:
I would guess that it's based on what damage they expect you to do to someone else's car? So there's a bottom cap regardles of the car you drive. I dunno, I've never been very sure how insurance companies conjure up their premiums.

I mean my insurance with them is £570 for next year.

For first time drivers it seems the price they quote you is heavily dependant on the cc of the engine. Or is that the norm with all insurance companys?

Behemoth said:
Nissan Almera !.4 are nice cars, not too bad on the insurance either, group 5 insurance they are.

Thanks. I'll look into them now.

Behemoth · 19 Nov 2006 at 22:58

Anders0n said:
For first time drivers it seems the price they quote you is heavily dependant on the cc of the engine. Or is that the norm with all insurance companys?

Thanks. I'll look into them now.

I've got one, 1.4 Si, 16 V engine, very reliable. Got some toys aswell

Anders0n · 19 Nov 2006 at 23:10

Behemoth said:
I've got one, 1.4 Si, 16 V engine, very reliable. Got some toys aswell

Just looked at a few on ebay. Going for quite cheap but the styling is not really my thing. They look a bit big too.

Anders0n · 20 Jun 2007 at 18:00

Got driving test coming up soon so the car hunting has stepped up a gear.

I was all set on getting a Saxo VTR but all I've heard is bad things lately. French, fall apart after 60k, close pedals, awkward seating/stearing position, lacking in toys, cramped/small.

Insurance wasn't an issue on the VTR as nearly all similar cars come out as £1800.

Have about £2500 to spend. Car needs to be reasonably quick, so a 1.25 fiesta is really out of the question. Was looking at 306's but Im not keen on the styling at all, too boxy.

Second to the VTR I was always considering the Focus. The 3 door panther black ones look ace. Hard finding one that fits within my budget though. If I'm going to get one it looks like It going to have be a high miler. Is that a bad on the focus? Avoid like the plague, or not a problem?

digitalwolf · 20 Jun 2007 at 18:06

Anders0n said:
Got driving test coming up soon so the car hunting has stepped up a gear.

I was all set on getting a Saxo VTR but all I've heard is bad things lately. French, fall apart after 60k, close pedals, awkward seating/stearing position, lacking in toys, cramped/small.

Insurance wasn't an issue on the VTR as nearly all similar cars come out as £1800.

Have about £2500 to spend. Car needs to be reasonably quick, so a 1.25 fiesta is really out of the question. Was looking at 306's but Im not keen on the styling at all, too boxy.

Second to the VTR I was always considering the Focus. The 3 door panther black ones look ace. Hard finding one that fits within my budget though. If I'm going to get one it looks like It going to have be a high miler. Is that a bad on the focus? Avoid like the plague, or not a problem?

306 HDi mate. Get it remapped and you are not far off 9 secs to 60mph. Shed loadsa torque, aircon and cheap insureance.

The 306 is a bigger 106? Styling is very similar. The 106 is a Saxo lol.

Focus is a good call, try and get a Zetec as they handle far better. Oh and the climate pack is good too.

iBot · 20 Jun 2007 at 18:07

just get a fiat panda and come back after a year.

digitalwolf · 20 Jun 2007 at 18:24

I'd rather get the bus haha

Anders0n · 21 Jun 2007 at 17:48

digitalwolf said:
306 HDi mate. Get it remapped and you are not far off 9 secs to 60mph. Shed loadsa torque, aircon and cheap insureance.

The 306 is a bigger 106? Styling is very similar. The 106 is a Saxo lol.

Focus is a good call, try and get a Zetec as they handle far better. Oh and the climate pack is good too.

Cheers, I'll look into the 306 HDi. In know a the Saxo and 106 are the same car, the Saxo just looks a hell of allot better.

I'm checking PH every days for cars, nothing quite fits the bill atm though. Focus's are still very pricey.