View Full Version : After my first car
At the grand old age of 24 I'm finally finding myself in need of a car.
I thought I had one in the bag when my mum said someone she worked with was selling a Fiesta with 50k on it for 1200, but when we phoned tonight they'd already sold it :(
So, I'm looking at a 1.8d Fiesta with 60k on it - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201031364912681/sort/priceasc/usedcars/maximum-mileage/up_to_80000_miles/fuel-type/diesel/price-to/2000/model/fiesta/make/ford/postcode/ch48qg/radius/100/page/1?logcode=p
I'm hoping that its still available as I understand them to be great cars, but beyond that, and the obvious corsa alternative what do you think I should look out for? Only need it for a year or so, until the insurance companies finally look at me with some respect.
Got £1200ish so looking at these with that kind of list price in the hope I can get them for nearer 1k.
At 24, don't be under the impression you need a total heap to get reasonable insurance.
I can get a 1.8T Golf GTi insured at 23 for £1000 with only 3 months experience. I'm not suggesting of course that you get one of those but just that at your age, you'd be surprised by the sort of cars that you can probably insure half reasonably. No need to suffer the delights of an old N/A 1.8 Ford Diesel when you can probably insure something with a nice 1.6 petrol engine for not a lot more money.
well I was getting quotes of £1400 for an S3 a few months ago, so was planning to save some money for about 6 months, and then get one of them. But now thats up to 2k+ and a 1.7 Puma in at £1400, so things are a bit up and down.
Although I'm looking at Fiestas etc because I've only been working for 2 months, so only managed to get together about £1500 to spend. Currently share a car with my brother and my mum, all of whom could do with it so thats the reason for the urgency.
i had a wee look at leasing a peugeot the other day. brand new 207 on their "just add fuel" thing, which is warranty, servicing and insurance for over 21's for about 200 quid a month for 2 years. works out similar price for me to insure and pay off the old 206 we have, or get a brand new 207.
that would be what I'd do if I hard a perm job. I'm 2 months in to contract work though and on a 3 month contract. So trying to avoid credit options because although I'm sure there will be more work, I can't be sure.
Dont forget its not just insurance; its road tax and fuel economy too.
You would be daft to go for a mid to large petrol engine if you only really need a run about. When I bought my 1.2 clio, some scoffed as for similar money I could have bought a physically larger car with bigger engine - but i didnt need it. Not only cost of running would have been more, but harder to park where I live too!
Go with what you need, use quidco for insurance, and be confident you are paying out only what you need rather than "for a little bit more I can do this" as you do run the risk of setting yourself up for prolonged increased running costs.
Well providing I keep to a smaller car, my expenses will cover any running costs incurred thankfully :D
Del Lardo
19-08-2010, 19:32
For £1200 I'd be looking at one with the 1.25 petrol engine. It's a good modern engine instead of the 1.8D which is pretty old design. Something like linky... (http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201033365853647/sort/priceasc/usedcars/engine-size-cars/1l_to_1-3l/price-from/1000/price-to/2000/model/fiesta/make/ford/postcode/rg93ju/radius/100/keywords/1.25/page/2?logcode=p)
EDIT: no, buy this one (http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201031364897803/sort/priceasc/usedcars/engine-size-cars/1l_to_1-3l/price-from/1000/price-to/2000/model/fiesta/make/ford/radius/100/postcode/rg93ju/keywords/1.25/page/3?logcode=p) ;D
http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servlet/media?id=1401271826
yeah I used to drive the older 1.25 and its a really nice drive, much nicer than the 1.2 T reg corsa we have at the moment. I'm certainly looking at those.
Because this first option has fallen through, I'll now find myself sat on some more cash for a week or two at least, pushing the budget to nearer 2k probably, no doubt that'll open up some options should I find myself able to sit around for a few weeks.
I've got a friend of my mums who is a mechanic and MOT'd our corsa and is willing to take a look at whatever I end up looking at, so hopefully wont end up with a heap of junk!
*not a bad car, but its 190 miles from me!!
Dont forget its not just insurance; its road tax and fuel economy too.
You would be daft to go for a mid to large petrol engine if you only really need a run about. When I bought my 1.2 clio, some scoffed as for similar money I could have bought a physically larger car with bigger engine - but i didnt need it. Not only cost of running would have been more, but harder to park where I live too!
Go with what you need, use quidco for insurance, and be confident you are paying out only what you need rather than "for a little bit more I can do this" as you do run the risk of setting yourself up for prolonged increased running costs.
Take your Clio as an example (i'm assuming you have the 2001-2008 shape for this).
You have the 1.2, assuming this is the lower power version, the official figures are 47MPG with 60BHP. The 1.6 16V engine gets figures of 39MPG with 110BHP.
If the car is a runabout, lets say you do maybe 5000 miles a year? The difference in petrol costs would be about £10 a month. Road Tax? £30 a year.
That tiny extra outlay gets you the same fundamental car, except with an engine that doesn't take a quarter of a minute to reach NSL and won't feel sluggish and slow.
You make it sound as if getting a car with a slightly pokier engine is going to double the outgoings. In reality it wouldn't be noticeably more expensive at all and that was an extreme example with the top and bottom range engines, going for a middle of the road 1.4 or something would be even less extra.
Like I said, i'm not suggesting he jump into a 1.8T Golf GTi but you can easily insure and run something with a bit more poke than a 1980s Ford non turbo diesel engine for not a lot more money.
Del Lardo's suggestion is good, the 1.25 Zetec isn't a bad engine for the Fiesta.
What i'm driving at the moment is a 1.4 16v Polo, might be worth looking at, very happy with it as a first car. Cheap to insure, a decent amount of poke, doesn't seem to expensive on fuel...
Also, regarding the insurance, I take it you're trying the various tricks like adding your parents as named drivers, being creative with job titles and so on?
You make it sound as if getting a car with a slightly pokier engine is going to double the outgoings. In reality it wouldn't be noticeably more expensive at all and that was an extreme example with the top and bottom range engines, going for a middle of the road 1.4 or something would be even less extra.
Maybe so mate. I was just pointing out that there are other things to consider and to be weary of going for a higher spec because the initial outgoings would be similar. I'm just a thrifty s.o.a.b to be honest :p
found a little garage hidden right round the corner from where we live on Friday.
They've got two cars which caught my eye. A 1.1 Clio, and a 1.6 Saxo VTR, both 52 plates.
Don't know any details beyond what you can get from the reg # yet, as when we were there the only person there didn't know anything about them. The VTR takes my fancy as the inruance is only £760, compared to £620 on the clio & the the smaller engine will probably annoy me when the other car I drive is a 2.2 Civic.
No idea about tax & MOTs etc but its got an asking price of £1400 (£1700 on the clio) so I'm going to get a friend whos a mechanic to have a look at them and hopefully I can sort out a decent deal, especially if its up for renewal on tax & mot.
Del Lardo
22-08-2010, 23:44
Didn't think they made a 1.1 Clio, thought it was a 1.2 though it's probably something daft like 1151cc ;D Anyways my sister had the 1.2 on a 52 plate and she was happy enough with it though after 7 years and 80k it was ****ed, half the electrics had stopped working and there were a few mechanical gremlins as well so definitely check it well.
As for the VTR, well it's a hoot to drive compared to the Clio but I'd avoid one with any modifications and have a good look at the history as a lot of them will have been chaved up/thrashed to within an inch of their life.
yeah, it looked like it was all stardard spec, but it'll no doubt of been trashed about.
I've never really done the 'boy racer' thing as when I was 18 I was driving a 1.2 Fiesta, so I think I need to get myself a hot hatch before I'm too old!
Finally got a car sorted!
a Polo 1.4 CL with about 90k on the clock, full service, MOT, new clutch, 6 months tax for £1k
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs317.ash2/59726_573821163423_279200026_4411670_2244484_n.jpg
should be going to collect on Wednesday hopefully.
leowyatt
25-09-2010, 07:38
welcome to the club
Looks pretty clean for £1k. It's funny these days with older cars....they hold up so well they don't actually look old. I remember when buying first cars they were covered in rust and falling apart ;D
What i'm driving at the moment is a 1.4 16v Polo, might be worth looking at, very happy with it as a first car. Cheap to insure, a decent amount of poke, doesn't seem to expensive on fuel...
:D
(well, apart from the 16v bit but other than it's basically the same :p)
Yeah I wanted it to be the 16v when I heard it was a polo 1.4! 99bhp rather than 59 would of been nice!!
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