What should I do about getting my first car?

[Clivey]

I'm looking to buy my first car around about my birthday (16th September), so far there are a number of things I have to think about:

1. I don't want the boy-racer image that goes with 17-year olds driving superminis, I want something more "grown-up".

2. Insurance costs in the UK are ridiculous for young drivres (I was quoted £1380 a year for a 1994 45BHP Vauxhall Corsa ) , I'll probably have to ask my parents very nicely to insure whatever I get as theirs and have me as a "named driver" - I'll then pay the cost of the insurance.

3. I need something bigger than a lawnmower engine under the bonnet. Feeling vulnerable on the motorway in a gutless city car isn't my thing.

So far I've seen that I can pick up a 2002 Vauxhall Astra 1.4i16v LS (with Air Con) for under £4k, it's the biggest and most comfortable car I'll realistically be able to afford to buy, and a 0-60 of 11.5 isn't bad either (it's as fast as a Focus 1.6) but has anybody got any (sensible and realistic)ideas?

[CHEESE-TACULAR]

i always liked the more powerful 206's when i went to europe, but im not sure what kind of an image goes with them.

[Pando]

What's your budget now? £4k? And what will your buget be in the future? Can you afford small repairs and proper upkeep etc along the way? What kind of driving would you use the car for?

[Clivey]

i always liked the more powerful 206's when i went to europe, but im not sure what kind of an image goes with them.

I wouldn't be able to get insured on anything above a 1.4 in a 206...a friend's got one and it's a bit of a snail, besides, the pedals are really close together and I have big feet . (I'm 6'2" so some superminis arent ideal for me)

[Clivey]

What's your budget now? £4k? And what will your buget be in the future? Can you afford small repairs and proper upkeep etc along the way? What kind of driving would you use the car for?

Say about £4k for the purchase price of the car. I'd in effect be using the car to commute quite often but I'd also like the space for four (our family drive a Mini and a Corsa - we need a bigger car).

I'd maintain the car properly and I'm not a careless sort of person when it comes to my belongings. I wouldn't buy a car that needed constant attention (I take it that's what you mean by "small repairs").

This is the sort of thing I've been looking at so far:

2001 Y Reg VAUXHALL Astra 1.4i 16v LS
5 Doors, Manual 5 speed, Hatchback, 27,800 miles, Metallic Silver, 2 Owners. Rear Wash/Wipe, Service History, Air conditioning, Driver airbag, Electric windows, Head restraints, Folding rear seats, Power assisted steering, Remote locking, Radio/CD. Immaculate low mileage example. 12 months M.O.T and free parts and labour warranty incl. £3,995.

[Pando]

I'd maintain the car properly and I'm not a careless sort of person when it comes to my belongings. I wouldn't buy a car that needed constant attention (I take it that's what you mean by "small repairs").

I meant especially with older cars things totally (or less totally) unrelated to you can go wrong at any time and need fixing. When it comes to maintainance and "fixing" there is many times two ways to do it, the proper way or the budget way. If you would have a big budget now but low income in the future a new, reliable car would be a good option, if your budget now is small but you have big incomes coming your way you could get an older one and either spend the future money on "fixing that one up" or on saving for a new one.

The Astra isn't a bad car at all, I'm not sure about what used cars go for there but I'd say it's worth concidering.

[Matra et Alpine]

You can guess what I'm going to tell you .... get a kit car !!

£1500 will get you an excellent car eg 1.6 XR2i based and with less weight and with kit car insurance it will be from £300-£500 to insure !!

AND you're not driving the same boring POS all you mates are ricing up and fitting fart cans to

[Clivey]

You can guess what I'm going to tell you .... get a kit car !!

£1500 will get you an excellent car eg 1.6 XR2i based and with less weight and with kit car insurance it will be from £300-£500 to insure !!

AND you're not driving the same boring POS all you mates are ricing up and fitting fart cans to

Got any webistes or pictures to show examples?

The thing is with the kits is that they're not going to be practical or (as) reliable as a mass production car...but I am interested to see what you can suggest.

BTW Matra, I've been meaning to ask for a while, what cars do you have in your household apart from your S, X and A610 (which of those are running?)?

[PerfAdv]

The Silver Astra looks like a great first car, and it looks to be perfect shape.

[Matra et Alpine]

Got any webistes or pictures to show examples?

see http://www.quantumowners.com/home.shtml

Also, search for quantum and you'll see teh pics of teh two cars my daughers run -- white Quantums.

The thing is with the kits is that they're not going to be practical or (as) reliable as a mass production car...but I am interested to see what you can suggest.

eh ? says who ??
Another BS put out by the manufacturers and garages to get more of your hard earned cash away from the gullible.
For example, the Quantum uses Ford XR2 suspension, electrics, running gear and engine .. it's just transplanted into a stronger, ligher, faster body
MOST kits are actually BETTER built than a lot of mass-produced cars !!
( Some are however, thrown together by mechanically inept and stylistically unevolved people )
Like with "real" cars there are good and bad kits - so do youre best ot identify and stay away from teh equivalents of the Cherolets ( don't panic USA we mean the crappy Daewoo's being used to "build brand image" for Chevrolet in Europe )
Get down to WHSMith and spend a morning reading the numerous kit car mags to see what you fancy/can afford.

BTW Matra, I've been meaning to ask for a while, what cars do you have in your household apart from your S, X and A610 (which of those are running?)?

None at the moment.
The Alpine is pending "courage".
Even the bikes off the road getting an engine strip down and rebuild ahead of a trip to France.
Two Quantums as said and an Espace Quadra and a Corsa GLS.

[Clivey]

Hmmm, I'm not convinced about the Quantums...they have the advantages of being cheap, individual, small and light but that's not really the sort of thing I'm looking for...is there anything out there with a more modern and comfortable interior? My family wouldn't let me buy a kit anyway, they'd go mental... I don't have the necessary skills / space / tools or even time lol.

Matra - what do you think to the Astra in one of my previous posts? I was looking at one that had done low miles (for me it has to have air con as well), actually, here's my thoughs so far on the Astra:

+ It's a 1.4i16v 90BHP engine, not a 75BHP from Peugeot, VW etc.
+ It's in a car the size of a Focus / Golf but it's still reasonably quick and only in insurance group 4.
+ There are plenty about, it's easy to find one with low miles and in a good spec.
+ We used to have a diesel Astra LS (same apart from the engine) and it was really comfortable and I could see myself getting on well with the car.

- I might still end up with a massive insurance cost (but then again, I would no matter what I wanted to buy)
- Fuel economy would be less than the standard student's choice 1.2 Corsa or Fiesta, but then the Astra would probably be a car I'd want to keep for longer than a supermini.

If you would have a big budget now but low income in the future a new, reliable car would be a good option

This will most likely be me. I'll still be at college for another year so no chance of getting a job that pays well enough to cover massive running costs. I have a Sunday job but that'll just about cover petrol.

I'm thinking about joining the Police after college, then saving up to (eventually) put a deposit on a house (Well, that's the "plan"). Only after that do I expect to have cash to spend on the car.

I'm just bouncing ideas around in my head at the moment. I'm interested as to what you guys can come up with and whether you think I'm thinking the right way or whether I'm living with my head in the clouds.

[clutch-monkey]

i'd give you my spare vanquish, but you wouldn't want it because some of the switches are from volvo

[Clivey]

i'd give you my spare vanquish, but you wouldn't want it because some of the switches are from volvo

After sitting in one, I think the whole interior's rubbish. I'd sell it and buy a house lol.

On the Vanquish: Apart from the exterior styling, I don't like the car. It is for me as the DB7 was for Clarkson. If I were rich enough for such a thing, I'd rather stick it on a pole outside my house (to look at it) than drive it.

[carbrochuretom]

I'm looking to buy my first car around about my birthday (16th September), so far there are a number of things I have to think about:

1. I don't want the boy-racer image that goes with 17-year olds driving superminis, I want something more "grown-up".

Boy racers dont drive super minis. They drive pimped out Escorts and Civics. I aint know boy racer and I have a super mini

[Clivey]

Boy racers dont drive super minis. They drive pimped out Escorts and Civics. I aint know boy racer and I have a super mini

It's Fiestas, Puntos, Saxos and old shape Corsas around here. The Swift's not been around long enough for the chavs to be able to afford or modify it.

BTW, you must be paying a ton for insurance at 18. Who gives the best deals?