Ive had a change of plans...

[THCi]

Ive been planning to get a bike, well for as long as ive had plans of getting transport at all!

But, a friend of mine, lives in my street. Recently Broke the following: Colar Bone (right), Right Arm, and right leg, as well as ****ing up his neck. He doesnt know how he did it, he was on his own, and blacked out. He was found by a pandar car out looking for speeders on country lanes... Hes totally wrecked his bike, dry conditions, ended up ramming hisself into a tree, and having the bike land on top of him! His helmet saved ihs life! His wife almost gave him another broken leg and arm to match.

Its dawned on me that it might just be too dangerous (at the moment, and at this stage in my life) to be out and about on a 125.

Id love a smart car, but not as my first, for the first thing, way too expensive. What'd you suggest for a first car? Looking to spend up to £500. Need insurance (obviously...), and I might be able to split the cost with my sis, as she will be learning soon. Must be cheap to run, maintain, insure and tax.

Been looking at mini's, but I dunno if I really want something that wouldnt pass its first MOT in my ownership (ie, canne be a ruster).

So, what'da suggest for me?

[XTR]

go for a mini?

[THCi]

Whats the insurance/running costs like (not including the money to do it up, because it will be a ruster for about £500!)?

[joshwa]

nissan micra, not the new shape but the one prior to that. saw an m reg about 6-12 months ago for £1200. bit too much though.

Fiat Tipo 1.4 J reg ? £150

have a look at www.autotrader.co.uk and see what you like?

[Bunjiweb]

Fiesta...

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW...00333105905791

Cheap parts, Cheap insurance..... And plenty good enough for a learning / first car..

Ben

[THCi]

Been looking about autotrader, the old style Clio has caught my eye. How do you guy's rate em, including costs?

[Jonny M]

Ask Lowe

[THCi]

OOOOOOIiii! LOWE! Get in here!

[kaillum]

Originally posted by www.josh.org.uk
Fiat Tipo 1.4 J reg ? £150

AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!!

i've had 2 of the buggers.. not too bad when there running, quite nippy for a 1.4 considering the size of the body, and you can get the funky DGT's with the Digital Dashboard...
BUT when they start to go wrong they REALLY go wrong.. If you go on a motorway trip dont expect to have a complete car when you get to your desination.... dont know if its all Fiats or just the Tipo range, but bits just drop off them... wing mirrors, hub caps, windows.. you name it, it'll have dropped off one of the ones that I had...

[THCi]

Nah, my moms bravo is minted. Was considering getting one of them, but they are a little out of my league.

[Lowe]

Clios are a bargain and very cheap to insure. A 1.4 RT goes between 300-1k for something like a J/K reg with about 80k on the clock. Engine's good for about 140k. No real problems apart from rust on the rear arches and the interiors rattle a bit once they're old.

Insurance is next to nothing, though I think it's beginning to creep up - companies are beginning to notice more younger drivers going for them. They're also easy to mod, plenty of bits for them and if you want silly power you chuck a GTT lump in it like mine.

Great cars, nothing of similar age/price comes close.

[THCi]

Cool, sounds ideal. How much a year for 17 (maybe 18 when I get it) new driver?

[Butuz]

Bravo != £500

I would say, old escort of fiesta - pretty bomproof ish and if well looked after do year after year of sterling service.

Butuz

[THCi]

Thats why i said outa my league!

[Lowe]

Lets assume you got a nice tidy 1.2, J reg 3 door.

If you're 18, living in my postcode, 0 no claims etc, then the Liverpool Victoria quick quote puts you at about £1200 for fully comp insurance, about £1100 for 3rd party.

Most stuff will be the same at your age though, they're more worried about what you'll drive into and damage rather than the cost to repair/replace your car!

[THCi]

In other words, it costs that much, just in case (and probably statistics say) that I might write off my own car, and a BMW/Merc/Whatever. Smells of stigmatism!