Which first car

[Carbine]

ok so i've narrowed down to two choices:

Ford Focus (needs to be 3 door.. don't like 5 dr cars as it will only be fore me)

Honda Jazz

[Elmo]

I've got a c1 and i absolutely LOVE it! It's the cheapest thing to run/tax, and even with my insurance lumped into the repay price, it's working out at under £150 a month

yes, it's tiny, but unless you have children and require space for a buggy, it's an ideal little car!

[directhex]

i know you have one of these cars

but still at 22 i would never want one.

so they're not "fun", and you need to be in your late fifties before you actually appreciate them for what they are

doesn't mean they're not a great car, if you want a car to get you from A to B without passing through C (the garage)

[arbitor]

so they're not "fun", and you need to be in your late fifties before you actually appreciate them for what they are

doesn't mean they're not a great car, if you want a car to get you from A to B without passing through C (the garage)

i do apreciate them for what they are and yes i would never buy one.

A: because if i was going for small and economical id buy something better looking.

B: if i wanted fun id have what i have now

c: if i wanted a mix between the both id have a gt tdi

[dangel]

Nothing wrong with a Honda Jazz.. for the missus that is

[ikonia]

have you got any insurance quotes - I could be wrong but a 1.4 will make a big dent on your insurance as a young lad who's about to pass his test, surly a lesser 1.1 - 1.2 would suit your needs more for a year or two, you're only doing short runs so why the need for the bigger engine and potentially higher insurance ?

[arbitor]

as said above the power difference between 1.2 and 1.4 is so little i wouldnt even bother. unless its a turbo

[ikonia]

thats the point I'm trying suggest, there isn't much in it, but I believe it does effect your insurance, more so as a first time driver. I've asked this of a college who works in the car insurance business and he says its a big factor as they have engine brackets, however that may just be his company, hence suggesting it as something to research. 1.1/1.2 for nipping around town in your first car sounds great.

[Vega]

Nothing wrong with a Honda Jazz.. for the missus that is

http://www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/content/...5/austin.shtml

3/4 of the page down!!

[dangel]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/content/...5/austin.shtml

3/4 of the page down!!

MMMmm pink too

[Shorty]

Don't scrimp. Get to your budget. There is nothing more depressing than buying your first car and realising it is not as nice to drive as that instructors car.

The summer hits and you are suffering from practically heat exhaustion because of no aircon or dying of the cold in the winter scraping ice of your windscreen for the 7th day in a row because you don't have a heated frontscreen or mirrors... You will regret NOT spending out. I spent 4 hours in a traffic jam last year on the motorway with no aircon in a cramped Fiesta. All windows open, the works. Most horrible car journey ever.

I learnt a valuable lesson. Learned in a new shape Ford Focus. My first car..? Fiesta. Ouch. I hated it with a passion after only a few months because the lack of simple, practical refinements and crappy powertrain.

What would I recommend on your budget..?

Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec with Climate pack (old shape). Why?

They are solid as a brick, quick/nippy, low insurance, dead cheap and easy to repair (if anything actually goes wrong with it), class leading chassis & handling, lots nice touches that are common but always appreciated like leccy windows, aircon & remote central locking and after a few weeks the car simply isn't overwhelming to a new driver

I swapped out my Fiesta for a new shape Focus (went for an 06 plate). LOVE it. It is a bloody fantastic car to drive and it's a top seller for a reason. The drive, handling & overall experience is a world apart from the Fiesta and any "supermini" I drove

I went the small car route after my test for fear of "a big car". The Focus isn't a big car, it is deceptive and a breeze to get used to.

[Howard]

Don't scrimp. Get to your budget. There is nothing more depressing than buying your first car and realising it is not as nice to drive as that instructors car.

The summer hits and you are suffering from practically heat exhaustion because of no aircon or dying of the cold in the winter scraping ice of your windscreen for the 7th day in a row because you don't have a heated frontscreen or mirrors... You will regret NOT spending out. I spent 4 hours in a traffic jam last year on the motorway with no aircon in a cramped Fiesta. All windows open, the works. Most horrible car journey ever.

I learnt a valuable lesson. Learned in a new shape Ford Focus. My first car..? Fiesta. Ouch. I hated it with a passion after only a few months because the lack of simple, practical refinements and crappy powertrain.

What would I recommend on your budget..?

Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec with Climate pack (old shape). Why?

They are solid as a brick, quick/nippy, low insurance, dead cheap and easy to repair (if anything actually goes wrong with it), class leading chassis & handling, lots nice touches that are common but always appreciated like leccy windows, aircon & remote central locking and after a few weeks the car simply isn't overwhelming to a new driver

I swapped out my Fiesta for a new shape Focus (went for an 06 plate). LOVE it. It is a bloody fantastic car to drive and it's a top seller for a reason. The drive, handling & overall experience is a world apart from the Fiesta and any "supermini" I drove

I went the small car route after my test for fear of "a big car". The Focus isn't a big car, it is deceptive and a breeze to get used to.

Hehe welcome to the "small cars are crap with the odd exception" club

[arbitor]

some of the best cars you will ever drive are hatchbacks

[GrahamGarside]

Unless you are frequently going to have a car full of passengers for long journeys anything bigger than a supermini is a waste.

You need to practically weigh up what you need from a car and decide things like size, engine power etc..

What reasons would you need a car larger than a fiesta or it's equivelant?

What reasons do you need more than the bog standard 1.0-1.2 or 1.4 diesel engines?

If you have no reasons other than personal preferance, do you really want to lay out that extra money not only on the car, but tax, insurance, fuel and maintenance.

[Howard]

Unless you are frequently going to have a car full of passengers for long journeys anything bigger than a supermini is a waste.

You need to practically weigh up what you need from a car and decide things like size, engine power etc..

What reasons would you need a car larger than a fiesta or it's equivelant?

What reasons do you need more than the bog standard 1.0-1.2 or 1.4 diesel engines?

If you have no reasons other than personal preferance, do you really want to lay out that extra money not only on the car, but tax, insurance, fuel and maintenance.

Agreed, many people don't need the luxuries and refinement, that's why they buy them.

Some people like to drive something that drives better/smoother/whatever, while having more power, and toys. It all adds to the enjoyment. If your'e driving a small, base model hatchback around a racetrack, that's another thing, but on the roads they're just annoying and uncomfortable And many people don't mind paying extra for luxuries

[arbitor]

i bought a hot hatch because its nice inside its fun and isnt ridulously pricey, and its the quickest car i can insure


not because i go 100 in 30s just like to have a but i like to have some accleration.

but for a first car there really isnt a need to spend 5k, i would say that its counter productive.