Which first car

[Carbine]

Morning all,

Got my test in the next couple weeks and my parents won't get me a car until i pass my test which is a bit of a bummer.

Budget for a car is 5k according to them and most likely a second hand one. Group no higher than 4. Though it is possible to stretch my budget if i use my own money.

I have a few cars in mind but i'm not too sure as my brother keeps prompting me to get a japanese car.

Either

The new Fiat Grande Punto
Pegeout 207 1.4 LX 3dr
Pegeout 307 1.4 3dr
or the Honda Jazz



Which would you choose and why?

[SHare]

Do not buy french, thats the biggest mistake I ever made. Something japanese, although expensive to buy would be the best bet.

[dave87]

Honda Jazz, mate of mine has one and its a brilliant little car. Well worth the pricetag, goes well too

[herulach]

Morning all,

Got my test in the next couple weeks and my parents won't get me a car until i pass my test which is a bit of a bummer.

Budget for a car is 5k according to them and most likely a second hand one. Group no higher than 4. Though it is possible to stretch my budget if i use my own money.

It must be terrible to have your parents buy a car for you.

In all seriousness though, if it were my first car, im not sure id want something for 5k, as youll enivitably cover it in dents.

I dont really know where youve got group 4 from either, youll be able to ensure some higher group cars cheaper than g4 ones.

My advice would be to see if you can wangle it as a 5k all in budget for first years insurance in your name MOT & TAX. then go buy something a little more entertaining than a 1.1 hatchback, you dont have to get silly with it, just get something with c.1.6 engine with some toys thats a bit older.

[directhex]

you're unlikely to get a jazz for 5k

my hot, sexy tip? an aygo/107/c1. tiny, true, but not 'alf nippy. especially the somewhat overpowered diesel.

oh, and don't buy a fiat. really.

[GrahamGarside]

Avoid anything french other than perhaps the clio. The Punto is only good if you can go for the JTD sport which won't fall into your insurance bracket.

5K should get you a Ford Fiesta TDCI

[Howard]

That diesel isn't overpowered. The powerful diesels in the little VAG cars are overpowered. Lol.


Out of those above I'd go for the Grande Punto but I'm not sure what you'll get for 5K.

I'd go with thingy above's advice about getting something that it won't be quite so soul-destroying if you bend. That said it doesn't mean you can't get a nice car.

The Japanese suggestion is good. You can probably get a decent Civic or Nissan Micra for 5K. Easily.

[schmunk]

You can probably get a decent... ...Nissan Micra...

Noooooooooooooooooo!

[Howard]

Noooooooooooooooooo!

What's wrong with one of them as a first car?

[GrahamGarside]

For a company thats given us the skyline and fairlady's, nissan could not have designed a less desirable small car for a guy.

It's a damned shame that the micra is such a good car, that they fealt they had to wreck it's image so much. Of course the bad image could be considered a plus, not too many boy racer examples on the secondhand market.

[menthel]

Quite frankly anything is good as a new car. My £500 metro did me for 3 years. My brother was more lucky and got a 106. Cracking little car and quite good fun to drive around town.

[dangel]

you're unlikely to get a jazz for 5k

A quick poke on autotrader says different.. Not a huge range but..

[kalniel]

Get something not so quick, and plenty dentable as a first car.

Then when you've had the years under your belt and get cheaper insurance, you'll be able to appreciate the step up much better (Alternatively get a pocket rocket, and if you're not dead within a year it might get it out of your system.)

Aygo, Punto, Corsa, Fiesta would all be ones I'd consider.

[Moby-Dick]

Fiat Panda 1 litre with a 6 inch nail sticking out of the steering wheel. underpowered and with all the crash protection of a paper bag

Then you'll understand the meaning of the term defensive driving.

[Carbine]

haha guess most of you are similar to my brother then... don't get a french car!!! booooo... hehe made me chuckle

Then again my brother did have a Pegeout 2.0l GTI so i'm guess he has more experience with them.

And btw.. like hell am i gonna' get a Micra haha.. no way!!

Only reason why i mentioned 3 french cars in my recent post is because they actually look nice compared to the others and i'd rather get one of those than a girly car say... say the Ford Ka.


As for my parents buying me the car, its mainly cos' they bought my sis and bro a car when they first passed, so they think it wouldn't be fair for me if they didn't get me one. They said they'll buy the car (depending on the type) and pay the insurance for 3 years before i sort everything out myself.

[dkmech]

I had a 106 for 4 years and found it to be ok (well I was happy with it undtil I got my Honda, but when I drive the 106 now it's quite an experience). It wasn't too unreliable and I don't regret having it.

Don't get the hypo of a car that is 307 with a 1.4 though.