First Car - Japanese?

[Jonny M]

The time has come to start looking for candidates for a first car, and while I am looking at things like Polos, Corsas etc, I would like something a bit more interesting.

Is is possible to have a decent Japanese first car, and still be able to afford to run/buy/insure it? Or is there a good reason why many first-time buyers don't go for a Japanese car?

Educate me

[Marcos]

At one point in my life I was regurlarly reading Max Power and thought Puntos were cool with big wheels

Then Gran Turismo came along etc, ~8 years on and i really cant get my mind off Jap cars. I've been VERY interested in the EG Civic hatchback the past 2 years. But Uni is planned and i dont have rich parents so it remains a dream. But I say go Japanese

[dkmech]

From earlier threads. Clios/106s/fiestas - insurance group 2-4. Civic - group 7-8.
I suppose Toyota Starlet is japanese

[Jonny M]

Ah so it is the insurance, as I suspected.

[dkmech]

Ooooh, just remembered - Micras are japanese and should be easy on insurance.

[Jonny M]

I'm not limiting myself to Japanese only cars, was just looking to see if it was possible to get a decent one and afford all the things that come with it, and the insurance groups have shown that it isn't possible.

I hate Micras

[Stoo]

It's not always that a higher insurance group translates into higher premiums..
Quite a lot of those low group cars are usually the ones that 17 year old get as soon as they pass their test and promptly crunch, so while the performance level puts them in a low group, the driver risk bumps the premiums right up.

[Marcos]

Last time i checked i got £1600 + a year on TPFT on a 1.3 1991 civic hatch

Maybe its lowered since

EDIT:

This is one of the few other cars i'd be fairly happy with if i couldnt get a civic:



Or the MkIII.

And maybe a good one of these, as much as a i hate most peugeots, this would probably be a good student car:



or this if i push it:


Then theres the 205, but i think i'd only be happy with a GTi which is simply not going to happen.

[tiggerai]

You might hate micras, but they sure as hell are good first cars.

My insurance has dropped from £600 to £250 this year (3 years NCB), NEVER had a problem with my micra in the 5 years I've had it.

compare that to the BF's civic type R - he's got protected no claims, 1 speeding fine and is 24.... his insurance is still over £1000. He had a Pug before that, and hated it.
I would go for something reliable and easy to drive for a first car, as it makes getting that vital no claims bonus a hell of a lot easier! (four years down the line and insurance is suddenly affordable for that dream car - which means the car will be more affordable too)

[dkmech]

compare that to the BF's civic type R - he's got protected no claims, 1 speeding fine and is 24.... his insurance is still over £1000. He had a Pug before that, and hated it.

For starters the Civic type R is group 17, so no wonder its costing a grand to insure.

I currently drive a M reg 106 with ~85k on the clock and I'm quite happy with it. Its only 1.1 but its nippy round town and can happily do 70 on motorway (it gets a touch noisy mind). It handles well enough (i was told they are better than fiestas on that front). Reliabilitywise - I had to spend some cash on it, but i expect its not more than for any other car of that age. It never failed to start on me. I am keeping it for about one more year (had it for two and a half already).

[Jonny M]

You might hate micras, but they sure as hell are good first cars.

It's just a personal thing.

Also, being 6'3", i can't fit in one

[Moby-Dick]

you been on the growth hormones mr M. ? you were a lot shorter than that last time I saw ya !

I'm 6'3 and I can fit fine in a micra

hows about somethien different....

A Daihatsu Cuore Avanzato TRXX-R4
http://www.parkers.co.uk/choosing/us....aspx?id=14569

0-60 in 8.5 secs
low insurance
easy to mod to well over 100bhp and some serious fun !

[headbrace]

I think whatever you get, it should be interesting above all else. It is a lot of money, so you should get something you will enjoy being in.

You could always do as I did and get a classic, but the insurance is a bit interesting and you have to be willing to start it with a spanner or a hammer occasionally.

Otherwise, I'd go along with something like a MkI/II golf, or something else suitably retro that will be relatively reliable, but still fun to tinker with.

[midzt]

How about some classic cars, something a little different an retro? I don't think the insurance on them is too high Can't really remember tho, just a thought.

[weebroonieuk]

yeh get yourself a mark 1 / 2 escort for rwd fun at roundabouts we used to have one with a 2.1 pinto engine twin 45's bilstein shocks allround which we got from a friend who used to rally a mark 2 with a 2.4 holby in it , god that thing was fun .... Rust In Pieces

oh it had a sierra 5 spd box aswell and an some rear diff which was noisy when parking

or maybe that was just the car lol