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Thread: Looking for a first car

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    Looking for a first car

    So i passed my test last Monday and I'm looking for a car. I've had some great advice from the god himself Zak33 in the office but I'm curious to see what you guys on here would recommend. Only requirement is it's 4 doors and wouldn't require me to sell an organ to insure or buy. On a side note if any of you have a car for sale that meets these requirements I can pick up from pretty much anywhere in Hertfordshire.

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    Re: Looking for a first car

    Quote Originally Posted by Mason.Lyons View Post
    So i passed my test last Monday
    Congratulations!
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    Senior Member Smudger's Avatar
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    Re: Looking for a first car

    Well done on passing your test.

    If you're not afraid of big cars, I would advise going for something that someone your age would not normally have. This way not a lot of people your age will have crashed them or had them nicked. So if you're young, a mid-sized or large car (Mondeo, etc).

    Back in the day when I was 30, I got a quote on a Jag S-Type R, which was a 4.2 litre supercharged beast, and the insurers only wanted £278 a year for it, because normally people under 65 don't drive S-Types...

    Couldn't afford the £45k for the car, but it was nice to dream.

    Edit - going by your avatar, I'd get something with leather seats - easier to get rid of moulting hair.

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    Re: Looking for a first car

    With just over 20 years to enjoy it before you are forced in to a self driving plastic battery box with no windows, get something loud, uneconomical and fun.

    And if that doesn't help, I know a few people who have bought Kias recently as first cars. they are surprisingly cheap on the insurance, probably related to Smudgers theory. I've not seen a bad Kia. Great cars.
    Last edited by virtuo; 18-08-2017 at 08:57 AM.

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    Re: Looking for a first car

    Quote Originally Posted by Smudger View Post
    Well done on passing your test.

    If you're not afraid of big cars, I would advise going for something that someone your age would not normally have. This way not a lot of people your age will have crashed them or had them nicked. So if you're young, a mid-sized or large car (Mondeo, etc).

    Back in the day when I was 30, I got a quote on a Jag S-Type R, which was a 4.2 litre supercharged beast, and the insurers only wanted £278 a year for it, because normally people under 65 don't drive S-Types...

    Couldn't afford the £45k for the car, but it was nice to dream.

    Edit - going by your avatar, I'd get something with leather seats - easier to get rid of moulting hair.
    I noticed this when i started messing around putting in old BMWs. I'll have a look on ebay to see if there are any on there. Yes the hair is a massive issue.

    Quote Originally Posted by virtuo View Post
    With just over 20 years to enjoy it before you are forced in to a self driving plastic battery box with no windows, get something loud, uneconomical and fun.

    And if that doesn't help, I know a few people who have bought Kias recently as first cars. they are surprisingly cheap on the insurance, probably related to Smudgers theory. I've not seen a bad Kia. Great cars.
    Would love a mk2 golf but getting one in good condition is a pain. Can't see myself driving a kia. Can you even get people in the back?

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    Re: Looking for a first car

    Quote Originally Posted by Mason.Lyons View Post
    Can't see myself driving a kia. Can you even get people in the back?
    The hatches are small, but models like the Sportage and Optima are roomy and don't look bad either. Also, very cheap even brand new.

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    Re: Looking for a first car

    Quote Originally Posted by Mason.Lyons View Post
    Can't see myself driving a kia. Can you even get people in the back?
    The Cee'apostrophe'D is about the same size as a Focus. So probably not.

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    Re: Looking for a first car

    What about a Chrysler 300c?

    https://www.gumtree.com/cars/london/chrysler/300c

    Dynamics are poor, and they only seems to be listing the diesel (not sure if the CRD nomenclature is an omen), but black out the windows, upgrade the sound system, bang! Instant pimp's car. Just don't forget the faux-zebra hide seat covers.

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    Re: Looking for a first car

    Drive something small and cheap to insure before getting a larger or sportier vehicle unless you want to have a huge insurance premium. After you get a few years of no claims bonus it should help your premiums go down to a reasonable level.

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    Re: Looking for a first car

    From what I've found small =/= cheap to insure. Especially for the young...

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    Re: Looking for a first car

    Quote Originally Posted by Smudger View Post
    From what I've found small =/= cheap to insure. Especially for the young...
    Indeed, have even heard of someone getting a good quote on an Alfa 156 2.5V6, which incidentally should come with leather seats for easy wiping off of that moulting hair

    Congrats on the test!

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    Re: Looking for a first car

    Quote Originally Posted by virtuo View Post
    With just over 20 years to enjoy it before you are forced in to a self driving plastic battery box with no windows, get something loud, uneconomical and fun.
    20 years before plastic golf carts are all that you can buy new, I thought?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mason.Lyons View Post
    Would love a mk2 golf but getting one in good condition is a pain. Can't see myself driving a kia. Can you even get people in the back?
    Depends how new you want it and how hung up on car type. You can find surprisingly good cars in the marques you'd never think to look at - Volvo or Saab, for example.

    I was going to suggest a mkIV Golf, although most marks are pretty wicked, IMO.
    Downside is that they're still Golfs and many tend to be used and abused by the 'reliable' crown, or kevved up by the 'ricer' crowd.

    However, several other cars are built around the same platform and are nigh-on as good, even if they don't come with the same badge, as a Golf.

    I'm reliably informed that Škoda make surprisingly good cars... even if it is still a Škoda!

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    Re: Looking for a first car

    What kind of budget are you looking at?

    For a first car, expect to ding it, so don't get anything you're going to be overly precious of, but do get something that gives you good visibility and comfort.

    Buy with the plan that you can replace it in two or three years once you have a bit of experience and lower premiums.

    I recently picked up a Meriva (B) for my missus and although they probably seem a bit bigger than you would expect for a first car and they're definitely not "cool", they mark pretty highly in comfort and visibility IMO. They may also be just awkward looking enough that most young 'uns will avoid it. You can get some pretty good deals on these "Crossover" MPV type cars which are kinda like an estate city hatch in terms of the underpinning chassis.

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    Re: Looking for a first car

    Quote Originally Posted by Biscuit View Post
    I recently picked up a Meriva (B) for my missus and although they probably seem a bit bigger than you would expect for a first car and they're definitely not "cool", they mark pretty highly in comfort and visibility IMO.
    We have the same model Meriva. I find the A pillar ruins visibility - certainly wouldn't want to have that as my first car if you plan on going round any corners!

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    Re: Looking for a first car

    Quote Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster View Post
    20 years before plastic golf carts are all that you can buy new, I thought?


    Depends how new you want it and how hung up on car type. You can find surprisingly good cars in the marques you'd never think to look at - Volvo or Saab, for example.

    I was going to suggest a mkIV Golf, although most marks are pretty wicked, IMO.
    Downside is that they're still Golfs and many tend to be used and abused by the 'reliable' crown, or kevved up by the 'ricer' crowd.
    Dont really care about how it looks apart from me looking like a (I've been informed i can't say that on here ) Golfs are my favourites. 99% of the time I've been looking at mk2 ,4s and 5s.

    Quote Originally Posted by Biscuit View Post
    What kind of budget are you looking at?

    For a first car, expect to ding it, so don't get anything you're going to be overly precious of, but do get something that gives you good visibility and comfort.

    Buy with the plan that you can replace it in two or three years once you have a bit of experience and lower premiums.

    I recently picked up a Meriva (B) for my missus and although they probably seem a bit bigger than you would expect for a first car and they're definitely not "cool", they mark pretty highly in comfort and visibility IMO. They may also be just awkward looking enough that most young 'uns will avoid it. You can get some pretty good deals on these "Crossover" MPV type cars which are kinda like an estate city hatch in terms of the underpinning chassis.
    Budget is 1.5k for the car and around the same for the insurance yearly. I'm only an apprentice.

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    Re: Looking for a first car

    Quote Originally Posted by virtuo View Post
    We have the same model Meriva. I find the A pillar ruins visibility - certainly wouldn't want to have that as my first car if you plan on going round any corners!
    I think you might be exaggerating somewhat...

    I personally find the visibility all round to be one of the best I have ever experienced

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