Driving around Europe

[Howard]

Hmm bit of an E36 fetish by the looks of it 316s are slooooow...Could do worse for a first car though (I think I'd take one over a Fiesta or something), but they're a bit dated. I'll have an M3 though


Herulach, what does your name mean?

[herulach]

Hmm bit of an E36 fetish by the looks of it 316s are slooooow...Could do worse for a first car though (I think I'd take one over a Fiesta or something), but they're a bit dated. I'll have an M3 though


Herulach, what does your name mean?

Its my old MUD name, means 'Lord of the leaping flame' in elvish (tolkien) sad i know, but i started using as my name for everything, so i cant really change it now.

[chrestomanci]

In some countries you need to have been passed for a certain amount of time (2 years rings a bell)..

In france if you have only had your licence for less than 2 years, you need to display '90' stickers and limit yourself to 90 kph, including motorways (where even the HGVs do 110).

[autopilot]

Get a van.

[XA04]

Well, considering we are on the subject. What car do you think I should get for when I'm 17?.

Not to worry TOO much about insurance as it will be on my dads policy, but I don't want anything bigger than a 1.6.. possibly a 1.8 (but seriously... 1.8 is a very close no-no).

I like the BMW 316, because its a 1.6, and I just love the look of it, it's not the compact version I want, just a normal hatchback or coupé. And why is it slow? yeah it's a 1.6, but there is slower cars out there, is it because the 316 is the slowest out of the whole 3 series? if so I already know that..

[Howard]

Get something small and easy to drive like a Polo or something

[herulach]

Well, considering we are on the subject. What car do you think I should get for when I'm 17?.

Not to worry TOO much about insurance as it will be on my dads policy, but I don't want anything bigger than a 1.6.. possibly a 1.8 (but seriously... 1.8 is a very close no-no).

I like the BMW 316, because its a 1.6, and I just love the look of it, it's not the compact version I want, just a normal hatchback or coupé. And why is it slow? yeah it's a 1.6, but there is slower cars out there, is it because the 316 is the slowest out of the whole 3 series? if so I already know that..

Its not that slow, it just isnt as impressive as youll be hoping, and for the same price as a ten year old 416 you can get a 5 year old mondeo 2.0 ghia, which has everything you could need equipment wise (except sat nav) and a nicer engine. (god i sound like fox

[XA04]

Get something small and easy to drive like a Polo or something

I bloody hate Polo's, I really like some Golf's though (not the old ones), but they cost too much.

Its not that slow, it just isnt as impressive as youll be hoping, and for the same price as a ten year old 416 you can get a 5 year old mondeo 2.0 ghia, which has everything you could need equipment wise (except sat nav) and a nicer engine. (god i sound like fox

DId you not listen? a 1.6 at the most.

I'm open for options, but I really want a e36. Budget is about £2500, and I want something preferbly big. Not too fussed about the size of the boot, as long as the car is big .

[Howard]

What's wrong with Polos? And why do you want a big car? An old BMW won't be terribly cheap to run I wouldn't have thought... At that age things will start going wrong... you're bettter off getting something smaller and overall easier to "handle" while you're learning to drive.. Then get your beloved BMW a year or so down the line when maybe you can afford a better example.

I don't know why people suggest such cars as 2l Mondeos as first cars... Bit OTT IMO.

How about a Focus? Ibiza? Megane? 306? Xsara?

[XA04]

What about a Vauxhall Vectra? I like them, but the safety on them is crap..

Fair enough.. Polo's, I just don't like the look of them, they're probably a good car but yeah.

Focus: Nice car, possible choice.
Ibiza: Love the new ones, -- too expensive. The old ones are ugly.
Megane: The new ones look terrible, the type you have Howard is OK, but I'd like something a big less rounded.
306: Again, lovely car, but they cost too much, and they seem a little bit small, but not bad, it's just the price, they cost too much.
Xsara: Havn't really thought of this car before, doesn't really seem my type of car.

[5lab]

the bimmer isnt a hatch - its a saloon - i dont know if they did the coupe in the 1.6, but if they did, the rear of it is tiny - really uncomfortable, even for short journeys..

in my opinion, the best car to get for a first car is a banger. something cheap with 12 months mot - and by cheap i mean <&#163;200. spend &#163;80 on aa cover (including tow you home stuff) and your sorted. why? however 'good' you think you are at driving, you aint. you're basically still learning, and statistically there is a 1 in 3 chance you will crash. you wont afford fully comp insurance, so best off getting a car where it doesnt matter what happens to it. at the end of the year, flog it or scrap it, doesnt matter. then buy your 'first' car, and yer insurance is cheaper too..

personally, i recon a punto is a good bet. failing that, a focus is in your price range, or a mondeo or similar.. if you want something 'cool', how about a saab or similar?

[Howard]

What about a Vauxhall Vectra? I like them, but the safety on them is crap..

Fair enough.. Polo's, I just don't like the look of them, they're probably a good car but yeah.

Focus: Nice car, possible choice.
Ibiza: Love the new ones, -- too expensive. The old ones are ugly.
Megane: The new ones look terrible, the type you have Howard is OK, but I'd like something a big less rounded.
306: Again, lovely car, but they cost too much, and they seem a little bit small, but not bad, it's just the price, they cost too much.
Xsara: Havn't really thought of this car before, doesn't really seem my type of car.

Vectras are rather big... Too big for a first car IMHO. Why do you want such a big car?

306s aren't small... They're bigger than Polos. And what's not to like about the Polo's design? It's pretty neutral-looking.

What's "your type of car" besides big? Lol

5lab's right, don't get anything "mega" until you have some experience under your belt

Edit: Oh yeah, forgot about Puntos. Also a Bravo? Although they were a bit of a flop iirc

[herulach]

DId you not listen? a 1.6 at the most.

I'm open for options, but I really want a e36. Budget is about £2500, and I want something preferbly big. Not too fussed about the size of the boot, as long as the car is big .

A 316 is group 11, a 2.0 mondeo ghia x is group 12, insurance will be a non issue (assuming you can afford a group 11 car in teh first place, which will cost a fortune, i was paying ~600 a year for a group 3 punto when i first passed my test)

[XA04]

I can't really explain about the Polo, I just don't like the look of it.

Vectra isn't bad for a first car I don't think, they're cheaper than the 316 too.

I just want a big car so I can take friends around in it mainly, but just in general I would like a big car and not something small, I want something spacious.

Another reason is, I'm learning to drive in my dads ford fiesta SI, and my knee's hit the steering wheel as I'm so tall, and it's quite a struggle to get in and out of the driving seat, even with the seat right back.

Fiat Punto's arent bad tbh, will have a look at pricing and insurance, Bravo's are just ugly

[XA04]

A 316 is group 11, a 2.0 mondeo ghia x is group 12, insurance will be a non issue (assuming you can afford a group 11 car in teh first place, which will cost a fortune, i was paying ~600 a year for a group 3 punto when i first passed my test)

Hmm, I just noticed that. Well I guess it's due to the fact that I will be on my dads insurance policy.

Edit: btw was that on your policy? (600 a year?)

[Howard]

How tall are you?

I wanted a big car, and now that I have my Megane it's plenty big and spacious enough. A Vectra is too big IMO, for a learner. It'll be a bastard to park, I promise.

You can take friends around in most medium-sized hatchbacks with rear seats. Hell I've had five people in my Cinq. The only real problem was that it was so slow.