Cheap(ish) first car...any suggestions?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

gazfocus wrote: »

thanks for the suggestions so far. I'm 25 so size not a huge issue. Been looking at Vauxhall Vectras and a 1.9 is about £1400 to insure. I'm learning in an Astra so already use to a bigger car

vectra possibly 1.8.

passat/golf estate/polo/saab not the 1.9 tdi though/mk4 1.4 1.6 astra hatch or estate/nissan primara hatch/ honda civic saloon/rover streetwise (be knocked for saying that but if head gasget was done with the multi layered steel replacement gasket you wont have another gasket go on yoU) fiat brava or bravo my instructor had one and he was 6ft odd and drove it no probs without his legs wrapped around his kneck, mondeo,scorpio,probe volvo 440,

rictus123

Well 6ft and a 206 had plenty of space. A clio never, a saxo is a no go at all. No way for that bmw, you will never afford insurance on a 3 litre! Saying that at 25, you can defintly get a bigger car. Try some out, test drives for size and comfort etc.

gazfocus

Thanks again for all the advice so far. When I say 'a big guy' I mean fat and tall - I'm 6ft 1 and about 22 stone (although slowly losing it).

The insurance will be paid for monthly so unfortunately, lower insurance doesn't equal more money to spend on the car for me.

JQ.

Have you looked at a Mondeo? Possibly a better drive than a Vectra of a similiar age. Could be worth looking at both and just buying the best condition one you can find.

newfoundglory

For £1000 i'd probably go for a 1999/2002 Peugeot 306.

For £2000 i'd probably go for a 2003/2004 Ford Mondeo.

The diesel engines are excellent. Go on forever. My Dad has an old 306 (1.9L Diesel) which has done 120,000 miles.

gazfocus

newfoundglory wrote: »

For £1000 i'd probably go for a 1999/2002 Peugeot 306.

For £2000 i'd probably go for a 2003/2004 Ford Mondeo.

The diesel engines are excellent. Go on forever. My Dad has an old 306 (1.9L Diesel) which has done 120,000 miles.

Thanks, it's good to know I could potentially get a 2003/2004 Mondeo for £2k. My only worry with a Ford is that I've been told they use more fuel than most - is that true?

Thanks again for all the advice

UnoriginalGuy_2

gazfocus wrote: »

Thanks again for all the advice so far. When I say 'a big guy' I mean fat and tall - I'm 6ft 1 and about 22 stone (although slowly losing it).

The insurance will be paid for monthly so unfortunately, lower insurance doesn't equal more money to spend on the car for me.

Paying insurance monthly is a horrible idea. Frankly if you are cutting it that close are you sure you can even afford to drive?

Getting a bank loan for a years insurance and paying off that loan is often cheaper than buying month to month insurance.

dacdesigns

gazfocus wrote: »

Thanks, it's good to know I could potentially get a 2003/2004 Mondeo for £2k. My only worry with a Ford is that I've been told they use more fuel than most - is that true?

Thanks again for all the advice

I'm looking for a mondeo 2.0l TDCI at the moment and I think you will be lucky to find a 2004 for 2k, you will be looking at a 51, 02 reg for 2k.

I have seen a few 04, 05 reg mondeos for 2.5k though.

I currently have a 04 plate 1.7 cdti astra new shape which is going back to the finance company and then I will be spending 2k on a mondeo.

I have had a 1.9 bora before the astra and got to say the bigger car is better in my eyes mate, what ever you pick, good luck!

gazfocus

UnoriginalGuy wrote: »

Paying insurance monthly is a horrible idea. Frankly if you are cutting it that close are you sure you can even afford to drive?

Getting a bank loan for a years insurance and paying off that loan is often cheaper than buying month to month insurance.

That's not strictly true. There are many insurance companies that don't charge extra for paying monthly.

I just don't want to be paying £1400 in one go for insurance when the car won't cost much more than that. If I had £1400 in the bank, I would still probably pay for it monthly. Also, unfortunately, it's a necessity for me to learn to drive - I've put it off for long enough but can't put it off any longer

gazfocus

dacdesigns wrote: »

I'm looking for a mondeo 2.0l TDCI at the moment and I think you will be lucky to find a 2004 for 2k, you will be looking at a 51, 02 reg for 2k.

I have seen a few 04, 05 reg mondeos for 2.5k though.

I currently have a 04 plate 1.7 cdti astra new shape which is going back to the finance company and then I will be spending 2k on a mondeo.

I have had a 1.9 bora before the astra and got to say the bigger car is better in my eyes mate, what ever you pick, good luck!

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.