First car? What car? Budget?

olivebob

Can I ask for some advice?

I gained my full manual driving licence nearly 4years ago and due to the cost of cars and the cost to keep them running I didn't buy a car. However I am now itching to get on the road and have been looking seriously at purchaing my first car. I have saved enough for my first car plus one years insurance.

Now I have always wanted a Fiat and my dream is to have a classic car either 126 or 500. But if I were to purchase a classic it will be a 'weekend' car and not used to commute unless in an emergancy (ie missed bus). I have been thinking lately about the saftey in a car like this, I know people are more likely to have an accident in thier first year of driving and a classic car is basically a tin can with little/no saftey features.

So at the moment I have a decision between a restored 126 (£2k) and a 2002 seicento 1.1 (£1,000 - £1,600). The insurance is £311 on the 126 and £900 on the seicento. Which would you suggest?, if I go for the latter I will prob end up commuting in it and no doubt get more use out of it. Which is more suitable for a new driver? A driver that isn't the most confident.

Finally what sort of budget would you set for the year? Just for mot/repairs? I plan to save the whole amount for my insurance renewal and do the same for my tax throughout the 'year' but I want to add somethig to this to put asside each month for mot/repairs.

Thank you for any advice in advance

rev_henry

Seicento isn't very good. 126 haha, my parents had one when I was still in a baby seat. Did some ridiculous mileage in it before selling it to someone who had to push it off our drive. I personally wouldn't give a toss about safety, just insurance. What about a Citroen 2CV or a proper original beetle? Just another couple to consider.

olivebob

Thank you for your reply Henry. You state that a Seicento isn't very good, why? Sadly I think safety is of importance, I really don't want to be another statistic for road death, and certainly not causing the death of any passengers I may carry. The two you mention are far too big for me. I want only a two door, the smaller the better and have a budget of £2,500 if I pay for insurance monthly

Matt1977

I've always had a soft spot for the Fiat 126! :blushing: It is hard to say how much to budget for repairs and servicing each year. My conservative estimate would be £500 a year. Have you also considered an old shape Panda?

I had a larger Fiat once and it was an absolute money pit. I hope that you have more luck with the small Fiat...at least not much to go wrong on these.

olivebob

Matt1977 wrote: »

I've always had a soft spot for the Fiat 126! :blushing: It is hard to say how much to budget for repairs and servicing each year. My conservative estimate would be £500 a year. Have you also considered an old shape Panda?

I had a larger Fiat once and it was an absolute money pit. I hope that you have more luck with the small Fiat...at least not much to go wrong on these.

Thanks Matt, I do love the 126's they are what I call a 'box on wheels' :rotfl: I have budgetted £600 a year so that more than covers it then as I guess I will prob service the car too. I did look for an old Panda but 1) I couldn't find any near me and 2) Mum had one which was a rust bucket.

Thanks Matt, I am one to think that any second hand car will need money spent on it. My decidion is you either pay repayments on a new car or you pay for repairs. I would rather do the latter, debt free :T I will never rely wholely on a car as I work on a bus route, if I change jobs and then need to rely on one I will look at a far newer car, when the time comes

Thanks for your advice.

rev_henry

olivebob wrote: »

Thank you for your reply Henry. You state that a Seicento isn't very good, why? Sadly I think safety is of importance, I really don't want to be another statistic for road death, and certainly not causing the death of any passengers I may carry. The two you mention are far too big for me. I want only a two door, the smaller the better and have a budget of £2,500 if I pay for insurance monthly

I suppose I've never had personal experience of a seicento but they're just generally cheap, tiny and nasty, certainly not a classic. Erm, you do know the 2CV has a 600cc engine don't you!? Still a pretty small car. Also I know for a fact insurance is very cheap. Don't know about 126's though.

jase1

You need to start getting sensible IMO. Nice though these old Fiats are, they aren't viable day-to-day cars really. They weren't reliable in their day, and they'd leave you stranded regularly now.

Something small, modern and unloved would be my suggestion as a first car. Something like an early Kia Picanto or old-shape Nissan Micra. Yes, they are relatively dull, but they will at least provide reliable transport.

olivebob

Thanks Henry, I know the seicento isn't a classic, but the 126 is imo. With the ref to the size of the car I do actually mean the size of the car not the size of the engine. I don't want anything big, one of the reasons is parking at home, if I get a small car it can go on the drive. As I have stated before insurance cost isn't factored into my choice of car.

Thanks Jase, I do understand what you are saying I do like the micra's but they do have a stigma around here. A Kia Picanto is too big and out of my budget sadly. I quite like rover metros but that lacts safety again, ie seicento vs metro on safety the seicento wins.

Now you see why it's taken me so long to get behind the wheel, I know nothing about a car and what one likes is different to whats practical.

jack7

Hi Olivebob,

have you looked at the fiat forum website https://www.fiatforum.com? there are a lot of very helpful people and sub sections for many different Fiat cars both old and new. I am sure someone on there would be happy to advise. I had a Fiat 126 when I was 19 (many more years ago than I care to remember) and amazingly could afford to buy a new car. I loved it even if my dad used to joke that he had a lawnmower with a more powerful engine than my car!

Kilty_2

olivebob wrote: »

A Kia Picanto is too big and out of my budget sadly.

Too big?

Wow. I drive one and big it is not:rotfl:

LandyAndy

Smart for2?