• The development of any software program, including, but not limited to, training a machine learning or artificial intelligence (AI) system, is prohibited using the contents and materials on this website.

First Car

P

PaulMay

Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2005
Messages
10
Hi, I'm looking to buy a new car, my first actually, being 17.

I'm not a rich kid, so it needs to be under ?1,000.

Obviously, I am not unaware of the fact that despite this miniscule budget, there is much choice. However, I cannot succumb to the inanity of the Golfs, Polos, Clios and Corsas that are available to me in all their blandness.

I know that these cars are ultimately perhaps the most practical solution to my dilemma, yet I am in need of something with a little more character. I am a BMW fan, yet have so far been unable to find anything with the combination of an engine of insurable size at my age (no bigger than 1.6), an un-vomit-inducing styling.

I chose to ask this question here, because I thought it to be interesting to see what those of a Top Gear-watching persuasion would suggest. So, does anyone know of any cars that fit my description?

What does everyone think is the best car that can be bought for under ?1,000?
 
Ultra_Kool_Dude said:
I vote for buying a bike - much more performance and fun for much less $$$.
Click to expand...

yeh and then kill yourself. nice advice...
 
Re: First Car

PaulMay said:
Hi, I'm looking to buy a new car, my first actually, being 17.

I'm not a rich kid, so it needs to be under ?1,000.

Obviously, I am not unaware of the fact that despite this miniscule budget, there is much choice. However, I cannot succumb to the inanity of the Golfs, Polos, Clios and Corsas that are available to me in all their blandness.

I know that these cars are ultimately perhaps the most practical solution to my dilemma, yet I am in need of something with a little more character. I am a BMW fan, yet have so far been unable to find anything with the combination of an engine of insurable size at my age (no bigger than 1.6), an un-vomit-inducing styling.

I chose to ask this question here, because I thought it to be interesting to see what those of a Top Gear-watching persuasion would suggest. So, does anyone know of any cars that fit my description?

What does everyone think is the best car that can be bought for under ?1,000?
Click to expand...

What country are you in? How much are you gonna use it? Do you need to haul? Diesel/Petrol? Big/Small?

I could say, buy a classic but that won't help, what do you need in a car.
 
Since money is an issue, I'd go for a car make / model that has a reputation for reliability and low maintenance costs.
I doubt you'll find something stylish / sporty for that price.

My 1st car was a 1984 Pontiac Trans-Am.
Somewhat reliable, but still sporty looking and good fun.
That of course was in the US, with much lower fuel prices, and where these types of used cars don't cost much.

EDIT: I've never searched for cars in the UK before, but you should be able to get ideas by using websites like these:
http://carsearch.yahoo.co.uk
http://www.autoseek.co.uk/carsearch.htm
 
I very much live in England, and would prefer something not irritatingly large. And in petrol form.

I would put up with not the best of fuel consumption, but not constant breakdowns.

Also, recently found that i can get some 2 litres and even a 3.0 litre v6 jaguar xj6, so I'm not necessarily limited to 1.6.
 
I would go for a 205 GTI
 
Re: First Car

PaulMay said:
Hi, I'm looking to buy a new car, my first actually, being 17.

I'm not a rich kid, so it needs to be under ?1,000.

Obviously, I am not unaware of the fact that despite this miniscule budget, there is much choice. However, I cannot succumb to the inanity of the Golfs, Polos, Clios and Corsas that are available to me in all their blandness.

I know that these cars are ultimately perhaps the most practical solution to my dilemma, yet I am in need of something with a little more character. I am a BMW fan, yet have so far been unable to find anything with the combination of an engine of insurable size at my age (no bigger than 1.6), an un-vomit-inducing styling.

I chose to ask this question here, because I thought it to be interesting to see what those of a Top Gear-watching persuasion would suggest. So, does anyone know of any cars that fit my description?

What does everyone think is the best car that can be bought for under ?1,000?
Click to expand...

Dunno, consider an old Volvo. Most of them are very very reliable, decently fast (you'll definetly wont have a 1.6 under the bonnet) and safe (for their era). Dont know what Volvos you can get for 1000 pounds but look and see.

By the way, :welcome:

Edit: If you dont like Volvo design (cant blame you, old ones are awful) or Volvo in general, go for a Saab. Same things basically, relliable, fast and luxurious (leather, cd, heated seats are on most models). I would buy something swedish if I were you. I'm 17 as well and I had to choose between a 1993 BMW 325 and a 1998 Volvo S70 as my first car (well, I paid almost 6000 $ for mine). After a long thinking I chose the Volvo because of safety. Believe me, when you're a young driver, you want a car where you can feel safe in (of course, you want a fast car, too). Saab or Volvo would be my pick. Swedish cars are faaaaar safer than any german or other car manufacturer. And as I said, they're fast as heck, too. Even the 1994 Saabs go from 0-60 in like 9 seconds for normal engines and 7-8 for turbo engines.

Hope you get my point. Choose wisely. :)
 
Thanks very much for the warm welcome. Yes, I found a 96 N Saab 900 2.0 litre, which I'm considering buying, as itcertainly fulfils all the criteria that I stated.

However, there's still certainly room for suggestions, since it will be quite difficult for me to get exactly what I want in the condition I want.

So please, more suggestions!
 
From the same time frame, I guess so...

BTW, check Auto Trader for some used ads.
 
PaulMay said:
Just found out that this Saab has a quite terrifyingly bad safety rating.

http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/details.php?id1=3&id2=2

Swedish cars are faaaaar safer than any german or other car manufacturer
Click to expand...
Were you sure about that V70?
Click to expand...

Wow....that kinda scares the crap out of me, too. Well, as a general rule, swedish cars are safer than german or french rivals, for example. I did say the Saabs are safe because in NHTSA crasth tests (NHTSA is like EuroNcap for North America, although their tests might not be as tough as Ncap's)

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test 1997 Saab 900
Front Impact, Driver 4
Front Impact, Passenger 4

Now...as for the germans, look here:
http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/details.php?id1=3&id2=15

Not much difference...

I'll come back with a post soon, I have to leave right now.
As for the 205 Gti, believe me, if that would've been tested, it would get 1/2 star probably... :?
 
OK, I'm back. Now...what you want is one of these probably (the only car to take 4 stars in 1997, when the EuroNcap was born).

http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/details.php?id1=3&id2=5

The problem is...one of these isnt cheap...
Cheapest one I could find was 1,495 pounds (and cant be sure its not a lemon, although I doubt thats the case). This search was for London with a 100 miles range:

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ww...urce=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH

Something else thats good is a Saab 9-3 (successor of 900 series) but those arent cheap either (1,499 pounds again the cheapest):

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ww...urce=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH

And the Ncap score here:

http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/details.php?id1=3&id2=78

Now dont buy a car just because of the Ncap score. Even my car, it did take 4 stars, but look at it:

http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/details.php?id1=4&id2=54

Its not all nice and sweet out there. I am not trying to mislead or scare you. I dont want to give you a bad advice either. Also, it depends on what you need. You want comfort and luxury or practicality and economy?. Also, you have to think..you want a small or medium car (or large)...? As I said I would go for a Volvo S40 (even if I would have to wait more to get enough money) or an early Saab 9-3 if you're really in safety and luxury. If you need a practical and economic car, go for something like a Peugeot or Renault.

Hope that didnt confuse you even further. :unsure:
Just study every choice on the market before you buy (dont rush to buy the first car you like) and look for things you need (as I said, you know best if you need a cheap, reliable and cheap to maintain car or something else). Also, try to find out the insurance for whatever car you want. For my Volvo, I pay a small amount of money (300$/ 6 months insurance ;) - but I live in USA, tho). Dunno about Britain...

Edit:Sorry for the 2 long posts. :oops:
 
Probably the most boring, but perhaps not the worst tip: take a look at something that you can afford in long term. As you know from Top Gear, you can afford Porsches , Mercs and Jaguars, but none of these cars were intended to do more than 1000 miles any more. At a budget of ?1,000 you may search for something around ?500-?700 and keep some money for maintenance in background (unless you're going to finish your car off and replace it as soon as major problems occure with it). Don't forget about being able to pass MOT (though I don't know how often you car has to be taken to it in Britain)
 
Top Gear did some segments for people just like you! :lol:
You can even buy a Porsche within your budget!

If you want reliability and least amount of problems, I'd go with any of the big three Japanese companies--Toyota, Nissan, Honda. Perhaps you can find yourself a small Japanese hatch like a Civic, Micra, or Corolla.

Like mautzel said, keep a few hundred quid extra so that you can repair what needs to be fixed. ALL used cars need something fixed. I've yet to come across a used car that didn't need any repairs. I think it's just a fact about used cars . . . as well as used girls.
 
Z Draci said:
Like mautzel said, keep a few hundred quid extra so that you can repair what needs to be fixed. ALL used cars need something fixed. I've yet to come across a used car that didn't need any repairs.
Click to expand...

I agree here. I had to spend some $$ to repair my Volvo as well.

I think it's just a fact about used cars . . . as well as used girls.
Click to expand...
:lmao:
 
Hehe yeah the 205 GTI isn't the safest but one of the most entertaining :) I guess it's more save to be hit by hit than actually crashing while driving it ;) But hey...who cares about boring safety stuff.
 
Yeah whatever I buy I'm going to run it into the ground. Dammit I was so happy with the idea of buying that Saab. It has everything I'm going for, compared to the cars all the people I know are buying. Just has so much more sophistication than a Civic or a Polo, and the mid-range accelaration is excellent for the money.

I need to spread out on alternatives though, perhaps safer alternatives.

Does anyone have any information that could put my mind at ease with the safety risks, such as crash-related figures and statistics?
 
If you're so concerned about safety, just buy any old car and get a full FIA approved roll cage welded in. Also, get a racing seat with a 4-point harness. Don't forget to wear a helmet too!

If you're going to die, you're going to die no matter how safe of a car you're driving. Driving is all about taking the risk to do so. If you don't put yourself in a dangerous situation, you can avoid most accidents.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top