1st car buy – Any suggestions?

[Lazy Nite]

For someone who has just passed their driving test….what is the best car to buy?

Please, any suggestions??

[lamzee]

One that runs on bio-diesel !

[Fleegle]

Good quality second hand, low insurance group, and lots of space..you'll be driving your friends all over the place, until you realise you want a drink too. German is pretty reliable..VW?..Avoid French, as they install their engines upside down..nightmare for the AA...

[lamzee]

I've always wanted a really tacky car just for the fun of it---one day I aspire to having a 80s lada or trabbie.... 0 to 60 in 60 seconds....coooool!

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by Lazy Nite

For someone who has just passed their driving test….what is the best car to buy?

Please, any suggestions??

You are a locum. The car is for work. Both the capital value of the car and the insurance are offset against tax.
If you don't want to be the sober one having to act as a taxi driver to all you friends - how about a 2 seater Smart? They make other people smile - and if you find a Smart Roadster you'll smile too (even if the roof leaks).

Jeff

[Sir_Dispensalot]

VW make a corker of a diesel golf now - excellent 1st car.

Try a vauxhall astra too - the petrol 1.6 is pretty good and it's got a low insurance group.

If you're a turbo nutter but want something cheap that goes round corners like its on rails, go for a scooby circa 2000 (expect to lay out around 3.5k for a good unsullied uk car - also will bypass the emissions taxes due later this year) - sorry - i'm an ex-scooby owner. damn that mortgage of mine....

that fiat 500 is supposed to be pretty nice too - all funky on the inside...


and my biggest tip - do NOT buy new! If you want something new then get it second hand and 6 months to a year old. Either that or get something really old you won't cry about when someone TWOCs it... eg my scooby had 1000 miles on the clock - i only paid 17 grand for it instead of 24.

[Fleegle]

Excuse my age, but what the hell is a scooby??

[Sir_Dispensalot]

subaru impreza fleeg matey. subaru, scooby-doo (in mockney)...

[johnep]

My first car was a mini 850 secondhand, such was the hype at the time I paid almost list price for it. (minis were £500) then. I loved it and it returned 50mpg . At the time I was a rep for a company that did not provide cars but loaned cash to buy and gave 6d/mile. At that time petrol was 20p/gallon and I was making real money from my mini. The new minis are vastly superior.

Our neighbour has a smart open top. She adores it.

Good advice on this forum get a good 2nd hand with most of the initial depreciation gone. However, my daughter bought a Ford Ka new and also loves it.

Do not get a large car as parking always at a premium near a pharmacy.
johnep

[Lazy Nite]

Thank you so much….guys and gals!

Second hand car – maybe Ford KA, Nissan Micra??? Hopefully under ₤2,000

SMART cars are tiny….although that would be great

Would love to get a mini cooper….but they are too expensive!!

What websites would you recommend? I’ve tried Auto Trader so far…..

Looking for something…. cute and fast!

I saw a car advertised for ₤1……..I think the side mirror was free to take home