For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not)

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Sun 17 Dec 2017 13:45
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - oldroverboy.

I have a canadian nephew studying here for 5 years. At home he drives a choice of family cars from a BMW328ix, a mercedes c250 4wd and a humble toyota mini MPV (which is what he goes out and drives when he doesn't want to go fast but enjoy pushing it a bit.

Last week I took him off for a well deserved week in spain, and he hated the fiat punto i hired, which was strange as he didn't drive it in spite of pestering me as he had forgotten his IDP...

In january he will be 25 years old and I feel that I can add him as a second driver to a cheap and cheeful something.

Question.. What? Doesn't need to be "fast" excellent road manners would be nice,,, budget £2500 ish. willing to spend about that or less and make sure brakes and tyres are good after if not happy with that part after purchase.

Ideas? Car will be registered in my name, kept here and he will not be "fronted" but will usually be with us (me) when he drives it.

Edited by oldroverboy. on 17/12/2017 at 13:47

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Sun 17 Dec 2017 13:58
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - FiestaOwner

Insurance might be an issue for anything fancy. I think keep it simple applies here. So the usual suggestions (Petrol), in no particular order as condition and service history are more important:

Ford Fiesta 1.25

Toyota Yaris 1.33

Honda Jazz

Mazda 2

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Sun 17 Dec 2017 14:42
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - gordonbennet

Yaris 1.8SR, which i reckon you'll end up using more than you think, i'm only surprised at just how cheap they are, if it had Ford Sport badging they'd be silly money.

C2 VTS, not VTR, gearbox from hell.

Edited by gordonbennet on 17/12/2017 at 14:43

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Sun 17 Dec 2017 15:20
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - RT

Careful with his driving licence - he can only drive for 12 months in the UK on a Canadian licence - within those 12 months he needs to exchange it for a UK licence but that won't cover manuals, only automatics, unless he can PROVE that he's passed a test in a manual.

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Sun 17 Dec 2017 16:37
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - oldroverboy.

Careful with his driving licence - he can only drive for 12 months in the UK on a Canadian licence - within those 12 months he needs to exchange it for a UK licence but that won't cover manuals, only automatics, unless he can PROVE that he's passed a test in a manual.

He has a manual licence...currently applying for uk licence.

Fiesta seems to be my best bet too, and the 1.2 at that.

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Sun 17 Dec 2017 16:02
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - SLO76
Fun for £2,500... I’d recommend looking at Fiesta 1.25/1.4 Zetec, 1.6 Zetec S, Suzuki Swift 1.3/1.5, Swift 1.6 Sport, Mazda 2 1.3 or 1.5 Sport if you can get a higher mileage one or stretch a bit more. All are a hoot to drive. Up size a bit and a Mazda 3 or Ford Focus Mk II spring to mind.
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Sun 17 Dec 2017 18:44
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - John F

What a fortunate young man. 25yrs old, still a student and a budget of what sounds like someone else's £2500 for a car! If he were my son I would suggest a Ford Focus like ours. There are dozens available between £500 and £1000 on, er, a well known site with fewer than 80,000m on the clock which is about half the mileage I expect our family cars to last.

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Sun 17 Dec 2017 18:49
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - gordonbennet

Wasn't fun part of the package requested?

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Sun 17 Dec 2017 19:02
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - oldroverboy.

Wasn't fun part of the package requested?

yes..

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Sun 17 Dec 2017 19:09
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - gordonbennet

In that case why are 1.2 engines even mentioned, there is no fun or pleasure whatsoever driving a hopelessly underpowered car on the crowded roads we now have, but large engine in small light car, now we're talking.

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Sun 17 Dec 2017 20:41
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - FiestaOwner

In that case why are 1.2 engines even mentioned, there is no fun or pleasure whatsoever driving a hopelessly underpowered car on the crowded roads we now have, but large engine in small light car, now we're talking.

I suspect that insurance costs could be an issue for a new UK licence holder for driving a more powerful car.

Also he is a student. I'm sure insurance companies regard them as a high risk group.

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Sun 17 Dec 2017 21:36
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - SLO76
“In that case why are 1.2 engines even mentioned, there is no fun or pleasure whatsoever driving a hopelessly underpowered car on the crowded roads we now have, but large engine in small light car, now we're talking.”

I disagree. I’ve driven everything from high performance GT’s to luxury SUV’s and for point to point fun it’s hard to beat a modestly powered small lightweight hatch with nimble handling, feelsome steering and a rifle bolt gearchange. Wringing every ounce of performance and working to preserve momentum is great fun but at speeds that are less licence risking. Too much power is utterly useless on the road other than a quick blip or for overtaking and often it corrupts the handling particularly on front wheel drive cars.

Some of the best drives I’ve had in my life were in lowly powered cars. Fiat UNO 45 Fire, Metrol 1.1s, Fiesta 1.4 Zetec, Metro GTa, Pug 205 XS all spring to mind. 300bhp is largely useless on roads with speed limits of 60-70mph. I respect them, I’ve had numerous track day jaunts in them but would I buy one? No. Would I say they’re fun on normal roads? No. Lightweight and modest power is where the fun is for me on the road.
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Sun 17 Dec 2017 19:14
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - Metropolis.

Does he like fixing things? Might broaden the options if he can tolerate slightly less reliable makes.

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Sun 17 Dec 2017 19:26
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - oldroverboy.

Does he like fixing things? Might broaden the options if he can tolerate slightly less reliable makes.

No fixing...

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Sun 17 Dec 2017 21:01
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - catsdad
C'mon, fun was mentioned and he's 25 not 75!
Keeping with the 5's what about an MX5?
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Sun 17 Dec 2017 22:27
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - Manatee
C'mon, fun was mentioned and he's 25 not 75! Keeping with the 5's what about an MX5?

Insurance could be challenging. Although I had my 1999 one on a classic policy for about £90 a year.

Meets the light and lowish-powered criteria though. And £2,000 can buy a nice Mk2/2.5 if you have time to reject the rusty ones. A pal of mine bought a 2004 Mk2.5 with 130,000 miles for £1100 last year - I am astonished at how well it drives, although he has had to have the front chassis legs repaired and the earlier repairs to the rear sills and arches don't look too good.

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Mon 18 Dec 2017 12:15
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - oldroverboy.

I think we might go for a fiesta 1.4 zetec..

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Mon 18 Dec 2017 19:30
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - smallcar
What actual use will he make of the car?

These days many fewer students can or even want to own cars especially if they’re studyinf ina urban environment. Plus if he’s staying in official student accommodation he may not qualify for parking permits etc (often a condition of such blocks being built). I know he’s Canadian but has he actually driven here - is he happy in our roads in the sort of smallish cars we generally drive ? Growing up driving bmw328i is going to mean he comes down to earth wth a bump when he realises what he can afford or can be insured for. Has he investigated parking at his university or place of study?
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Mon 18 Dec 2017 23:25
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - Manatee

Good points all. Daughter was not allowed a car when in college at Cambridge.

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Tue 19 Dec 2017 14:46
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - oldroverboy.

Good points all. Daughter was not allowed a car when in college at Cambridge.

Why have a pop at the young?

If you had read my original post... he will not have the car at uni, it will be a small car a bit fun to drive WHEN he is with us. He has driven our 1993 toyota starlet 1.0 litre.. It is easier for me to have the vehicle here for when he comes and he will be with one of us most of the time when driving. Insurance details apart not all of the "yoof" of today are mindless idiots. His sisters are a Pharmacist with her own business at 30 the other a consultant paediatrician at 29 and a brother witha Bsc in medical science also with honours studying pharmacy, alll clever as monkeys, none of them out getting wasted at weekends on drugs or booze in their spare time and Good balanced young adults.

And anyways.... I was driving cars in france when I was 20.... and no problems, so a wordly wise intelligent (yes) young man deserves a bit of fun and a bit of incentive to get that fun.

As it is I have promised a Rolex if he graduates with honours.. (he is already Bsc Honours in Biology) so it is a fair bet that it will be expensive come graduation time.

Merry christmas all.

That is my Christmas present to him.

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Tue 19 Dec 2017 18:14
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - Manatee

Sorry.

Not intending to "have a pop".

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Tue 19 Dec 2017 19:26
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - oldroverboy.

Sorry.

Not intending to "have a pop".

No apology needed. It is (sometimes) the attitude in the Uk to our younger people.

I have neighbours with 3 young boys who are brilliant. (10/12/13) My sisters kids have all done well, one of the despite of many setbacks and we know of very few basket cases. My behaviour as a young man was different, late 60's early 70's.

I do understand however that the perception of a few in reverse baseball caps "cruising" and misbehaving in local car parks gives a tars brush a wide sweep!

No offence taken.

ORB

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Tue 19 Dec 2017 22:22
For a 25 year Old - Fun throwaway (hopefully not) - SteveLee

I'd look for a 2004ish Honda Civic Type S (5 door) a slightly frumpy looking car perhaps, but it's one of those cars that's (real world) much quicker than the figures suggest as the bullet-proof 2 litre engine is tuned for mid-range grunt – unlike the over-priced, abused (and expensive to insure) type Rs. It has softly sprung but well damped suspension so is comfortable - leans a bit but actually grips very well. A car you can make very good progress in by being smooth. Just like any Honda of the era - I'd recommend you change the brake fluid straight away and then every two years to keep the ABS modulator from dying of internal corrosion. The Type S is a much underrated warm hatch - reminds me a bit of a Triumph Dolomite Sprint in a strange kind of way – a car that can be rowed along fast on mid-range torque and rewards the driver with decent md-corner speed by progressively leaning on the suspension rather than chucking it in. Get one with the stock 16 inch rims, larger rims spoil the enjoyable characteristics of the car IMHO.

Should be able to get a looked after minter for £2.5K.

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