Hi folks
Im now on these forums so go easy. Ive read all the rules on swearing and pointless posts etc etc. But if i say / do something that is wrong just email me (gemini@jolt.co.uk and say so so i can stop it)
Anyway, im a new driver. Hoping to pass my test late febuary early march of next year. Im a really big guy heightwise. And il only be 18 so obviously im gonna get raped on my insurance.
So could somebody please recommend a car for me. Got to have legroom, cheap insurance (as its realistically going to get) and preferably one where I could get a good second hand deal.
Im learning to drive in a 2004 Corsa and ive sat in (and felt quite comfy) in a 306 (year unknown)
Any suggesstions. Help apreciated.
Thanks
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306 you say... well, not only one can sit in it (quite comfy) but also travel in it (very comfy) - soft suspension, that's the key. If you like it, of course. Plus it's cheap, cheap, cheap.
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I am the only Pole over here.
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try a punto,they are like a tardis inside and cheap insurance,low mileage mind less that 70,000 tops,whichever model/year
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306's are very cheap to insure for what you get.
How tall are you? I'm 6ft and can fit in mine OK. Sometimes wish the wheel was height adjustable but it's no big deal.
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Gemini, can you give us an indication of how much you are looking to spend (exc insurance)and how many miles you anticipate doing etc?
Welcome to the forum - you will find lots of experts on here!
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Whatever you get, I suggest you avoid a car with a sunroof if you're tall - I've never had enough headroom in the cars I've driven/owned with them, and I'm only 5'10". NB that included a 306, had to tilt my head to the left slightly but constantly. It's something you may not even notice at first, but over time and on long journeys it can be a real pain, literally. Try to make sure that the pedals/steering wheel aren't offset either, the 1999 Punto I had for less than three years still gives me a twinge in my right ankle after the constantly twisted position I had to maintain to keep my foot on the pedal. Agree with the comment about roominess though.
The Skoda Fabia is pretty spacious inside and should be available at quite affordable prices for the early models. If street cred is important to you, it probably has the most of all the Skoda models. When I changed cars a few years back I narrowed it down to a Fabia and a Clio, and a positive report from What Car magazine swayed me to the Clio, a decision I regretted - I ended up selling the thing just over a year later, as I was so uncomfortable and the (compulsory!) sunroof never stopped rattling right beside my ear. An early example of the Ford Focus could be another alternative, although they used to be rather short on standard equipment (such as ABS).
--
andymc
Vroom, vroom - mmm, doughnuts ...
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As the previous poster has said, sit in a Punto. The rear seat accom. is great even if the front seats are fully back. When my 5'4" daughter is driving hers there's room for a small horse behind her!
The SX55 is Group 3, and quite nippy.
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and suprisingly, a punto has a fair amount of street cred.
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RF - Da DAA. < changes in phone box > Its TOURVAN man
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I think you will be surprised what you will fit in.
My brother is 6ft 8 and he drives a VW Polo. A friend of mine is 6ft 5 and he drives a fiesta.
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I think you will be surprised what you will fit in. My brother is 6ft 8 and he drives a VW Polo. A friend of mine is 6ft 5 and he drives a fiesta.
Likewise, colleague of mine had a M reg Clio with sunroof and was 6'2".
Two suggestions:
Nissan Almera S reg onwards with the whited out rear indicators. Not great NCAP rating granted, but 40mpg, insurance group 4/5, and aircon. Dull as dishwater and lowlife ignore them.
Or Nissan Micra Old shape. Surprisely good fun to drive, even the 1 litre.
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Thanks for the help.
Im 6'7.
Im looking at no more than £7k. Currently im getting £550 per month. All of that is untaxed and completely disposeable. (Although i really would like to keep some of that back for other stuff)
Thanks
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My first car was a Citroen Xantia 1.9TD. It had plenty of space, plenty of kit, and cost less than the equivilent small car.
For £7k you could get something similar yet a lot more modern, with plenty of space. Spend about £5k on the car and have some change for the insurance.
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If you literally mean insurance as cheap as possible then the starting point is insurance groups - its relatively easy to find the group for a specific car but the ABI site makes it easy to list all 1, 2 etc.
www.abi.org.uk/carinsurance/default.asp
With 7k and Group 1/2 buying new you are looking at Pandas, C1/C2, to mame a couple. I think the Ford Ka can be had for nearer 5k new and is Group 2.
A Pass Plus course also gets you some money off with some insurers; it's another 6 hours tuition and the extra training should benefit you anyway - my son felt it was worthwhile from that point of view.
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