The time has come when, for the first time, I get to choose my next car. For the last four years, since I passed my test, I've had a 1996 Corsa which I picked up at an auction and has now done 150k miles and is starting to rust and leak various fluids chronically... Being a bit of a petrolhead I can't wait to get something a bit more interesting.
Unfortunately, knowing a fair bit about cars means I can't choose! I have half my family and friends telling me to be sensible and not spend very much, because I have the rest of my life to (hopefully) indulge my desires, and the other half telling me to get something fun before I settle down and have kids.
My father, who usually doles out the soundest advice, reckons I should spend £2-3k, which by my reckoning will get me a slightly newer Corsa. I reckon if I go up to £6-7k things can get a bit more interesting. But what? My shortlist consists of:
Golf
A3
Focus
Smart Roadster Coupe (700cc engine might be ok, it'll probably feel fast compared to my Corsa)
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
drawde
|
|
Focus for me out of that bunch.
|
|
£4-5k on a Focus would be my suggestion.
|
|
|
|
|
You could possibly get a Celica for around £6-7k, but there won't be all that much choice if you wanted a lowish mileage one. It was in my shortlist when I was looking for a new car, but couldn't find one with a low enough mileage that had been well-looked after for that price
|
There are so many factors: -
1. Do you want to spend £3k or £7k?
2. Your age - if you are 24, expensive insurance may be an issue for faster cars?
3. Are you handy with a spanner? - it may be better to find an older interesting car?
4. Make a decision as to amount you want to spend, and if its the cheaper bracket, simply look for good examples of a range of cars within a certain criteria.
How about a Ford Puma?
|
>>Being a bit of a petrolhead I can't wait to get something a bit more interesting.My shortlist consists of:
>>Golf
>>A3
>>Focus
>>Smart Roadster Coupe (700cc engine might be ok, it'll probably feel fast compared to my Corsa)
Que? Something interesting, yet automotive tedium like a Golf and an A3 make the shortlist? ;-)
It's a bit of an odd shortlist, 3 humdrum hatches and a tiny roadster. At least the Focus handles though, so could be fun. If you fancy a roadster, how about the MX-5?
Assuming you can easily afford £2-3k, but £6-7k is going to stretch your budget, I would recommend you spend the smaller amount and keep the rest in reserve. That way you can get something interesting and afford to run it. Some suggestions -
Fiat Coupe - will leave loads of your budget for insurance and running costs (which you may need!)
Alfa GTV - ditto
Peugeot 406 - great looks, relatively run of the mill (ie reasonably priced) mechanicals
Honda Prelude - bulletproof bargain?
£3k or less on any of them sounds a darn sight more interesting than a hatch...if you can afford the insurance. Happy shopping.....
|
|
smart roadster for me - I seriously considered one as our second car, but the arrival of our daughter stopped that one - having driven various ones it's just one of those cars I would have loved to get out of my system. A friend has a Brabus version and it's mad!
|
|
Yes, if it's fun you're after it has to be a Smart Roadster Brabus! Just check the roof for leaks.
|
focus
2 door
nice colour
air con
will return good money after another 2 years if you service it every year and dont bling it
good looking
reliable
cheap to run
pretty unbreakable
any man and his hammer can fix it
who would want a smart?apart from billy
|
My two cents worth, being in a similar situation (well, OK, its longer since I passed the test, but I'm still running my first car):
- If you've got hobbies that involve lugging gear around (I do), buy an estate - I'm considering a Subaru Forester - it should still be entertaining to drive.
- If you don't, buy something fun. The Smart is the only "fun" car on your list. There's nothing wrong with a Golf, A3 or Focus, but there's time enough for them when you need to worry about fitting child seats in the back etc.
As Espada said, set your budget first, then look to running costs and resale values, and shortlist based on that. You'll find one of those shortlisted cars will start getting under your skin (the Forester, obviously, in my case) - that's the one to go for.
|
|
|
|
I was in a similar position to you recently and ended up buying an early 5th Gen Honda Prelude 2.2 Vtec, only thing i don't like is the fuel consumption, but I knew I'd have to live with that when I bought it. Handles very well, the styling still looks fresh in an understated way, good for long distances crusing as well as the country lanes. Should be able to get a good one within your Fathers recommended budget and keep the rest for fuel!
Other cars I looked at where:
Toyota MR2 MkII - Great fun, but very impractical (still more practical than the Smart tho)
Toyota Celica - both previous shapes, latest shape very nice but even 180 VVTi felt underpowered, older shape felt a bit dated.
Ford Focus Zetecs - Nice handling, but a little on the boring side, particularly in the silver most of the good ones seemed to be in.
VW Golf MK IV 1.8 GTi - suprisingly unintresting to drive, nice interior though.
Seat Leon Cupra R - If i hadn't found the Prelude this might have been the one, good looks and more involving than Golf.
Skoda Ocatvia VRS - Nice, but traffic police image put me off, if practicality needed would be a great buy.
Must have looked at a dozen other cars as well, If the Smart was 20% bigger physically and engine wise i would have been interested - but unless your 5'2 or less you'll probably find it too small.
I didn't look at one, but if I hadn't found the Prelude I would also have considered an imported Honda Integra Type R, bit smaller and more hardcore than the Prelude but similar performance.
Let me know if you want any info on Preludes.
|
Cheers for all the help!
Practicality is bottom of my priorities, but getting something unusual is pretty high. The run-of-the-mill cars made the shortlist because I'd given up on fulfilling that, except with the Smart. Not a big fan of soft-top convertibles, hence no MX5 or MR-2 there. I quite enjoy servicing and fixing the Corsa (up to a point) so i'll happily go for something a bit older.
Fiat coupe (and a Haynes manual), Toyota Celica, Honda Prelude and Peugeot 406 coupe are all going on the list!
Guess i'd better get test-driving.
Thanks again, you guys are fantastic!
drawde
|
|
|
|
![2023 BMW 1 Series 118i [136] Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]](https://img.common.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/unsafe/trim/90x60/smart/filters:quality(70):no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/8f880fcabd37557d908c28a4d66bdb53/3fbad8b2291927dfff4a517b10b43a88.jpg)
£20,252was £20,915Details:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/1a7d4474b17676684a348cdd448c4b92/08bb122aa412bc7f4fd14d51efe0f7ec.jpg)
£29,937was £30,619Details:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/50317e11790e78d451cd7ea1034db948/945052e3f5e296502220368946402172.jpg)
£14,662was £14,989Details:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/3541ab6c55c241daa536e7011376e00a/2ade89a4638733a7b49c56a4ed052ac8.jpg)
£18,340was £19,200Details
