Car advice please

[Dazzza]

Finally taking lessons and should be driving before the end of the year and thoughts are turning to the first motor.

I don’t have a fucking clue about automobiles apart from they require one of my chauffeurs to work them.  Need some advice on what to get.

First of I want something that even I appreciate will be completely unsuitable for a first car but there you go.

First instinct was to toy with a retro 80’s Porsche but everyone I mentioned this to tutted and shook their heads and went on about repairs, parts….

Next up a Z3.  A little bit near the top of my limited budget but it looks shiny enough to keep me happy.

The third option is to go for an old Jag 97/98 so I can smoke cigars and wear a panama hat.

Finally an Alpha Romeo Spider or an MG.

After something a bit different, flash , don’t mind what’s termed as a ‘tarts ride’ or something with a bit of age on board for a retro feel. Anyway enough about my taste in women someone suggest something please…

Cheers

Faust

[walrus]

Got a feeling even though you're not 17 that insurance on those cars will be rediculously expensive.  When my dad was 40-odd and bought his first privately owned car the insurance was near enough that of a 17 year old.  I imagine the biggest engine you can realistically insure will be in the region of 1.4 maybe 1.6 - depending how old you are.  If you're over 25 you may be able to find a company who take pity on you, but it's more about years of unblemished driving than your age.

I would recommend going for an old Mini or something of that nature, nice and cheap and cheap parts, and you can insure 3rd party to save you money.  Then after 2 years of driving or so, move up in the world.

To give you an idea, I was quoted £3,000 for a new 1.4 MG ZR.  My dad paid £900 3rd party when he was 40 for a 10 year old Citreon BX....

[Mexicano Rojo]

i have an 1.8 mg and its fuckin skill. insurance isnt that bad, try tescos they seem to be the best.

people may call you a poof but they are jealous as fuck, mg is the bollocks
only £8000

[Dazzza]

Cheers chaps.  Insurance is not a concern as it’s all in the budget although I must admit some of the quotes are a bit hefty.

MG looks good Mex, most sensible option out of the lot.

[Reg Smeeton]

The first car I ever had was one of these....

   http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/Reg__Smeeton/Steves_1971_Honda_600_Coupe2.jpg


  It was essentially a Honda motorbike engine in a car body...it was air cooled.

 In later years I became convinced that, because the Bath Road garage managed to shift a few in Swindon, when there were seemingly next to no outlets elsewhere, this persuaded  our oriental friends to build a factory here.

[Leggett]

how much money we lookin at fella?

[Asher]

No no no, never get a massive engined car for your first drive, you take lessons to get a licence THEN you learn to drive once you have your first car! You will regret it fella!

Get something small

[Kinky Tom]

No no no, never get a massive engined car for your first drive, you take lessons to get a licence THEN you learn to drive once you have your first car! You will regret it fella!

Get something small

He's right.

[Asher]

For once!

[DMR]

if you don't mind being raped on the insurance then fair enough dazzza, but asher's spot on

i learned to drive in a 306 and getting the feel of my own 106 took a while, so converting from a small instructors car to a beast will be fucking difficult, worth baring that in mind

[STFC Village]

Annoyingly, my insurance premium is only starting to get to a manageable level now, and its been 4 years since i passed. As has been said already, i would suggest something small for the first couple of years Daz

[mattboyslim]

If you really want a fancy motor, by a classic, mgb gt is £700 insurance for a 22 year old less than half that if it has a grage/off road parking, the mechanics are easy and if they go wrong cheaper than a porsche, my housemate had an MG looked at a porshe and the insurance was insane.  I don't own a car but after I learned i reckon it's better to keep it sensible for a bit, buying a fast car is somewhat risky.  My uncle just brough a mk3 golf convertible for a toy, and the insurance was the same as his old rover 200, it was his 50th birthday present mind.

[Dazzza]

I have quotes on Insurance for most of the range I'm looking at and the Z3 at £1300 was probably the worst of the lot and pushing the budget out a little to far for my liking but the rest are all reasonable enough.

The other option I have on board is to take it out in my old Dears name fully comp and who doesn’t' actually drive but has years and years of no claims and then insure a jeep we have but rarely use in my name to get working to my own no claims.

To be honest getting something completely unsuitable was one of the prime motivating factors of learning in the first place.  I’m possibly only looking 12/18 months down the line before travelling calls once again anyway so I don’t mind spending a couple of grand on a retro Porsche and taking the gamble it won’t fall apart or go for a beast with a bit of re-sale short term.

Think I’m opting towards the MG or Spider to be honest although a 96/97 old Jag seems surprisingly cheap and apealing for cigar smoking refinement.

[Northern Red]

Triumph Spitfire - qualifies for classic car insurance (about £300 regardless of age) and is tax free

Saving you about a grand a year for now.

Cigar smoking fun....

Example on Ebay: 4581963899

If I had the money - it'd be an old beast for sure, none of this new crap

[mattboyslim]

The spitfire's ace, earlier in the year we took mgb, spitty and opel manta to france, the 1.8 in MGB and slightly less purchasing price gives better power and more space, very tail happy, might have had a bit of a spin on the french roads. Also spitfire=leaky roof!