best first car for under 5k

  • Thread starter Thread starter MagpieRacer
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MagpieRacer

MagpieRacer

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Seagull_Racer
i get my license pretty soon and i have 5'000gbp (about 7-8'000usd) but i have no idea what to get, any suggestions?
 
Something cheap and reliable that you can use to build up a no claims bonus so that you can get something good in a few years.
 
Since you are in england get a smaller super effiecent car since gas is through the f'in roof. Don't expect your first car to last long since I promise you you will have some sort of accident.
 
How about a 88-91 Civic (4th gen) or CRX Si? Fun, good on gas, and should be within your price range.
 
GT_Fan2005
i get my license pretty soon and i have 5'000gbp (about 7-8'000usd) but i have no idea what to get, any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Actually, your birthdate would suggest that you're currently FIFTEEN, turning 16 in July. You won't get a provisional driving licence for another 14 months.

You could, on the other hand, get a scooter licence.

GameBoyFX - The following is an insurance quote for a Porsche 944S, for a 17 year old with no NCD living in Brighton (under the fictional name of Dave Pants).

"Sorry, we cannot insure this car for you, all drivers must be over 21"

Guess again.
 
I will also say civic, but since you are in the UK why not a Ford Festia or Ka, even a Focus would be good. Just get something easy to drive, low insurence, good mileage...err kilometers, and something kinda safe.

saturn_vue.jpg
 
BlazinXtreme
I will also say civic, but since you are in the UK why not a Ford Festia or Ka, even a Focus would be good. Just get something easy to drive, low insurence, good mileage...err kilometers, and something kinda safe.
Click to expand...

England uses miles or at least mph. Some thing cheap that won't break, so I agree with the suggestion of a civic.
 
I don't really know how much gas is over there in England, but as I've heard it's pretty high. I would go with a starter car, and you don't need to use all of your money either. Start with something not so fast, but enough to get you from point a to point b. You also want something that won't require a whole bunch of money to get going, or fix.

I'm making the mistake of going for a muscle car as my first car. Just have to find one that I like. The thing about that is if I get in a wreck, well by by dream car. :indiff:
 
If you don't care about reliability go for a Mazda RX-7 FC3S, but of curse you care about reliability. So what about a DSM? 2nd gen eclipse's are quite good, plus the Turbo 4wd versions are quite quick too.
 
Most DSM cars suffer from crank walk after about 100,000 miles.

Only the Turbo/AWD models are exceptional. Otherwise you would be better off with a Toyota/Honda.
 
OLD COROLLA :D :D :D signature... :P

edit: since when were FC RX7s unreliable? sure, original 10A and 12A carb motors were a bit on the short lifetime side, but an 80s model efi 13b will last just as long as the average piston motor as long as you don't flog the crap out of it. hell, i've even seen bridgeports last over 100,000km with a sensible driver behind the wheel

i wouldn't get a bmw. my first car was a 1980 bmw, the car cost $2500, then i spent about $2000 over the next 18 months just keeping it on the road. parts for old eurocars are very expensive

i wouldn't get a civic because i have attitude about FF cars :P but they are very reliable little things, with decent build quality, lots of performance parts available, and a reputation for lasting a fair while. a mate of mine has an 87 civic which has almost 300,000km on the clock and it still cracks!
 
Don't you guys realize, he's in the UK. RX7, Porsche, DSM, BMW, any of those, he'll never be able to get insured, and if he does, he'll be paying out the ass for it.
 
I've got a punto for sale 1.2L active sport, cheap to insure :) , it was my first car only 13k miles as well £4,995 bargain 👍
 
The most important thing to think about is insurance. You REALLY don't want to be on your folks insurance cos the premiums will rape you later on when you want something decent, insurance rates round here are crap and can get silly without a NCB.

So i'd say stick to a small car, probably with a 1.2 engine, for £5K you'll be able to get something in pretty good nick that's gonna last quite a while with minimal hassle. A Ka is a good start, although in my opinion it's a bit feminine. I'd be looking at things like the Ibiza, Lupo (perhaps even polo), a Yaris (if you can find one for the right price), a new shape panda?

If you go for a bigger car with a bigger engine you will be shafted as a new driver on your insurance, and even if you go on your folks insurance (which if you are the main driver is Fraud) you'll suffer later on.

It's always tempting to go for something quick and silly early on, but due to the costs you end up getting a banger, that will fall to bits or probably end up in a wall. It's a much better idea to put up with something small and practicle (and reliable) to get you from A to B and work your way up.
 
get a renault 5 and deck it out with custom interior and big stereo and big wheels. get "your name" in lettering on the drivers side at the top of the windscreen, and "me *****" on the passenger side. wear a parka. pretend you are black :P

if insurance is a worry, max power magazine do features on second hand cars that everyday young people can afford and insure, and things you can do to them. look into that?
 
Here's a shocker....


A USED HONDA INTEGRA TYPE-R!!!!!


no, I'm not joking. Seriously you can get one for just 3200 GBP.

or how about a Renault Clio 172? or an old skool MK1 Golf GTI for just 800?

You can visit this site to see more:

Top 10 used Hot Hatches for under 4000 GBP

To be honest... get the Integra Type-R! I'm sure we all agree.

BTW, good luck in getting your license.
 
A peugeot 306 dturbo. Quite nippy, great mpg and group 5 insurance. It will teach you the joys of lift off oversteer too. I had one for 3 years and spent the whole time sideways.
 
Racer_R1
Here's a shocker....


A USED HONDA INTEGRA TYPE-R!!!!!


no, I'm not joking. Seriously you can get one for just 3200 GBP.

or how about a Renault Clio 172? or an old skool MK1 Golf GTI for just 800?

You can visit this site to see more:

Top 10 used Hot Hatches for under 4000 GBP

To be honest... get the Integra Type-R! I'm sure we all agree.

BTW, good luck in getting your license.
Click to expand...

Famine
GameBoyFX - The following is an insurance quote for a Porsche 944S, for a 17 year old with no NCD living in Brighton (under the fictional name of Dave Pants).

"Sorry, we cannot insure this car for you, all drivers must be over 21"

Guess again.
Click to expand...

Staying on-theme, the following is an insurance quote for a 1997 Honda Integra Type-R, for a 17 year old with no NCD living in Brighton (under the fictional name of Dave Pants).

"We told you the last time. Are you stupid or something? Get bent, weirdo!"


Guess not then.
 
You're flogging a dead horse here mate. Only you, Takumi, Schtopper (does anyone else say that with a Dutch accent?) and me know about insurance.
 
Yeah I suppose you guys are right. The insurance will definately go through the roof. Sorry, I forgot about that.

But what kind of decent car can you get for 5k?

I'm not so sure but I think a used 1999 or 2000 Ford Focus sounds good. Does a 1.4 Zetec sound reasonable? both price & insurance wise?
 
daan
You're flogging a dead horse here mate. Only you, Takumi, Schtopper (does anyone else say that with a Dutch accent?) and me know about insurance.
Click to expand...

Schtop - this driver is not ready!


Racer_R1 - Anything mass-produced usually gets low premiums. The cost of the car and age of the driver is offset by availability of parts in case of repair.

Still, for £5k I'd get an N-plate Fiesta 1.3 and drive it to death. 5 years later you can take the £4k you saved, plus 5 years of savings, less 5 years of insurance (which WILL start at £800TPFT and only go up from there) and buy a decent car, safe in the knowledge that you've got full NCD.
 

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