Looking for my first car

[zazaza]

Hey GTPlanet! I need your opinion!

Next month It's my 18th birthday and I hope I will pass my driving licence exam arround birthday's week. My father can't share with me his car, so if I want to drive I have to buy an used car.
My budget is arround 1500-2000 € (arround $2200-$2950 U.S dollars) and I started to think that I prefer to spend my money to a nice and fast used cheap sport car, because I would like to go some days to the track. I want it to be a hobby and want to enjoy taking care of my car.

What I want is an used benzin sport car. I don't care about how old is it. I have a big list of cars arround this prize and I'm looking for something like the Saxo VTS 16v, Golf MK-II GTI 8 or 16v, Golf Mk-III GTI 8 or 16v, etc.
Since last summer I'm looking for a car and you know It's realy hard to find the balance between price, the amount of kilometers and car condition.

I would love to see what suggestions you guys can come up with and wich cars would you recommend me.

Thanks 👍

 

[Northstar]

Are you paying for your own insurance?

If so, a sports car is going to be way to expensive to insure.

I'm not sure what exactly is available in your area, but I would go for a Honda Civic or something along that line for a first car. Insurance would be cheap, and you can always tuck some upgrades in it and take it to the track.

 

[Jondot]

Make sure you get a nice collection of insurance quotes before you even look at the VTS or the two GTIs. I don't know what the situation is over there, but here you would be charged a fortune to insure any of them with only a week old license. Fast car + new driver = crash, usually.

 

[zazaza]

Yes, I'm worried about the insurance. Like Jondot says, I will get a collection of insurance quotes. I want to put it on my father's name and me appearing like second driver. And all in the lowest insurance level. I don't want to pay full insurance for a 1500-2000€ car.

Yes a nice 125 hp Civic would be great. Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[Prosthetic]

Get a Focus... They are awesome in every way. =)

 

[Paulie]

How expensive is an FTO?

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Mondeo? Unkillable for the most part, not bad looking (not particularly sexy either though), and decent to drive.

Perfect first car really. And considering they're all over the place everywhere over in Europe parts are available at all times.

 

[zazaza]

How expensive is an FTO?

Unfurtunatly the FTO was not commercialized here in Spain. And if I'm not wrong, in Europe it was only commercialized in the United Kingdom. It's sad because it's a really nice car.

 

[homeforsummer]

How expensive is an FTO?

Not very, but completely and utterly unavailable in Spain. We barely got them in the UK and they were only produced RHD.

Edit: Tree'd

Edit #2: Have you considered something like a SEAT Ibiza/Cordoba/Arosa etc? Bit of national pride in them for you and since they're basically VWs they're pretty good cars too. The Arosa sport is a good bit of fun, 1.4 16V with about 100bhp is plenty in something that weighs that little:

Pretty small I know but also pretty solid and dirt cheap to insure.

And Cordobas are good, I test drove one when I was looking to replace my old car, drove the 1.9 TDI and it had plenty of punch, very comfortable, quiet, handled okay, apparently does significantly north of 60mpg (4.7 l/100km) and the TDIs are quite tunable.

 

[mustangGT90210]

I don't know if over there is the same as america, but here, an old civic will cost you more in insurance than a comparable Mustang V8.

I agree with the focus idea, once you get past the god awful dashboard shape

 

[Northstar]

I don't know if over there is the same as america, but here, an old civic will cost you more in insurance than a comparable Mustang V8.

I agree with the focus idea, once you get past the god awful dashboard shape

Actually they are fairly close, I just ran a couple quotes for 1999 models and the Civic was slightly cheaper.

 

[YSSMAN]

Toyota Celica ST204

Grab an early one with the 1.8L and I imagine you can get it for cheap. They go forever, have a bulletproof powertrain setup, and the suspension tune isn't half bad no matter the model. My big piggy American-spec version came with a monstrous 2.2L, but it is cheap to run, insure, fix and do whatever else with.

Hell, even an older ST180 wouldn't be a terrible idea. Assuming they haven't all rusted to pieces over there.

 

[BayConRong]

I agree with Yssman on the Cerika.

You should really make sure the car runs great though, before you buy it. If you actually get a car that needs any work at all you are getting screwed over. They are just way too much effort for a first car and assuming you're in school, you just don't have the time to fix it up. It took my friend 2 years to get an RX-7 running again and the only problem was that it had a bad transmission, he was just so busy he didn't have the time and manpower to get it fixed.

And whatever you do, don't buy a 1995 Ford Taurus.

 

[mustangGT90210]

Actually they are fairly close, I just ran a couple quotes for 1999 models and the Civic was slightly cheaper.

Good information. For me when I was getting quotes, the civics were more to insure than Mustangs. And F150s/Rangers even more.

 

[homeforsummer]

And whatever you do, don't buy a 1995 Ford Taurus.

Probably not too much of a risk in Catalunya...

Re: The Celica, they're cheap and plentiful in the UK but not sure about Spain. I tried to look on eBay.es but there seem to be very few cars at all on there, so it's presumably not as big a thing as it is in the US/UK ebays. And not especially cheap to insure over here so I'm guessing it's similar in the rest of Europe.

Much as people are going to suggest everything else under the sun, the easy, cheap option to get something reasonably fun and inexpensive to run is a small hatchback.

 

[Prosthetic]

I agree with the focus idea, once you get past the god awful dashboard shape

Don't knock the dash bro.

 

[mustangGT90210]

This:

is aesthetically unpleasing to me.

This:

is the best looking dashboard I've ever seen. I love it!

 

[Jondot]

Well you did have to find the only Focus ever made with an interior in 70s beige.

That's much more pleasing (sneakily stolen from JCE's SVT thread).


But yes as others have said, do check out the Focus. Or any other Ford hatchback. *Cough*


(Just FYI, that thing <----- is considerably cheaper to insure than a Saxo VTS, and should be less than even the VTR too. But then it's slower than both of them in all fairness...)

 

[mustangGT90210]

I wasn't even looking at the color, just the shape. I love JCE's SVTF, but that dash is ugly in my eyes

 

[Prosthetic]

Mines grey.. with black and silver bits.. To be honest, I don't mind it.. Very comfortable and roomy. The engine is very reliable, good mileage, loads of fun to drive.. and is plenty fast enough to get into a little trouble.. Which can be bad because you will be in a 30 zone doing 40 and not notice it... Corners fantastic and makes a nice noise when kiss the pedal to the floor.

 

[Paulie]

It's a shame about the FTO, they're funky little cars. I don't really know what to suggest now, some little Renaults and Peugeots should be good in your area no?

 

[homeforsummer]

Again, if insurance in Spain is anything like the UK then a Prelude wouldn't be that insurable. In the UK, we have a group rating system. Group 1 is lowest, group 20 is highest. There's a lot of leeway in there (Gp20 could be anything from a Focus RS to a Bugatti Veyron, for example). The Preludes aren't any lower than about group 13. My Mazda is 12 to 14 (can't remember) but as I've been driving for over six years it doesn't really affect me. My Fiesta was group 4. It cost me £1400 to insure in my first year.

Insurance on any car when you're young is ridiculous. But small hatchbacks are less ridiculous, so you really can't recommend much else.

It's a shame about the FTO, they're funky little cars. I don't really know what to suggest now, some little Renaults and Peugeots should be good in your area no?

Mainland Europe is awash with small European hatches. Renaults, Peugeots, Fords, Citroens, SEATs, Fiats, VWs etc would all be the best sort of ballpark in which the OP should look. And probably best not anything with a GTI, Si, RS or any other sporty-sounding badge.

 

[zazaza]

Edit #2: Have you considered something like a SEAT Ibiza/Cordoba/Arosa etc? Bit of national pride in them for you and since they're basically VWs they're pretty good cars too. The Arosa sport is a good bit of fun, 1.4 16V with about 100bhp is plenty in something that weighs that little:

Pretty small I know but also pretty solid and dirt cheap to insure.

And Cordobas are good, I test drove one when I was looking to replace my old car, drove the 1.9 TDI and it had plenty of punch, very comfortable, quiet, handled okay, apparently does significantly north of 60mpg (4.7 l/100km) and the TDIs are quite tunable.

It's really nice to read that about SEAT. Here in Spain there are SEATs everywhere, and they are really nice. Unfurtunatley, about the Arosa, I would say it is the strangest SEAT to see in the streets, because there aren't a lot here in Spain. So it's really hard to find one of them and specially the 1.4l 16v Sport. It's sad because it looks really nice. Here the most popular SEATs are the IBIZA, LEON, CORDOBA and TOLEDO. And about CORDOBA TDI, it's not the first time I read something like that.

Toyota Celica ST204

Grab an early one with the 1.8L and I imagine you can get it for cheap. They go forever, have a bulletproof powertrain setup, and the suspension tune isn't half bad no matter the model. My big piggy American-spec version came with a monstrous 2.2L, but it is cheap to run, insure, fix and do whatever else with.

Hell, even an older ST180 wouldn't be a terrible idea. Assuming they haven't all rusted to pieces over there.

About the Celica ST204, I searched and I found something cheap, in aparently pretty good contitions and without a lot of mileage. The Celica it's a great option. About the ST180, they are also cheap but usually are in a bad condition. The problem about the ST180 it's that most of them have 160hp and for me that's a lot.

This:

is the best looking dashboard I've ever seen. I love it!

Is it an Honda Prelude dashboard? It looks really nice. The Prelude it's cheap but it has a lot of horsepower and I thing the insurance would be really expensive.

It's a shame about the FTO, they're funky little cars. I don't really know what to suggest now, some little Renaults and Peugeots should be good in your area no?

Yes, here is full of Peugeots and Renaults, specially Renaults. I'm also looking for some of them. But according to my budget, the only sports cars I can take are the early 90's Renault Clio 16v and the Renault 19 16v. But they are hard to find and sometimes they are expensive. About Peugeot, it's easy to find a 106 but not the S16 or the Rallye one.

Mainland Europe is awash with small European hatches. Renaults, Peugeots, Fords, Citroens, SEATs, Fiats, VWs etc would all be the best sort of ballpark in which the OP should look. And probably best not anything with a GTI, Si, RS or any other sporty-sounding badge.

That's right. I have to look something like that. Maybe cars like the Celica ST204 don't have this problem or also the CORDOBA TDI. Maybe they don't have the same bad popularity as a Golf GTI or a Clio 16v.

Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[homeforsummer]

It's really nice to read that about SEAT. Here in Spain there are SEATs everywhere, and they are really nice. Unfurtunatley, about the Arosa, I would say it is the strangest SEAT to see in the streets, because there aren't a lot here in Spain. So it's really hard to find one of them and specially the 1.4l 16v Sport. It's sad because it looks really nice. Here the most popular SEATs are the IBIZA, LEON, CORDOBA and TOLEDO. And about CORDOBA TDI, it's not the first time I read something like that.

It's strange to me that there aren't many Arosas, there are even a fair few over here! Though the UK does like SEATs, it seems. As for the Cordoba, it's a very underrated car. Most people don't even think of it because it's really just a re-badged Polo, but they were good cars. I always liked the looks of the coupe version.

The problem about the ST180 it's that most of them have 160hp and for me that's a lot.

Nice to see you're being sensible about it 👍 160bhp is a lot when it's your first car.

Yes, here is full of Peugeots and Renaults, specially Renaults. I'm also looking for some of them. But according to my budget, the only sports cars I can take are the early 90's Renault Clio 16v and the Renault 19 16v. But they are hard to find and sometimes they are expensive.

The 19 16v is one of my favourite ever Renaults. It's such a pity that so many of them now have been awfully modified and wrapped around trees by idiots who can't drive

 

[mustangGT90210]

Mines grey.. with black and silver bits.. To be honest, I don't mind it.. Very comfortable and roomy. The engine is very reliable, good mileage, loads of fun to drive.. and is plenty fast enough to get into a little trouble.. Which can be bad because you will be in a 30 zone doing 40 and not notice it... Corners fantastic and makes a nice noise when kiss the pedal to the floor.

Is that the same 2.3 in the Escape, or does the Focus have the 2.0?

Is it an Honda Prelude dashboard? It looks really nice. The Prelude it's cheap but it has a lot of horsepower and I thing the insurance would be really expensive.

Yes, it's a 4th gen(I believe) Prelude dash. I drove a '92, but they were the same form '92-'96. You should be able to find a base model (S, as opposed to Si or Si/VTEC) with an F22 2.2L engine. They have about 125hp. The Si has 160, the VTEC has 190

 

[Prosthetic]

Is that the same 2.3 in the Escape, or does the Focus have the 2.0?

There is a 2.0 and a 2.3... I have the 2.3

 

[YSSMAN]

About the Celica ST204, I searched and I found something cheap, in aparently pretty good contitions and without a lot of mileage. The Celica it's a great option. About the ST180, they are also cheap but usually are in a bad condition. The problem about the ST180 it's that most of them have 160hp and for me that's a lot.

They're wonderful cars when they're in good shape, and I'm glad you found a few that you like. I'd be thankful for the 160 BHP model(s) though, we went without high-powered Celicas for quite some time here in the US. My '98 ST204 only puts down 135 BHP with the 2.2L out of the full-size Camry. Its not too powerful, unfortunately, especially with the rather high curb weight.

 

[mustangGT90210]

There is a 2.0 and a 2.3... I have the 2.3

I'm not a fan of how that 2.3 sounds. Probably easily fixed by the aftermarket, but on my mom's escape, that won't happen.

 

[homeforsummer]

Yes, it's a 4th gen(I believe) Prelude dash. I drove a '92, but they were the same form '92-'96. You should be able to find a base model (S, as opposed to Si or Si/VTEC) with an F22 2.2L engine. They have about 125hp. The Si has 160, the VTEC has 190

I can only go on what I know from the UK again here, but we only got three models: A 130bhp 2.0, a 160bhp 2.3, and a 185bhp 2.2 VTEC. And they do cost a fair amount to insure. The later fifth-gen is probably cheaper in that respect (and being newer they seem in generally better shape) but then purchase price might be an issue for only a few thousand Euros.

Lowest-spec Celica ST204 we got in Europe was the 1.8 ST, which makes roughly 115bhp. Those are pretty inexpensive to buy, run etc, but again for a brand new driver insurance will still be quite a bit. I don't know exactly how insurance works out there but you certainly don't seem to get stung as much for running more powerful or sportier cars.

 

[mustangGT90210]

That's the right spread of engines save for 2.0. In the US we got a 2.2 non-VTEC in the base, but the others are the same.