Stepping it up a few notches...

Mr Benevolent

Well, I'm halfway through my first year with my car. It's still shite but it runs and gets me to where I want to go. Driving test is coming up next week and hopefully I'll pass, and if not sure I'll do it again until I do. Anyway, I'm going to buy a different car when I get my first year's NCB in April and I've decided to keep the running costs the same per month or increase them slightly. Essentially this means that I can spend about €1000 on insurance, €1000 on tax (so 2.5L max) and afford a car that does about 22-25 mpg. I drive about 160 miles per week or 8000 miles per year so fuel isn't a major factor. Petrol or diesel, ideally auto and the car can't cost more than about €1500. Insurance is the limiting factor here.

The plan is that as insurance drops over the next few years I'll gradually change to bigger engined cars as the costs will stay roughly the same. I'm paying €1850 for a 1L Corsa and can afford it, so why not keep €1850 or €2000 towards tax and insurance?

So two questions - first, is my logic sound on this? Second, can you recommend me a car that'd fit into the 2.5L/auto/€1500 bracket and not be too expensive to insure?

EPM

You might be underestimating the insurance a bit i think. You're not going to get it that cheap. On a diesel hatch at 28, full NCB I'm paying €750 so on a 2.5 litre with 1 years NCB you'd be doing well to get it for a grand. But definitely worth looking into!

First in with E39:pac:

I also know someone selling one well below your budget...

Mr Benevolent

OSI wrote: »

How old are you? If you're paying €1,850 for insurance on the Corsa now I can't see it dropping much below €1,000 when you do pass your test and get 1 years NCB.

I'm 23 and with a FL and 3 years NCB I'm still paying ~700 on a 1.6 coupe.

I'm 32. I've checked the insurance on a few 2.5L cars and they're quoting me around €1100 for 1 year's NCB and a full licence ('00 525i auto).

Absurdum

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Honda/Prelude/2.2-VTI-/201137204475030/advert?channel=CARS :cool:

sleepysniper

Confab wrote: »

I'm 32. I've checked the insurance on a few 2.5L cars and they're quoting me around €1100 for 1 year's NCB and a full licence ('00 525i auto).

...and your paying €1850 for insurance on a 1L corsa? Jebus you insurance company must love you!:pac:

Are you me?

Im 23 also, last year i was driving a 1L micra for my 1st year of driving.

I stepped it up to a Merc clk 230 kompressor auto, i do similar mileage to you.

I had 1year NCB, got insurance for €900 odd, which is the same as i payed the year previous on a 1L micra :eek:. Tax is €800 odd, i get about 22MPG on it.

Works out about €60 a week on fuel, to and from work.

The one thing i got sort of screwed on was the clk i bought had the head gone, the car was doctored to seem fine, thermostat and all was removed.
Was quite an expensive fix.

If i was buying again i would make sure there was full service history, be a bit more thorough with inspection, but i have learned a good deal from it.

Other than that i love it, interior is lovely, comfy and it has nice power to it. I sometimes kick myself cause of the low MPG, but at 23 and with no overheads is ay go for it, you can drive a economical boring car when your older.

Mr Benevolent

cisk wrote: »

Are you me?

Im 23 also, last year i was driving a 1L micra for my 1st year of driving.

I'm 32, you might have got me confused with the poster I quoted above.

MugMugs

EPM wrote: »

You might be underestimating the insurance a bit i think. You're not going to get it that cheap. On a diesel hatch at 28, full NCB I'm paying €750 so on a 2.5 litre with 1 years NCB you'd be doing well to get it for a grand. But definitely worth looking into!

First in with E39:pac:

I also know someone selling one well below your budget...

You're kind a bit more risky if you don't mind me saying.

Not you personally but on paper.... you wouldn't be "too" attractive to an Insurer. Actually, that's not bad money for what you're motoring in.

Confab

Confab wrote: »

cisk wrote: »

Are you me?

Im 23 also, last year i was driving a 1L micra for my 1st year of driving.

I'm 32, you might have got me confused with the poster I quoted above.

Whoops my bad.

PaulKK

EPM wrote: »

You might be underestimating the insurance a bit i think. You're not going to get it that cheap. On a diesel hatch at 28, full NCB I'm paying €750 so on a 2.5 litre with 1 years NCB you'd be doing well to get it for a grand. But definitely worth looking into!

Are you in a VRS? Sounds pricey enough at 28, I am 25, paying €580 fully comp on a 150bhp 320d.

Confab

Confab wrote: »

........... I'm going to buy a different car when I get my first year's NCB in April .............Second, can you recommend me a car that'd fit into the 2.5L/auto/€1500 bracket and not be too expensive to insure?

You can have my ZT in April for €1500 :pac:

EPM

PaulKK wrote: »

Are you in a VRS? Sounds pricey enough at 28, I am 25, paying €580 fully comp on a 150bhp 320d.

Yup. Maybe a little is based on value or occupation but that was the best I could get.

Mr Benevolent

RoverJames wrote: »

You can have my ZT in April for €1500 :pac:

I passed an idling ZT this morning - lovely car!

commited

Quick question, why is the budget only 1500 as you said "insurance is the limiting factor here"?

Pity you can't push it out a bit more, as an e39 BMW is made for you, although it will naturally cost more to maintain than a 1l Corsa. Realistically any large executive car that cost a fortune when new will be more to maintain/run though. You'll be able to get a 525i Sport easily for less than 3k if you're patient.

In your situation, I'd be test driving something along the lines of this:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2614428
It's the only car I've ever had that was a true all-rounder. I prefer them in manual but many people prefer the auto's - both boxes are great but manuals are less prone to wallet emptying failure.

Mr Benevolent

commited wrote: »

Quick question, why is the budget only 1500 as you said "insurance is the limiting factor here"?

Pity you can't push it out a bit more, as an e39 BMW is made for you, although it will naturally cost more to maintain than a 1l Corsa. Realistically any large executive car that cost a fortune when new will be more to maintain/run though. You'll be able to get a 525i Sport easily for less than 3k if you're patient.

I'm a little bit uneasy about the E39. It's starting to get old and more and more problems are showing up. Secondly, they're expensive because of the badge. If I wanted a BMW I'd nearly wait until the E38 730i is within my insurance grasp. They're more comfortable, more reliable and get the same MPG. I'd rather stick with a Rover 75 then worry my way through ownership of an E39.

Matt Simis

Confab wrote: »

I'm a little bit uneasy about the E39. It's starting to get old and more and more problems are showing up. Secondly, they're expensive because of the badge. If I wanted a BMW I'd nearly wait until the E38 730i is within my insurance grasp. They're more comfortable, more reliable and get the same MPG. I'd rather stick with a Rover 75 then worry my way through ownership of an E39.

Do it right, aim for a 750i and only settle for a 740i at a push..
Also look into classic insurance which will require you to keep the Corsa as a primary driver but open you up to a world of cheap big engined cars. BMWs from 13years old and on (generally 15) are eligible for classic insurance, not sure on the NCB requirements.

commited

Confab wrote: »

I'm a little bit uneasy about the E39. It's starting to get old and more and more problems are showing up. Secondly, they're expensive because of the badge. If I wanted a BMW I'd nearly wait until the E38 730i is within my insurance grasp. They're more comfortable, more reliable and get the same MPG. I'd rather stick with a Rover 75 then worry my way through ownership of an E39.

A few misconceptions here! The E38 shares engines with the E39 (728,740i) and is just as complicated a machine, so are no more reliable than the E39. The V12s are knowns to throw up eye watering bills on a regular basis also. The E38 is also older than the E39 both in design and manufacture. The 730i is also a V8 so will drink petrol compared to a 6 cylinder 5 series. They are more comfortable, I'll give you that but if it's comfort you're after buy a Mercedes S class!

Rover 75 is a good shout, great levels of comfort and as long as you stay away from the base level N/A 1.8, the rest of the engines are all rewarding in their own way. One of the best VFM cars out there, just make sure you buy best condition you can buy with as much kit as possible! They aren't a particularly rewarding drivers car though (the ZT solves this to a certain extent but removes some of the comfort levels).