1st Car opinions

U_Fig

Ok so i'm in the market for my first car..I have a provisional Irish licence and nobody in my family has own a car before... I'm 23 and looking for a runaround basically to get to and from work (i work as an Accountant and they want me to be on the road a bit for audit) to stop my reliance on public transport... i'm willing to spend €5000 total between tax insurance and a car... i'm just wondering if anyone has any recommendations about models of cars that would suit my needs... It needs to look some what professional as i'd be meeting clients and impression is important.. also trying to keep insurance costs at a minimum without sacrificing too much performance.. and ending up with something that goes like a snail with a limp

Stheno

U_Fig wrote: »

Ok so i'm in the market for my first car..I have a provisional Irish licence and nobody in my family has own a car before... I'm 23 and looking for a runaround basically to get to and from work (i work as an Accountant and they want me to be on the road a bit for audit) to stop my reliance on public transport... i'm willing to spend €5000 total between tax insurance and a car... i'm just wondering if anyone has any recommendations about models of cars that would suit my needs... It needs to look some what professional as i'd be meeting clients and impression is important.. also trying to keep insurance costs at a minimum without sacrificing too much performance.. and ending up with something that goes like a snail with a limp

Are you planning on passing your test or having someone around who is a qualified driver to accompany you before you have passed?

Any small 1.0 - 1.3l car should suit you tbh. Ford fiestas are often recommended on here.

Supergurrier

Polo 1.2
Fabia 1.4
Auris 1.4 D4D

for starters

colm_mcm

Don't think you'll get much of an auris diesel for what would surely be under €4000 to spend

Stheno

colm_mcm wrote: »

Don't think you'll get much of an auris diesel for what would surely be under €4000 to spend

With insurance needed to cover driving for business purposes, I'd reckon the budget would be less then €3500 on a provisional licence.

Insurance would be likely 1200+ and you've tax as well

OP have you considered waiting until you've passed your test and just use public transport in the interim? I well remember a nightmare of a situation where I managed a team of grads, one of whom crashed in the North on his provisional :eek: with no insurance to use the car for work.

colm_mcm

I'd go for something like an 02 onwards corolla 1.4 if I was in that situation.

U_Fig

I dunno what i'm going to do about the not being allowed to drive on my own thing and i still have a number of driving lessons before i can apply to get my full licence..

i would like to wait to get a car but like moment i cannot get out on the road to drive other than at lessons and so can't get any experience of driving... and i don't want to go into my test without being out a bit to make the "correct" driving style more natural as opposed to me having to think a lot as i am now in the lessons...

I'll have a look around adverts and stuff for cars you've recommend.. i think i like the fiesta or a polo they are both good solid cars and a corolla would be ok too

would a 1.4 not be hard to insure.. using online quotes i've gotten 2K plus for some 1.4 cars... i know calling them will reduce this but still..

shygal

i was in the exact same position at the start of summer, eventually went with an 00 fiesta and never looked back...great cars and popular with fellow boardsies

tuxy

U_Fig wrote: »

would a 1.4 not be hard to insure.. using online quotes i've gotten 2K plus for some 1.4 cars... i know calling them will reduce this but still..

Definably ring as many companies as you can. The online quotes are terrible compared to what some can offer you over the phone. I guess it depends what 1.4 but normally something like a corolla is very reasonable.

dgt

shygal wrote: »

i was in the exact same position at the start of summer, eventually went with an 00 fiesta and never looked back...great cars and popular with fellow boardsies

+1

Great little motor for a starter. Make sure its a 1.25

coolisin

Corolla 99-01 ish models reliable and cheap, Mazda 3 05 would be top of our budget but a great car.
Not sure what year focus you'd have but a decent buy all the same.
Leon and golf in that order all 1.4.
Start in something small move from there.

Trust me not a good thing having your own transport for audits!!

U_Fig

ok lads i was offered a 04 golf 1.9 tdi there... my uncle's mate who is heading back to the USA and wants a quick sale... he said there mind ya after a few pints that 3K cash and it was mine... what you guys think...

also for audits we only have like 3 a year it's a small company but most are in the back arse of no where so public transport turns into walking like 20 - 30 mins aswell

tuxy

coolisin wrote: »

Corolla 99-01 ish models reliable and cheap

I think the vvti engine is known to burn a lot of oil when it first came out. I think this was in 01 but was soon fixed. The 4e-fe that came before that is up there with the most reliable engine ever imo.

U_Fig wrote: »

ok lads i was offered a 04 golf 1.9 tdi

Tax will be much more than a small petrol car, you need to figure out if you are doing enough mileage to make it pay off.

fasttalkerchat

02 clio 1.2 petrol unless youre driving over 15,000 miles.

Also, you know its illegal to drive with no licence?

tuxy

fasttalkerchat wrote: »

02 clio 1.2 petrol unless youre driving over 15,000 miles.

Also, you know its illegal to drive with no licence?

OP has a licence

CiniO

tuxy wrote: »

OP has a licence

In his first post he said he didn't.

colm_mcm

OP said they have a provisional license

fasttalkerchat

tuxy wrote: »

OP has a licence

He doesn't yet, just his learners permit. It's none of my business just thought it better to check he knows in case he heard any rumours.

colm_mcm

fasttalkerchat wrote: »

He doesn't yet, just his learners permit. It's none of my business just thought it better to check he knows in case he heard any rumours.

So its illegal to drive on a learner permit?

Supergurrier

colm_mcm wrote: »

So its illegal to drive on a learner permit?

Not if accompanied but it's still not a license tbh.

I would hold off on the car and spend €85 of that 5k on the test and you will come back and save it on difference on your insurance.

Im hardly one to talk though

fasttalkerchat

colm_mcm wrote: »

So its illegal to drive on a learner permit?

Unless his mother works with him I'd guess he was considering driving alone which is illegal.

Red Crow

tuxy wrote: »

OP has a licence

A REAL licence

Chuck Stone

2004 Toyota Corolla
1.4
One owner.
Nct till February 2014.
New tyres.
Low milleage 49,852 miles.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4004917

colm_mcm

Chuck Stone wrote: »

2004 Toyota Corolla
1.4
One owner.
Nct till February 2014.
New tyres.
Low milleage 49,852 miles.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4004917

Almost 5k for a soon to be 9 year old saloon corolla?

Chuck Stone

colm_mcm wrote: »

Almost 5k for a soon to be 9 year old saloon corolla?

Yeah you're right. Cheeky asking price.

areyawell

fasttalkerchat wrote: »

Unless his mother works with him I'd guess he was considering driving alone which is illegal.

He can drive alone if he wants. Who are you to tell him on a forum otherwise! Oh no he broke the law boohoo

fasttalkerchat

areyawell wrote: »

He can drive alone if he wants. Who are you to tell him on a forum otherwise! Oh no he broke the law boohoo

If he's on private land its fine but if he's sharing a road with me I have a valid concern!

areyawell

fasttalkerchat wrote: »

If he's on private land its fine but if he's sharing a road with me I have a valid concern!

Whats the concern? I'd be more afraid of young male drivers 25 or under with there boy racer cars with full licenses

fasttalkerchat

areyawell wrote: »

Whats the concern? I'd be more afraid of young male drivers 25 or under with there boy racer cars with full licenses

Well mostly that he has never even sat a test nevermind being certified as able to drive.
It is possible that I could do a great job of removing your appendix, but you're not going to take that chance!

areyawell

Im sure you post is going to stop him driving unaccompanied. Might want to send a written letter to thousands of other L drivers on the roads as we will definitly stop if you tell us too. Imagine you could rid the world of unaccompanied by doing this :rolleyes:

fasttalkerchat

areyawell wrote: »

Im sure you post is going to stop him driving unaccompanied. Might want to send a written letter to thousands of other L drivers on the roads as we will definitly stop if you tell us too. Imagine you could rid the world of unaccompanied by doing this :rolleyes:

If he said he would buy a car now and start saving up for insurance I would have said the same thing. I wasn't having a go at him, just reminding him that there is a process to getting on the road legally even if its not enforced properly by the Gardaí.

Eric Cartman

Civic saloon
Corolla saloon
VW Jetta / Bora

Mister Jingles

shygal wrote: »

i was in the exact same position at the start of summer, eventually went with an 00 fiesta and never looked back...great cars and popular with fellow boardsies

dgt wrote: »

+1

Great little motor for a starter. Make sure its a 1.25

Do well finding a decent one these days that isn't rusted to bits. I've even moved away from looking at Fiesta's now. Unfortunate that they've aged badly.

U_Fig

fasttalkerchat wrote: »

If he's on private land its fine but if he's sharing a road with me I have a valid concern!

fasttalkerchat wrote: »

Well mostly that he has never even sat a test nevermind being certified as able to drive.
It is possible that I could do a great job of removing your appendix, but you're not going to take that chance!

what does me not having a licence say about my driving..well nothing... I've seen on countless occasions people who have held licences for 10 or more years being complete twats and doing stupid things on the road..

fasttalkerchat

U_Fig wrote: »

what does me not having a licence say about my driving..well nothing... I've seen on countless occasions people who have held licences for 10 or more years being complete twats and doing stupid things on the road..

Have you ever sat a test?