First car to buy

magic_murph

Quick question:
Recently passed the test at 33 - I know - it took me a while to get there. (lazy not becasue I failed 523 times :-)

For my first car I am torn between a 2008/2009 A5 or 2009/2010 A3. Probably a 2.0L in either.
I know there is a slight different in price but has anybody got strong feelings about either option and why?

Thanks

MuppetCheck

Have you much driving experience? I'm only saying that if you don't there is a higher chance you may do a small bit of damage and doing it to a decent car like the ones mentioned could be expensive. Often it might be better to go with a car of less value to build up some experience.

I don't mean this as a judgement of your driving ability in any way mind:)

166man

I'd be more concerned about insurance quotes first tbh. Just get a few so that you know it's manageable first.

As always might be better off doing as Muppetcheck suggested and buying a small cheap car for 6 months or so to gain experience and then launch into a nice Audi.

As per the question, I'd have the A5.

thegreatiam

magic_murph wrote: »

Quick question:
Recently passed the test at 33 - I know - it took me a while to get there. (lazy not becasue I failed 523 times :-)

For my first car I am torn between a 2008/2009 A5 or 2009/2010 A3. Probably a 2.0L in either.
I know there is a slight different in price but has anybody got strong feelings about either option and why?

Thanks

The insurance will be a burden for either of those cars.

even at 33 you will still pay a high premium.

This is a list of all the cars by group http://www.carinsurancegroups.co.uk/ audis all rank very high.

If you can afford the insurance, then go for it. If you cant afford huge insurance bill, pick a car from group 10 or lower. and remember its only for a couple of years til you get the experience, Just keep repeating that to your self

'It's only for a year or two while i build up my NCB, It's only for a year or two while i build up my NCB, It's only for a year or two while i build up my NCB'

as you accelerate from the lights at the speed of treacle in your 1.1 micra

magic_murph

Zero experience just a few lessons.
Although I do have a good 30 odd years as an excellent passanger.

Insurance quotes for 2.0 a5 valued at about 25k are coming in at about 1500 but thats from online quotes so when going through with actually getting the insurance that might go up a bit.

One broker, online, did quote over 8k.....seriously.

Thanks for the feed back - it's very hard to think practically about these things when egar to get on the road but I guess the advice you are giving is basically the same advice I would give somebody else if asked.

thegreatiam

magic_murph wrote: »

Zero experience just a few lessons.
Although I do have a good 30 odd years as an excellent passanger.

Insurance quotes for 2.0 a5 valued at about 25k are coming in at about 1500 but thats from online quotes so when going through with actually getting the insurance that might go up a bit.

One broker, online, did quote over 8k.....seriously.

Thanks for the feed back - it's very hard to think practically about these things when egar to get on the road but I guess the advice you are giving is basically the same advice I would give somebody else if asked.

Aye, shop around, then play them against each other, then ask for a discount, then negotiate.
All my quotes (im in a similar boat to you, same age group, provisional license tho) were around 1600-1700. 1 was 7.5k!
I ended up talking axa down to 730 fully comp. will come down again when i pass the test (i hope).

biko

I'll just chime in with everyone else, get a small cheap reliable car cash and drive that for a while.
Note that also a small car with a 1L or 1.4 can be fast enough in the city.

dgt

Where will you be doing the miles? Miles per year etc....

thegreatiam

biko wrote: »

I'll just chime in with everyone else, get a small cheap reliable car cash and drive that for a while.
Note that also a small car with a 1L or 1.4 can be fast enough in the city.

plus, as a new driver you will hit something: car, bus stop, livestock. would you prefer to be repairing your 25k audi, or a 1k golf?

magic_murph

Most of the miles will be up to Donegal from Dublin - a good 4 hour spin thats why I was leaning toward something a little bit bigger than the a3 but small that a4 - granted not by much.

Car wont be used for communiting around the city - well very rarely. a couple of times a month at a push.

Will definitely be shopping around when it comes to insurance - just want to get a car set in the mind before I spend a day acting shocked and insulted at the quote being offered.

biko

If you're looking at distance driving, check out the Bangernomics thread for something comfortable.
Cheap cars there and many are good value.

thegreatiam

magic_murph wrote: »

Will definitely be shopping around when it comes to insurance - just want to get a car set in the mind before I spend a day acting shocked and insulted at the quote being offered.

lol, no acting required. They really have no shame in asking for 1000's.

I actually did a real life spit take when i was calling around.

magic_murph

Also - I know going acorss to the UK I might be able to get a better spec car either at a saving or at worst for the same money of a lower spec car that I could get here.

What about cars in the Norther - are they generally a higher spec that down south or is that bonus reserved for the UK?

Would consider going over to have a look at cargiant etc but if I could get something of equal standard in the north then it makes sence heading up there.