First Car

Harvey12

Looking at getting my first car and I'm between a BMW 1 Series, an Audi A3 and a VW Golf. My budget is around €6,000 so they all would be around 2007. Anyone have any experiences with them or have any other suggestions, must have 5 doors and a decent boot.
Thanks!

mhackett102

I test drove a 2004 Audi A3 (same shape and engine as a 2007 model) - I was very impressed with it. This one was a 3dr but still had a decent sized boot, sun roof, fog lights, alloys and a few extras.

I also took a 5dr Golf for a drive too. Engine was the same as the Audi (1.9tdi) and I couldnt find much differences between the two.

The only reason why Im not buying either of them is because of the price of the insurance and tax. The tax is already another €670 (if you get the 1.9tdi) added on to the price. And like you, Im getting my first car, so insurance was crazy. You might have more driving experience than me or have other ways around it but the insurance quotes I got were ridicolous.

Noccy_Mondy

What age are you op? Trying to insure any of them if you are young will be a mammoth task.

Harvey12

I'll be 17 but I'll be a named driver under my dads insurance policy and I'll probably be looking at a 1.2L or 1.4L engine.

Noccy_Mondy

Harvey12 wrote:

I'll be 17 but I'll be a named driver under my dads insurance policy and I'll probably be looking at a 1.2L or 1.4L engine.

Even at that, the low power petrol variants of them cars will still be hard to insure!

mhackett102

After a lot of phone calls and meetings with various insurance brokers, the cheapest quote I could possibly get for a 2004 Audi A3 1.9tdi was €2500 (third party). And Im 18, full licence and one year ncb as a named driver.

Check out insurance quotes for these cars first. Im not sure if that idea of having your father as the main driver will work - most insurance companies wont allow him to have two seperate motor policies (I also tried that trick and thats what I was told)

Harvey12

Thanks, I'll check it out, anyone know anything else about the cars themselves aside from insurance?

mhackett102

The three cars are very similar IMO. I took a Golf and an A3 for a test drive last week (both were 1.9tdi) - was very hard to find any differences between them, apart that the Audi I drove was a 3dr!

Just a recommendation, did you consider a Ford Focus? Ive my eye on a 2005 Ford Focus at the moment. With all the insurance quotes ive been trying to get, it came back as the cheapest (1.6tdci engine). Very nice to drive, nearly found it nicer than the Golf or A3, and is very economical too! And much cheaper than a Golf or A3.

bazz26

Harvey12 wrote: »

I'll be 17 but I'll be a named driver under my dads insurance policy and I'll probably be looking at a 1.2L or 1.4L engine.

The smallest engine in the 1 Series and A3 of that age is 1.6 litre. Also alot of insurance companies are wise these days to what you are doing. They even have a term for it, it's called "fronting". In this case they normally just load whoever the highest risk driver is on the policy irrespective of who the policy holder is.

ourheritage

If its space your looking for then the Skoda Octavia would be worth checking out as they come in a 1.4. You should be able to get an 07 or 08 for in the 5000 Euro bracket. The Golf 1.6 may also be worth checking out as the 1.6 engine is that of the A3 but be careful. As there is a version available with a smaller engine, they can be harder to sell, and you mightn't get as much as a 1.4 so you would need to think about that when you decide to upgrade. The Opal Astra might also be worth looking at as you can get them with 1.3 diesel engines. You should be able to get an 06 or 07 in 5000 Euro bracket. Best of luck

bazz26

I'd be looking at something like this Corolla:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-1-4-vvt-i-strata/9172049?offset=10

Only 1.4 litre but as just as nippy as a 1.6 litre Golf or A3. Probably more reasonable to insure too than a Golf or A3 as insurance companies are loaded VAG stuff these days for young drivers.

pablo128

Insurance wise it would be much better to have the insurance in your own name with your father as the named driver.

mhackett102

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd be looking at something like this Corolla:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-1-4-vvt-i-strata/9172049?offset=10

Only 1.4 litre but as just as nippy as a 1.6 litre Golf or A3. Probably more reasonable to insure too than a Golf or A3 as insurance companies are loaded VAG stuff these days for young drivers.

I feel I could write a book at this stage about these Toyota Corolla's 1.4vvti.. I was in the exact position as you last year (17 yr old, learner driver, no experience atal). I went to go buy one of these Toyota Corolla's. Had previously seen it, test drove it and I had fallen in love with it.

Regarding insurance, I was going to put it under my fathers insurance and have myself as a named driver (he had 30+ yr NCB). Seemed like a bulletproof plan at the time.

The day I went to go pick up the car from the garage, I called the insurance company. They knew well what was going on and told me that it could not happen as my father could only have one motor policy.

Therefore, my father was basically like a brand new person starting off driving except he was 50+ yrs old and had 10+ yrs driving done, and to add me on as a named driver the quote was well above €5,000!

I checked it out as myself as the main driver and my parents as named drivers (to reduce the price as both have been driving 30+ yrs on the road and never had a crash) and the quote was the exact same.

Basically what Im saying is to check out insurance stuff before you do anything. Insurance may be twice or three times the actual value of the car, especially if you are starting off as as learner driver and 17 yrs old.

What I would certainly recommend is trying to get on your parents motor insurance and pass your driving test. Therefore you you will have your full licence and possibly a years driving experience done. Right niw your biggest issue is insurance IMO.

Harvey12

mhackett102 wrote: »

I feel I could write a book at this stage about these Toyota Corolla's 1.4vvti.. I was in the exact position as you last year (17 yr old, learner driver, no experience atal). I went to go buy one of these Toyota Corolla's. Had previously seen it, test drove it and I had fallen in love with it.

Regarding insurance, I was going to put it under my fathers insurance and have myself as a named driver (he had 30+ yr NCB). Seemed like a bulletproof plan at the time.

The day I went to go pick up the car from the garage, I called the insurance company. They knew well what was going on and told me that it could not happen as my father could only have one motor policy.

Therefore, my father was basically like a brand new person starting off driving except he was 50+ yrs old and had 10+ yrs driving done, and to add me on as a named driver the quote was well above €5,000!

I checked it out as myself as the main driver and my parents as named drivers (to reduce the price as both have been driving 30+ yrs on the road and never had a crash) and the quote was the exact same.

Basically what Im saying is to check out insurance stuff before you do anything. Insurance may be twice or three times the actual value of the car, especially if you are starting off as as learner driver and 17 yrs old.

What I would certainly recommend is trying to get on your parents motor insurance and pass your driving test. Therefore you you will have your full licence and possibly a years driving experience done. Right niw your biggest issue is insurance IMO.

Thanks for the advice!

bazz26

mhackett102 wrote: »

I feel I could write a book at this stage about these Toyota Corolla's 1.4vvti.. I was in the exact position as you last year (17 yr old, learner driver, no experience atal). I went to go buy one of these Toyota Corolla's. Had previously seen it, test drove it and I had fallen in love with it.

Regarding insurance, I was going to put it under my fathers insurance and have myself as a named driver (he had 30+ yr NCB). Seemed like a bulletproof plan at the time.

The day I went to go pick up the car from the garage, I called the insurance company. They knew well what was going on and told me that it could not happen as my father could only have one motor policy.

Therefore, my father was basically like a brand new person starting off driving except he was 50+ yrs old and had 10+ yrs driving done, and to add me on as a named driver the quote was well above €5,000!

I checked it out as myself as the main driver and my parents as named drivers (to reduce the price as both have been driving 30+ yrs on the road and never had a crash) and the quote was the exact same.

Basically what Im saying is to check out insurance stuff before you do anything. Insurance may be twice or three times the actual value of the car, especially if you are starting off as as learner driver and 17 yrs old.

What I would certainly recommend is trying to get on your parents motor insurance and pass your driving test. Therefore you you will have your full licence and possibly a years driving experience done. Right niw your biggest issue is insurance IMO.

What you were attempting is known as "fronting" in the insurance industry. It had nothing to do with the car being a Corolla or any other specific car. You would have got the same response if it was a Golf, Astra or Aston Martin, the highest risk driver on the policy was loaded.

The OP asked for advice on what car to buy for around €6k, I recommended a Corolla because insurance companies are loading anything VW these days even the weedy 1.4 Golf, Bora, etc. I presumed the OP was taking out his own policy rather than trying to get it insured under a parent.

mhackett102

bazz26 wrote: »

What you were attempting is known as "fronting" in the insurance industry. It had nothing to do with the car being a Corolla or any other specific car. You would have got the same response if it was a Golf, Astra or Aston Martin, the highest risk driver on the policy was loaded.

The OP asked for advice on what car to buy for around €6k, I recommended a Corolla because insurance companies are loading anything VW these days even the weedy 1.4 Golf, Bora, etc. I presumed the OP was taking out his own policy rather than trying to get it insured under a parent.

Yes I understand that insurance craic now, but for some reason the Corolla seemed very expensive to insure for a young driver. For myself, it was cheaper to get insured on a 1.9tdi Passat than it was on a Corolla as linked above.

The Corolla is a fantastic car all the same, and I would certainly recommend it myself. I would definitely have one if only the insurance wasnt so expensive, but maybe its just the way it worked out for me

bazz26

Interesting, as usually anything VW and young lads raises alarm bells with insurance companies, similar with Honda Civics.

ourheritage

I'd definitely have a look at it, and if you have a good mechanic, bring him with you. Toyota are known for their outstanding reliability, and if its in good condition, and has been well looked after, then you might get another ten to fifteen years out of it as there are plenty still going round from the 90's. For example there is a 1989 Toyota Corolla Sprinter for sale on carzone. Best of luck, and let me know if you get it.

Murt10

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd be looking at something like this Corolla:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-1-4-vvt-i-strata/9172049?offset=10

8 year old car with only 50,000 miles on it, or 6,000 miles a year. Unusually low mileage for its age.

If the ad said "One Owner", I might believe the mileage, but would want to see supporting documentation - old NCTs.


A number of owners and that mileage - No Way.

colm_mcm

There's 2 owners on that Corolla, which for 8 years is low.
It has the wrong alloys on it.
I might be wrong, but it seems to have the wrong seats, think they should be blue in the middle?

bazz26

Murt10 wrote: »

8 year old car with only 50,000 miles on it, or 6,000 miles a year. Unusually low mileage for its age.

If the ad said "One Owner", I might believe the mileage, but would want to see supporting documentation - old NCTs.


A number of owners and that mileage - No Way.

Obviously background checks should be done on any second hand car. But they are out there, my dad's 6 year old Auris has only 40k km on it and he is also the second owner of it.