Second thoughts? How much would you spend?

baalad

Hi guys. Learner driver here who is in the market for his first ever car! I had done a little research and decided that i really wanted a Honda civic as it appears to match what i want from a car! Its reliable, looks good inside and out (although thats a matter of opinion) and iam reasonably happy with the insurance qoutes!

Anyways i set my budget at 6,000 and went in search of a 07/08 honda civic but now iam having friends and family tell me that iam crazy for wanting to spend that much on a first car? Now iam having second thoughts as i do understand they're point but iam also finding it hard to justify the insurance cost on a cheaper car.

What are your thoughts? Is it silly to spend that much on a first car? Am i likely to damage a first car? Or should i go ahead and buy the car i really want and just be extra careful??

Atlantic Dawn

If you can easily afford it go for it. My concerns with a first car are you are more likely to ding it parking with relatively minor damage that would knock lots of money off the value of the car.

CIP4

Most people tend to buy a cheap car sub 1k to start but if you can afford the 6k and insurance and all other costs then why not. I never bothered doing the 1k start of car either and I never found it an issue. Can you actually drive or are you only starting to drive in this car? The reasoning behind it is learners are more likely to damage a car than qualified drivers hence why people say you should start cheap.

Ultimately if you like the car and can afford it go for it. You don't need to drive around in a cheap car just because everyone thinks you should.

robtri

if its the car you want.... then go for it...... and enjoy.....

Del2005

If you've never driven learn to change gears in a school car then buy what you can afford and like.
In the Civic your less likely to take risks as you'll be proud of it so will take care while driving, in a banger you won't care if it gets another ding so might not be as careful.

dar83

Buy whatever car you'll be happy with. I bought a 8k car for my first car, I didn't 'ding' it parking or any other way, took decent care of it and enjoyed having it. You'll only wreck a car if you don't care about it, so if you buy something you're invested in and you're not a terrible driver, you'll keep it well just fine!

kirving

Buy whatever you like, just because other bought a cheap car to start with doesn't mean you have to.

I spent about 8k on my first car. Far far nicer, (and safer) place to spend my long commute than a 1k car.

In terms of damaging it, a more expensive car might have reversing sensors, or even a rear camera to actually help you avoid damaging it.

I did end up having a minor scrape, which I could fix myself as it was only plastic trim, but paint damage would usually cost about the same for most makes.

biko

If you have the money go for it. A Honda Civic is a pretty good first car. Just be careful when parking.

pidgeoneyes

If you can afford it, go for. My first was an 05 Astra sri I bought in mid 2008. Good car then and I still have it.

corks finest

baalad wrote: »

Hi guys. Learner driver here who is in the market for his first ever car! I had done a little research and decided that i really wanted a Honda civic as it appears to match what i want from a car! Its reliable, looks good inside and out (although thats a matter of opinion) and iam reasonably happy with the insurance qoutes!

Anyways i set my budget at 6,000 and went in search of a 07/08 honda civic but now iam having friends and family tell me that iam crazy for wanting to spend that much on a first car? Now iam having second thoughts as i do understand they're point but iam also finding it hard to justify the insurance cost on a cheaper car.

What are your thoughts? Is it silly to spend that much on a first car? Am i likely to damage a first car? Or should i go ahead and buy the car i really want and just be extra careful??

Go for it,feck the begrudgers,make sure u get a half decent warranty, drive careful,park more carefully,,,,, enjoyyyyyy

bmwguy

I spent 11,000 Irish pounds on my first car in 2000 it was a brand new Peugeot 206 1.1 just as I started working. 2 years later I bought a 20,000 Euro brand new Peugeot 1.4 307. Didn't ding or damage either of them. Buy what you like. After the depreciation on them I swore never to buy new again and have bought 4 BMWs and an Alfa 156 having never spent more than 7 grand.

baalad

Thanks guys Ill just have to be careful! Last thing i wanna do is crash or bust up a 6,000 euro car whilst learning and be left with a banger worth nothing haha