Advice on First Car

gibgodsman

So I am about a month away from sitting my full driving test and have never owned a car, I may not pass but hopefully I will.

My question is, how much roughly should I be spending on a first car? I am currently a named driver on a VW Golf 141 that I have driven for roughly 2 years always accompanied by a full licensed driver. The car is diesel and a manual, I quite like the size and some of the features in the car such as the reversing zone detection and click button for the handbreak.

Though I know VW cars in general are massively inflated in price currently so I would likely try avoid them. I imagine around 5k would suit for a first car but I have absolutely no idea what car to even try look at, I have never had a car growing up, parents or otherwise and always relied on public transport to get from A to B, for insurance sakes I am 30, male and have unclaimed on insurance heading towards 2 years as a named driver

User1998

It depends on your age, income, savings, other outgoings etc. But €5000 is a good budget which will get you something reliable with a small engine like a Toyota Yaris/Auris, Nissan Micra/Note, Suzuki Swift, Honda Jazz, Mazda 2, VW Up, etc.

If you stick with mostly Japanese petrols models you should be okay.

hoodie6029

I think Aviva still do insurance where you do an additional test with them to get a discount as a new driver. There boxymo too which monitors your driving for a discount.

As above, it’s hard to beat a small Japanese hatchback as a first car. Reliable and cheap to run.
An old thread below but still great advice on the buying process.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2056198864/buying-a-used-car-in-ireland-guide