CMGraphix's New Car

Don't rely on the insurance group alone to reflect the cost of insurance.

Set up an account on a comparison site like confused and put the cars through that to get a better idea of the costs.

I bought a 2006 Seat Ibiza 1.4S (5dr) back in March, 63k miles, a years tax & MOT, great condition, £3k. Had no repair costs other than a puncture and a headlight bulb so far (touch wood). Fuel economy is amazing (twice the range of the Merc we had before). Not sure what MPG I get, but I do about 450-480 miles on a full tank (£55-60). Insurance for me and Anna (Anna's only had a full licence for a year) is £500 fully comp w/ recovery on a "booster" policy that gives 1 year's no claims bonus every 10 months (so in 5 years you get 6 years NCB).

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/ford/focus-st/ford-----------focus-2-0-st170-3dr/730297

Please have a look at a Focus ST170,

6 speed box, has heaps of space and 170!!! poonys

Specification
Engine layout: Front Engined
Aspiration: Normally Aspirated
Engine size (Litres): 2.0
Engine configuration: 4 cylinder
Cylinder layout: Inline
Valves: 16
Cylinders: 4
Engine power (BHP): 173
Torque (lbs/ft): 145
Top speed (MPH): 133
Acceleration: 0 to 62 in 8.2 seconds
Fuel consumption (MPG): 31.0
Gears: 6
Driven wheels: Front Wheel Drive

After chatting with you yesterday Ian I did have the ST170 on short list, but I found the fuel ecomony was pants, and the car tax was about £140 for six months, so I'm saying no to that.

Yea dont get a focus pre 2001 mines pants

Fair enough, will have at thnak and see what else i can find

The Civic is your best bet so far though!

Skoda Fabia VRS. Can pick up a 54 plate for less than 3k these days.

Bags of power, amazing car. Google it.

I'd agree with the Fabia vRS 100% - the wife drives one and has done for 5 years

Excellent car but I doubt very much you'd find one for £3k or under with less than 80,000 miles as per the initial request...........you may find one with 100-110,000 miles.

VRs is a good shout. But still biasedly saying Honda.

As i said before I too agree with the fabia. Very good car.

Go with the Honda, you can't beat Honda's!

Reliable, cheap to run and fix, and generally just all-round badasses. Someone i know has an EP2 (the 1.6 that looks like an EP3 Type R) and it's a great little car, can't ask for more out of it really!

Think I have a new favourite to win...



Take at look at those stats! Cheap tax, economical and bloody quick!

Have fun with your girly hairdresser car.

mum n dad said that if they buy me my first car it'd be a red n white '65 mini, no complaning here

ckBrenneke wrote:Have fun with your girly hairdresser car.

I will do, as I out accelerate you!

Yea my girlfriend just bought a mini, great great car to drive, didn't feel very manly tho :/

Took a few cars for test drives today, I think I'll forget the Mini option, but I loved the BMW 3 Series. Only issue is its really tricky to put your own stereo system in for Bluetooths. Haven't tried a Civic, Focus or C4 yet. Any suggestions?

BMW....Bluetooths....Do you work in finance as well?

Kilroy8 wrote:BMW....Bluetooths....Do you work in finance as well?

No, Bluetooth stereo. I DO NOT want a ear piece, nor Oakley glasses, and I will not go to work with a shirt and tie, and jeans...

have u considered a mk4 golf gt tdi, they are pritty quick and you could get a realy good one for about £2000 and i think the insurance is cheep aswell

Butcher has a 1 series and loves it, although he's a big bloke and it must have an adjustable steering wheel if you get my drift : )

If the Mini felt emasculating, most Civics will have the same effect, at least most of the Civics I have been inside of in the US. Seems Honda has a strong female market, so expect soft wood grains and the like where matte black should be.

I'd go with the Mini and buy as much carbon-fibre trim as I could find for the interior.

I live in north outer London and the most popular cart choices are mini and imprezza, love the retro in a mini BUT if I turned up on site in a mini the Plss taking would be never ending. also I find you get more toys with a Vauxhall the Astra fast back is pretty cool, it says "I like value for money and I'll beat you off the lights".
for sheer grunt my eyes have been opened to diesel, a 2.0 with a turbo goes like stink, cost less than a mini to insure and gets 45 to the mpg.
Worth thinking about? oh.....and the diesels have fantastic torque on the motorway, "I feel like over taking this guy who's doing 90" one blip on the loud pedal and its done.

Get the DS3 racing, yes it's a Citreon, granted its French, but it's a pretty good looking car, and power to weight is ok too

GRT 458Italia wrote:Get the DS3 racing, yes it's a Citreon, granted its French, but it's a pretty good looking car, and power to weight is ok too

For £3,000? He might find one in a scrapyard for that much i suppose!