What is a good first car?
 

I'm in the UK, it must be a good car for a first car, it shouldn't be too long. I'm interested in a Mercedes A- or B-Class but I'm not too sure. I'll most likely be buying second-hand.

What's your budget and how old are you?

Do you want something a bit different/sporty or something more ordinary?

I would avoid mercs for a first car. No idea about the B class but the A class is pants IMO.

I'm choosing second hand and I'll pay a maximum of £4000. I'm 19 years old. I love Mercedes and the B-Class is new but still very expensive. My dad has also told me the A-Class has too many problems, and he's a mechanic!

I want something classy like a Merc but something not too long. Whatever it is, I want a newish model, maybe no older than year 2005.

And as a new driver, is the Merc C-Class Sports Coupe allowed for me? Or am I too young for it? It's a medium sized car (not what I consider long). I also have to consider insurance, and the C-Class is 1.7 litres I think. How does that insurance work on that?

19yr old in an A-Class???? what are u a babysitter????

Ford Focus

Citroen berlingo.

You can pick up chicks in it.

edit: proof

I don't see her picking up any chicks...

I am waiting in the back for her, She's just popped out for the press pic.

i would look at something else for a first car, as i am guessing the insurance might be fairly expensive

i would look at something like a clio/saxo/fiesta/polo/ibiza for a first car

lets see...

2005 or newer Merc... budget £4000 ...

maybe setting sights a little high?

c-class coupe? maybe £14,000+.

£4,000 and 2005 gets you a fiesta, a micra, maybe an ass-spec focus.

good luck. [rolleyes]

lol, yes you aren't going to get anything 1 year old that's decent with £4000. You're looking more 3-5 years old.

Anything with a 1.4 engine or smaller should be OK for insurance, but remember to check before you buy.

I think any Merc will be out of the question insurance wise unless you're prepared to pay silly prices. Wait till you have a few years no claims then get one.

Thanks, that's good advice. I'll probably have to ignore Mercs for now then, I saw some good priced ones on Ebay but am hearing about problems with the A-Class.

I'm now thinking about a Focus, Honda Type R, Smart Forfour and Toyota AYGO. It's only my first car and I'm not into modding or adding alloys or spoilers or anything like that. I just want a stock car but something stylish. Mercedes has the touch of class I like but maybe later then.

What "Honda Type-R" are you talking about?? An EP3 Civic Type-R will be out of your budget as well!!
Maybe a 2-year old Honda Jazz?? This is one of the most reliable cars within this price range, it's not that "super cool", but it looks better than a lot of other cars in that price range..or maybe a Toyota Yaris?? There is that "Yaris TS" with 105 horsepower, maybe you can get one for that price!?!

Just buy something cheap. You'll end up scratching it or denting it anyway. I've only been driving for 6months and have scratched up my wing mirror on my wall...

But hey i dont care because the car didnt cost much and its expected.

Then when i am a better driver and my insurance is cheaper i can get a better car.

Why so new? All new city cars are shortwheelbase high-body overweighted tin cans, designed so that women can drive them, and so that the average apple pie would survive any crash it could ever create.

You're in the UK right? Then buy a decent old roadster, if your dad is a mechanic anyway, he could give you a few pointers on maintenance.

For example, Triumph Spitfire 1500, € 5800 (that should be about £4000, right?)
http://pic.autoscout24.com/images/3/1/9/80525913_1.jpg

How could you say no to such a face?

Or an example of something a bit faster ,bit less convertible.
Triumph Spitfire GT6 € 5999
http://pic.autoscout24.com/images/5/1/2/79295215_2.jpg

You'll have more fun with one of these than you would ever have with Toyota Corolla, the lack of backseats is just taxi-protection.

And i'm sorry for the german offerings, but this is what http://eng.autoscout24.com (redirected from autoscout24.co.uk) brought me...

I lolled.

You wish you had a mechanic for a dad eh. Your swerving, windy, scared-of-the-rain, terrified-of-speedbumps, Mazda-on-wheels-if-they-haven't-fallen-off-yet car sure could use one. http://discussworldissues.com/forums...lies/wink1.gif

*twonha hides as he's got nothing useful to say

As it is now, my car is probably in better condition than your gas-leackage, worn-down-tieres, broken-wheels, no-fuel-o-meter, running-on-reserve-power, in-need-of-servicing-engined bike.

As of now, the fear speedbumbs has diminished (with the new springs (i hope)).

One more thing,
My dad was a truck mechanic a long time ago, he knows his stuff.

- There's no gas leakage when it's set to reserve
- The tires aren't completely worn down yet
- There's nothing wrong with my wheels
- I can actually see my fuel, no need for a gauge
- It's in need of service, for the first time since its birth in 1993

And as you know, I'm about to ride another 600 kilometers with it this weekend - have you even gotten that far at all yet with your twice-as-many-wheels, limb-babysitting, repair-money-slurping hunk of metal? (My bike has a plastic kind of tank, makes for less weight.) Not to mention that I've already had mine for four months, let's see where yours stands by that time. http://discussworldissues.com/forums...lies/wink1.gif

Last but not least I present you my "Mortal Kombat" Fatality!!! argument: you spent more money on your car alone than I have on my car, my motor, my motor driver's license, motor cloathing ánd its upcoming maintenance! http://discussworldissues.com/forums...ies/devil1.gif

-edit-
How could I forget... My bike's faster than your trolly. A lot faster. And before you start, one does not take chicanes on the Autobahn! http://discussworldissues.com/forums...ies/devil1.gif

Thats not denying there is a leak
- The tires aren't completely worn down yet
- There's nothing wrong with my wheels You told me so yourself multiple time....or did you juts men the tires, oh whell.
- I can actually see my fuel, no need for a gauge Try that on the autobahn
- It's in need of service, for the first time since its birth in 1993 You're right, it should be in-disperate-overdue-need-of-servicing-engined
And as you know, I'm about to ride another 600 kilometers with it this weekend - have you even gotten that far at all yet with your twice-as-many-wheels, limb-babysitting, repair-money-slurping hunk of metal? (My bike has a plastic kind of tank, makes for less weight.) Not to mention that I've already had mine for four months, let's see where yours stands by that time. http://discussworldissues.com/forums...lies/wink1.gif As a matter of fact, my car remains more or less driveable even in bad whetter, and since i've owned it the condition of the car has only improved (greatly).

Last but not least I present you my "Mortal Kombat" Fatality!!! argument: you spent more money on your car alone than I have on my car, my motor, my motor driver's license, motor cloathing ánd its upcoming maintenance! http://discussworldissues.com/forums...ies/devil1.gif Not even close to winning argument, you and i both have FREE (FREEEEEEE) transport, we just choose to completely ignore it, thereby validating that 'money is not an option'.
-edit-
How could I forget... My bike's faster than your trolly. A lot faster. And before you start, one does not take chicanes on the Autobahn! http://discussworldissues.com/forums...ies/devil1.gif Not all autobahn is straight either (thought you'd know).

And acounting for your fuel stops, and your eventual running out of gas because of the inability to accurately judge fuel consumption at speeds in exces of 170kph, don't think so.

However, the thread is about purchasing a car. So go do your 'buy a corolla' speech :P.

Warning: Q&A frenzie!
I don't deny there's a leak. I deny that it can't be worked around, let alone fixed (cost: €10-€30). I'll bet you wish you had a "ignore issue, drive anyway" lever!

You told me so yourself multiple time....or did you juts men the tires, oh whell. Just the tires.

Try that on the autobahn After every fill-up the trip meter goes to zero. Check the tank after ~200 kilometers - not that impossible.

You're right, it should be in-disperate-overdue-need-of-servicing-engined I was thinking along the lines of "shown to be extremely reliable", actually. http://discussworldissues.com/forums...lies/wink1.gif I could probably throw your car further than it could drive after 14 years of virtually no decent service.

As a matter of fact have, my car remain more or less driveable even in bad whetter. Yours remains more or less drivable at all times then? The roads are a little less drivable in bad weather, but my motor is excellently drivable in good weather. http://discussworldissues.com/forums...lies/wink1.gifhttp://discussworldissues.com/forums...ies/devil1.gif (Speaking of weather: sig comp is up!)

Not even close to winning argument, you and i both have FREE (FREEEEEEE) transport, we just choose to completely ignore it, thereby validating that 'money is not an option'. Think of that 22" widescreen LCD monitor. Think of the next-gen graphics of Crackdown and the fun of Worms HD. Think of my superior range of computers (let us mourn my 6800GT). Money is no object for either of us, yet I'm the only one with the sexeh stuff. http://discussworldissues.com/forums...lies/wink1.gif
Not all autobahn is straight either (thought you'd know). Mine's still faster. http://discussworldissues.com/forums...lies/wink1.gif

And acounting for your fuel stops, and your eventual running out of gas because of the inability to accurately judge fuel consumption at speeds in exces of 170kph, don't think so. Your car doesn't need fuel stops? Speeds in excess of 170KM/H will be rare because I may not travel alone. But even then... Still faster! That's not even taking into account things that would slow you down, such as traffic congestion, traffic lights, trying to find a parking spot...

However, the thread is about purchasing a car. So go do your 'buy a corolla' speech :P. Starlet, actually. http://discussworldissues.com/forums...lies/wink1.gif

-edit-
Wanna join me on my trip to Gunderath come Saturday? http://discussworldissues.com/forums...lies/wink1.gif