90019
Established Member
I've been running a 51 plate LTI TX1 as my daily for the last 18 months or so.
Bought for £750 and the underside is remarkably rust free, especially since the mileage is probably in the region of 450-500k.
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Your first car
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Bought for £750 and the underside is remarkably rust free, especially since the mileage is probably in the region of 450-500k.
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That would be the Fiat Brava that my mum left when moving to Spain. A week after passing my test the head gasket went and was scrap not long after.
Have always fancied finding another example even to restore for nostalgia if nothing else, see what I missed.
Have always fancied finding another example even to restore for nostalgia if nothing else, see what I missed.
DerekC
Established Member
"Emma" (named by the previous owner) was my pride and joy, at least until she failed to start for the first time a couple of days after I brought her home. She was a 1955 A30 2-door in black, with a massive 28bhp under the bonnet. She smelt musty, her brakes were lousy, she rode and cornered like a blancmange and on her bad days she ran on 3 cylinders (not that it made a great deal of difference). But I still loved her!
At classic car rallies (where I feel really old these days) I always look for an A30.
At classic car rallies (where I feel really old these days) I always look for an A30.
antharro
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Passed my test second time in 1998. On the first attempt a speed limit had changed and I didn't see it until too late. I also had Dorset's chief examiner examining my examiner during the test! First car was a 1987 VW Polo which I still have (tho it's SORNed awaiting restoration). Since then I've had loads of cars of all sorts - luxury saloons , sports cars, (I still miss my Lexus LS430) and run of the mill saloons. Currently driving a 2001 Toyota Camry V6 and a 1991 Mitsubishi GTO.
My first car was purchased a few weeks ago - a 1996 Volvo 850! It's extremely comfortable and in great condition for a 25 year old car.
Always wanted one of these and I'm hoping I can learn a bit more about how to maintain my own car. I've been driving my partner's car for the past few years, and my parents car before then but this is the first I've bought myself.
Always wanted one of these and I'm hoping I can learn a bit more about how to maintain my own car. I've been driving my partner's car for the past few years, and my parents car before then but this is the first I've bought myself.
Spamcan81
Member
I had one of those but K reg. Not my first car though.
My first car as well, Dolomite 1850 Auto, ice blue. Very comfortable and relaxing drive.
pitdiver
Member
Never bought a car, still don't own one never have done. Had license since 1986
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Was just thinking based on the other thread...I guess there will be people reading this who will never drive a petrol or diesel car, going straight to an EV?
Dai Corner
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Have you driven at all in the last 25 years? If not, do you still feel confident to do so?
I ask as I was told not to drive for three months for medical reasons and it took a while until I felt I was driving competently again.
Journeyman
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I was ill for a month when I had COVID last year. Even returning to driving after that was a bit scary.
DerekC
Established Member
My dad's first car was a 1924 Austin 7 "Chummy" called Jemima, which he bought for £10 in about 1938. He had lots of stories about her but the last is the best. She drank oil and left a cloud of blue smoke in her wake. On his wedding day in November 1940 Dad forgot to top the oil up and half way along the A40 to Monmouth where they were going for their honeymoon, Jemima put a rod through the side of the block. They left her on the verge and took refuge in a nearby pub, catching a coach the rest of the way the next day! They never saw her again because Dad went into the army shortly after and couldn't afford a new engine anyway. Mum used to imagine Jemima doing her last duty for her country as an anti-glider obstruction in a field somewhere.
High Dyke
Established Member
Bought one of them of my best mate. Beautiful car to drive, CD changer in the boot. Diesel engine was just getting run in nicely when I sold it. Over the years I've made some rash decisions about car purchases.
First car: 1983, brand new Renault 5TL, 27 miles on the clock and it cost me £125 per month - whilst I was on £25 a week YTS. Had to sell it after a year; the maths just didn't add up (see above).
pitdiver
Member
I have driven my wife's car once in 12 years but she doesn't like me driving as she says I go slow. That's rich coming from someone who has received 4 speeding tickets in the last 6 years. To be quite honest I don't feel confident to do so so I let her get on with it. I just use my license for ID purposes nowadays.
thejuggler
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My first car was the same as I learned to drive in, Mk 1 Fiesta 1.1L from 1979.
Bought it for £350, insurance was the same price. Taught me bangernomics. It sometimes overheated so had a permanent switch for the fan, 2 litres of water carried at all times. A friend was an MOT tester and he passed it once, the next year the screwdriver disappeared into the sills and floor so it was scrapped. Got £200 for it!
In the 18 months I did almost 20,000 miles all over the UK and whilst it was a shed, it only left me stranded once when the points failed on the M6 in heavy rain. I'd had warnings whilst on holiday in Skye at it was sometimes missing and starting was difficult.
I limped off near Penrith, car was soon fixed by Green Flag.
Bought it for £350, insurance was the same price. Taught me bangernomics. It sometimes overheated so had a permanent switch for the fan, 2 litres of water carried at all times. A friend was an MOT tester and he passed it once, the next year the screwdriver disappeared into the sills and floor so it was scrapped. Got £200 for it!
In the 18 months I did almost 20,000 miles all over the UK and whilst it was a shed, it only left me stranded once when the points failed on the M6 in heavy rain. I'd had warnings whilst on holiday in Skye at it was sometimes missing and starting was difficult.
I limped off near Penrith, car was soon fixed by Green Flag.
Is there a special licence for people who take their test in an EV just as there is for automatics.
I would be a bit reluctant to allow someone who has only ever driven an EV to drive my ICE manual
DustyBin
Established Member
Presumably it’s a normal auto-only license, I couldn’t say for sure though. I’ve not actually seen a driving school EV come to think of it!
Edited to say wrong thread (I think).
Journeyman
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My wife is a driving instructor, and at the moment I don't think any mainstream driving school is using EVs. Presumably they're not common enough yet for there to be enough demand, and most young people learning to drive will end up acquiring a cheap secondhand car, which at the moment will be ICE.
DustyBin
Established Member
Yes that makes sense, thanks.
That'd be my expectation as well. They're functionally identical in that you have two pedals (go and stop), and a separate control over which direction you go. Some EVs (earlier ones as I understand it, less so now) even simulated creep when in forward or reverse to make it as much like a conventional automatic as possible
Presumably, @Factotum would be equally hesitant about letting someone who'd only ever driven automatics to drive their manual car
Dai Corner
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The difference being that if you learned and passed your test in an automatic you're not allowed to driver a manual.
I seeked it out and if you take your test on an EV you are licenced to drive EVs and automatic ICEs but not manual ICEs
And yes I would be loath to lend my manual ICE to someone who had only driven automatics since they would not be licenced to drive it.
pitdiver
Member
If I wanted to buy a "First Car" now what would the jury recommend?
ABB125
Established Member
Something which is cheap to insure, since that's the biggest recurring expense (assuming you're purchasing a second hand car). Sometimes, the first year of insurance can cost more than the car!
What do you need a car to do? How much do you have to spend?
Do you know anyone who is looking to sell a suitable car for a good reason? I would pass on a car that they are looking to get rid of, because it has a long list of expensive repairs. However, if its because they don't need it anymore, or it is missing a feature that they need, then it could a good buy.
Some people sell cars to used car dealers and in classified adverts for reasons like this, but some do it because there is an unresolved issue which will cost a lot to fix. If you can avoid one of those, life will be a lot simpler and cheaper.
Something from Kia/Hyundai, generally very reliable, built well and well priced. anything really from the time the i10 was released and was not an old design would be a good choice. My step-mum has had a Mk1 Facelift 'ceed and currently has an Ioniq hybrid, both are excellently built quality automobiles which have never had any issues (unlike the two Peugeots (206,3008), Zafira, PT Cabrio or Nissan Juke).
Also my sisters 2014 Micra has also been the model of reliability, it's done over 100k and all it's needed is general wear items (Brakes, Servicing, Wipers, Tyres), a new rear wheel bearing (probably from bashing the kerb when parking due to being a new driver) and a VVT Solenoid, even more impressive given the fact that it never gets serviced on time, usually double the mileage recommended!.
Journeyman
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A Dacia Sandero! I've had one for seven years and it's never let me down. The new model is just out and is somewhat less rough around the edges than the one I have. It's a tad basic and badge snobs hate them, but the value for money is unbelievable. Cheap to buy, cheap to insure, cheap to run, cheap to tax, cheap to maintain. If you spend your entire life behind the wheel, it's probably not for you, but most of my motoring is fairly local, and for that, it's perfect.
Shedloads of boot space for a supermini size car as well.
eMeS
Member
Based on decades of car ownership - from 1964 on, and a wide variety of s/h models including Honda, I'd recommend a petrol Vauxhall Astra Estate Auto - not glamorous, but spacious and reliable. The Honda Accord Aerodeck 2.2i ES Auto was luxury but the poor after purchase care caused me to get rid of it very early.
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