So, you’re young, in a low paid job or fresh out of uni with a barrow-load of loans to pay off and need some wheels. Your parents would understandably like to see you driving a modern, diesel-powered boring-mobile that does a million miles per gallon and is guaranteed to keep you in one piece when you bounce off the scenery. The fact is, you can’t afford one or its insurance, and they’re not cool enough anyway. So what are your options?
Well, insurance is often the deciding issue. Feed the car of your dreams and your date of birth into a computer and it will almost certainly blow a fuse. The age of the car and its engine size are the key factors here, though the reputation of the model also has a bearing – some have simply been the subject of too many claims!
The fact is there are some remarkable second-hand bargains around these days and by looking at cars a few years older than you really wanted, you can usually make more sense of the insurance premiums. It often allows you to opt for something with a slightly bigger engine size too, which may not only be more fun, but actually more economical as well – hard worked small engines tend to use more fuel than bigger, less stressed ones.
Safety has been high on the automotive agenda for many years now, so most cars of even 5-7 years of age feature such desirable technology as ABS and air bags, and bodyshells that protect their occupants well in the event of an accident.
Buying from a reputable dealer should give you at least some short-term warranty and a degree of comeback. However, if you have access to a tame but reliable expert, the auctions could provide you with a real steal.
Cars are an extension of our personality and though the days of indiscriminate modifications are gone for good reason, there is much one can do within the law to personalise your chosen transport. Provided you tell your insurance company and use approved parts, a gentle lowering of the suspension, induction kits, big bore tail pipes (quality ones that sound good but don’t offend or break the law), alloy wheels, low profile tyres etc are all readily achievable and acceptable mods. Fancy floor mats, tricky gear knobs and alloy pedal sets are all ways of making the interior unique to you and giving you more fun per mile. So too are bespoke sound systems, but do remember that others may not share your taste in music or the volume at which you like to listen to it!
Safe and happy driving.
