First car, best engine size? Tips?

[Plank]

I'm getting a car because I've got my driving test next month. What engine size do you think would be best for a first car? 1.2? 1.4? I was thinking 1.2 because it's probably cheaper on the insurance, and if it's only a small car I was hoping it would be alright. What do you think? I'm not into boy racer stuff and zooming round the streets or anything like that, or big loud exhausts which some people put on their cars & sound so fake.

Also if you could add any tips to look out for when buying a first car, that would be cool.

Thanks

[GoldenMerc]

I have a 1.6 focus and i really struggle for petrol, it costs far more than what my friends pay for their 1.1 / 1.2's
but its all down to how much money you have to spend, if you have a job to fund the petrol.

[Plank]

I have a 1.6 focus and i really struggle for petrol, it costs far more than what my friends pay for their 1.1 / 1.2's
but its all down to how much money you have to spend, if you have a job to fund the petrol.

Good point I completely forgot about petrol! I guess that's swaying me towards the smaller engines as well. Is there a really big difference in insurance between smaller and larger engines?

[Sunny.]

There is a difference in insurance depending on the engine size. Obv lower engines are usually cheaper.

I would say go for 1.2/1.4.
But insurance is going to be high nmw car you get.

[Metric1]

4.4L V8

I had a 2002 BMW 745i when I first got my license, then I had an Accord and then another Accord. I couldn't drive the BMW anymore because it had almost 200k miles and I had a long commute everyday! The car I have now is a 3.0L V6 and I average around 30mpg on the highway which is pretty good for a car that size! Over here our insurance isn't ridiculously priced and I can't think of any car that's under a 2.0L... try a Focus, Ross got one and I think it's his first car?!

[Dentafrice]

5.9L L6.

[GommeInc]

Depends on the age of the car really. HHGS has a 1.6 petrol Ford Focus mk 1. My mum has the current 1.6 petrol Ford Focus mk2 (2008 Facelift) which has incredibly good fuel consumption, with over 400 miles on a full tank, and the tank is only slightly bigger than my 1.4 Ford Fiesta - she drives alot more than me so that may give you a bit of an outlook on engine sizes in comparison The engine size doesn't necessarily determine the fuel consumption, what you should be focusing (ha!) on is the insurance and a car that will last

1.2 engines are OK, and will serve you good on small cars - Ford Ka, Hyundai i10 etc - usually cheap to insure.
1.4 engines are ideal for the super mini category, which are the Ford Fiestas, Coras, Clios, Peugeot (100 series e.g. 106, 107 varying on age and model) - average to insure.

So it depends what sort of car you want, then the size engine can be determined by that, because it maybe a first car, but you want it to last so you may as well have a decent engine.

[GoldenMerc]

try a Focus, Ross got one and I think it's his first car?!

yeh mines a 1.6 the insurance is with Quinn and before passing my test its 850 and when iv passed its 1600 so ye

[Black_Apalachi]

My insurance is just over a grand a year and I've only just turned 19 :8.

That's because.................................

I've got an 85 Classic Austin Mini Mayfair. Oh yes .

[Skajo]

5.9L L6.

GREAT ADVICE +REP.