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Dear all. I can't decide what to look at and thought you guys might be able to help!

 

I want to spend up to 14,000 on a car up to two years old (less than 20,000 miles) that is relatively sporty and will hold is value very well. Unfortuneatly I'm only 21 and male so insurance has kiled of many of my more exotic ideas! I've looked at a Mini Cooper (bit small) and a BMW 116i Sport (bit slow) . I want to combine the size of the BM with the poke of the Mini but c'ant afford to insure a 118. Any thoughts??

Cheers! 

 

How about the Golf 1.4TSi 140 GT Sport? Or a Golf 140 diesel GT Sport? They are both within budget, both strong on performance and economy, hold their value pretty well, bigger than the BMW plus has a massive boot, and would come in at around £14k or less from a dealer. I used to have an '07 diesel GT model, a red 3dr, and I think it looks pretty sporty with the GTi style grille, lowered suspension and 17" alloys and it drives great. Has a good standard spec - sports seats, air con, decent stereo, auto wipers and lights, fogs, electric everything, 'piano black' interior trim, plus the wheels and exterior styling add-ons - but not sure how cheap it is to ensure because I had it as a company car. The diesel is a bit noisy but is otherwise strong in every area. I've not driven the petrol 140 but I have driven the 170 petrol with DSG and it was pretty good, would take it over the diesel if fuel costs were not an issue.

This one is from left field : Land Rover Defender ? Not fast but ultra cool, especially if you convert to soft top (see http://www.neneoverland.co.uk/4x4services/extreme_soft_top.php)

Insurance is the killer here, you need to save money on the purchase price, buy older and spend that on the insurance whilst the NCB slowly builds. MINI One would work, I also like the Suzuki Swift too, the diesel Golf is an excellent suggestion, it's just that word Sport or Cooper that makes the insurance suits nervous. I'd say be patient if possible and then get a better BMW/MINI etc Not very helpful, just realistic... 

What about the Land Rover idea, James ??!!

This is a good one!

As James Ruppert has said the insurance is going to be the killer for you, but this doesn't mean that you can't have something a little interesting.  My main concern is that you appear to be looking at "Premium" brands, Mini, BMW etc, but again this also brings insurance issues.  I have a couple of suggestions however that may light your candle.

1.  Honda Civic Type S 1.8  -  Quick little motor this one, but it is an aquired taste.  Looks "sporty" enough and is in that funny mid "Not quite premium but a cut above Ford etc" range.  Insurance group 9 should be kind on the pocket too.

2.  Hyundai 2.0 Coupe -  Cheap coupe with reasonable performance.  Not premium but in a different league your average hatch.  Insurance group 10.

3.  Renault Megane GT -  Living under the halo of the 225, but you have the choice of a petrol or diesel.  Diesels the best bet at group 10 insurance, and if you wanted to be really bad you could "tweak" the diesel easier!!

4.  SEAT Leon 2.0TDI Sport  -  Smarter choice than the Golf and an infinitely more interesting car.  Group 9.

5.  Suzuki Swift Sport - Already suggested by James, and probably my personal favorite.  Group 9 and it will have you smiling forever! 

6.  Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch 1.8 SRi  -  Bit more main stream but still very cool.  Half decent kick and just Group 8.

There are probably several more idea, but these are just some off the top of my head.  Best of luck, and it will be interesting to hear what you actually go for.

Ohhhh....

And one more.

Ford Focus 2.0 Zetec  -  Group 10 and lusty performance.  Slightly "dull" to look at but its a great drive.

I'm trying to imagine being 21 and having £14k to spend on a car; in fact I'm trying to imagine being the advanced age I am and having £14k to spend....

I'd agree with the comments above to switch some of your finance payments to increased insurance premiums; unless of course you have the £14k burning a hole in your pocket.  If you look at something a bit older (and I am not talking much over four years old) your choice will expand enormously.  Of course, reading between the lines (mention of Mini, BMW) may be you just wouldn't be seen dead in something so low rent...

I agree with all of the above choices apart from the Leon - whilst in between company cars I ran a poverty spec diesel and the petrol FR version and found the interior to be pretty horrid. Step out of the Civic, Astra or maybe even the Swift and you'll feel a bit short changed sitting in the Leon (although, rather appropriately, the seats are nice!). Thinking about the Astra, how about the 1.6 version, which would be even cheaper to ensure? I just looked at an ex-demo Astra Sport Hatch 1.6 SXi at a franchise dealer in South London for a friend and had forgotten what a great car it is. The 1.6 is a really peppy performer and the handling and ride are the right side of sporty. The interior was great, really chunky feel to the fittings. Looking at the most recent issue of What Car, the 1.6 Sport Hatch won a group test, with the Civic coming second, Focus third, and Pro_cee'd fourth. I drove a 5 door 1.6 SRi to Bridge of Allan in Scotland last November and was genuinely surprised at how good the 1.6 is. Needs a bit of a heavy right foot above 60mph but its not at all thrashy and its quieter than some 2.0 petrols I've driven. The other thing to think about is how long you are keeping the car for. I always prefer if possible to drive the most recent version of a particular model, and this will have some impact on the residual value as well. The Civic is, I think, the newest of the choices above and least likely to be replaced in the near future, whereas my original suggestion, the Golf, is being replaced next year, so you would be driving around in the 'previous' model in a year's time. Might not bother you, but it would bother me if I was spending that much of my own money! I used to set residual values for Motability Operations, the biggest car fleet in Europe, and - regardless of what the car valuation guides like CAP and Glasses may tell you - one of the biggest RV downturns in the lifecycle of a vehicle is the introduction of it's successor.

How abt a 2002 Porsche Boxter S? hahahaha. onli kidding. Try the Audi A3, the diesel ones are quite good value and a bit cheap to insure. just don't go for the 2.0T, the insurers would have you for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I see James' suggestion fell on deaf ears.

Joke!!