Viewing: hello everybody =]

guna02 · 14-05-2010, 02:14 PM

I'm 18 from london =]... currently dont have a car but I thought getting some advice here would be a good start!

I'm looking to buy a A3 1.8T or VW Golf 1.8 GTI ... I'm pretty sure they are not exactly the best 1st cars however I do intend to keep whichever one I get for at least 3-4 years through uni.

Which one should I go for in terms of performance and tuneability? which one is the most cost effective?

OR should I get a less powerful car such as 1.6 and would I be able to tune that?

would much appreciate it if you guys could give me some guidance..

thankyou

MRPMOSH · 14-05-2010, 04:52 PM

Hi pal, and wellcome to the forum!
I believe that Audi a3 and golf gti, both 1.8T are very good cars, in fact, in Brazil, some people did get to more than 300hp just changing the turbo, camshafts and inyection.
Cya

**pgarner** · 14-05-2010, 05:32 PM

hey and welcome to the site mate.
the 1.8t is a very nice engine i should know

- mrpmosh 300 isnt hard theres some over here running 600+

however insuring one at 18 is going to be hard especially if you dont have any NCB

both th a3 and golf are the same car just different bodywork

guna02 · 14-05-2010, 08:42 PM

Thankyou guys for the welcome

oh thats great news ... thanks mrpmosh ..300 bhp is very nice!
but pgarner! ...600+ ??!! thatz crazy! really? and your right the only thing thats worrying me is the insurance....

my mate got a hyundai coupe 2.0litre im not sure of the exact specs but its like 170bhp model....and hes insured on it for £3500 and hes 18... this seems to be reasonable i guess but would u happen to know any cheap insurance companies?

**pgarner** · 15-05-2010, 01:17 AM

i would say your looking around the same for a standard 1.8t. - although i wouldnt say £3.5k is reasonable when you could get a cheaper model for a couple of years (cumon london where the hell can you fully utilise the car??? any time im down it roadworks, traffic lights, or cameras ) and build up a decent NCB and then insure it for next to nothing. im currently paying just over £400 for mine - 24 when policy taken out, 4 years NCB, 1 not at fault claim with business class . mods declared

600bhp is alot of work, around £10k and alot of lag, and not worth it on anything other than the tt or a3 quattro due to the FWD and poor chassis that the Mk4 platform is based on

***Loz*** · 15-05-2010, 02:24 AM

Welcome to TC

£3.5K on insurance is a waste imho. I'd go for a smaller engined car & have your fun with that, if you planning on spending some of your student loan on this car just remember you still be paying for it long after the car has gone. Also dont forget running costs, if your thinking about tuning then you'll more than likely get through tyres, brakes, oil, filters & petrol etc faster than normal too & those are costs which will eat into your beer money.

**turbonutter69** · 15-05-2010, 07:54 AM

Welcome.

***T9 man*** · 15-05-2010, 07:59 AM

Greetings and Welcome!

guna02 · 15-05-2010, 08:41 AM

right......lol! so maybe it wont be a 1.8 after all....and yeah pgarner...your right i should probably try and get a similar NCB before buyin such a car. But yeah london.....enough said i guess loool

i wasnt planning on tuning the car even if i get it.. to 600bhp bcuz.. like u said...i know its of great expense...=] and thanks loz...your right i dont plan on spendin my loans on the car...no way...! lol

so now my choice is to get a less powerfull car..... ive driven like 1.6s and 1.4s and i jst dont seem to b enjoying the drive....

lool and the fact that pretty much everybody has the same type of cars i.e corsa, punto, clio, 206 etc.... so i was thinking of gettin somethin different hence the a3/golf...

what car/s would you guys advice me on lookin at...which might be more appropriate?...assuming i can finance the maintenance costs..? and could do minor mods to..?

thankyou to admins and everybody for helping me out =] really appreciate the prompt replies ....definately different from other forums!

**pgarner** · 15-05-2010, 12:22 PM

look for a mid sized diesel engine or even if you want the a3 golf look towards the 1.9 diesel (obviously not the 130 or 150 variants) your get decent punch
the major problem with the a3 golf is the weight of the bloody thing, around 1330 for the fwd and closer to 1500 for the 4motion (quattro in the audi)

**Aerial Andy944** · 17-05-2010, 10:09 PM

You could go completely different to everyone else and go retro with an 80's classic. Classic insurance would be cheaper and you could learn about the basics of car maintenance on a car from simpler times. Thinking Escort XR3I, Astra GTE all fun, fast enough cars becoming sought after collectors items now so will never lose you money (unless you wrap it around a lamp post

which I'm sure wont do) Give you an idea we have an 18year old in my region of the Porsche club who has a 944 Lux which has cost him £3k to buy and put right who pays £600 per year insurance that a daily driver aswell. That a 165bhp 2.5 ltr RWD Porsche on the road for £3.5k and it's a mint one. My modified turbo is a 2nd car but cost me only £180 per year insurance. The road tax cost me more at £210! Not saying get Porsche, not very practical and your mates need to be really close friends cause the seats are a bit cramped

but get the right older car and the insurance issue can be reduced.

**bigbadjoe** · 18-05-2010, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guna02

my mate got a hyundai coupe 2.0litre im not sure of the exact specs but its like 170bhp model....and hes insured on it for £3500 and hes 18... this seems to be reasonable i guess but would u happen to know any cheap insurance companies?

WHAT!!!! £3500 is reasonable!!!!!!!

Now either you have landed some hell of a part time job while you were at school or daddy has big pockets!!!

£3500 is about the same cost as my first 3 cars!! If you have that sort of money to spend, go for the Golf. If you get the A3 then you would regret it, and wish you had the S3.

Golf all the way in my eyes mate.

guna02 · 20-05-2010, 04:25 PM

lool £3500 seemed kinda ok for that engine calibre....and i do have some savings from all those holiday jobs

looool but yeah and parents are not involved with the whole car commotion full stop lool! so im pretty convinced with the golf...and thnks andy944 for your advice...i will definately look into some of the older cars like you mentioned but i doubt il b able to get one without issues etc.

so golf...and i think il try and tell my brain to settle with a 1.6 petrol lol

thankyou everyone for your help =]

**pgarner** · 20-05-2010, 07:00 PM

remember that £3k for insurance is only a year.

if your after a 1.6 stay away from the golf, just had the wifes again today and couldn't believe how slow it is. as a 1st car it isnt bad

guna02 · 20-05-2010, 08:02 PM

oh right... i was looking at BMW 318i ...whats ur take on them? i realise that the insurance will be sky high.... but jst a thought...=]

**pgarner** · 20-05-2010, 08:13 PM

prince is your man there hes not long had his after havin a civic for a few years.

no matter what you go for its going to hav sky high insurance lol