a Porsche as a First Car?

[Jarama Beige]

I'm 15 now and live in the UK. It seems mad, but if I desire to have a Porsche for the first car (always been a car enthusiast and appreciated lots of makes) when I turn 18, what would be a good choice for me?
Power is not my concern as an inexperienced driver I won't be able to use it anyway.
I don't want to spend too much money or time on repairs, neither do I want to have many problems with it.
Of course, being as cheap as possible (there's no such thing as a cheap Porsche I'm told, but there are foolish mistakes from false assumption that there is one) is important, both to buy and run - including the insurance, what are the experiences with it (I can't get a quote since I can't make up a phone number )?
It should be easy to drive as well.

Which 944 is best for me in a couple of years?
Maybe I should choose something else like a 924? Or would you advise me to get back on earth and rather buy something more reasonable?

PS. I do know that it's a bit early for such posts but still

 

[Riverside]

Most Porshes are insurance group 20, that's probably more of a limiting factor than the performance of the car.

Personally though I think there is a great deal to be learned from starting with something with rubbish grip, rubbish brakes & no power. Forces you to plan ahead & anticipate others' actions which will make you appreciate the grip, handling & power of a better car later.

If you can afford it though, do it [] I'd have loved to have a Porsche as my first car, although I probably would have crashed it [8D]

 

[Neil Haughey]

For many years the best starter car was an old mini. This is how I started out, they teach you all about handling and how to exploit the cars brilliant handling to make quick progress as the power is pretty low. For someone of your age in this day and age I would be looking in a similar direction which would mean something like a saxo or 106 or polo, the main thing is just to get some driving experience and one or two years of no claims bonus on the insurance. Its the insurance that's the killer on pretty much all Porsche's and similar cars. I remember when I was 17 a lad I knew back then (late 80's) had an RS turbo (very hot car back then), he was paying something mad like £2K a year for the insurance and this is nearly 20 years ago. It only takes a couple or 3 years to be in a position to move up, I had the mini for a year, then modified it with a bigger rally spec engine, rally suspension etc. then moved on 2 years later to a modified Saab 900 turbo running 240 Bhp. None of this would have been possible if it wasn't for getting some no claims bonus under the belt for the insurance.

In all honesty when I was young having any car was great, just being able to go out when you want and hit the open road is a big buzz, we probably enjoyed driving a lot more back then as well even though most of us started out with pretty rubbish cars.

 

[Fen]

I'm going to be more positive. Insurance will be the limiting factor (it may not even be available at any price), but you know that already I'm sure. Group 20 insurance isn't simply the most expensive, end of story; what it actually means "each vehicle on its own merits" and can actually be significantly cheaper than even as low as group 16. If (as I suspect) not many 924s have been involved in significant claims recently then it may actually be a relatively low risk vehicle from the insurers' perspective.

If you can get insurance that you can afford then a 924 would be my suggestion. Even a 2.0 924 will feel like a rocketship as a first car and while I agree with Neil (a bit) I think you'll find it's no more easily crashable than any of the tedious hatches he suggests and it will teach you proper handling of the rear wheel drive variety. I'm almost certain someone used to post on here with a 924 as a first car. You could look to start with a 944 Lux or even something more powerful if you can get cover, but I'd say you will just be spoiling yourself for the future and you'd miss the pleasure of getting slightly faster cars as you grow older.

I started with a series of Ford Escorts (back when you could still get affordable real Escorts with a live rear axle) and graduated to Opel Mantas. Front wheel drive was for the girls [8D]

 

[Black_JPN]

I have to say I agree with Fen on this one. There isn't much substitute for having a piece of pork and having one as your first car well that'll be something you'll just never forget, ever. Even if it's the worst 924 in the country you'll be able to say you've done it. I only wish I had discovered RWD at a younger age it would have taught me a lot more about car control and hadling than the boring FWD's I owned. The only problem is - you'll get hooked. Even a 924 (once you've got to grips with it) will make nearly anything else you drive feel mundane and dull. If you can afford the insurance (try limited miles policy) then I say go for it. Keep your head level though, don't go crazy, have fun but above all stay safe. Dare I say it but another car with near legendary status and again I think Fen will agree here would be a mk1 MX5... Well worth considering also, maybe a tad cheaper on the insurance and a little slower (but no less fun) to begin with.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

924, if you really want the whole Porsche ownership experience. Don't be put off by the snobbery around the 924, it's a great car and the VW input only makes it more economical.

If the insurance won't allow, then I'd echo Fen's suggestion. Find a solid old Mk1/2 Escort, you'll learn a whole load about how to drive as well as how to maintain a really simple car. And, you'll get a whole load of respect from people who recognise you driving something that's not a chavved-up 207.

 

[mik_ok]

I had similar ideas at your age and was absolutely dismayed by the attitude of insurance companies.

I'm going to echo the comments of some others - whilst I'd really love to say "fill your boots" it simply won't IMHO make financial sense - you'll spurt away thousands on insurance in the first few years that could be put towards a much nicer car.

Like Fen, my first car was a live-axled Escort, with a whopping 1.3 litres and (as I realised waaay to late in the process) timing set so atrociously that output could be measured in mouse-power as opposed to horse. It pained me greatly at the time, but it's true that driving around in a such a low powered car teaches you techniques that will allow you to enjoy a faster car later - how to maintain momentum - mis an apex by a foot and you are punished harshly. Learn double-de-clutch and heel&toe without putting yourself at risk. etc etc.

Sorry dude. []

 

[A.Wang]

I agree with all the comments about insurance, being a relatively young guy (25), the whole "first car" thing is still fresh in my mind...especially as I was too pissed at uni to learn to drive, and only got my license at the ripe old age of 21!

The insurance figures were, frankly, scary - my first car was a 1993 Golf 1.4, insurance? Just under £1500. Kept that for a couple of years and bought a brand new Audi TT Mk2 2.0T in late 2007...insurance premium was £700, dropping to around £500 this year with a few years of NCB. It's astonishing to see that the premium does come down...and very quickly too, and that's despite changing to a car that's worth 60 times the previous one. I'm now paying 186 quid a year for the 944 S2 on a 5000-mile limit classic car policy on the Porsche, which still makes me smile every time I tell my friends who are paying several times more for their Golfs/Polos!

I guess my point is this - by all means get a 924/944 if you can afford the insurance (the classic car specialists probably won't touch you until you're 25), and being able to say that your first car was a Porsche will be something special, but there is no shame in "learning the ropes" in a Golf or one of the more fun RWD numbers suggested by the guys in this thread.

 

[Fen]

I agree the MX5 is a good alternative as they are fun in a big way. That's the Mk1 only though as the Mk2 is just a more expensive and uglier facsimile and the Mk3 is... [:'(](sorry Neil, I know your SWMBO has one). Paul clearly hasn't seen what you have to pay for even an average but solid Mk2 Escort these days. I have seriously looked into exporting them from here, but they are catching up down here also these days, even just 2-door base models never mind the 1600 Sport and forget the ones with RS in front of the badge.

It is never going to make any sort of financial sense to have a Porsche as your first car, but then it doesn't make much financial sense to have a Porsche at all. The only upside is minimal depreciation (on the older models), but running a banger on its last MoT delivers that for much less outlay; a car can never depreciate by more than you paid for it after all. It will all come down to insurance as you must be able to pick up a very, very decent 924 these days for not a lot (and I guess poor ones are worth absolutely nothing).

 

[Peter Empson]

Hi and welcome.

I agree with the above, if you can afford to insure it get it. Hell, even if you cant insure it get one anyway, get someone else to insure it and drive you to track days and then you can have a ball whilst learning an awful lot! []

A 924 makes a lot of sense, in fact I'd planned to start with one myself but got distracted by 944's instead, they'll be slightly cheaper to run than a 944 (assuming you get a good one) and I'd argue almost as much fun.

 

[Jarama Beige]

Thank you all for the comments.
If the insurance is okay, I'll consider getting one, but you have reminded my an important thing: even the weakest 924 is too powerful for a young lad and I should seriously think about something like a Golf mk4 instead.
Also I was a bit worried about getting addicted to the Porsche - it would be very hard indeed to drive another car after this experience if what you're saying is true.

 

[poprock]

My first car was a 944. I was 29 though, and had been driving other peoples' cars for eleven years already. That made insurance a lot cheaper "¦ but it was still over a thousand pounds for that first year!

 

[A.Wang]

ORIGINAL: Jarama Beige

Thank you all for the comments.
If the insurance is okay, I'll consider getting one, but you have reminded my an important thing: even the weakest 924 is too powerful for a young lad and I should seriously think about something like a Golf mk4 instead.
Also I was a bit worried about getting addicted to the Porsche - it would be very hard indeed to drive another car after this experience if what you're saying is true.

There's definitely truth in that anything else would be a downgrade after driving a Porsche!

I knew first hand how hire cars / mates' hatchbacks etc. became horrible driving experiences after having bought and driven the TT...and that's only a FWD, 200bhp turbo-charged "Golf GTI with a decent aero package" (to paraphrase the usual derogatory comments about the TT).

 

[Diver944]

When my son was 17 a couple of years ago we looked into getting a 924 for him and found a nice one locally that had been owned by an older guy for the best part of 10 years. Asking price was £1500, best insurance quote we could get was £3700 third party fire and theft. []

An 8 year old Nissan Micra at the same value came in at £900 insurance.

He got a motorbike []

 

[Hilux]

I guess my point is this - by all means get a 924/944 if you can afford the insurance (the classic car specialists probably won't touch you until you're 25),

Thank you all for the comments.
If the insurance is okay, I'll consider getting one, but you have reminded my an important thing: even the weakest 924 is too powerful for a young lad and I should seriously think about something like a Golf mk4 instead.

Hi

Classic car insurance is available for youngsters, certainly on older mini`s and Golf`s

What about a German alternative golf Mk 1 great little car with a buzzy sewing machine engine and they are so light they go really well and parts are as cheap as chips. The social scene is also huge and encompasses all enthusiasts of German cars, in fact some of the parts on Golfs are on and from Porsches/Audis etc

I only know this as my son is on his third car (and he`s 20!) having started off in a 1.3 Mk 1 (insurance was circa £800 IIRC) then a Polo GT 1.3 injection (brilliant fun) but it wasnt a Golf and he`s now got another Mk1 1.1 into which he`s just put a Polo GT engine (which is now as quick as a non turbo Mk 4 Golf [8D]) aftermarket suspension and wheels etc and his insurance is still only £900 ish

Sorry, edited to clarify that the insurance is TPFT, fully comp is a different ballgame until at least 21 years old with a few years driving (and NCB) under your belt.

 

[Fen]

I doubt a 924 is actually any more powerful than a modern shopping hatch. OK, not the range-bottom ones, but the ones people buy if they aren't on total poverty budget. It wouldn't have the electronic safety net of traction control far less stability (in fact it wouldn't even have ABS), but that is the reason you'd be learning from it; it's easier to crash and it would hurt more if you did crash it and that should be a good thing for a new driver to be aware of. I have to say you sound refreshingly mature for a 15 year old, or maybe I am just spending too much time on US Jeep forums where 75% of posters seem to be at "school".

Actually that reminds me of a different point. In the US to some extent and over here in NZ for sure you get youngsters driving a lot more powerful cars than a 924 and I don't think they become dead through doing so any more regularly than UK teenagers. Here I think you can drive at 15 (if not it's 16) and insurance is optional so people start out with scruffy Imprezas etc. You aren't allowed to carry non license holders nor drive after 10pm for a period on a restricted license however.

 

[u63af]

I had a 924 turbo when I was 19 (6 years ago) Insurance was not too bad through Norwich Union. They declined me to start with then got through to Indian call centre, spoke to a supervisor and they insured me for £670 per year. Then after the 924 turbo progressed onto a 5 litre Tvr chimaera when I was 22 which was only £700 per year. Now I am 25 and had an 944 S2 and Turbo both joint insured for £350 per annum.

Possibly living in Scotland makes it cheaper.

 

[Hilux]

a 5 litre Tvr chimaera when I was 22 which was only £700 per year.

Excuse me (and I dont want to appear rude) but who is the insurer and what kind of insurance was it for they will make a killing out of all the youngsters like my son who will be ringing them up tomorrow.

 

[u63af]

The insurer for my TVR was elephant, fully comp. Think the excess was about £500 or so. at the time I had 5 years no claims discount. Mileage was set for 2,999 miles and it was fo social use only.

My friend who is 23 is insured on a 4.5 litre TVR cerbera with hagerty for about £500 per year as a classic car.

 

[Neil Haughey]

ORIGINAL: u63af

The insurer for my TVR was elephant, fully comp. Think the excess was about £500 or so. at the time I had 5 years no claims discount. Mileage was set for 2,999 miles and it was fo social use only.

Second car you see, I discovered this several years back. Can insure 2 cars for less then the insurance on Porsche only.