A Cheap First Car - Why it is one of the best things you'll ever buy.

Your first car is always a difficult decision, sometimes you want the comfort of a new car, but it can become costly in the long term with the usual finance options. But then, why wouldn't you want one with the warranty included? It would cover any issues with the car generally over a 3 year period... Well, I think I've got the answer.

What's The Point?

I'm sure you've all heard stories from others about how their first car was probably a crap one, but there's a charm to that, it really is an experience in quite a few ways. The car is the first thing which will be vastly different person to person, for around £500 - £1000 there is quite an odd variety of cars. Boring worthless cars with hardly any mileage on them (because no one wanted them in the first place), or very high mileage respectable cars which have probably had a very hard life (lets be honest, it's going to cause more troubles than it's worth). But again, this is the fun of it. Any of these cars will have their own little quirks, whether it be a common fault which you fix with some zip ties and a spoon or the fact it has the least powerful engine in the world so you're doing 6,000rpm everywhere, the joys!

The best thing to do is usually set out a few checklists that you want from the car, I personally wanted something around 10 seconds to 60mph (so it wasn't too slow), decent handling and something I could easily service and would be reliable within reason. Interior quality was something I wasn't too worried about, because most of the cars in this price range are 15 - 20 years old now, so they'll start to show their age. Bodywork too, it won't look as gleaming as a brand new Ferrari on the forecourt, but it can be something you can improve a little if need be, it isn't the end of the world. Finally, modern features, these can be added to some extent in terms of infotainment, but if you can find a decently spec'd car in the first place, I'd say you're onto a winner!

Looks slightly abandoned.

Looks slightly abandoned.

A Little Gem

So all of that I was on about in terms of finding the right one, they really do exist because here is mine. I wasn't a huge fan of the MK1 Focus before I bought one, I don't know what it was about them but they just seemed a little same old sort of thing, but now it's the total opposite. 2 and a half years on I still own this thing and it's been nothing but brilliant, this really showed me you don't need to spend a lot on a car, but just hope the previous owners did spend a bit on it.

This car was listed for the sum of £600 (slightly over budget) in 2019 with around 95,000 miles. It included a full service history (12 stamps), MOT till June 2019 (short MOTs aren't great but is a bargaining tool) and it wasn't in bad condition. I'd been looking for around 2 months for one, I realistically wanted a 3 door with the 1.6L (for insurance reasons), I'd found a few 5 doors before this for around the same price but were a bit tatty. I'd consider looking at a few of the same car before this so you know what you're getting into, do your research!

Located around 20 miles away, I'd decided to go with my dad to have a look and I'm really glad I did. When we got there it was parked ready to look at as the dealer was appointment only and at first glance it was quite a nice looking straight car apart from one dent, but all things considered it was nice. The test drive also went well, it was smooth, everything seemed to work, even the air con! But there was one final thing that needed to be look at, or looked for and that was the dreaded rust. Thankfully, this one seemed to be virtually corrosion free, which was a lovely surprise.

Happy with the car I then had to get him down to the £500 budget I'd set myself, toing and frowing we had gotten to £530 but I still wasn't happy. I'd said £525 as a final offer and he said no and asked the question "would you really walk away over £5?". I called his bluff and said "yes" and started walking away. You can probably tell what happened next as I currently own the car. What?! It's £5 towards petrol, who can blame me?!

Blackpool is just over there

Blackpool is just over there

You Really Will Love it

I genuinely think you can love whatever car you get for your first, even if it is the worst thing going, it'll still have it's little charm. The Focus really did take me by surprise. I know I said I wanted decent handling, I read the reviews but I was in for a treat. Even with 99hp, it can be brilliant fun. Firstly, just rev it out on a back road. Secondly, dab the brakes a little bit so it doesn't feel too dangerous and then it'll just go around. You're still within the speed limit but because your foot is flat, you feel like Michael Schumacher, or Colin McRae in this instance... Okay, maybe that's a little bit of an exaggeration but it's enjoyable.

Mentally what changes when buying a £500 car over anything new, is that you care for it in some sense, but then you also tend to just push it a bit more. Most cars around this price range are definitely in scrap yards/breakers yards so parts are cheap if you do find out the talent you maybe once had, has ran out. Weirdly, this adds to the enjoyment, knowing that it can be fixed for a couple of quid just gives you a sense of relief on your wallet. The final thing in financial terms is that to keep it running the servicing costs are usually low, too. I service this car myself, it's around £40 and easy to do on the 1.6L sigma lumps, I'd imagine it's the same on most similar engine cars, oh, and it's usually fairly frugal.

The Journey

Your first car opens up a lot of opportunities and freedom you never once had, this is something you will find and look back on with so much joy. For me, one of the main things was all the people I've met through the car; car clubs, instagram, car shows, it's all there. I've found out a lot through these people and also been to places I'd never imagine would happen, but it is a great feeling. Being in a convoy going to the next meeting is always a laugh, you'll almost definitely be in the slowest car and you will hear those cams and pistons screaming for mercy in the midst of it all.

Within the first few weeks of purchasing this car, I'd gone to Leeds for a regular Ford event called Squires, it's a great feeling turning up in your own car. It doesn't matter if it's not the best thing around, but you're still a part of what's going on, so relish in it. Night drives, travelling, McDonalds Drive Thru and just the ease of being able to go wherever you want, whenever you want is also an odd feeling at first but you'll quickly realise how much fuel you've gone through because you just want to use it!

How To Make It 'Modern'

This can be easy and tricky at the same time, it all depends on what you've started with really. This Focus is a later 2004 registered car and is 'Edge' spec, it was a run out spec so had a few extras thrown in such as; air con, ABS, sports suspension, boot spoiler, metallic paint, fog lights, 16" alloy wheels and sports seats. I don't think it's too badly spec'd even for today, you've got mostly everything you'd ever need so I'd consider this a decent base to add to, that's if you really need to. I'd say Apple Car Play/Android Auto is everything you'd ever need today, systems start from around £50 for a cheap Chinese model but I'd avoid these and go for a £225 Sony Unit which you'll have better luck with. With these systems they also usually have the ability to add on reversing cameras, which is also a nice little feature!

Externally, you really can go mad here, it is yours to do whatever with. Personally, I haven't done anything to mine but a good starting base would be to look at the performance model of the car you own and go from there (that's if there was ever one). Lowering springs, alloys, tinted windows, painted light lenses are a point for better visuals, but this isn't for everyone.

Y'know what? I still love how it looks.

Y'know what? I still love how it looks.

Be Humble

You really have nothing to prove, it doesn't matter what you drive. I honestly believe this, my partner had a Focus MK4 1.0 125 EcoBoost and this was faster on a 'private road', honestly! If you enjoy what you have, look after it and make sure everything it needs is done, it really will look after you. I'm thankful to the previous owners who seemed to have looked after it before me, because in my ownership it really hasn't needed much, reliability is as good as any other car. The engine isn't under any strain from forced induction, the gearbox is more than capable and the parts seem more than up to the job.

I've had the timing belt changed, a few small things for previous MOTs, but all this stuff is just wear and tear and when you fix something, you'll notice it which adds to the joy. It's on 111,000 miles now and it's the best it's ever been, recently MOT'd and it only needed a new manifold due to the flexi being split. I honestly can't say any better than that.

If you haven't found your first car yet, I hope this article will help. You'll find your own little crap box and no matter how good or bad it is, you'll love it.