Everyone has a soft spot for their first car; it’s every teenager’s first true sense of freedom, with fond memories of cruising around with friends and singing to favourite tunes top of your lungs.
So, with this in mind, we decided to ask our team about we decided to ask our team about the fondest motoring memories… and some not so happy driving experiences!
- What was your first car?
- What year was your first car registered?
- How much did you pay for your first car?
- What was the worst car you ever owned?
- What was the best car you ever owned?
- What would be your dream car?
So, what did they share… and does it match up with the general public’s driving opinions?
Have your say!
Before you read on, tell us about your best – and worst – motors…
What is the most popular first car these days?
Your first car is an important milestone… so here’s the top 10 most popular first car brands and models:
| Car Brand | Car Model |
|---|---|
| 1. Ford | 1. Ford Fiesta |
| 2. Volkswagen | 2. Vauxhall Corsa |
| 3. Vauxhall | 3. Mini Cooper |
| 4. BMW | 4. Volkswagen Polo |
| 5. Audi | 5. Fiat 500 |
| 6. SEAT | 6. Peugeot 107 |
| 7. Peugeot | 7. BMW 1 Series |
| 8. Toyota | 8. Mazda MX5 |
| 9. Renault | 9. Volkswagen Golf |
| 10. Mercedes-Benz | 10. Ford KA |
What does Howden pick?
Our team’s answers painted a similar picture! Topping the list of our colleague’s first cars was also the Ford Fiesta, followed by the Vauxhall Corsa. Many on our team first drove a Renault 5 or Clio, but notably absent from the list for the Ford KA and the Volkswagen Golf. Though the Polo came in as the third most common ‘first car’ for our team.
And not all of us stuck to the conventional – our marketing manager’s first set of wheels was a Soviet-era Lada Riva Estate!
Catherine said: “I used to love whizzing about in my Riva, it was so much fun to drive!”
The Ford Fiesta: a love letter
Not only is it Howden’s most popular first car, but its also the UK’s best selling car of all time, with over 4.1 million sales nationwide. Known for its reliability, affordability and ease of handling, the Fiesta has been a popular choice for decades.
The Ford Fiesta was first introduced in 1976, in response to pressures to develop a more affordable car – one that was small, fuel-efficient and could compete in the burgeoning supermini market – in the backdrop of the oil crisis. It got its Spanish name because the very first model was built in Valencia in 1975.
The Fiesta’s efficient fuel consumption and low running costs have made it an economically viable choice for many. Since the Fiesta was introduced, it has accounted for one in twenty of all cars sold in the UK in that time, and over 16 million worldwide. As we have seen, it continues to be one of Britain’s most popular cars to this day.
How much did you pay for your first car?
Out of all the responses, we found the average price to be £1,714 (not accounting for inflation). The highest paid was £13,000, and the lowest was £24 (perhaps for just a wheel?) Today, data suggests new drivers spend an average of £4,000 for their first car.
While the more affordable option might be to finance your first car, research by Auto Trader suggests otherwise; they found that over a third of young consumers who bought up front did so because they weren’t aware of any finance options available.
Nearly two in five said they didn’t understand the finance options (four times as many as drivers over 55), and half thought it would take longer to get the car if they chose finance. It is clear that transparency around finance needs to be improved!
The worst car you ever owned…
Interestingly, just over 20% of our colleagues listed a Ford as their worst car. This was followed by Vauxhall, which was listed by around 15% of our employees. Fiat took third place, with just over 7% of responses.
As for car models, the Ford Fiesta was on top again, with just over 9% of the answers – perhaps popularity isn’t everying! It was followed by the Vauxhall Astra and the Corsa (both at 4.4%).
Here’s some of the most amusing responses we got:
“I had 2005 BMW 320 Touring with an electrical fault, meaning the alarm went off every time you opened the driver door.”
“My 1982 Ford Capri 1.6 mk2. Outright refused to start in even the slightest bit of damp weather.”
“I didn’t own it, but my friend used to let me borrow their Fiat 500 to drive us around (it had no third gear…)”
“Unfortunately my first car (Toyota Corola), it broke down a lot and the heating took 20 minutes to start working.”
“Probably the Astra, as it smelt of petrol if you had the fan on!”
The best car you’ve had!
Of our team’s best cars they’ve ever owned, it was a German landslide; Audi was on top with just under 12%, closely followed by Mercedes (10.3%) and third place was a tie between BMW and Volkswagen (both with 8.8%).
Best car model went to the VW Polo with just under 5% of the responses. Clearly, there were too many Audi, Mercedes and BMW models to choose from in order to have a unanimous winner!
What about your dream car?
According to our team survey, the top three dream car brands were:
- Audi (11.8%)
- Aston Martin (10.3%)
- Tied between BMW and Lambourghini (7.4% each)
As for car models, there was a triple tie between the Porsche 911 GT 3, the Audi R8 and the Volkswagen Golf.
Our survey has given us a charming insight into the car stories of our team. From the trusty first cars like the Fiesta, the Corsa and the Polo, to the gear-missing, alarm-sounding and petrol-smelling nightmares of the worst cars, we’ve seen it all!
Hopefully one day our team will secure their dream car, be it a Porsche 911 or a (slightly more achieveable) VW Golf. We hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane and maybe you even found some inspiration (or discouragement!) for your next car.
And remember, when it comes to protecting your motor our team can help! Whether it’s your dream car, a true classic, or an everyday motor, an insurance broker like Howden can find a policy to suit you.
Sources: Compare the Market, Total Loss Gap, Auto Trader
You could also read:
- What does MOT stand for? MOT terms explained
- The older driver’s handbook
- Dashcams and driver scores – do they reduce your premium?
- Can You Insure a Car Without an MOT?
- Traffic light cameras: Everything you need to know
- Your car’s essential winter vitamins
This is a marketing blog by Howden Insurance.