Best first cars?

[csjukes]

Looking at getting a first car at the end of summer, at a budget stretch of around £1300 max.
Just any information about reliability and which is nicest to drive out of
Renault clio
Vauxhall corse
Or a fiat punto

All will be around year 2000 with around 50,000 miles. Just need a cheap reliable to car to drive my son and sometimes me to work. Any advice apreciated!


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[Fenlander]

Be interesting to hear what folks come up with. I'm looking at the moment to buy a car for our daughter who needs one for a new job. We are looking up to £1500 asking max and hoping to buy nearer £100 giving room for a couple of tyres, service etc. We are looking at ages between 2001 - 2005.

I'd be amazed if you find a genuine 50,000ml car at 14yrs old.... most we see seem to be nearer 100,000mls which isn't an issue for me.

Our short list is Fiesta, Punto, Fabia, Corsa. I like the Fabia the best as they often seem to have been in the hands of family or elderly owners whereas a shiny Corsa has often spent many an evening handbrake turning in Halfords car park.

[csjukes]

The corsa is third on my list purely for the idea that insurance is definitely higher, probaly becuase of its 'boyracer' image. There are cars with aroumd 50,000 but the good ones are rare. You just have to check on those HPI things where they ensure no crashes and give an estimated mileage. I dont want to go over 55,000 really as some of these small cars arent that well made. Clio is my favourite atm


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[Stubber]

I have a Toyota Corolla on a 94 L plate with 20,000 miles on it so there are some genuine low mileage cars around

[Fenlander]

Well yes of course there will always be the unusual. But if you are searching on Autotrader for a petrol hatchback up to 1300cc with manual transmission there are about 6500 cars... of those only 500 are listed as less than 50,000mls.

So you massively restrict your choice and those 500 low milers probably aren't always going to be the best cars.

[gotchiguy]

I've got a little Twingo which I find really great.

There are a couple at £1600 on autotrader but ones with the spec you're looking at seem to be about a thousand more. Obviously it is a much newer car though, 07/08.

Used RENAULT TWINGO Car for Sale - Auto Trader UK

[John Kennett]

We've had a couple of Puntos and they were fantastic little cars. Much more roomy inside than most of the competition and the build quality seemed to be much better than Fiat's normal lamentable efforts.

[Fenlander]

It's obvious of course but...

We are looking up to £1500 but hoping to buy around £1000... I like a deal but £100 is a bit mean.

[TUFTY]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Be interesting to hear what folks come up with. I'm looking at the moment to buy a car for our daughter who needs one for a new job. We are looking up to £1500 asking max and hoping to buy nearer £100 giving room for a couple of tyres, service etc. We are looking at ages between 2001 - 2005.

I'd be amazed if you find a genuine 50,000ml car at 14yrs old.... most we see seem to be nearer 100,000mls which isn't an issue for me.

Our short list is Fiesta, Punto, Fabia, Corsa. I like the Fabia the best as they often seem to have been in the hands of family or elderly owners whereas a shiny Corsa has often spent many an evening handbrake turning in Halfords car park.

+ 1 for Fabia, A VW Polo or Seat Ibiza in different body

[beerbelly]

iv just bought a fabia last night me and mrs beerbelly have both got an old convertible for summer use she has a 2.8 z3 and iv a slk230 but neither are much use for work where I have a td4 freelander and she now has a 1.9tdi fabia estate £1900 years tax and test 2002 with 97k miles and the big bonus 70mpg on a run and its the best sub £2k car I can remember buying one little old lady owner from new it drives like new has loads of usefull room in it and have I said 70mpg on a run 70mpg 70mpg 70mpg hehehe

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by csjukes

Looking at getting a first car at the end of summer, at a budget stretch of around £1300 max.
Just any information about reliability and which is nicest to drive out of
Renault clio
Vauxhall corse
Or a fiat punto

All will be around year 2000 with around 50,000 miles. Just need a cheap reliable to car to drive my son and sometimes me to work. Any advice apreciated!


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Where are you? Might have something!

[SeanKent]

All modern cars tend to be reliable, unless you get one built on a Friday afternoon (you genuinely seem to get the odd duff one).

Low mile cars do exist, my last car was 1973 with 28,000 on the clock, full supplying main dealer history to prove it and my Dad has just bought a Stag with only 18k from new !

Fiats are normally light and therefore nippy and good on fuel.

Vauxhalls always used to be a group lower on insurance than other brands equivalent (hence young boy racers bought them to save a few quid that way). This may have changed.

I think the Clio won car of the year a couple of times so must be reasonable !

I think most modern cars are much the same (there's a lot of badge engineering going on).

The skoda mentioned will be a nice car and very good value !

I was always encouraged (by my car dealer dad) not to be too specific and to look around for the best value (lowest mile/newest, as time can cause as many problems as miles) car that is within my budget.

[csjukes]

Originally Posted by Cookee

Where are you? Might have something!

Between Salcombe and Kingsbridge in south devon


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[Cookee]

Originally Posted by csjukes

Between Salcombe and Kingsbridge in south devon


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Well we're in Churchstow! PM me your number!

[doggypaddle]

Nothing wrong with a corsa. my 1.2 does 70 miles a day every day,
Never let me down. only has a few crank sensors fail. everything else has been consumables. discs pads tyres etc.
I have genuinely had 189000 trouble free miles.
Its beyond changing now, i have the 1/4 million miles as a target
And its a 1.2 petrol, still does 50MPG

[A1an]

I've just bought my step daughters a 2011 Renault Clio 1.2TCE.

It goes like the proverbial with its 1.2 turbo engine. Cheap tax and insurance.

[lukewhiting]

I've got a 1.4 mg zr as my second car. Head gasket was done by an owner before. Drives great, electric windows, electric sunroof, electric door mirrors, half leather bucket seats, big boot. Pulls the boat fine too! 2004 with 60k miles which is pretty good! Cost me £1100 to buy and insurance is £800 for my second year. Best car for money I could of bought!

One thing I would say is get a 5door as insurance is cheaper! Made £127 difference. According to insurance companies the 3door is a 'sports car'.

[A1an]

A mate had one of them Luke.

He reckoned it was the best car he had ever owned, I drove it a few times and I was surprised by how solid and rattle free it was.

That looks a nice one.

[cptsideways]

Corsa's are probably THE worst cars to drive period, crap driving position, crap engines in terms of fuel efficiency, woeful handling especially if you get it a bit wrong. Yes cheap to insure there are so many better cars out there.

First car for a youngster? Trust me get one with ESP/DSC (Stability control) available on many cars from the mid 2000's. I work in the industry testing, developing & demonstrating the systems, trust me on this one.

[NSS]

Another vote for Fabia/ibiza. I exclude Polo only because it tends to be more expensive due to badge snobbery.

Personally I'd steer clear of Clio as wife & daughter have had 3 between them, all of which went on to suffer with significant electrical systems problems.