Starter Car

Raskolnikov

Girlfriend is getting a car. She's only recently started to drive and is looking for something that's fairly reliable, not a tin box and costs around €2,000. Need to keep the engine size under 1.6 as well. Was thinking of the following options.

• Ford Fiesta
• Citroen Saxo
• Peugeot 106
• Rover 25
• Nissan Micra
• Renault Clio
• Seat Ibiza
• Hyundai Accent
• Opel Corsa

I know this is a subjective topic, welcome all options.

Tipsy Mac

I would go with the following in this order...
Seat Ibiza
Mitsubishi Colt
Volkswagen Polo
Nissan Micra
Ford Fiesta
Peugeot 206
Opel Corsa
Renault Clio

Raskolnikov

Why do you rate the Seat so highly?

bikki

My first Car was a 1.1 Opel Corsa. It was a banger but it did the job for 6 months while i built up my road confidence.

SV

My clio seriously though , go for a clio, very good car, very reliable and very safe.

Tipsy Mac

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Why do you rate the Seat so highly?

Fairly reliable, spacious for it's size and your budget is €2000.

Pyridine

A friend of mine is looking to buy in a similar price bracket and from what I've seen I think we're starting to think along the lines of:

1) Ford Fiesta - We test drove about 5 of these and they're nice and nippy. Don't bother with anything below Ghia trim though!!

2) Seat Ibiza/VW Polo - Drive an Ibiza regularly and it's not exciting but never lets you down. Has 108000 miles on it and still going strong.

3) Opel Corsa - Cheap and cheerful. Have driven a few Opels and they're A-B cars ie not flashy. In saying that I've not driven a corsa for any length of time and the one I did have for a couple of days was brand new!

Any of the Micras we went to see were either boy racer learning how to drive or some auld ones car who didn't know how to look after it so they were in ****e! I think we're gonna stick with the 3/4 above!

aoibhebree

I was looking for pretty much the same as your girlfriend with my first car, I ended up getting a Mitsubishi Colt and absolutely love it to bits. Very good on petrol, never had a bit of trouble with it, and great fun to drive.

The other cars I was looking at were Renault Clios and Toyota Corollas, I like Seat Ibizas but not sure if you'd get a good one for €2,000? (Open to correction on that!) I'd stay well away from Corsas and Micras, but that's just a personal taste thing!!

Sponge Bob

post 2002 ibiza polo has OK 1.2 engine where pre 2002 ibiza polo may have that crappy 1.0 engine vw make , a dire thing:(

Also note both those engines need timing belt and water pump done every 60k MILES , cost up to €700 and must be done or you face losing the engine .

bazz26

Ford Fiesta imo. 1.25 litre engine is a gem, servicing and parts are pretty basic and cheap enough.

Something like this:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1238179

david

Civic 96-01 Hatchback 1.4
Starlet 96-99 1.3
Corolla 98-01 1.3

Get a japanese hatchback. Reliable as fúck.

Stay away from a corsa 1.0l. Painfully slow (dangerously so) and unreliable. Was my first car. I'd take an Ibiza over a Polo. Also Fiesta, the 1.3 pushrod is an ancient but tank of an engine. 1.25 is more refined.

zilog_jones

david wrote: »

Civic 96-01 Hatchback 1.4
Starlet 96-99 1.3
Corolla 98-01 1.3

Get a japanese hatchback. Reliable as fúck.

Those Civic and Corolla hatcbacks are 3-door only, and are probably bigger than what the OP's girlfriend is looking for (insurance will be higher than most superminis for starters). Starlet doesn't have much going for it besides the decent engine - crap spec, crap interior and crap safety record (even compared to the competition at the time). You can nearly get an early Yaris for that kind of money but of course being a Toyota the prices are needlessly inflated. Same goes for the Polo regarding price, but as others said the 1.0 is chronic.

I'd take an Ibiza over a Polo.

Are they not pretty much the same car? You can probably get better deals with Ibizas though...

I'd recommend a Fiesta, but as others said try and go for the 1.25 engine and Ghia trim. I've had a '98 1.3 LX for a couple of years now - a couple of stupid little things have gone wrong with it (heater control valve, fan blower resistor pack etc.) but nothing that's stopped it from running. Look elsewhere if you're tall though.

something that's ... not a tin box

Micra is out of the question so! :pac:

congo_90

Raskolnikov wrote: »

Girlfriend is getting a car. She's only recently started to drive and is looking for something that's fairly reliable, not a tin box and costs around €2,000. Need to keep the engine size under 1.6 as well. Was thinking of the following options.

• Ford Fiesta
• Citroen Saxo
• Peugeot 106
• Rover 25
• Nissan Micra
• Renault Clio
• Seat Ibiza
• Hyundai Accent
• Opel Corsa

I know this is a subjective topic, welcome all options.

Avoid all rover. I'm currently driving a hyundai accent as my first [owned] car. they're not bad but not fast for accelaration. Great boot space.
glad to see ya didn't put up a punto.

Ibizas are nice but I personally never liked their clutch but thats just me.
Micra is a no-no

ClioV6 wrote: »

My clio seriously though , go for a clio, very good car, very reliable and very safe.

nice 00 reg clio. Lovely car to drive and like my car are light on petrol! problem with clio is a lack of head room all round imo but other than that its your safest bet

Sqaull20

Lancer or Colt would be top of my list, as Mitsubishi's are very reliable.

congo_90

Surely higher insurance on a colt compared to a clio?

Boss_man

I know Rover 25's are hugely unpopular, especially with younger people - but that makes them great as a first time car. They are as cheap as chips. Only one big potential problem, the head gasket, but just make sure its right before you buy - check for mayonaise like stuff in the expansion tank.

These cars are owned by old pensioners who look after them well. Spacious and economical. Space to boot. Worth a punt.

Raskolnikov

Took a 1l Micra for a spin last this morning. It was painfully underpowered, so I think I can rule out any engines that size.

Don't think I could go too far wrong with a Fiesta, Ibiza or Corsa.

kazul

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Daihatsu/Charade/GLXi-%22IM/200904191575316/advert

Cionád

bazz26 wrote: »

Ford Fiesta imo. 1.25 litre engine is a gem, servicing and parts are pretty basic and cheap enough.

Something like this:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1238179

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