Good Starter Car

Jeanxx

I was just wondering would anyone have any suggestions for a good starter car...?

Now my budget isn't exactly great, most likely around 2k :rolleyes:

Also if I'm going to buy a used car what should I be on the look out for, what's ok mileage for a used car etc...

Thanks a mill

pablosd

if you want something to learn to drive, and dnt mind scraping it or anythin, and it dsnt have to look gud, the micra 1.0 or statlet 1.3, bulleproff cars can be got under 2k easily, leaving a bit of cash 4 urself :pac:

this one on adverts looks clean, maybe drop a comment or sumthin :P

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=119496&cat=2

RobertM

well, there`s your opinion to be considered as well, make model, 3-5 door, diesel - petrol, etc.

For a starter car i would suggest something small around town,

Fiat punto
Toyota Starlet
Mitsubishi colt
Opel astra 3 door
Ford fiesta

challengemaster

Fiat punto 1.2 8v

There's a few over on adverts.ie for under 1k, You'll need the other grand for insurance at this stage.

Don't mind what people say about fiats - I've had mine for over a year with not one problem.

godtabh

challengemaster wrote: »

Fiat punto 1.2 8v

There's a few over on adverts.ie for under 1k, You'll need the other grand for insurance at this stage.

Don't mind what people say about fiats - I've had mine for over a year with not one problem.

I'd go for the punto as well.

All my family have learned to drive in them (there is 3 in the drive way at home!)

Jeanxx

Thanks a mill for the suggestions & the link

I don't really mind driving a banger now because chances are I'll probably have a close call with a pole anyway :rolleyes:

colm_mcm

there's a nice sounding 98 Colt about to be for sale elsewhere in the motors forum, maybe check that out!

as for choice of car, stick with something Japanese, a Punto for 1,000 is no good if you have to spend 500 on a head gasket or a gearbox in 6 months time.

My advice is get something sound for 1000-1250 and budget another 500-750 for getting it in tip-top condition (new tyres, good service, timing belt whatever it needs etc) rather than buying a car for 2k then scrimping on maintainance and doing bits and pieces when you can afford.

RobertM

another thing, check for some service history, if it's an older car. i did that mistake and now i`m paying for it. Got my '96 Astra last year and since then i only had problems with the car, clutch, head gasket, timing belt , waterpump, tyres, and some electric faults.. but i still love it

E39MSport

pablosd wrote: »

if you want something to learn to drive, and dnt mind scraping it or anythin, and it dsnt have to look gud, the micra 1.0 or statlet 1.3, bulleproff cars can be got under 2k easily, leaving a bit of cash 4 urself :pac:

this one on adverts looks clean, maybe drop a comment or sumthin :P

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=119496&cat=2

I concur re: the starlet. I have a 97 one with 50k on it which I bought last year for 1300. EXCELLENT car and gives me 45mpg. I don't think that there are any gotchas with them. Be patient and look out for a low mileage single owner vehicle with service history.

colm_mcm

Starlet is a sound choice. no real weak points, apart from some of the previous drivers! check for signs of accidents or abuse, they can take a hell of a lot of abuse, but there are plenty of tidy ones around.

Dilynnio

Get a VW Lupo.......1 litre engine.....insurance and tax will be low.

Very good on fuel and has a fantastic engine that can take anything!Plus the clutch can handle a learner!

I got one to learn in 2 yrs ago and i still have it! Its great for parking and for city driving!

legend365

Vw polo is very realible aswell. Can take alot of pounding aswell during the learning stages.

Red ones are best

colm_mcm

legend365 wrote: »

Vw polo is very realible aswell. Can take alot of pounding aswell during the learning stages.

Red ones are best

would have to disagree, they're not all they're cracked up to be, the 1.0 is painfully slow, ones without power steering (most) are a pain to drive, the gear change is awful once you get some miles on them, and I've even seen some 10 year old ones badly rusted on places like the doors and wings.

olewy

colm_mcm wrote: »

would have to disagree, they're not all they're cracked up to be, the 1.0 is painfully slow, ones without power steering (most) are a pain to drive, the gear change is awful once you get some miles on them, and I've even seen some 10 year old ones badly rusted on places like the doors and wings.

Agree, the Polo 1.0 is too heavy and underpowered to be of any use, let alone fun. Don't laugh now but I've driven a 95 Micra 1.0 litre since its birth to this day and never had a single bit of trouble from it (Japanese reliability all the way). Perfect car for learning in, light, economical, deceptively nippy, excellent on the twisties, mine plows at 120kph all day without a bother. Come to think of it, now I don't want to get rid of it all!

AlienGav

I think we should conduct road tests on this board and throw them up on youtube, topgear style!

I'd have to reccomend a ford fiesta zetec, a ghia model with all the extras! I don't think there's many small cars out there that can match it for driving fun!

Mycroft H

colm_mcm wrote: »

Starlet is a sound choice. no real weak points, apart from some of the previous drivers! check for signs of accidents or abuse, they can take a hell of a lot of abuse, but there are plenty of tidy ones around.

Would take the starlet over any fiat. Legendary toyota reliability.

Last thing you need is a car that needs an expensive repair.

Apart from the starlet a lupo or a polo is a good bet. Both solid cars. Vw ruined their small cars with the fox.

challengemaster

AlienGav wrote: »

I think we should conduct road tests on this board and throw them up on youtube, topgear style!

Why would I incriminate myself like that!?! :pac:

Would be fun though... I'd have to install a damn rev counter in the punto though.... May not be the worst idea over all..

_Buck Rogers

escort!

colm_mcm

_Buck Rogers wrote: »

escort!

explain yourself

YourName

I would have to recommend a Seta Ibiza anyday, you can pick it up in a 1.4 and a 1.0, great cars, but don't forget to get it checked over by a mechanic befoe you hand over your life savings

PrettyInPunk

Not sure if i would recommend a Polo i had one as my first car and found things were constantly going wrong, brake pads, gear box, coils, clutch, you name it

civildefence

Toyota Yaris for a painless first car experience.

Alanstrainor

My choice would be a Ford Fiesta, with a 1.25 zetec engine and a ghia spec level. There's plenty of them about, they're a good car to drive, and they're reliable.

igglou

I learned to drive in a 00 Micra and it was a great car. Nippy little 1.0l and very forgiving for the novice! I'd highly recommend one from that year or 01, after that they started messing with the design and I didn't like it.

The punto is an ok car, but for a learner, I think the pedals are a little bit close together. That's one of the great things about the Micra, there's lots of space between them.

Happy Car hunting and good look with whatever you buy!

Zube

Jeanxx wrote: »

I was just wondering would anyone have any suggestions for a good starter car...?

What do you plan to do in this car once you've learned?

For city use, a Micra or Yaris would be OK. If you plan longer trips or country driving, I'd get something a bit nicer to drive as well as sit in, like a Fiesta 1.25, Clio or 206.

I've run many French and Italian cars over the years without the reliability problems often predicted here on boards, and personally, I'd be tempted by this Punto.

Zonda999

mcgowaner wrote: »

I would have to recommend a Seta Ibiza anyday, you can pick it up in a 1.4 and a 1.0, great cars, but don't forget to get it checked over by a mechanic befoe you hand over your life savings

I completely concur:D

Goin to be sellin one in a couple of months see. Agrree the 1.0 aint exactly nippy but its pretty economical. Cheap tax too. Certainly worth as much if a look as a polo. Mine has power steering btw!:)