Good car to drive in

ccyy123

Just started to drive, want to get a car that is nice to drive for learner driver. Will obviously be practicing in it, but the car will probably last me for at least 2-3 years, so need a pretty decent one. Tried the Corsa don't like the clutch at all, driving instructor's car is Nissan Micro, pretty nice to drive in, but the interior is too small I think. A friend of mind suggested VW Golf.

Anyone got any idea?

Faith+1

ccyy123 wrote: »

Just started to drive, want to get a car that is nice to drive for learner driver. Will obviously be practicing in it, but the car will probably last me for at least 2-3 years, so need a pretty decent one. Tried the Corsa don't like the clutch at all, driving instructor's car is Nissan Micro, pretty nice to drive in, but the interior is too small I think. A friend of mind suggested VW Golf.

Anyone got any idea?

Golf is abit too big for a learner. I'd recommend the Yaris 1L or the Fiesta LX 1.25L.

LowOdour

my thoughts on this is that you may aswell learn to drive in a saloon/larger car instead of a small hatchback as it will stand to you in the long run. Something like an opel astra

biko

Anything small and 1-1.2 litre will be ok.
Small engine, cheap insurance and tax.
Small car, easy to park and manoeuvre around things on the road.

I learned in a Volvo 245, massive massive car

Micra, Polo, Fiesta, Punto, Mazda Demio, Toyota hatchbacks, that sort of thing.

I'd suggest looking around friends and family if you can get a small cheap hand-me-down that you can pay cash for and practice in while you save up a bit for that dream car

ccyy123

my thoughts on this is that you may aswell learn to drive in a saloon/larger car instead of a small hatchback as it will stand to you in the long run

I was thinking getting a nice saloon since I will have the car for the next couple of years, but at this very moment just seems very impractical (price, insurance etc), especially since I probably can't handle one. So have to resort to a smallish size, but decent one. A friend of mine bought a mini cooper.

I'd suggest looking around friends and family if you can get a small cheap hand-me-down that you can pay cash for and practice in while you save up a bit for that dream car

Unfortunately, most of the family just got new cars(where did they get the money!!!)

Just got an email from a friend, the new Audi A3 looks really nice, doubt it would be cheap though :rolleyes:

WesternNight

Hello!

I was actually just about to post an almost identical thread about this so I may as well just piggyback here just a tiny bit ;)

I'll be learning to drive quite soon (Learner Permit postage pending) and was also wondering where I should be looking in terms of cars.

Was also thinking of a Golf, mainly because of reputation to be honest but I'd be more than open to advice from people who know what they're talking about.

Also, what are the main checklist of things to look out for when buying a first car? I have my own list, but would appreciate other input just in case I've overlooked things.

psycho-hope

personally i think it really depends on what your most comfortable with, i know loads of people recommend a polo, but cant stand the things tired to learn in my mum's 00 one and my aunts 05 one and in both found the gear change very clunky and the bite point on the clutch very high up. I bought my own punto but have driven my instructors yaris and his previous focus, so imho the best bet would be to get either a few lessons in the cars your thinking of or see if a friend/realative would be willing to let you drve theres on private ground to get a feel for it

happy hunting

jiltloop

I learned to drive in a golf just a few months ago. It was an old golf (97) and was ok to drive but I have to agree with the above point about the biting point on the clutch being very high up, it was very off putting because it made starting off in first alot harder to get to grips with and basic clutch control was just harder to master in general.
In lessons I drove a new yaris and new fiesta which I found were both very nice cars to drive. Personally I think golfs are overrated and are not as reliable as they used to be. I got myself a toyota corolla 2months ago and haven't looked back.

ccyy123

Have done a bit more research. For safety wise, a bigger car is obviously better, but how can a learner driver handle one (ok I just mean myself, others maybe well able to handle one). A lot of websites seem to be leaning towards Japanese made cars, cheap, dependable, low maintenance etc. A friend has a Toyota Corolla, so may ask her for a drive. Just may change my mind about getting a saloon. To my surprise, someone suggest Honda Civic, which I thought is a racer's car?

God, there are so many things to consider!

Alanstrainor

The 1.4 vw golf is not a reliable car despite the reputation they have. And because they carry that repuation they tend to be more expemsove. I'd be looking at the 1.4/1.6 ford focus, the 1.4 is dog slow though, the 1.6 is a good compromise. They're relatively cheap reliable and great handling cars.

cosmic

I drive a 97 Toyota Starlet 1.3 and it's great. Sometimes it's a bit shaky on start up but apart from that it's perfect! I'd highly recommend one.

daveharnett

ccyy123 wrote: »

I was thinking getting a nice saloon since I will have the car for the next couple of years, but at this very moment just seems very impractical (price, insurance etc), especially since I probably can't handle one. So have to resort to a smallish size, but decent one. A friend of mine bought a mini cooper.

I reckon the suzuki swift (from 05) is a great choice for learners. It drives just as well as the cooper and better than a standard A3. Interior finish not quite as nice as the other two, but more space and much cheaper. Tidy size with great visibility in all directions without being cramped. Very nice (and tax friendly) 1.3 engine.

sentient_6

Having a glance through the thread & just my two cents: i drive & passed my test first time in a big a** 2 litre saloon. I think its a matter of just simply what you get used to. & you'll get used to any car after a bit no matter how big or small. What it comes down to in the test is how well you can handle the car.

gooch2k9

Old Mitsubishi Colt, cheap enough to run, easy to drive. Bit tight in the interior though.

Turn of the millenium Astra 1.4 is where it's at.

ha-ya-said-what

OP have you got a budget that you have to spend on car, tax and insurance? at least if you have your budget for what you have to spend on the acutal car itself it may make it easier to make suggestions.

daveharnett

sentient_6 wrote: »

Having a glance through the thread & just my two cents: i drive & passed my test first time in a big a** 2 litre saloon. I think its a matter of just simply what you get used to. & you'll get used to any car after a bit no matter how big or small. What it comes down to in the test is how well you can handle the car.

Hard to argue with that, bigger cars aren't inherently harder to drive. Tax and insurance can be pretty restrictive for a learner though. I'm guessing you learned to drive later in life, or in a parent's car?

sentient_6

daveharnett wrote: »

Hard to argue with that, bigger cars aren't inherently harder to drive. Tax and insurance can be pretty restrictive for a learner though. I'm guessing you learned to drive later in life, or in a parent's car?

Oh ya i agree with tax & insurance etc, i was saying purely from the perspective of the actual driving of the car. If i was putting a car on the road under normal circumstances id probably gone for something different. I'm just turned 25 btw. But the car sort of came into my possession well say. Without going into the gritty details.

Max Power1

Id reccomend a fiesta OP, thats what I learned in. (Well am learning, to be pedantic, my test is on the 21st of this month)

ccyy123

ha-ya-said-what wrote: »

OP have you got a budget that you have to spend on car, tax and insurance? at least if you have your budget for what you have to spend on the acutal car itself it may make it easier to make suggestions.

Just spent the last two days getting my finances in order. Here's the rough idea:

Around preferably under €10,000 for the car
Tax and insurance will probably add up to €1,500

Quite a few members of my family are saying, I can add another 5 grand and I can get a brand new car, I can have that one for quite a while. Is that realistic?

bugler

Why anyone would want to spend 10k on a first car is above and beyond me. I also think buying new is an utter waste of money and completely off the wall for a first car, but maybe that's just me.

I got a nice €2000 low-mileage Yaris, once I'm comfortable driving and actualy know how I drive and what I like I will trade up.

daveharnett

ccyy123 wrote: »

Quite a few members of my family are saying, I can add another 5 grand and I can get a brand new car, I can have that one for quite a while. Is that realistic?

I'd consider a new car a sign of madness at the best of times, let alone as a first car.

Connavar

daveharnett wrote: »

I'd consider a new car a sign of madness at the best of times, let alone as a first car.

Gotta agree on this. Even 10k seems a bit much. You can get a very nice starter car for around 5k and alot less if you shop around. (I got a nice almera hatchback for 1.4k)

FYI I learned in a 1.4 01 golf and it was a very nice car to learn in

ccyy123

bugler wrote: »

Why anyone would want to spend 10k on a first car is above and beyond me. I also think buying new is an utter waste of money and completely off the wall for a first car, but maybe that's just me.

I got a nice €2000 low-mileage Yaris, once I'm comfortable driving and actualy know how I drive and what I like I will trade up.

Ok, that's why I am asking the question here, because I got friends who got cheap used cars (well, not that cheap around 3-4 grand) and regretted later because of all the repairs.

My ideal situation is to get a decent car for 5 grand that will last me for 2-3 years without a lot of fix up, the 10k is the maximum. I also thought the new car thing is a bit off the wall, but just thought to ask around anyway.

Connavar

ccyy123 wrote: »

Ok, that's why I am asking the question here, because I got friends who got cheap used cars (well, not that cheap around 3-4 grand) and regretted later because of all the repairs.

My ideal situation is to get a decent car for 5 grand that will last me for 2-3 years without a lot of fix up, the 10k is the maximum. I also thought the new car thing is a bit off the wall, but just thought to ask around anyway.

This is where the shopping around comes into it. Some(probably the majority) cheap cars do require a lot of repairs but there are the gems out there that are in great condition.
Your head does seem to be in the right place with regards to price though

Swarlez

I bought a 03 polo 1.2 ltr around 2 years ago as my first car and have never had a problem with it. Cheap to tax, decent insurance quotes with quinn and goes easy on the petrol. Lovely smooth car to drive, doesn't have acheap feel to it certain other small cars have. It also passed its NCT couple of months ago no problem. Id recommend getting something like this
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Polo/1.2-COMF/201023198334825/advert?channel=CARS&featuredListingClickThru=true


Also i learned and took my test in a 2 ltr jeep. A big car isnt nescersarily hard to drive

ccyy123

Thank you so much for all inputs.

Still not sure as to what I want, but I have started to narrow the search a bit.

Last night I drove (a friend's) a 08 Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 hatchback, it's pretty nice, not too small but not too big, but pricy she paid €13,000 at the start of this year. Really like it.

Maybe will try Golf next?

debbie123

hi i got my learner permit last year in june. I drove a fiat seicento til february this year (€500) 1.1 620 for year on quinn insurance as named driver.

It was so easy cuz it was so small and easy to manoeuvre but after couple months i got more confident it comes with practice. I can totally understand though that alot of people dont like these cars but there perfect for starting off economical cheap and easy to drive .

1 year on i now drive a 1.6 nissan almera hatchback 5dr 99 €500 again i love it they are so reliable nice steering, reasonably roomy interior solid car might be bit long for some people but haven't bad word to say about them have look on donedeal.ie only thing there 1.4 and 1.6 so probably do not fit your criteria at present good luck with the car hunting have fun!!!!

jiltloop

I was in your situation 3 months ago and I was looking at ford focuses but I ended up getting a 04 toyota corolla from a toyota dealership. It cost a bit more than it would in a private sale (6k) but the mileage was low (41k) and I got a 1 year toyota warranty which I think is standard when buying a used toyota from a toyota dealership. Its incredible what the warranty covers, its basically exactly like AA membership cover.
Basically I'm saying you should consider this option. A toyota will do you for more than 2-3years and the 1 year warranty is a good peace of mind anyway if you're worried about reliability or running into problems mechanically. It's also a lovely car to drive and I didn't find switching from a hatchack to a saloon much of a problem at all.

johnmcdnl

1.9 diesel VW Golf - it's what i'm learning to drive in and it's great

starlit

a kia or a yaris are probably the best cars to learn to drive in maybe a nissan micra or peugeot or a polo golf!

HavingCrack

There isn't really a 'best' car to learn to drive in, its just whatever you get used to. I learnt in a 94 Toyota Corolla saloon and passed 1st time ;)and am currently bombing around in a Kia Ceed estate which is completely different as you'd imagine.

That said do you have a preferance for a big or small car?? I've always found older cars (before 2000) are a lot more forgiving on learner drivers as regards the clutch and gears than newer cars if thats any help.

challengemaster

Spend 10k on a first car, wrap it round a tree a couple of weeks later and then what?....

I've never heard anything more ridiculous than spending that much on a first car. Get one from 500-2000, anything more is just silly.

Mint Sauce

learnt in a 2010 1.2 corsa hatch. currently driving a 2003 1.2 corsa hatch, once a bit more experience will more than likely trade up, 1.4 or 1.6 depending on insurance, will be sticking to the hatch though. even for the 2nd car wont be spending much more than 5 to 6k including insurance and tax.

spurious

I'm learning in a 2001 Micra. If all goes well, I'll go up to something with a bit more room for the driver, like a Fiesta or a Corsa or even a Golf/Fabia, but my dream car is a 1.6 Skoda Roomster (stop laughing) and the plan is to get one of them in a couple of years.

ccyy123

Having done a bit more looking around and thinking it's down to a Yaris or Fiesta, small, fuel efficiency etc

What surprises me is that they are more expensive than I anticipated, because they are so popular the garages are more than likely to get rid of them. It is actually cheaper to get a corolla 07 (1.4l)with a low milage than a 05 yaris (1l)even factoring in tax and insurance(just an example). Obviously, for the long run, the cost of petrol would be a factor as well, of course, I still haven't done any extensive shopping, only spent the last couple of days looking at ads online and newspaper, but now I am definitely not ruling out a larger car.

Raskolnikov

ccyy123 wrote: »

Having done a bit more looking around and thinking it's down to a Yaris or Fiesta, small, fuel efficiency etc

You cannot go wrong with a Yaris, at least for the two or three years you plan on owning it.

• Insurance will be cheap
• Tax will be cheap
• Fuel efficient
• Hold value very well
• Easy to drive
• Reliable

When you've got your test and a years experience, you'll be able to upgrade to a bigger car. In the meantime, you'll have saved a bucket load of cash and will have as easy a driving experience as you could get.