help finding car for the oh, learning to drive

Alfagtamini

hi all
oh just passed her test yesterday. so looking for a car for her to get around in. wont be doing many miles. thinking 1 litre maybe up to 1.3. ( thinking of insurance)

now the twist is i might be driving it the odd day to keep my car for special occasions:D ( as far away from shopping centers as possible)

Money is tight so have at most 1000e to play with. tax and nct would be great.

thanks in advance

Anan1

For €1000 you don't get to pick details like make/model, it's all about condition.

cosmic

I got a nice little Toyota Starlet 1.3 for €900 as a starter car for learning in. It's nothing fancy, obviously, but ticks all the boxes and even though it's 13 years old, I've never had a single problem with it - it's perfectly reliable.

mecanoman

cosmic wrote: »

I got a nice little Toyota Starlet 1.3 for €900 as a starter car for learning in. It's nothing fancy, obviously, but ticks all the boxes and even though it's 13 years old, I've never had a single problem with it - it's perfectly reliable.

Great starter car, try and find a jap import model they come with Air con.

Phill Ewinn

Old fiesta

keithclancy

paulryanmini wrote: »

hi all
oh just passed her test yesterday. so looking for a car for her to get around in. wont be doing many miles. thinking 1 litre maybe up to 1.3. ( thinking of insurance)

now the twist is i might be driving it the odd day to keep my car for special occasions:D ( as far away from shopping centers as possible)

Money is tight so have at most 1000e to play with. tax and nct would be great.

thanks in advance

Her insurance will probably be less than yours ;P

http://www.adverts.ie/285036/cars/vw-polo-97-petrol-14-2-years-nct/
http://www.adverts.ie/268667/cars/98-vw-polo-nct-2012/
http://www.adverts.ie/217591/cars/vw-polo/
http://www.adverts.ie/234131/cars/vw-polo-10l-green/

Alfagtamini

thanks for all your suggestions. i know i cane be picky but as long as its not a micra im happy:D. she has her heart set on a 206 but there well over budget.

starlets are a fantastic car i drove one for a while but i dont think she'd go for one.

polo that would do the job, but am i right in thinking power steering was a option on that model?

Alfagtamini

found a 00 106 with new nct 70k miles, for 700e? local person selling it , seems ok, and drives nice, my only concern is the size of it in a crash. i know a 206 or a polo is not much bigger but they do feel a bit safer

Alfagtamini

got her a quote of quinn for 500e comperhensive on a 1.2 litre 206. no ncb

EPM

Fiesta 1.25 zetec. Nice to drive and decent spec too. A little tinny but then most cars that size are.

Alfagtamini

fiesta would be a good option. those pushrod engines have a good name for being reliable so ive heard.
ill have a look on donedeal etc for a fiesta

Max Power1

the pushrod engines are the 1.3 fiestas, not the 1.25.

They are incredibly reliable mechanically, even if the engine noise can sound like a tractor at times! Prone to rust around the wheel arches, especially rear wheels.

Alfagtamini

Max Power1 wrote: »

the pushrod engines are the 1.3 fiestas, not the 1.25.

They are incredibly reliable mechanically, even if the engine noise can sound like a tractor at times! Prone to rust around the wheel arches, especially rear wheels.

learn something new every day . when was the transition period between the two?? what are the 1.25 ones like?

the uncles a panel beater so a bit of rust would be a early Christmas present for him !

keithclancy

paulryanmini wrote: »

polo that would do the job, but am i right in thinking power steering was a option on that model?

96 onwards they had power steering AFAIK.
Or at least i've never seen one without it.

mecanoman

Sister in law got herself a 97 Polo 1lt engine power steering
for €700 last year. 70,000 miles and had two owners.
Shop around and bring a mechanic when buying.

Great little car, only problem with is was there's a little oil breather
pipe connected to the air breather box on top of the engine.
It was clogged with fatty oil/gunk.

Seems a common fault on VWs though.

bazz26

Plenty of Fiestas for sale in this price range:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1241235
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1509376

Alfagtamini

great lads thanks alot for your replys. think i have it down to a fiesta or a polo. ill post back when ive brought one