My first car... suggestions

jmx009

Hello People.

I have decided to buy a car on my own for the first time. I am 24 and the insurance is probably going to be in the 2000s since i am a first time driver on provisional licence. Anyway, i dont know which one to pick. Honestly, what i know about cars can be written on a postal stamp :mad: !!!

All i know is i need a car that will last me 1-2 years. After that i will probably get a bigger and fancier car.I went into carzone.ie and did a search for cars that were less than 3000 euros and had an engine not bigger than 1.3. I went through the list and selected the ones that looked good.

Now i need your help to tell me which one is best for me. I particularly like the way peugot 206 looks? Is that a good car? I also like the yaris, i know its a good car but i didnt come across many Yaris's that came with a price tag less than 3000 euros.

Also, please let me know if you have any other suggestions. I am open to any comments. Like i said earlier, i dont know nothing about cars.

Please note: The ads below are just randomly picked ones. I wont neccesarily be buying the peugot 206 car shown below (if i decide on buying a peugot 206). I might look elsewhere to see if i can get a better peugot 206. I only added the links so that you will have a better idea of the car i am talking about.

Thanks in advance !

renault clio
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Renault/Clio/SPORT-1./201051200613434/advert?channel=CARS

citroen Saxo
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Citroen/Saxo/1.1,-LOW/201049200461832/advert?channel=CARS

Daewoo Kalos
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Daewoo/Kalos/1.4-SE-N/201047200336816/advert?channel=CARS

Fiat Puno
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Fiat/Punto/1.2-ACTI/201043200003651/advert?channel=CARS

Fiat Stilo
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Fiat/Stilo/1.2-ACTI/201046200273679/advert?channel=CARS

Peugot 206
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Peugeot/206/1.1-STYL/201047200306557/advert?channel=CARS

Renault Megane (is this a ladies car ?)
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Renault/Megane/1.4-16v-/201039199729958/advert?channel=CARS

Ford fiesta
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Fiesta/LX-5DR-O/201043200053611/advert?channel=CARS

Toyota Yaris
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Yaris/VVTI-COL/201043200005071/advert?channel=CARS

Please let me know the names of any other cars you might recomend to a first timer !

red menace

Do you have your full license or will this be a car to learn in?
I had a 206 a couple of years ago, couldnt say there was much wrong with it
I got 2 good years of service out of it and put up probably close to 30,000 Kilometers on it in that time.
Was no where near lively but good car in town and was happy enough at motorway speeds

colm_mcm

I'd rule out the Megane and Stilo straight away for just being rubbish.
Daewoo Kalos is nasty. Punto too risky (had one), Yaris a bit girly?

so 206/fiesta/saxo/clio left

Saxo is made out of tin foil and very old hat at this stage.

Of the ones left, The Fiesta is the best built, and best to drive
Clio comes a close second and is probably the best Renault you can get.

Dr C

I'd recommend a Toyota Yaris - it's very fuel efficient, and easy to park. It should be cheaper to ensure as well.

RandomAccess

The fiesta is pretty well built, have yet to see a tatty looking one whereas I have seen quite a few of the others which appear to be disintegrating.

The 1.25 engine is lively and it has a nice gearshift, its more of an urban car though because the gearing is not very high so would not suit very frequent motorway use.

The pedals in the 206 are quite close together, this is a french thing I believe, so you might want to see if you find it irritating.

Take a look for a service history, it might not be main dealer but thats not really important as even small garages stamp the service book (should be in the glovebox).

jmx009

I forgot to mention that i am on a provisional.

red menace

RandomAccess wrote: »

The fiesta is pretty well built, have yet to see a tatty looking one whereas I have seen quite a few of the others which appear to be disintegrating.

The 1.25 engine is lively and it has a nice gearshift, its more of an urban car though because the gearing is not very high so would not suit very frequent motorway use.

The pedals in the 206 are quite close together, this is a french thing I believe, so you might want to see if you find it irritating.

Take a look for a service history, it might not be main dealer but thats not really important as even small garages stamp the service book (should be in the glovebox).

Forgot to mention that
That was a pain at time

jmx009

Generally, are peugot cars good? Are there any known complaints about the peugot 206? What about the petrol consumption?

What about the renault megane? Is that a good car?

RandomAccess

jmx009 wrote: »

Generally, are peugot cars good? Are there any known complaints about the peugot 206? What about the petrol consumption?

What about the renault megane? Is that a good car?

I think the general impression is that french cars tend to suffer from electrical gremlins. Some people say that is exaggerated, but I expect there is some grounds to it.


A good site for used car info is honestjohn.co.uk, bear in mind that it is uk oriented so spec details and so on will probably not be the same over here.

Renault Megane
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/renault/mk_cit-md_64/

Peugeot 206
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/peugeot/206-1998/

Ford Fiesta
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/ford/fiesta-2002/

Ford Focus
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/ford/focus-1998/

Seat Leon (Based on mark 4 vw golf)
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/seat/leon-1999/

Muckie

Toyota Yaris would be my number one.

Renault Clio (sister has a 00 one two years, never a problem with it )

Ford Fiesta also fine little car.

Bring a mechanic when you go to view any of them, and don't foget to haggle. Good luck.

jmx009

Yeah i like yaris too. I saw one for 3200 euros. 2001 or 2002 model. Its got some miles in it already though (around 70k, if my memory is correct).

Thanks for that honestjohn site. It will be very helpful. Any other useful sites for car reviews and stuff for first time buyers?

A Megane of that era is dirt really and may well cost a fortune and break your heart, make you want to torch the thing. Fiesta would be the pick of them me thinks as folks have mentioned, decent cars, room for passengers with some comfort and they are a much better place to be than a Saxo if you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a crash. Personally I don't like Fords but would recommend the 1.25 Fiesta to folks all day long

johnos1984

Clio- I had one and NEVER EVER AGAIN. Issues were electrical, leaks, engine and gearbox.

206 - Mates have had them and all have been troublesome although most of them liked them. later ones seem to last better

Punto - great car, cheap to repair, nice to drive but watch out for HGF. A mate had one up to 150k miles before it was scrapped. Welll serviced and didn't deserve the end it got

Yaris - Good car if a little girly

Saxo - Cheap and fun but old school now. Pedals will drive you mad though

Fiesta - Good car rate them highly, fun to drive too

Fabia - Bland but good

Polo - Bland and ok

Ibiza - fun but check the electrics

Micra - Boring but fun in a strange way

Matiz - ****e

Swift - Old school but fun, new model is great

Hope thats a bit of help

JustLen

Id go +1 on the fiesta know a few people who have had or have one and never heard any horror stories, whereas the same cant be said for some other cars. Try stay away from the french if you can, some people will argue against this but its just from my own experience and its my opinion.

Like whats been said make sure you get a mechanic to have a good look and maybe bring someone that is gifted in the haggeling department, and best of luck!

Edit: and oh yes have a good look on Donedeal.ie theres plenty of cars there to have a gander at

jmx009

johnos1984 wrote: »

Punto - great car, cheap to repair, nice to drive but watch out for HGF. A mate had one up to 150k miles before it was scrapped. Welll serviced and didn't deserve the end it got

Sorry formy ignorance but what does HGF stand for?

Alanstrainor

jmx009 wrote: »

Sorry formy ignorance but what does HGF stand for?

Head Gasket Failure

jmx009

I am thinking of getting the fiesta or Punto now. It seems to be ok and the prices seem to be reasonable.

I also heard that the Vw polo is a good car for beginers. Will have to look into it too.

johnos1984

jmx009 wrote: »

I am thinking of getting the fiesta or Punto now. It seems to be ok and the prices seem to be reasonable.

I also heard that the Vw polo is a good car for beginers. Will have to look into it too.

I'd go with the Fiesta and Punto myself.

The Polo is a very solid car but its also plain and expensive to repair being a VW.

Happy shopping

jmx009

johnos1984 wrote: »

I'd go with the Fiesta and Punto myself.

The Polo is a very solid car but its also plain and expensive to repair being a VW.

Happy shopping

Is there a difference in the repair charges for different makes!!!? Damn, i didnt know that. What makes are expensive to maintain?

johnos1984

jmx009 wrote: »

Is there a difference in the repair charges for different makes!!!? Damn, i didnt know that. What makes are expensive to maintain?

Well main dealer rates can be different for one thing, I assume you'll be using a non franchise garage, but after that its a mix of how expensive parts are and how often things need doing.

Kazooie

Haven't driven a lot of them but did own a fiesta for two years. had about 90k on the clock when I got it and I put another 30k. Not an ounce of trouble. The 1.25 zetec engine has a bit of character to it. I'd definately recomend it.

af_thefragile

Whatever you buy, make sure the car has a full service history before you buy it.

I went for the cheaper option which didn't have any service history and I've been paying for it since!!

If a car has been properly serviced at regular intervals and all the paperwork is in order, you know the car you're buying has been looked after properly and its not very likely its going to be lemon.

I don't like the Yaris because its a very numb and boring car to drive. Same with the Daweoo.

Fiats are not supposed to be the most reliable car. If its old, the head gasket of the engine will be due anytime to go and you'll have to replace that which can be fairly expensive. But if you get a clean car with full paperwork and good service history, it shouldn't be too bad.

I like the Clio. But I'ld say Fiesta is the best of the bunch. Its the best handling of them all. Would give you a very involving drive. And if you're just starting out, its good to have a car that responds and communicates well with to you. You learn more about driving dynamics as you learn to feel when the car has grip and when the car is losing grip, how the car reacts in twisty country roads and how it feels on a motorway and stuff like that. Will make you a better driver imo.

johnos1984

af_thefragile wrote: »

Whatever you buy, make sure the car has a full service history before you buy it.

I went for the cheaper option which didn't have any service history and I've been paying for it since!!

In fairness AF your Puma sounded like a stinker from the start. Is it still on the road?

My experience of small cars and service histories is that most don't have them or they are patchy at best.

OP buy the car based on condition.

Lots of cars have HeadGasket issues like the Punto but it tends to be due to lack of maintenance. Ask anyone who owns a 1.4l Golf about head gaskets even though they are a 'robust' and 'relaible' car. Many other makes have issues.

Buy based on condition but I still recommend a nice Fiesta or Punto as my top two choices

af_thefragile

johnos1984 wrote: »

In fairness AF your Puma sounded like a stinker from the start. Is it still on the road?

My experience of small cars and service histories is that most don't have them or they are patchy at best.

OP buy the car based on condition.

Lots of cars have HeadGasket issues like the Punto but it tends to be due to lack of maintenance. Ask anyone who owns a 1.4l Golf about head gaskets even though they are a 'robust' and 'relaible' car. Many other makes have issues.

Buy based on condition but I still recommend a nice Fiesta or Punto as my top two choices

The Puma drives fine! Though I didn't start it since the snow and now the battery is completely flat. Absolutely no life in it. Guess it might be normal as its almost a month since I last started it and it always fires up first time.
But I am getting sick of it. Got to do the NCT sometime around March. Hopefully will be the last time I'll be spending anything on the poor puma. Might look into buying something nicer over the summer. Alfa 147s look good currently...

I'ld say it'ld hard for a guy buying a car first time to be able to judge the condition of a car. I've been a petrol head all my life and know a lot about cars and stuff and still ended up with a (slightly) broken Puma, though I have to admit I was really stipped for cash (ended up spending it all paying for the insurance!!) so I went for the cheapest thing I could find. Not the best idea!!
Usually a car if its got a full service history, chances are its gonna be in good condition as servicing the engine regularly keeps it in good condition.

If you know a good reliable mechanic or even someone who has a good experience of buying cars, then take him with you. It isn't very easy for a guy who's just started driving to be able to spot a good car from a bad one, unless its all broken! So that's what I'ld recommend you the most.

You're looking at the bottom of the pile here. In this zone most cars are gonna be in dodgy and poor condition. You could find a Fiat Punto which is absolutely clean and perfect (though you'ld have to be very lucky!), you could also find a Yaris (thought to be super reliable) which is completely rotten. Its gonna be very important to be able to have to knowledge to spot the lemon when you're buying a car. If you can't do it (which you won't be able to as this is your first car!), don't do it! Get someone experienced to do it for you. And if you don't have someone experienced, atleast look at the paperwork and service history.

To be honest, with my experience with mechanics and garages, its useless taking the car to a garage or a mechanic to get it looked at unless you know the mechanic/garage well and know they're a reliable bunch!

johnos1984

af_thefragile wrote: »

Alfa 147s look good currently...

Aye, a step up in build quality is needed I think.....

Funnily enough I reckon the Puma will fly through the NCT and the tester will be amazed at its condition when it comes time to sell it.

turbojunkie

If you can, try to go with a japanese car as they are known for reliability. A corolla or yaris maybe. My girlfriend is in the same situation as you and she just bought a Mitsubishi Colt. Great little car to learn how to drive and very reliable. She is 25 and on a provisional and 1st time driver and got insurance for 650. Although quotes ranged from 650 up to 2700.

Some suggestions:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1765819

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1784956

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1763898

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1788392

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1768632

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1777725

af_thefragile

^Colt is a good car as well.
And you won't go wrong with a Yaris. Its just a car that's not to everyone's taste. But if you like it, go for it. It'll probably be the car that'll give you the least trouble!

johnos1984 wrote: »

Aye, a step up in build quality is needed I think.....

Funnily enough I reckon the Puma will fly through the NCT and the tester will be amazed at its condition when it comes time to sell it.

I'm worried about emissions. It uses too much fuel and the exhaust is very sooty (like a diesel!). Will clean the MAF sensor one of these days and apparently that's supposed to make the car run smoother. And also since I hit the kerb, the passenger side rear wheel is slightly off alignment. Now from the bottom the wheel and suspension bits look absolutely robust and can't see where the alignment might have gone off. It probably could be the wheel hub that's gone bent. Still can comfortably do over 120kmph on the motorway without any vibrations or shaking. And now its even got 4 nice wheels no it. No kerb damage or buckled or anything (as the damaged buckled ones are lying as scrap in my garage!).

RandomAccess

Those corollas posted above are pretty cheap.
I wonder what condition they are in.

Japanese cars do have a reputation for reliability (and blandness) but make sure they have been serviced, some people expect just cos its Japanese that it can look after itself...

I wouldn't consider the Colt if I were you, its quite an old design and it probably shows in terms of safety.

If its not listed on here then its probably too old to consider buying,
http://www.euroncap.com/home.aspx


A few things that may not have been mentioned,
Road tax varies by engine size, you can check the tax rate for a car on motortax.ie most of the cars listed will have a similar tax rate, the yaris's is particularly low but I wouldn't let that sway you cos well.. (its a bit of a girls car) Am I still allowed to say that on here?


About the service history issue,
If you were given a choice of two cars in similar condition and one had a service history but higher mileage and the other had only the service history from the first two years or nothing at all... then I would go for the higher mileage one! (within reason.. you can also walk away!)

af_thefragile

af_thefragile wrote: »

I've been a petrol head all my life and know a lot about cars and stuff and still ended up with a (slightly) broken Puma, though I have to admit I was really stipped for cash (ended up spending it all paying for the insurance!!) so I went for the cheapest thing I could find. Not the best idea!!

From what you posted about it at various times it seems a total heap of sh1te but then there seems to be little enough wrong with it. No doubt you're a petrol head though.

johnos1984

af_thefragile wrote: »

And also since I hit the kerb, the passenger side rear wheel is slightly off alignment. Now from the bottom the wheel and suspension bits look absolutely robust and can't see where the alignment might have gone off. It probably could be the wheel hub that's gone bent. Still can comfortably do over 120kmph on the motorway without any vibrations or shaking.

You do realise that can make handling VERY VERY tricky if you are driving at any speed on backroads

af_thefragile

RoverJames wrote: »

From what you posted about it at various times it seems a total heap of sh1te but then there seems to be little enough wrong with it. No doubt you're a petrol head though.

As I said before, I knew what I was getting. I thought like "sure, I'll spend another grand fixing it and it'll be running like new"... how wrong was I!!
Though I have to say the biggest thing I've learnt is not to trust them mechanics! They were all mostly useless just looking to rip me off.

Which is why from now onwards, unless I manage to build my own workshop, I'm not buying broken cars anymore! You think you could fix them up for not much more than a grand or so but all the garages out there are just looking to rip you off, you'll end up spending twice as much!! Unless you know a good reliable mechanic whom you can trust to do a proper job and who won't rip you off.

johnos1984 wrote: »

You do realise that can make handling VERY VERY tricky if you are driving at any speed on backroads

Which is why you've gotta be awake when you're driving that car. I have to admit it does handle a bit weird. Its still very responsive but its not as precise as it used to be. I'm super careful when driving on backroads (which I do a good bit, love going on drives in the wicklow mountains). Keep constantly aware for any signs of vibrations or signs of back end losing grip. Also I don't drive very fast. Don't go over the speed limit on backroads (you can't go very fast in wicklow anyway, most of the roads are awful!) and always slow down for corners. Stick to the golden rule of cornering, slow in, accelerate on the way out!!

jmx009

I like this car. The mileage is a bit high though.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1788392

jmx009

I just came across this
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Fiesta/STEEL-1./201041199829877/advert?channel=CARS

Look nice?

af_thefragile

The Fiesta looks good. Might be worth a look. Isn't it a bit over your budget though?

The corolla is a bit high mileage. Although they're usually good for above 150k if looked after properly.

What do you think of these guys:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201046200254960
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1746785

They've got service history and the car is an absolute dream to drive. They're fairly reliable as well. They're based on a Fiesta chassis which has been tweaked to make it stiffer more responsive and they also look much better than the Fiesta or Yaris or any hatchback. Its got a massive boot as well. Though the rear seats are tiny and not the most comfortable place to be.

Though the insurance is a wee bit high on them.

karl tyrrell

micra best first car easy to park cheap to run lo tax never breaks down and will always sell on when you move on

jmx009

af_thefragile wrote: »

The Fiesta looks good. Might be worth a look. Isn't it a bit over your budget though?

The corolla is a bit high mileage. Although they're usually good for above 150k if looked after properly.

What do you think of these guys:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201046200254960
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1746785

They've got service history and the car is an absolute dream to drive. They're fairly reliable as well. They're based on a Fiesta chassis which has been tweaked to make it stiffer more responsive and they also look much better than the Fiesta or Yaris or any hatchback. Its got a massive boot as well. Though the rear seats are tiny and not the most comfortable place to be.

Though the insurance is a wee bit high on them.

I've never heard of the puma before. Is it a reliable car? I dont think, i have seen many on the streets.

jmx009

karl tyrrell wrote: »

micra best first car easy to park cheap to run lo tax never breaks down and will always sell on when you move on

I always thought micra was a girlee car, I might get a micra, if i dont find a good car in the next 2 months. And yes, its a good car. My friend has one. It never ever had any problems.

af_thefragile

jmx009 wrote: »

I've never heard of the puma before. Is it a reliable car? I dont think, i have seen many on the streets.

Its a fancy Fiesta. But better than a fiesta. As all its parts are from a Fiesta, its no more or no less reliable than a fiesta. But they handle and feel soooo much better than any fiesta! You could think of it as a Fiesta ST.

They're just 10 year old at this stage so make sure you buy one in good nick and it'll be a good car. As I mentioned, if the car has been serviced regularly, chances are its been looked after properly and so it'll give you less trouble.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3QuH7z1Z1o


Sure you could get yourself something reliable and trouble free like a Micra or Yaris but they're also dead boring to drive. The Puma is a bit more fun and looks better as well. The 1.4l engine has enough power for a first time driver. It'll do 0-60mph in around 10-11secs. Its a very nippy car and very easy to drive and handle as well. Really communicates with you what its doing underneath. Like you have to drive one to feel the difference. To me it feels better to drive than even most modern cars. Take one for a test drive and see if you like the drive.

johnos1984

af_thefragile wrote: »

Its a fancy Fiesta. But better than a fiesta. As all its parts are from a Fiesta, its no more or no less reliable than a fiesta.

:D:D:D

Op Af might sell you his Puma

af_thefragile

johnos1984 wrote: »

:D:D:D

Op Af might sell you his Puma

Hey, mine's a different story. I bought a broken one. Its my fault.
You could end up with a broken micra or a yaris too if you're not careful.
Like this is the bottom of the pile so you really have to look at the condition of the individual car before buying it. You can't just assume that because a car is known to be reliable, the one you're buying is going to be clean.

Also if you look at it this way, my puma is all broken, the engine is pretty much wrecked, the suspension might be shot as well. YET, it still runs perfect. The engine starts every time on the first turn of the key (as long as the battery isn't flat!), I have driven it for around 5000 miles over the past 10 months and it hasn't broken down once on me. And its not like I drive like a christian priest all the time. Most of the big miles I've done is on twisty country roads of Wicklow and Dublin where you're driving high revs in low gear. And the chassis is rock solid. Nothing could go wrong with it.

The problem with mine was I bought the cheapest one on sale. It had zero service history and wasn't looked after at all by the previous owner. Because of that the engine is a bit wrecked. If you get one which has been properly serviced at regular intervals, the engine should be in good condition.

I thought I'ld be lucky if the engine lasted for 6 months but it just keeps going. Which is why I named it the Black Knight!! Its also black in colour!

jmx009

af_thefragile wrote: »

Hey, mine's a different story. I bought a broken one. Its my fault.
You could end up with a broken micra or a yaris too if you're not careful.
Like this is the bottom of the pile so you really have to look at the condition of the individual car before buying it. You can't just assume that because a car is known to be reliable, the one you're buying is going to be clean.

Also if you look at it this way, my puma is all broken, the engine is pretty much wrecked, the suspension might be shot as well. YET, it still runs perfect. The engine starts every time on the first turn of the key (as long as the battery isn't flat!), I have driven it for around 5000 miles over the past 10 months and it hasn't broken down once on me. And its not like I drive like a christian priest all the time. Most of the big miles I've done is on twisty country roads of Wicklow and Dublin where you're driving high revs in low gear. And the chassis is rock solid. Nothing could go wrong with it.

The problem with mine was I bought the cheapest one on sale. It had zero service history and wasn't looked after at all by the previous owner. Because of that the engine is a bit wrecked. If you get one which has been properly serviced at regular intervals, the engine should be in good condition.

I thought I'ld be lucky if the engine lasted for 6 months but it just keeps going. Which is why I named it the Black Knight!! Its also black in colour!

Thanks for the input man. I will definitely keep an eye out for the puma from now onwards.

projectgtr

Personally id go for a Micra, i know the image they have but for a first car they are perfect, they cost nothing to run and are bullet proof, plus it will sell in no time when it comes to the time you want to upgrade, plus they are insurance friendly.

On the Puma, they are a great car , very unusual looking. the 1.4 is very nippy for what it is and the handling is great for OEM setup. Only thing i will say though is take one for a test drive, im 5`11 and find the driving position a bit awkward, but that could just be me as im coming from a Honda civic with lowered seat rails so im nearly on the floor

jmx009

projectgtr wrote: »

Personally id go for a Micra, i know the image they have but for a first car they are perfect, they cost nothing to run and are bullet proof, plus it will sell in no time when it comes to the time you want to upgrade, plus they are insurance friendly.

On the Puma, they are a great car , very unusual looking. the 1.4 is very nippy for what it is and the handling is great for OEM setup. Only thing i will say though is take one for a test drive, im 5`11 and find the driving position a bit awkward, but that could just be me as im coming from a Honda civic with lowered seat rails so im nearly on the floor

Tbh, i am really confused. I have been reading a lot about them micras after reading your post You are right, its a real cost effective car (considering the fact that my insurance premium is up tin the 2000 zone) and it has a good resale value. However, does any of you feel like its a real girly car?

af_thefragile

jmx009 wrote: »

Tbh, i am really confused. I have been reading a lot about them micras after reading your post You are right, its a real cost effective car (considering the fact that my insurance premium is up tin the 2000 zone) and it has a good resale value. However, does any of you feel like its a real girly car?

Not a girly car. Just a cheap very basic car. I'ld compare it to lettuce. Simple and cheap, not much to go wrong with it. Insurance, tax and running cost would be the lowest you could get on any car.

If anything the Puma could be considered a bit girly by some people. Its a fun car. Though I will say its a 1.4l and on top of that its in a higher insurance bracket from other 1.4l cars so you'ld be looking at around 2k for insuring it first time (I payed 2.5k!! though I got around 500eur back when I got my full license).

Mycroft H

The Skoda Felicia.

Everyone seems to forget them, very under-rated car. Solid VW engineering and there ridiculously cheap to maintain. Because there not that popular and the demand for them isn't that high, you can pick up a really clean, well maintained model for under a grand.

There more of a average sized car, which i think is much better for learning in compared to the microboxes like the yaris. Fairly economical on petrol, 40-45mpg in the 1.3 petrol.


http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1792622

projectgtr

jmx009 wrote: »

Tbh, i am really confused. I have been reading a lot about them micras after reading your post You are right, its a real cost effective car (considering the fact that my insurance premium is up tin the 2000 zone) and it has a good resale value. However, does any of you feel like its a real girly car?

I borrowed my mothers while mine was getting work done, any thoughts you have of it being a girly car will disappear quite quickly, they are brilliant little cars. Think of this car as a stepping stone, providing you take care of it, shouldnt lose you much in 2 years.

PaulKK

johnos1984 wrote: »

Ask anyone who owns a 1.4l Golf about head gaskets even though they are a 'robust' and 'relaible' car. Many other makes have issues.

Never heard of HG failure on a golf, usually on the older 8V MK4 ones its gearboxes and on the newer 16V MK4 ones its coils.

jmx009

Ok, So after much research i have decided not to buy the Puma. Not that i dont like the car but there is not to many insurance companies that would insure me on a puma. I am 24 and only have a provicinal licence. The ones that would insure me quoted figures like 3000 and 3000+. So i am forced to drop my desire to buy a puma. . Thanks for mentioning it to me af_thefragile. Hopefully i will be able to buy a puma in a few years time.

I also decided not to buy the micra as i heard that its difficult to find a buyer for the micra when compared to a Yaris on resale after a few years. So that leaves me with Toyota Yaris. I have made up my mind to buy a Yaris. I have been looking around for a decent yaris in the last few days. These are the 2 ads that i am interested in. I think the price is a bit steep though. I am thinking of taking either of them if i get it within the 3000-3500 Euro range. What do you guys think?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1792575
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Yaris/1.0-T2-V/201048200402613/advert?channel=CARS

Do you think 3500 is a good price for them? Let me know what you think.

johnos1984

jmx009 wrote: »

I also decided not to buy the micra as i heard that its difficult to find a buyer for the micra when compared to a Yaris on resale after a few years.

Who told you that?

Not a complaint I've ever heard

jmx009

Not that its difficult to sell but i heard that its more easier to find a buyer for a Yaris than a micra.
As far as i am concerned, i want to buy a bigger car in about a years time. The only reason i am not doing that now is because the insurance is too high. Hopefully, in a year and a half i will have a full licence and with 1.5 years driving experience, the insurance rate will come down.

Thats the reason why i am so focussed on the resale value.

johnos1984

jmx009 wrote: »

Not that its difficult to sell but i heard that its more easier to find a buyer for a Yaris than a micra.
As far as i am concerned, i want to buy a bigger car in about a years time. The only reason i am not doing that now is because the insurance is too high. Hopefully, in a year and a half i will have a full licence and with 1.5 years driving experience, the insurance rate will come down.

Thats the reason why i am so focussed on the resale value.

Thats fair enough but the quickest car to sell is one that has a buyer.

You are on the right route with those cars but personally I think the money is strong for them.

I'd be looking at 2750-3000 for them myself but then again they are cars which are in demand.

Others should give you a better guide