My wife is looking to buy her first car.
New licence holder, no no-claims.
Aged 31, so insurance isn't going to be so much of a killer.

I will be adding her to my policy, on a Land Cruiser, which bumps up my cost from £380 p.a. to £570 p.a.

Her was wanting a KA, of Fiesta but after loaning one for a week, they felt very tinny, and I am not sure how they would fair in a bump.

I was thinking to up the insurance costs a little, and go for the 1,4L Focus.

We would like to buy a car for £1200 or less.
Her would need to keep it two years, before getting what she wants, which is the Jeep Wrangler.


Please, suggestions?


vette

they do a old renault megane scenic with a 1.4.

There is a 1.6 petrol mondeo and a 1.4 petrol octavia

Mk1 focus tddi?

Had one.

Plenty of space, engine took one hell of a beating, cheap isnurance for me at 17 years old.

.
Nice to have a 1,6L but the insurance seems to take a hike

vette

Some small cars are very good in a collision. If you're really safety concious get a newish Volvo, oddly enough they're one of those cars that actually fit the public perception. In the new small-overlap tests they were the only cars any good. Available with all manner of engines, some rather quick, others not so much.
Look up the old <insert carshow?> Volvo tank vs Renault Modus vid though. The Modus fairs better.

Volvos should be ok on insurance too and they do exist with a 1.6 engine.

The 1.4 16v was brought in to replave the 1.6 8v on the mkV as the base model and as such probably attracts simular premiums.

Mk4 golf has it's problems but very solid and available with 1.4...

OK its a small car but the panda 4x4 is worth a look.

Cheap to buy insure and run, with some of the characteristics desired?

Berlingo?

1.4/1.6 mk4 golf or bora. Nice inside, big enough in all other departments and goes okay enough for the engine size (keeps up with traffic and will cruise ar 70 easily). They arnt the most economical though !