Looking for a nippy first car

[slyelessar]

I'm 26 and passed my test a couple of months back. I am from the UK, but I'm currently living in New South Wales Australia (albeit temporarily). I have been driving my partners Toyota Starlet (1996 model I think) whilst I have been here. It is quite a fun little car, but when I eventually get back home, I'd like something a tad nicer inside.

I have been looking at:

MG ZR 1.4
VW Golf 1.4
Mini Cooper 1.6
Fiat ibiza
VW Polo

Is there anything that won't have the insurance sky high, but still be nippy for a small engine? I learned to drive in 4 cars: Rover 75 1.8T, Renault Clio Diesel, Mini Cooper 1.6, Toyota Corolla (not sure what size).

[e21Mark]

Suzuki Swift.

Personally, I'd go for something like a Peugeot 205GTi or MK2 Golf GTi though.

This is very nice and a sound investment too! Plus you could get classic insurance.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

Edited by e21Mark on Wednesday 10th June 08:23

[dub16v]

Suzuki Swift Sport.

[slyelessar]

When I get back to old Blighty I won't have enough money to pay for a £4,000-5,000 car and afford insurance.

[Funkycoldribena]

Fabia 1.4.

[Chris1255]

ZR is a lot of car for the money IF you can find one that is unmolested. Go for the + model for air con, electric windows etc. For performance it beats almost anything in that price bracket & engine size hands down, especially VAG products of a similar age.

Same engine as the 103PS Rover 25, easier to find a nice one but obviously the MG looks a bit different and also has firmer suspension.

[MysteryLemon]

You'll struggle to get a Fiat Ibiza. Rare as rocking horse s**t those ones...

MG ZR is a good bet from that list. Find a goodun and they are very good cars. Check insurance though as the MG is likely to cost a lot more for a first time driver than the rover 25 equivalent. Nowt wrong with the Rover version either.

Worth looking at the Honda Civic 1.4, Fiat Punto Sporting (1.4 or 1.2), Suzuki Ignis Sport 1.5... There are loads of options for small, nippy hatches.

Edited by MysteryLemon on Wednesday 10th June 09:19

[Chris1255]

MysteryLemon said:

You'll struggle to get a Fiat Ibiza. Rare as rocking horse s**t those ones...

One for the rebadging thread

[CallorFold]

MG ZR from your list - always wish I had one of these for my 2nd car rather than the Ford Focus I ended up with! Might be hard to find one that hasn't been driven backwards through a Halfords store though...

[trashbat]

26 shouldn't be too bad for insurance. The big change is at 25.

Alfa 147, or even 156/GT? Cheap up front, typically OK to insure, more expensive to maintain, not disastrously so.

[JonnyxM]

Try the TSI engined hatchbacks from the VAG group. My brother has the 1.2TSI Polo and it's pretty nippy.
Failing that the Ford 1.0 Ecoboost a good shout?

[ZiggyNiva]

Panda 100 or ignis sport

[CarAbuser]

Am I the only one who winces every time the word nippy is used?

[slyelessar]

CarAbuser said:

Am I the only one who winces every time the word nippy is used?

I'm not a huge fan, but everyone knows exactly what I was going for in terms of this car thread.

[e21Mark]

Budget would be useful.

[slyelessar]

e21Mark said:

Budget would be useful.

I'll have little money when I get back to the UK. Say £500- £1100

[Chris1255]

Can't argue with those for value!

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=2...

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=3...

[pti]

Seicento Sporting.




In yellow.

[e21Mark]

Peugeot 106 are cheap and handle well. Easy to upgrade to Rallye type spec too.

[R2T2]

Do they sell the Fiat Grande Punto over there?

If so, what about a sporting? Or if you're after turbo powaaahhh a T-Jet varient?