A cheap alternative first car
A cheap alternative first car
Author
Discussion

Hartgill

Original Poster:

62 posts

191 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
Hi there chaps and chapesses(?), I'm looking for some advice on what to advise my sister to get as her first car.

At the moment she drives Mum's ageing Audi A6 and she likes the old boat a lot, but doesn't want anything quite that big (she has a knack of driving into stuff in car parks and feels a smaller car would help her break the habit...)

Because of her experience with the A6 she likes the idea of a German car, she also feels she needs at least 4 seats, she can't stand cloth roofs (so no MX5s, Audi cabs or the like I'm afraid) and it needs to be cheap to insure (she's been driving 2 years, but has never had her own insurance and so has no no-claims she could use) and cheap to run. Oh, and if it could be petrol then that would be a bonus too because she's used to filling up with the green pump.

Her budget for the car is about £3000 with about £1200 from Dad for insurance. The only other stipulation comes from the old man and that is that the machine has to have a driver's airbag and ABS.

She learnt to drive in a Focus and likes their size and shape, so I've shown her everything I can think of that is about that sort of size and price and her favourites so far are the MkIV Golf and MK1 Focus. Can you guys think of anything better or more interesting that I could suggest to her?


Hartgill

robsco

7,875 posts

205 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
Would an Alfa Romeo 147 be too high on insurance?

Matt106

383 posts

193 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
Staying on a the German theme what about a Lupo? Small car, 4 seats, great on fuel, £30 a year on tax if you get the diesel!

Groober

775 posts

209 months

W00DY

16,710 posts

255 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
BMW compact? Something like this looks very good value: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1861665.htm

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

211 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
Octavia.


Hartgill

Original Poster:

62 posts

191 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
I've shown her an Octavia and she's not too keen. A Lupo would be ideal, but she needs something a little larger to haul her clothes, soft furnishings and whatever else she deems 'essential' up to Uni in Manchester. The same goes for the Daihatsu (although I think she'd reject that purely because of the bonnet scoop!)

A 147 might work though. Are they likely to be reliable at the £3k mark?

Oh and cheers W00DY but she has something against BMWs, so anything from the spinning propeller gets shot down before we even get past the name!

Matt106

383 posts

193 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
A VW Polo is the next step up then? Im not sure on used prices but im sure something would fit the budget.

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

211 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
Ah, if we're talking that platform, then a Polo or Fabia. I'd go with the Fabia, but if she's still stuck in the 80s, then maybe the Polo would have more street cred or something?

Odie

4,187 posts

211 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
Matt106 said:
Staying on a the German theme what about a Lupo? Small car, 4 seats, great on fuel, £30 a year on tax if you get the diesel!
Lupo/arosa are great little cars I had a 1ltr Arosa many many years ago and i loved it, i would have one again.

It was that good that I had it for 2 years then swapped it with my mums Ford KA (which was the same age with similar milage but a rust bucket) and then i part ex'ed the KA, just couldnt see the Arosa leave the family, my mum had the arosa for 2 years then part ex'ed it in for something bigger (completely ignoring my advice as per usual) that would be better for with a dog biggrin it was in the family for 4 years and nothing went wrong with it ever. In that time it had a new set of tyres and a couple of services thats it, it went straight through all its mot's.

Bluebarge

4,519 posts

207 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
If I were her, I would shift at least £1k from the purchase budget to the insurance and maintenance budget, and buy a Fiat punto. No point buying anything too fancy if she can't insure it and is likely to bend it. Plus you learn to drive properly in small cars.

wombat172a

1,458 posts

212 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
German AND interesting, but not a BMW??

Mini one? http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2117589.htm

VW Beetle? http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2128318.htm <---- I hate it soooo much though!

robsco

7,875 posts

205 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
The Alfa will be perfectly reliable OP, providing it has been looked after. 3k will get you a good example too, due to the misguided reputation, Alfas are a brilliant second hand buy.

GG89

3,693 posts

215 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
MK4 Golf TDi?

defblade

8,049 posts

242 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
Seat Leon?
Sporty-ish feel, reasonably high quality interior, choice of engines.

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

211 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
GG89 said:
MK4 Golf TDi?
How does this fulfill the "interesting" criterion of the brief?

W00DY

16,710 posts

255 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
She doesn't want a BMW but thinks a golf and focus are interesting? Right.

Audi A2? Probably suggested that though.

Deluded

4,968 posts

220 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
E46 compact? Should be able to find one in budget?

Failing that, the E36 is a cracking car too.

Ricky_M

6,618 posts

248 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
Not sure if it is in budget or not.

But how about an Audi A2?

lescombes

968 posts

239 months

Thursday 14th October 2010
quotequote all
Fabia...and if you have a bit more budget.....my pal has purchased a 2 yr old Mazda 2....