Girlfriends first car

[Challo]

Need some PH help on what to get for the girlfriends first car...!!

Requirements:

Reliable
Cheap to buy - Max £1500 on the car
Economical
Good enough to handle a 50mile round commute in the morning (25miles on the motorway)

She has been looking at Mk2 Corsa's 1.0, Mk3 Clio's 1.2.

Needs to be easy to insure for a first time driver.

[james_tigerwoods]

Honda Jazz...

[5lab]

old panda?

Just ask her what she likes, My gf wanted a ka (similar requirements, but no motorway), so seeing as there were no horror stories, a ka she got. If you try and persuade her something else is better, there'll just be fights

[Challo]

james_tigerwoods said:

Honda Jazz...

She is 26 not 56 lol

I think she was thinking more mainstream like a Corsa, Clio, Fiesta...etc.

[james_tigerwoods]

My OH has one - she's (cough cough) not 56.

It's a practical, affordable car that's nippy and economical & cheap to run - Quicker than you think too.

[Challo]

james_tigerwoods said:

My OH has one - she's (cough cough) not 56.

It's a practical, affordable car that's nippy and economical & cheap to run - Quicker than you think too.

I agree with you...my mum has one and its quite fun to nip about in. Problem is I know my gf wont like one.

I was thinking a Ford Ka would have been ideal but she doesn't like them. Her sister has a Toyota Aygo but they are too much money.

Issue is she doesn't want to get some cheap and cheerful that wont handle the commute and continue to breakdown, but also not spend lots of money on something that due to being a new driver is more likely to dent/ding or have an accident in. Plus being a 26yr old new driver will cost her a fortune to insurance unless its a tiny engine.

[james_tigerwoods]

I chose the Jazz because of it's practicality (we have a three year old and one on the way), but also because of it's lack of required maintenance - it went 2 and a half years without a service and only occasional oil top ups, it was brilliant in the snow and is really tough - the chain cam engine also meant no belt to worry about...

[marcosgt]

1.4 Puma

I'll keep on saying it...

M

[jbi]

james_tigerwoods said:

Honda Jazz...

seconded...

or a civic

[RenesisEvo]

Challo said:

I think she was thinking more mainstream like a Corsa, Clio, Fiesta...etc.

Problem being, these mainstream cars are the ones that will cost a lot more to insure.

EDIT: a friend starting driving at 26, he got a Mk4 1.6 Astra SXI insured for less than £1k, obviously costs more than your budget, but you'll be surprised what you can get if you consider something a little less obvious.

Edited by RenesisEvo on Friday 21st October 16:25

[Challo]

RenesisEvo said:

Challo said:

I think she was thinking more mainstream like a Corsa, Clio, Fiesta...etc.

Problem being, these mainstream cars are the ones that will cost a lot more to insure.

EDIT: a friend starting driving at 26, he got a Mk4 1.6 Astra SXI insured for less than £1k, obviously costs more than your budget, but you'll be surprised what you can get if you consider something a little less obvious.

Edited by RenesisEvo on Friday 21st October 16:25

Sorry feel stupid for asking this...how come mainstream cars would be potentially more expensive to insure?? More on the road = more potential to involved in accidents = high statistics for that particular car = higher insurance?

[GreatGranny]

Will you get a jazz for £1500?

[djt100]

Jazz... she has £1500 not £3000... no chance of getting a complete one for that money.

1.4 Puma, PH choice.
1.4 Civic 3 door, reliable
1.4 206, all girls like these and not to bad on the m/way

All plenty about so should be able to get a good'un of any


1.0 will be to small for a the motorway, the misses had one of these and it was horrid.

[MrKipling43]

Can't believe no one has said MX5 yet.

Late model Peugeot 106. Mad cheap to insure and run, I had mine for five years and it the only time it let me down was when the battery died. Total hoot to drive and would happily cruise at 85mph without deafening me or falling to bits.

Loved that car.

[bicycleshorts]

25 motorway miles in anything Corsa-eque sounds absolutely terrible to me.

What would insurance be on something more comfortable (e.g. a 318)?

ETA: At 26 can she get classic insurance? Most policies cover stuff over 10 or 15 years old so plenty of cheap choice.

Edited by bicycleshorts on Friday 21st October 16:39

[Challo]

Would a 206 be reliable? The one I had wasn't...

Just been browsing the Autotrader...

Seat Ibiza?
Mk4 Fiesta?

[hyperblue]

You'll want a bit more than a 1.0 for motorway, it gets a bit tiresome otherwise.

[Challo]

hyperblue said:

You'll want a bit more than a 1.0 for motorway, it gets a bit tiresome otherwise.

Her sisters tiny Aygo 1.0 seems to not mind it. She has been doing the similar commute for the past 4 years. Racked up 85K so far and its still going strong

Edited by Challo on Friday 21st October 16:47

[james_tigerwoods]

GreatGranny said:

Will you get a jazz for £1500?

Yes:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/honda...

[Raize]

bicycleshorts said:

ETA: At 26 can she get classic insurance? Most policies cover stuff over 10 or 15 years old so plenty of cheap choice.

This seems like a good idea but judging by what we've heard so far, he'll be told any classic is "just an old banger".