First own car - Need advice.

[Grahamr123]

So I need a new car in the coming months. Been driving my parents Polo up to this point, but I'm gonna need my own.
I'm 20 and Only been driving since last August, so insurance Is a little pricey still.

This is my criteria

5 seats
3 or 5 doors - Prefer 5 but don't really mind.
1.2 - 1.6L
2001 or newer
Around £2000
fairly nippy
Not expensive to Insure
Not a Fiat or Peugeot
Economical


So far I've been stuck between:

1.5 Yaris (2002ish) http://imganuncios.mitula.net/toyota_yaris_1_5_vvt...

Civic 1.4 or 1.6 (2002ish)

Fiesta 1.4 (2003 - 2004)

Suzuki Swift 1.3 (2005+)



Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

[Efbe]

the yaris is made in france!!!

[NismoGT]

Nissan Almera?

Reliable , cheap to insure and cheap to run.

A 5 door 1.5 can be picked up for about £800 on a Y/51 plate.

[cts1975]

You cant go wrong with small jap cars mate. Toyota would be my preference.Buy local from local paper etc.
Chances are it will be for sale from Mrs Old Lady from around the corner who wouldn't sell you a pup!
Remember - your first car is always the best car you will ever have.

[redtwin]

Wife had a 2003 fiesta 1.4 TDCI. Apart from a leaky power steering rack, the car was trouble free (B pillar trims keep falling off though) until she passed it on to her daughter at 98K. He daughter has put another 7-8K on it without issue.

I have a 2002 Honda Accord (Yes, I know it's not a civic) that has also been trouble free.

I wasn't impressed by the Swift we test drove, so I would choose either of the other three that had cheapest insurance.

[Defcon5]

I think the Swifts are supposed to be quite good.

[GBDG]

Swift is the best looking of the bunch

[Perd Hapley]

redtwin said:

Wife had a 2003 fiesta 1.4 TDCI. Apart from a leaky power steering rack, the car was trouble free (B pillar trims keep falling off though) until she passed it on to her daughter at 98K. He daughter has put another 7-8K on it without issue.

My sister had one too, and it wasn't a bad drive although it did break quite a lot.

cts1975 said:

Remember - your first car is always the best car you will ever have.

Yes, and what are horrible faults now become endearing quirks when you look back fondly on it. So buy a massive pile of ste. Seriously, I don't know how people with good cars even remember what they've owned.

[Liquid Knight]

Subaru Justy. Basically the same as the Swift only a little bit cheaper.

[Efbe]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-02-Ford-Focus-1-6i-...

[magpie215]

If you can get past the image issue you could do a lot worse than a 2001 K11 Nissan Micra.

cheap to run and maintain

Basically the last year of the well put together Micras

[Grahamr123]

I forgot to mention, I really don't like Micras (Or KA's even). My mum used to have a Nissan Sunny, that was enough to put me off Nissans for life.
I just have an irrational hate towards them.

[Gizmo!]

You'll want something like this.

http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...



Hyundai Lantra. A million minicabbers can't be wrong... they're not great but they'll run and run and cost bobbins.

Failing that a Honda Accord is similar but even more indestructible.

[redtwin]

Perd Hapley said:

redtwin said:

Wife had a 2003 fiesta 1.4 TDCI. Apart from a leaky power steering rack, the car was trouble free (B pillar trims keep falling off though) until she passed it on to her daughter at 98K. He daughter has put another 7-8K on it without issue.

My sister had one too, and it wasn't a bad drive although it did break quite a lot.

What broke on it?. In all honesty, considering the reputation Fords have and the fact it was a TDCI (though of French origin) I was expecting more to go wrong, but it really was no bother at all once we changed the steering rack.

Of course having said that I now remember the passenger power window switch would play up from time to time, but it was nothing a spritz of contact cleaner didn't sort out...not really what I would consider an issue.

[Vocal Minority]

Swifts meant to be good.

My girlfriend tested a 57 plate Yaris the other day, and I have to stay I was very suprised with how well it rode, and how generally 'grown up' it felt for a little car.

She preferred the Mazda 2. God knows why...anyway I presume earlier Yaris' will be equally capable and in your price bracket

[NismoGT]

Grahamr123 said:

I forgot to mention, I really don't like Micras (Or KA's even). My mum used to have a Nissan Sunny, that was enough to put me off Nissans for life.
I just have an irrational hate towards them.

So you could have a car that meets all/most of your criteria?

And your not interested because your mum owned a Nissan Sunny that you did not like?

Sorry , but i don't understand that.

[mike9009]

NismoGT said:

Grahamr123 said:

I forgot to mention, I really don't like Micras (Or KA's even). My mum used to have a Nissan Sunny, that was enough to put me off Nissans for life.
I just have an irrational hate towards them.

So you could have a car that meets all/most of your criteria?

And your not interested because your mum owned a Nissan Sunny that you did not like?

Sorry , but i don't understand that.

He did say it was irrational which is probably why you don't understand.....

Mike

[Efbe]

mike9009 said:

NismoGT said:

Grahamr123 said:

I forgot to mention, I really don't like Micras (Or KA's even). My mum used to have a Nissan Sunny, that was enough to put me off Nissans for life.
I just have an irrational hate towards them.

So you could have a car that meets all/most of your criteria?

And your not interested because your mum owned a Nissan Sunny that you did not like?

Sorry , but i don't understand that.

He did say it was irrational which is probably why you don't understand.....

Mike

i'd say it's quite rational hatred tbh

[Perd Hapley]

redtwin said:

Perd Hapley said:

redtwin said:

Wife had a 2003 fiesta 1.4 TDCI. Apart from a leaky power steering rack, the car was trouble free (B pillar trims keep falling off though) until she passed it on to her daughter at 98K. He daughter has put another 7-8K on it without issue.

My sister had one too, and it wasn't a bad drive although it did break quite a lot.

What broke on it?. In all honesty, considering the reputation Fords have and the fact it was a TDCI (though of French origin) I was expecting more to go wrong, but it really was no bother at all once we changed the steering rack.

Of course having said that I now remember the passenger power window switch would play up from time to time, but it was nothing a spritz of contact cleaner didn't sort out...not really what I would consider an issue.

There were problems with snapped springs, air in the fuel (£££ to fix), clutch cable, central locking and the engine started making a terrible racket at 90k. It wasn't a bad car really, only the first three problems ever left her stranded by the roadside.

[Grahamr123]

NismoGT said:

So you could have a car that meets all/most of your criteria?

And your not interested because your mum owned a Nissan Sunny that you did not like?

Sorry , but i don't understand that.

I just Really hate Micras, Personally I think they are very ugly and very dull. The Sunny thing put me off because of how dull and void of any character I find nissan's. Just a personal pet hate thing.

This isn't towards all Nissans, mostly the micra and sunny.

Edited by Grahamr123 on Wednesday 4th January 21:41