First/New driver car

[Mika_98]

Hi all,

Trying to help my nephew with his first car but to be honest, I don't have a great deal of knowledge on city cars.

He has a £4.5k budget and requirements are:
2010 model or onwards.
5 door hatch, similar size to a Fiesta/Yaris.
Manual only.
1.0-1.4 engine, petrol or diesel.
Doesn't mind high miles as long as its well maintained and good for another 3+ years.

Currently on the shortlist is a Yaris mk3, petrol or diesel. I know the petrol models are generally very reliable. Any knowledge on the diesels? Any major failures or common issues to be aware of?

Fiesta also being considered. However, is it the EcoBoost engine which has reliability/running issues? Any particular engines better than another and any major failures/common issues to be aware of?

Any other recommendations would be greatly appreciated and what to look out for, common issues/failures, etc?

Many thanks

[Mika_98]

Forgot to add, the kind of cars he prefers at this budget are around the 80-100k miles mark. So looking for something which can handle high miles and will keep running reliably (maintained well) for another 20-30k miles.

[nordboy]

I wouldn't consider an ecoboost, I think 80k miles they'll need the belt done which could be anything from £500-£2500 depending on where you take it.

My daughter has an Aygo which is brilliant and she loves. That is currently on 68k miles and is very easy to work on/ service.

[Dog Biscuit]

Aygo, 108 or C1

All the same car and run like clockwork

Cheap to run and maintain

[Pedro25]

Kia Picanto. 17/18 plate should be within budget. Not the flashiest motor but great for new drivers. My 19yr old has driven hers for 2 years now and she’s not looking at changing it out for any upgrade until end of next year.

[Ezra]

My daughter had a Skoda Citigo as her first car, ran it for almost 6 years and it was faultless. She changed it for a new Aygo X a couple of months ago to celebrate a new job, but she loved the Citigo. There's plenty for sale, well within your budget.

[Mika_98]

Thanks all, really appreciate it. Will look into those options

[ZX10R NIN]

Going a segment up sometimes brings quotes that are similar in price to the smaller cars.

1.0T Astra Tech Line:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412057...

Design:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411276...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411256...

Excite:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412077...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411226...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411076...

[TryingHard]

I have just been going through this and yesterday bought a Renault Clio 0.9 TCE for my son for his first car.

Primary reason is that they can be really cheap to ensure, (the 1.2 is even cheaper) and couldn't find too many horror stories. We were quoted £1,100 for the 0.9 and just over £900 for the 1.2 with a black box (all in his name but we do live in the sticks).

They did a mid faclife in 2016 (his is a 2017) and come with good specification for the age of car and with the hidden door handles look quite good. Look for a Dynamique (if you get the 0.9 you can get the S spec) and they come with stuff like:

- Half leather
- LED lights
- Keyless Entry
- Climate control
- Cruise Control
- Sat Nav/Bluetooth etc (important for the tunes!)

Something like this perhaps (only done 50k)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412036...

Edited by TryingHard on Wednesday 11th December 10:51

Edited by TryingHard on Wednesday 11th December 10:54

[Time4another]

Vw Up, Skoda Citigo or Seat Mii. Great little cars.

[Evil.soup]

I will be in this position soon and the Fiesta is top of the list, although I do also like the Clio mentioned above as an option.

Where the Fiesta is concerned, or most of the other wet belt engines, I would avoid anything with higher miles. Otherwise, as long as something is well maintained, it should go very well.

[Mika_98]

Evil.Soup - He quite likes the Fiesta. Been advised to avoid the EcoBoost and stick with Zetec models. Though, tbh.. I haven't really looking into details yet. Apparently the Zetec is just more reliable. For the Fiestas, what would you consider as high miles?

TryingHard said:

I have just been going through this and yesterday bought a Renault Clio 0.9 TCE for my son for his first car.

Primary reason is that they can be really cheap to ensure, (the 1.2 is even cheaper) and couldn't find too many horror stories. We were quoted £1,100 for the 0.9 and just over £900 for the 1.2 with a black box (all in his name but we do live in the sticks).

They did a mid faclife in 2016 (his is a 2017) and come with good specification for the age of car and with the hidden door handles look quite good. Look for a Dynamique (if you get the 0.9 you can get the S spec) and they come with stuff like:

- Half leather
- LED lights
- Keyless Entry
- Climate control
- Cruise Control
- Sat Nav/Bluetooth etc (important for the tunes!)

Something like this perhaps (only done 50k)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412036...

Edited by TryingHard on Wednesday 11th December 10:51

Edited by TryingHard on Wednesday 11th December 10:54

Thanks, looks like a great option. Added onto the shortlist

[Evil.soup]

Mika_98 said:

Evil.Soup - He quite likes the Fiesta. Been advised to avoid the EcoBoost and stick with Zetec models. Though, tbh.. I haven't really looking into details yet. Apparently the Zetec is just more reliable. For the Fiestas, what would you consider as high miles?

TryingHard said:

I have just been going through this and yesterday bought a Renault Clio 0.9 TCE for my son for his first car.

Primary reason is that they can be really cheap to ensure, (the 1.2 is even cheaper) and couldn't find too many horror stories. We were quoted £1,100 for the 0.9 and just over £900 for the 1.2 with a black box (all in his name but we do live in the sticks).

They did a mid faclife in 2016 (his is a 2017) and come with good specification for the age of car and with the hidden door handles look quite good. Look for a Dynamique (if you get the 0.9 you can get the S spec) and they come with stuff like:

- Half leather
- LED lights
- Keyless Entry
- Climate control
- Cruise Control
- Sat Nav/Bluetooth etc (important for the tunes!)

Something like this perhaps (only done 50k)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412036...

Edited by TryingHard on Wednesday 11th December 10:51

Edited by TryingHard on Wednesday 11th December 10:54

Thanks, looks like a great option. Added onto the shortlist

If well maintained, the zetec engine tends to be pretty robust. I wouldn't be afraid of anything under 120,000 miles as long as it is well maintained. At this mileage though you will be more likely to have all the other usual wear issues, such as bushes, dampers, track rods, etc. Although, if the car is well looked after with no obvious knocks or bangs over bumps, it should be good for a while. No telling really for sure but not usually a big worry.

I have had a number of high mile cars and as long as there are no inherent issues with the cars from manufacture, then as long as there is good maintenance, then all should be well. There are a lot of Fiestas out there, so plenty to pick from with many having good history, so just wait on a good one.

[lornemalvo]

Time4another said:

Vw Up, Skoda Citigo or Seat Mii. Great little cars.

This. I totally agree

[Rob 131 Sport]

My daughter (19 yesterday) exclusively uses our Alfa Mito (12 plate) that we’ve had in the family for 10 years.

She really likes it and the fact it’s a little different to the mainstream Fiesta’s and Corsa’s. However many of her friends have newish Audi A1’s (rich parents).

Maintenance is the key to all these cars and the Alfa has over 100k and has been serviced annually with an all fluids (Gearbox and Coolant) at 50k.

Well worth a look at a Mito for your Nephew.

[sawman]

My lad has a mito (2011, 1.4, 95bhp), its a great little car, we picked it up last summer to keep him mobile during his uni summer vacation, with a plan to sell at the end of the summer, but its kinda got under his skin. It needs a few little jobs doing at this point so the dilemma is keep and mend or trade up. I’d be looking at suzuki swift if we trade him up. My daughter has had a 1.2 swift for 4 years, its been super reliable, and js a great drive

Edited by sawman on Wednesday 25th December 08:30

Edited by sawman on Wednesday 25th December 08:34

[Baldchap]

Pedro25 said:

Kia Picanto. 17/18 plate should be within budget. Not the flashiest motor but great for new drivers. My 19yr old has driven hers for 2 years now and she’s not looking at changing it out for any upgrade until end of next year.

An 18 would still be under warranty, too.

But even a 17 you would expect to be basically perfect having only just come out of warranty.

[stevemcs]

lornemalvo said:

Time4another said:

Vw Up, Skoda Citigo or Seat Mii. Great little cars.

This. I totally agree

Another for one of these.

The ecoboost, it all comes down to service history, we have seen some where the belts have looked like new and over 10 years old, and some that on paper are not due but close to failure, the only difference being servicing.

Budget £800-£1200 for the belt change.

[Rob 131 Sport]

sawman said:

My lad has a mito (2011, 1.4, 95bhp), its a great little car, we picked it up last summer to keep him mobile during his uni summer vacation, with a plan to sell at the end of the summer, but its kinda got under his skin. It needs a few little jobs doing at this point so the dilemma is keep and mend or trade up. I’d be looking at suzuki swift if we trade him up. My daughter has had a 1.2 swift for 4 years, its been super reliable, and js a great drive

Edited by sawman on Wednesday 25th December 08:30

Edited by sawman on Wednesday 25th December 08:34

Apparently according to my fashion conscious daughter a Mito ranks quite highly for coolness in young (affordable) cardom.

[ZX10R NIN]

Rob 131 Sport said:

sawman said:

My lad has a mito (2011, 1.4, 95bhp), its a great little car, we picked it up last summer to keep him mobile during his uni summer vacation, with a plan to sell at the end of the summer, but its kinda got under his skin. It needs a few little jobs doing at this point so the dilemma is keep and mend or trade up. I’d be looking at suzuki swift if we trade him up. My daughter has had a 1.2 swift for 4 years, its been super reliable, and js a great drive

Edited by sawman on Wednesday 25th December 08:30

Edited by sawman on Wednesday 25th December 08:34

Apparently according to my fashion conscious daughter a Mito ranks quite highly for coolness in young (affordable) cardom.

My boy has one it's been great.