Sister looking for her first car

[Toonshorty]

My sister is starting a new job for the year and is looking to get a car for the commute.

She'll be going to university in Winchester this time next year, so would likely use the car for the occasional journey back home. The main consideration here is that home is in Newcastle, so it'll be a 5-6 hour journey. For that reason I'd probably want to avoid the really small cars if possible. At the same time (just to be difficult), she doesn't want a car that's "too big" because she lacks a bit of confidence with parking.

She's 18 which means insurance is another major consideration - although quotes are all over the place for various types of car so we probably can look beyond the usual 'go-to' cars for young drivers.

I've put in a few cars already, all of which came back with quotes of around £1.1-1.2k with a black box:

'05 Toyota Corolla 1.8 VVT-i (110hp)
'08 Suzuki Swift Sport 1.6 (123hp)
'08 KIA Cee'd 1.6 (120hp)

The Mk5 Golf/Jetta with the 1.4 TSI (138hp) is also around £1250 for insurance with a black box, although jumps to £2.7k without one. The older 1.6 FSI engine is usually also okay insurance wise. Corolla and Cee'd are the only cars with sensible quotes for non-telematics insurance (~£1500).

Budget is ideally around the £2000 mark but could stretch to £3000.

So in short, looking for a car that's small-medium size, under £3000, comfortable for the occasional 5 hour journey and can be insured by a young driver (although some 1.8/2.0 litre engines aren't horrific insurance wise).

[hyphen]

mx5

[condor]

Old style Ford Ka - reliable, cheap and easy to drive/ park.

[PositronicRay]

I'd add Aygo/C1/!07 to the list.

Mrs PR had one really good, run it for pennies, reliable and monthly would do a 6 hr round trip with ease.
Only complaint was the long gearing, motorway hills @ 70 would need a down change, if you could maintain 80 not so much of a problem.

[Willy Nilly]

Toonshorty said:

My sister is starting a new job for the year and is looking to get a car for the commute.

She'll be going to university in Winchester this time next year, so would likely use the car for the occasional journey back home. The main consideration here is that home is in Newcastle, so it'll be a 5-6 hour journey.

Any small car would be perfectly capable of that journey,it's only 6 hours.

[AJB88]

Tried looking at Diesels?

VAG 1.9TDI or 1.4TDI

[craigjm]

Fiat 500

[tjlees]

I had the same issue with my daughters and the cost of insurance but wanting to avoid small cars such as the 106 etc for long distance and safety reasons.

I went for a fiesta mk7 1.6 tdci, which was the same insurance cost as the 106 for my daughters.

It's also a safe car - another young driver failed to stop at a junction and she hit the other car full on at around 30. All the airbags went off including the kneel bag, side bag and curtain bag. Both walked away unscathed - he was in an Audi A1.

The replacement car actually reduced the insurance because it had city collision avoidance - that was a golf 1.6tdi.

It also worth noting that multi-car policies help reduce the insurance and allow daughter NBC buildup.

[RobXjcoupe]

Ford Focus, cheap as chips to buy, service and insure.
Loads to choose from in your price range so you can be picky. Don't buy diesel though.
Earlier ghia versions are better inside. All versions used galvanised panels so any visible rust walk away.

[TVRJAS]

My 18yr old Niece went for a Mazda 2 Tamura with a black box fitted.

Two years later it's been faultless,not driven it myself but have been a passenger and couldn't fault it as small cars go.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say look for a Clio:

1.6 Clio GT

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Alfa Mito (engine might be a bit small)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Ford Focus 1.6 Ghia/Titanium

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Volvo C30 a more insurance friendly car than the Focus for some reason.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

1.5/1.8 Nissan Almera SVE

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Mazda3 1.6 Takara

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Seat Ibiza FR 1.8T

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

1.8 Honda Civic SE/Sport

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[Shore]

Fiesta MK6 fits the bill brilliantly. Best cars in their class

[Countdown]

Shore said:

Fiesta MK6 fits the bill brilliantly. Best cars in their class

That's a good idea.

OP - the Corolla is absolutely mind numbing to drive. However it won't break down and can do mega miles with just basic servicing. Btw the 1.8 has 190bhp+ I think you might be confusing it with the 1.6vvti.

[M4cruiser]

Yes any of those, but I would add Skoda Fabia to the list.

[Toonshorty]

Thanks for the responses chaps, gives us a few options.

There's a nice Fiesta 1.6 Ghia near us that looks like a good buy - plenty of power (99hp) and sensible insurance (£1100 with a box, £1500 without).

How were the 1.6 engines reliability wise?

[Defconluke]

Have you tried a Honda Civic on the insurance quotes?

Spaceship shape (FN series) is well into budget and available with an insurance friendly 1.4L. THIS one looks to be in good shape with a good spec that includes alloys, A/C, cruise and reverse parking sensors.

[RobXjcoupe]

Toonshorty said:

Thanks for the responses chaps, gives us a few options.

There's a nice Fiesta 1.6 Ghia near us that looks like a good buy - plenty of power (99hp) and sensible insurance (£1100 with a box, £1500 without).

How were the 1.6 engines reliability wise?

Mileage dependant but as long as owner shows proof of regular servicing other than a stamp. What year is it?

[Toonshorty]

RobXjcoupe said:

Mileage dependant but as long as owner shows proof of regular servicing other than a stamp. What year is it?

It's 2004 with 33,000 miles - looks to have a full service history as well.

[RobXjcoupe]

Toonshorty said:

RobXjcoupe said:

Mileage dependant but as long as owner shows proof of regular servicing other than a stamp. What year is it?

It's 2004 with 33,000 miles - looks to have a full service history as well.

Mileage is very low, cambelts need changing every 10 years if 100k hasn't been reached so ideally you need to see a receipt from around 2013/14 onwards or get it done asap if no proof is found.
Personally a 2004 1.6 ghia Ford Focus would be a better car with similar or slightly higher mileage.
Mk1 Focus is a better built car on those years.

[Toonshorty]

RobXjcoupe said:

Mileage is very low, cambelts need changing every 10 years if 100k hasn't been reached so ideally you need to see a receipt from around 2013/14 onwards or get it done asap if no proof is found.
Personally a 2004 1.6 ghia Ford Focus would be a better car with similar or slightly higher mileage.
Mk1 Focus is a better built car on those years.

Yeah, would need to confirm, but the description says that cam belt was done in 2015 with 28k on the clock - so that's a good start.