Corsa E for new driver
Discussion
My friends son is not far off taking his test and they have started looking into car options for him. He's 19 so obviously insurance costs are the biggest concern.
Budget is around £5k and he wants a small petrol manual hatchback to keep things simple. So far they have looked at the Aygo and VW Up but as he may need to do some longer distance drives on occasion they felt that those might be a bit too small and unrefined.
He has sat in a Corsa E and quite liked it. They seem good value to me but there are so many engine and trim options that it's quite difficult to know what's best.
I said that I'd go naturally aspirated to keep costs down. There seems to be a 1.4 ecoFlex engine with either 75 or 90bhp and most of these are in the lowest insurance group. There's also a 1.2. Obviously the 1.4 turbo would drive better but I'd assume its more costly to insure?
Has anyone had a Corsa as a first car and if so what would you go for?
Any other small car recommendations for new drivers welcome too thanks.
Budget is around £5k and he wants a small petrol manual hatchback to keep things simple. So far they have looked at the Aygo and VW Up but as he may need to do some longer distance drives on occasion they felt that those might be a bit too small and unrefined.
He has sat in a Corsa E and quite liked it. They seem good value to me but there are so many engine and trim options that it's quite difficult to know what's best.
I said that I'd go naturally aspirated to keep costs down. There seems to be a 1.4 ecoFlex engine with either 75 or 90bhp and most of these are in the lowest insurance group. There's also a 1.2. Obviously the 1.4 turbo would drive better but I'd assume its more costly to insure?
Has anyone had a Corsa as a first car and if so what would you go for?
Any other small car recommendations for new drivers welcome too thanks.
One daughter wanted an Adam as a first car, they’re basically a short wheelbase Corsa.
1.2 was massively cheaper to insure.
I’m not a VX fan, and after looking at some rough 3 year oldish ( they were now out of production) I bought the best I could find, one owner, local, low mileage.
So far it’s needed a gearbox rebuild and flooded the car with pinholes in the rear washer hose, it also destroyed its front discs within 20,000 miles, but that might have been owner number one’s fault.
It’s on 18” wheels and has a very hard ride, you can feel it flex and the doors move over big bumps.
We’ve had Fiat 500’s, superficially the Adam seems much more robustly built, but its definitely mechanically inferior.
1.2 was massively cheaper to insure.
I’m not a VX fan, and after looking at some rough 3 year oldish ( they were now out of production) I bought the best I could find, one owner, local, low mileage.
So far it’s needed a gearbox rebuild and flooded the car with pinholes in the rear washer hose, it also destroyed its front discs within 20,000 miles, but that might have been owner number one’s fault.
It’s on 18” wheels and has a very hard ride, you can feel it flex and the doors move over big bumps.
We’ve had Fiat 500’s, superficially the Adam seems much more robustly built, but its definitely mechanically inferior.
ChrisH72 said:
My friends son is not far off taking his test and they have started looking into car options for him. He's 19 so obviously insurance costs are the biggest concern.
Budget is around £5k and he wants a small petrol manual hatchback to keep things simple. So far they have looked at the Aygo and VW Up but as he may need to do some longer distance drives on occasion they felt that those might be a bit too small and unrefined.
He has sat in a Corsa E and quite liked it. They seem good value to me but there are so many engine and trim options that it's quite difficult to know what's best.
I said that I'd go naturally aspirated to keep costs down. There seems to be a 1.4 ecoFlex engine with either 75 or 90bhp and most of these are in the lowest insurance group. There's also a 1.2. Obviously the 1.4 turbo would drive better but I'd assume its more costly to insure?
Has anyone had a Corsa as a first car and if so what would you go for?
Any other small car recommendations for new drivers welcome too thanks.
They' decent but when looking for my nephew I found that the 1.4 N/A Astra was the same to insure & actually a better overall car.Budget is around £5k and he wants a small petrol manual hatchback to keep things simple. So far they have looked at the Aygo and VW Up but as he may need to do some longer distance drives on occasion they felt that those might be a bit too small and unrefined.
He has sat in a Corsa E and quite liked it. They seem good value to me but there are so many engine and trim options that it's quite difficult to know what's best.
I said that I'd go naturally aspirated to keep costs down. There seems to be a 1.4 ecoFlex engine with either 75 or 90bhp and most of these are in the lowest insurance group. There's also a 1.2. Obviously the 1.4 turbo would drive better but I'd assume its more costly to insure?
Has anyone had a Corsa as a first car and if so what would you go for?
Any other small car recommendations for new drivers welcome too thanks.
Astra Tech Line:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504030...
Design:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503170...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504141...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503190...
SRI:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504191...
Check the different trim levels against the insurance as certain models cost more even though they're the same car underneath my nephew has a Design.
paul_c123 said:
SRi is now a trim level, it doesn't mean anything to do with the performance or the engine any more.
Yes I'd noticed that. A 1.2 SRI does 60 in 16 seconds! But it looks a bit like a VXR. I thought the 'SRI' tag would up the insurance. Most of them are badged 'excite ' or 'energy' which is a bit ironic.
I think all show without the go is where they're aiming.
Can recommend the Up/Citigo/Mi or any of the Aygo/C1/108 clan for learners.
No 1 son had an Up and No 2 son currently has a Peugeot 108. All very reliable, cheap to run and tax, if not insure for a 17yr old but you'll not find much cheaper.
Great little cars.
No 2 son's girlfriend has a 1.2 Corsa D and my wife has a 1.2 Fiat 500. All good first time cars.
No 1 son had an Up and No 2 son currently has a Peugeot 108. All very reliable, cheap to run and tax, if not insure for a 17yr old but you'll not find much cheaper.
Great little cars.
No 2 son's girlfriend has a 1.2 Corsa D and my wife has a 1.2 Fiat 500. All good first time cars.
LightweightLouisDanvers said:
Can recommend the Up/Citigo/Mi or any of the Aygo/C1/108 clan for learners.
No 1 son had an Up and No 2 son currently has a Peugeot 108. All very reliable, cheap to run and tax, if not insure for a 17yr old but you'll not find much cheaper.
Great little cars.
No 2 son's girlfriend has a 1.2 Corsa D and my wife has a 1.2 Fiat 500. All good first time cars.
Another vote for the Citigo, fantastic little car. The Elegance/SEL trim has some decent upgrades like sat nav/bluetooth and heated seats. Used to get 55+ mpg everywhere and group 1-4 insurance No 1 son had an Up and No 2 son currently has a Peugeot 108. All very reliable, cheap to run and tax, if not insure for a 17yr old but you'll not find much cheaper.
Great little cars.
No 2 son's girlfriend has a 1.2 Corsa D and my wife has a 1.2 Fiat 500. All good first time cars.
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