[UK]First car help :)

[willdev]

Guys and gals,

Need some suggestions just about to start driving (17 next month), I've narrowed my choice down to 3 cars Yaris, Polo or Corsa. Yaris, alot more expensive than corsa, yet so much more reliable? Is this true or not? Polo, Not many around in my price bracket (?2000 (?300 tolerance)), however again it has a good name? Corsa, Cheap, lots around so parts should be easy to get and cheap, however im worried loads of chavs drive them? Also thinking about a seat Ibiza however again not many around and my dad says their unreliable!

So which one? Really can't choose!

Im 6ft 4, so leg room is a definitive factor. Also not loaded so don't want to choose a car which is high on the insurance (although I think nearly all are!).

Cars ive got my eye on so far:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv...200944345081458

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv...00945345293931/

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv...200944344794511

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv...200945345415929

I live near cambridge the train station post code is: CB1 2JW if anyone wants to look at autotrader for m:):) . (?2300 max).

Should be getting one next weeke:) :)

Than:D :D

[what]

Is the ?2000 for the car or does it include insurance as well?

I drive a Corsa, I'm not a chav:pp

[lt8480]

A Corsas is a great little car and they hold their value well. Good steering and the feel of the gearbox is better than a lot of other similarly priced cars. Also they are closer to a "proper car" than most other little cars. If you can get a 5 door even more so.

@ +what... a corsa isn't really a chavs car unless you have put a music system and other modifications to it worth more than the car.

[willdev]

Is the ?2000 for the car or does it include insurance as well?

I drive a Corsa, I'm not a chav:pp

Just for the car :))

A Corsas is a great little car and they hold their value well. Good steering and the feel of the gearbox is better than a lot of other similarly priced cars. Also they are closer to a "proper car" than most other little cars. If you can get a 5 door even more so.

@ +what... a corsa isn't really a chavs car unless you have put a music system and other modifications to it worth more than the car.

I think I will put a music system in it though, (just speakers) as I listen to alot of music:pp.

It seems its either a Yaris or a Corsa, What did you think of those links? 'What' whats space like inside your corsa?

[what]

'What' whats space like inside your corsa?

I have a '99 3-door. Most of the time it's just me in the car so I have the boot and 4 other seats, and the footwells, to put my stuff in, so I'm alright. That being said, I did manage to take up me and four others and their bags to Thorpe Park and back - 'twas cramped in the back but I was sitting in the front so who cares :p But since I have a 1.2, while everyone could fit in, the engine was struggling a fair bit on the hills and I wouldn't do it again with 92000 miles on the clock. Being 6ft 4, you'll need the drivers seat way back, but you shouldn't need to bend your knees too much. Of course, that all depends on what driving position you're most comfortable with.

If it's just going to be mostly just you in the car, or you and just one passenger, then it's fine. But if you're going to put people in the back regularly, the lower cc engines can struggle. But even so, it's a brilliant first car. Just one thing though, I know there's at least one model of Corsa that's banned on the practical driving test, so if you're going to learn/take the test in your own car, make sure you don't get one that's banned.

[BGM]

i'm 6ft 2 (ish), and i really stuggle to sit in and drive any super-minis

my first car was a '93 vaux astra (in 2002), and that cost me ?400!:DD

just something to think about:))

if i had a choice though id go with the polo

[lt8480]

5 doors usually give you slightly more room in the back as they are ever so slightly wider (and give you easier access too). Being 6ft 2 you're going to going to need the seat all the way back or almost in most cars making sitting behind the driver never great unless you get something bigger like a modeo :p

Like +what says - a 1.2 on a car that age is never going to be good for day to day carrying of a full car load. 2 in the back you are probably fine, but 5 people in the car and luggage is a lot for a car that size, but it will take it.

The problem is as a first car the bigger the engine the more the expensive the insurance so going over 1.2 probably isn't an option. The likelihood engine size is a no decision. If you budget for insurance allows for a bigger engine your are probably better off cutting back the insurance and getting a newer car (newer Corsas have different style engines and actually quite a bit more powerful compared with the same size engine of older models. - also the fact they are newer should cause you less problems and again give slightly more power as the engine will be deteriorated less.)

Anyway I wouldn't recommend the 1litres as I think its only a 3 cylinder and consequently noticeably different to drive to a 1.2

[lt8480]

The more you are willing to travel the more you will find.

eg. corsa 1.2

[Guest]

i had a S reg polo for my first car :) in 2006 Didnt pass my test till i was 26-27 ish. Didn't cost me much and it was a good runner. There is something about your first car, it has a kind of magic that you never get back once you have got rid of it. After looking at the links you provided i would get the polo :)

[robyholmes]

I have a 1991 Corsa and I love it! (Mind you just had head gasket repaired) with a MP3 CD player. Goes very well and with 5 doors does feel like a 'real car' no a small 3 door that you have to kind of crawl in to get in back.

[willdev]

i'm 6ft 2 (ish), and i really stuggle to sit in and drive any super-minis

my first car was a '93 vaux astra (in 2002), and that cost me ?400!:DD

just something to think about:))

if i had a choice though id go with the polo

Can't really get a astra, insurance will most likely be way too high :((, would love to though it was my first car I went in when I was little!

5 doors usually give you slightly more room in the back as they are ever so slightly wider (and give you easier access too). Being 6ft 2 you're going to going to need the seat all the way back or almost in most cars making sitting behind the driver never great unless you get something bigger like a modeo:pp

Like +what says - a 1.2 on a car that age is never going to be good for day to day carrying of a full car load. 2 in the back you are probably fine, but 5 people in the car and luggage is a lot for a car that size, but it will take it.

The problem is as a first car the bigger the engine the more the expensive the insurance so going over 1.2 probably isn't an option. The likelihood engine size is a no decision. If you budget for insurance allows for a bigger engine your are probably better off cutting back the insurance and getting a newer car (newer Corsas have different style engines and actually quite a bit more powerful compared with the same size engine of older models. - also the fact they are newer should cause you less problems and again give slightly more power as the engine will be deteriorated less.)

Anyway I wouldn't recommend the 1litres as I think its only a 3 cylinder and consequently noticeably different to drive to a 1.2

I think I will opt for 1.2 litre then and try to get a 5dr version but there few and far between :(( .

Thanks for all the other replies too! Much appreciated:))

[BGM]

if you do the pass plus course and put your parents on your insurance as occiasonal drivers (not you on theirs as occaisonal drivers!) the insurance can come down a fair bit.

pass plus is definetely a good thing to do if you're a new driver

[willdev]

if you do the pass plus course and put your parents on your insurance as occiasonal drivers (not you on theirs as occaisonal drivers!) the insurance can come down a fair bit.

pass plus is definetely a good thing to do if you're a new driver

Yeah I think I will be going down that route :). And I think its just ?30 to do pass plus so I will be doing that too:))

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv...200945345556143

Might go have a look at that? :))

[what]

Pass Plus is more than ?30. You have to pay an instructor for six hours of driving.

[willdev]

Pass Plus is more than ?30. You have to pay an instructor for six hours of driving.

Oh well my friend is wrong then! Ah well, I think i will still do it as it teaches you some extra things

[lt8480]

Its probably ?30 for the test fee + other costs.

[Brian M. Veteran]

Its probably ?30 for the test fee + other costs.

If that's for the pass plus, you're way out - there's no test, as such, it's whatever the cost of 6 hours of driving lessons are (and beware that most "commercialised" driving schools charge more per hour once you've passed your test.

Depending on the instructor, it'll be anywhere between ?100 and ?200 for the course. The amount it saves you varies greatly, but it's usually always more than the course costs, and can be anything up to the equivalent of a year's no claims.

[Max Veteran]

Get the Polo.

I have a very similar Polo like the one you posted in your first post, and that has lasted me since I first started driving (5ish years ago). It is an incredibly reliable motor and very well made. Mines been in a couple of major accidents and without any work needed (besides cosmetical) and its running like a champ. The only quibble is that the 1.2's are 3cyl instead of the normal 4cyl. It can still do 120mph.

Oh, and 1 year of no claims bonus will probably equal the time and money spent on the pass plus in the first place. Get out there and drive - nothing is substitute for real world experience :)

[lt8480]

If that's for the pass plus, you're way out - there's no test, as such, it's whatever the cost of 6 hours of driving lessons are (and beware that most "commercialised" driving schools charge more per hour once you've passed your test.

Depending on the instructor, it'll be anywhere between ?100 and ?200 for the course. The amount it saves you varies greatly, but it's usually always more than the course costs, and can be anything up to the equivalent of a year's no claims.

My mistake, I've never looked into it as when I passed years ago I only needed a car occasionally and so was on a parents car/insurance, the insurance was only ?300 or something in total.

I was under the impressed you could fail it? - presumably the 6 hours then is one "test/lesson" and decides if you "pass"?

[Brian M. Veteran]

It's down to the instructor to "Sign you off" if he thinks you've shown the correct standard.

[sharpy2k4]

a 1.4 astra won't cost too much on insurance,

i went for a 1.6 focus and thats ?1600 fully comp for my first year.

now 2nd year its ?800. im 20.

a Seat Ibiza is a VERY reliable car, its the same brand as VW and Audi, so it is a very reliable car, essentially a golf with a different shell. so they are a good option, my mate had a 1.4 99/00' Ibiza with 80k on the clock and no major problems for the 2 years he had it. good runner, economic, fast, and had 5 doors. perfect.seriously, don't try to limit yourself to 1 or 2 choices, especially as your tall, you'll wanna get a hatchback rather than a super mini.

I love my focus, got it last May, 59k on clock, Zetec edition (all mod cons) for ?3300. now its on 80k miles so coming up to Timing belt change.

However, with your budget, either go for a high mileage hatch (astra/focus style) as the repairs will have already been done by the family, and the cash you could save could go towards improvements or other things. or a low mileage super mini (will cost more but less mileage)

[Sensayshun]

Drive my girlfriends 998cc corsa. On a 97 plate.

Sure it's slow, 0-62 is 16.5seconds, but it's not that bad, you just have to rag it sometimes, you'll have to do that in any small car which we can get insurance on.

As for size, I drive it. I'm 6 foot 1, my girlfriend drives it who's 5 foot 11, but she's all legs so I know the leg room is fine. And my mate has just sold his, he owned it for 2 years with no trouble at all and he's 6 foot 7.

Yeah, I'd suggest a corsa. So far it's been damned reliable too. I won't bother telling you insurance figures as our circumstances are different, but the 1litre is insurance group 3? maybe? or lower, can't remember.

[lt8480]

Drive my girlfriends 998cc corsa. On a 97 plate.

Sure it's slow, 0-62 is 16.5seconds, but it's not that bad, you just have to rag it sometimes, you'll have to do that in any small car which we can get insurance on.

As for size, I drive it. I'm 6 foot 1, my girlfriend drives it who's 5 foot 11, but she's all legs so I know the leg room is fine. And my mate has just sold his, he owned it for 2 years with no trouble at all and he's 6 foot 7.

Yeah, I'd suggest a corsa. So far it's been damned reliable too. I won't bother telling you insurance figures as our circumstances are different, but the 1litre is insurance group 3? maybe? or lower, can't remember.

The old 1 litre corsas used to be group 1, and the 1.2s group 4. Not sure if the newer models are as they are slightly more powerful.

You'll be looking at ?1000 insurance in your own name.

[?AK]

I have a '97 C Mercedes (W202) and I love it. IFAIK you can find really good ones in the UK.

[willdev]

Again thanks for all the replies, really helpful :D

Its either,

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv...00945345293931/

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv...200945345627136

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv...00945345291942/

Think I will just have to go look now :), Any other comments :)