First car!!

CashStrappedPrincess

Hi

I have to recommend the Renault Clio for a first car it was mine. I paid just over £1000 for a 8 year old one with 70k on the clock in 2008. Everyone said how stupid I was, typical stupid French car discrimination! but that car was perfect for 2 years I only had two problems with bearings in the full two years which cost me around £40 to fix each time. It still looks quite fresh, a 1.2 8v was still getting me 40mpg+ even with 98k on the clock, and was only group 2 insurance.

I really wanted a 107 as my second car but after years of owning my Clio I was determined not to downgrade my spec, my car came with alot and to be honest the 107/C1/Aygo couldnt offer me the same value for money as the clio did. They are very cheap to run, insure, fuel but IMO the interior shows that for such a young car.

HTH

bigjl

There are lots of the older Clios around at good prices, if a car drives OK and sounds OK, then it is normally OK, you only want it for a few months so just try and find the nicest and newest for your money.

I wouldn't touch a cheap Corsa, though you can find lots of Fiestas with the 1.25 engine for your price, not fancy but reliable motoring one, just avoid the boy racer type ones.

For cheapness look for unfashionable cars, Kia, Hyundai etc. My wife had a Hyundai Accent that refused to die, now given to a friends son to learn in and it still refuses to die, ugly but reliable.

Aygo/C1/107 has lots of bad reviews, relating to mechanical fragility.

The Punto is popular as a first car, there are load around aswell. They do have issues though.

Before you buy any cheap car, check the owner forum for that car, to get an idea of what to look for.

rev_henry

I looked at a Cuore when buying my car. It would probably have been ok but, erm, I didn't buy it. The one I looked at was an 800cc which would have been hopeless on the motorway lol. I eventually bought a Hyundai Accent (99S) which as bigjl says refuses to die. Haven't really spent anything on it other than new wipers, oil changes etc. Oh and I changed the cambelt a few months ago.

If you're buying a Fiesta, an older one anyway you want the 1.25 NOT the 1.3.

bigjl

Only real issue with the old Accent was rear antiroll bar droplinks they are a weakspot but take five minutes to change, bit sore on front pads, but wifes was Auto.

If I was ever in the market for a cheap runner the Accent would be right in there, though they seem to be almost the same price now as they where 4 years ago!

My wifes cost £450 down the Auction with 42k on the clock, noticed one the same year go through the auction a month of so ago for £400! There is a big market for cheap runners in these days of high insurance.