Need Suggestions For First Car; Punto, ,Corsa etc ???

Tilt

I currently have a 2000 Punto HGT which I have owned from new. It's done 65k and runs like a dream. Biggest expense to date was a cam belt change. Every thing still works and certainly no issues as suggested in Watch Dog.

Previous to my Punto, I have owned 14 other Fiats and the only one I had any problems with was a blown turbo on an Uno which was sorted under warranty.

My next car will deffo be another Fiat without doubt.

Glitzkiss

King_Nothing wrote: »

First thing to do is to get insurance quotes for the types of cars you're looking at, and take it from there, under no certain terms go and buy a car, then sort out insurance for it after the fact.

I agree with this.

Also are you looking at small cars because you're happier driving them or because you think they'll be cheapest to insure? If it's the latter then I'd forget about the typical small first time car as they're regarded as high-risk and are expensive insurance-wise. If you're happy driving larger cars maybe consider an estate or something that's not cool but unusual as a first car.

mikey72

I've read that, but never had a quote where the kids insurance is cheaper on a bigger car. Always been by group. Group 1 is too new, http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/advice/car-insurance-groups/?ig=2 http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/advice/car-insurance-groups/?ig=3 http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/advice/car-insurance-groups/?ig=4 etc. Corsa does well, but make sure you look at the varients listed, even different spec trim can push it up several groups.

tightrs

i bought my 5 door 2002 punto dynamic new sept 2002, the ecu went on the second to last day of the 3 year warranty, so was repaired free other than that i have had no trouble whatsoever in the 8 years i had it ,i gave it to my eldest daughter and she has run it for last 2 years .
The only issue she has had was last years test ,it failed on rust on the underside near the seatbelt mountings cost me £40 for a couple of plates.
great cars ,economical to run and insure and surprisingly spacious,i would have thought you could get a very good example for £800 to £1400

s_b

punto and corsa are ideal strawberry
take your time nothing over 70,000 miles, history not a ball breaker condition is plus venders attitude
buy from local established dealer if possible he might be dearer than a nailed up sausage but at least he is a shoulder to cry on if it does break
(cars are washing machines with wheels so can break down)
as for the misguided soles telling you to buy japanese when in fact they usually mean sunderland or poland then ignore them for they no noth what they say:)

jaydeeuk1

s_b wrote: »

)
as for the misguided soles telling you to buy japanese when in fact they usually mean sunderland or poland then ignore them for they no noth what they say:)

Not so much where they're built - the japanese / koreans have higher quality control. Thats why Toyotas today have far higher quality than Rovers did - both built in same country.

Also didn't realise that the Daihatsu sirion, Suzuki alto, kia Rio or Daewoo kalos came from Sunderland or Poland

mikey72

Is India better? That's the Suzuki.

Mexico1

Don't rule out the Skoda Fabia, I have seen these with 1.4 engines having group 2 insurance. Also, the newer shape Nissan Micra 1.2 is often group 2.

gingerdad

We bought a 2002 punto in 2005 and ran it till 2010 no major issue in that time just the usual servicing etc..

gilbert_and_sullivan

worried_jim wrote: »

I didn't realise Tata had flooded the market with Indian cars just yet!

op- I would forget about the cars that you have listed and go Far east, Euro eco boxes are over priced and many will have had loads of teenage owners so will have been thrashed and scrapped already. Don't forget the Toyota Starlet.

City Rover a good example of Tata quality, particularly the Union flag stuck to the boot, about the only part that didn't fall off..;)

Agree about Starlet, probably one of the best small cars ever made, too many excellent examples of which were scrapped under the idiotic scheme, bought and carefully looked after by mature owners who were hoodwinked into replacing them with cheap tat which will be in the scrapyard long before their Starlet gave its first hiccup..