first car - what should I go for

Brallaqueen

Hi everyone, I'm very excited as I have just passed my driving test at the ripe old age of 29 (yesterday!).

I'm now looking at getting my first old banger to practice on until I properly leanr to drive . Sub 1k is better as it will proably get banged around a bit and I have been looking on autotrader and found these

Could someone give an opinion on the choices below?

One
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201222474028820/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/1000/fuel-type/petrol/body-type/convertible/page/1/radius/10/postcode/nn14ln?logcode=p

Two
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201223475088366/sort/default/usedcars/body-type/coupe/fuel-type/petrol/price-to/1000/postcode/nn14ln/page/1/radius/10?logcode=p

Three
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201223474454783/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/1000/fuel-type/petrol/page/1/radius/10/postcode/nn14ln?logcode=p

Mr_Thrifty

I'd go for that flashy-looking Saab. Looks like a beaut to me.

RDG

I wouldnt get either of the first 2 as the insurance will be pretty high.

I would suggest looking for a car with an MOT until this time next year for a start. The first rule of bangernomics is to get a car that you can at least run (all being well) for a year before someone will check it again.

A decent service history will help as this probably means that the car has been well maintained.

This looks like a good example (your postcode was in the links you posted)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201222474033747/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/1000/price-from/500/page/1/keywords/service_history/radius/30/postcode/nn14ln?logcode=p

Ok its not very cool but looks like its been well looked after and these are pretty solid cars.

Or this (if it does have a full history)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201222473996680/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/1000/price-from/500/page/3/postcode/nn14ln/radius/30/keywords/service_history?logcode=p

Looked after those civics will last forever I reckon.

Lum

At this price point, it depends more on condition than on make/model, though I wouldn't go for a big thirsty barge like the Saab.

Also worth noting that as a newly passed driver you still have a lot to learn. This isn't a criticism, please don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't recommend buying an automatic now as you may forget how to drive a manual properly.

I'd probably go for something like the Corsa... just not that particular Corsa.

s_b

non of them for you

you want a bread and butter simples car seeing as you are 29 and never driven before and only have a bag o sand
come with me i have a beauty here at the back
3 owners ,long mot ,just had a cambelt ,all books here, everything even 2 keys im going to let you have it for a £1000 and im not even going to call the police because at this price you are robbing it off me

fieasta 1299 ohv with a likkle bit of rust on the back arches but its a dandy car and the all important power steering
or similars money an old 1200/1400 8 valve corsa breeze

bomb proof stuff they will never make cars like this again

Brallaqueen

Thank you very much everyone, you have given me a lot to think about. RDG - very good point about the 12 MOT to get me going, will make sure I have that and a service history.

I have to say part of me is going "Noooooooooo!" at the idea of a skoda, just my ego I guess. I'll start crunching some insurance numbers and see what comes in cheaper.

s_b

service history isnt important at this end of the market and indeed will probably lead you to a lemon
condition is more important
lots of cars under a grand might have 10 owners by now as people have them for a year and move on
that honda they weere a nice car but rusted badly and high insurance
that skoda doesnt have power steering and even i found them a pain in tight spots without it so it wont be for you im afraid

KISS
fiesta corsa ka
clio at a push
all ideal first cars

only basic models so less to go wrong

RDG

s b how will going for a car with a good service history end you with a lemon? If its been serviced at the right intervals at the age were talking then it has been looked after so should be a good bet.

Ive never bought right down at this end so was just applying the usual second hand car rules.

I just picked out 2 in the £600 price range I didnt check equipment etc. and your right on the power steering for new drivers. The honda I thought would be a good shout as mechanically it should be good and if it has some rust then oh well.

I steered away from the obvious as you mentioned as insurance tends to be higher on them than things like the felicia due to other new drivers tending to hit things, whereas we all know only olfd people drive skodas :P

s_b

RDG wrote: »

s b how will going for a car with a good service history end you with a lemon?
/QUOTE]

at this end cars very rarely come with service books so if you spend all day looking for a car that has a fully stamped up book you are either going to be unsuccessful ,buy something outside your comfort zone because its an oddball noone else wants or even more common you are going to get legged into a false service book bought off an internet site to appease the vw buyers

most cars at this end dont have service books they get add hock servicing at mot if it has a problem the words used by customers are 'can you give it a bit of a service after youve tested it'
these bangers would never get a book stamped bar by some people obsessed at getting it done but these are usually oddball cars and arent sold until something major crops up

this is why i said cheap popular and no toys,i equate it to being able to fix them in the desert with a fig leaf so when they do go wrong they go wrong cheaply

RDG

That makes sense Il remember that if I ever look for something at this end of the market.

I dont know how much they go for these days but my wife had a Matiz when she first passed and that was easy to drive and very cheap to run/repair.

funkycoldribena

I wouldnt touch any of them,I'd go for sb's suggestions- KA or Fiesta 1.25 but check insurance first,if its too high then look at some leftfield choices that people dont generally crash eg;volvos-you might be surprised.I always think a KA is the best first car as parts are cheap and they drive pretty well for what they are.