Small car budget £8k

gav88

My brother has a £8k budget for his first car. Looking for something that will be cheap on insurance and fairly low mileage, they are the essentials and then obviously something as "nice" as possible. What would people suggest as a good option? 

Stubod

..pump your preferences in to "Auto trader" using their various filters and see what comes up?

As a starter for 10, I guess you will be looking at low insurance group, probably a hatch back, 1-1.2 ltr petrol engine and less than 3 years old, and a "local" dealer for in case of any warranty issues. Under 20k miles.

Then probably Japanese (Toyota) or Korean (i10,i20), or possibly VAG group, (Polo, Golf, Polo, Fabia).... 

Grumpy_chap

Skoda Citigo

tacpot12

How old is your brother? Do they have a family, or a dog? What sort of journeys do they need to be able to do? Where do they live? Do they have a license to drive a manual car? 

All these questions might affect what would be suitable for them.  

Do they have enough driving experience to want to take the risk of spending £8000 on a car that might get damaged or crashed?

I've been looking for a family friend for their new driver's first car and have suggested they don't spend more than £2500 on a first car. This should get something that is reliable and cheap to insure, but they will lose a lot less if the car picks up the odd scrape or two.

gav88

tacpot12 said:

How old is your brother? Do they have a family, or a dog? What sort of journeys do they need to be able to do? Where do they live? Do they have a license to drive a manual car? 

All these questions might affect what would be suitable for them.  

Do they have enough driving experience to want to take the risk of spending £8000 on a car that might get damaged or crashed?

I've been looking for a family friend for their new driver's first car and have suggested they don't spend more than £2500 on a first car. This should get something that is reliable and cheap to insure, but they will lose a lot less if the car picks up the odd scrape or two.

20, no family or dog. A family member is buying it for them and given £8k budget. 

Ant555

Is it an 8k budget including insurance - its feasible that a new/young driver might have to split 7k car 1k insurance.

Cheaper would be something like an Aygo, rising to an Ibiza FR (good looking cars with relatively small engine) , VW Polo.

tr7phil

My son has just bought his first car with the same budget, he got a 16 plate Alfa Romeo Mito with the 2 cylinder turbo engine and is very happy with it.  his insurance was £651.25 for the first year which we though was very good.

BOWFER

Grumpy_chap said:

Skoda Citigo

This is a good shout, along with the sister cars (Seat Mii and VW Up)
They're so well built ,it's astonishing for a small car to feel so solid and not at all tinny.
The lack of oomph from the normally aspirated engine does get tiring quite quickly though, we're getting rid of our one now that our daughter has been driving 7 months and is confident.
Something with a turbo and some torque!
It served its purpose and I'm sure it will sell quickly to another newbie. 

sheslookinhot

Seat Ibiza, got two in the household and neither has been one bit of bother. Ultra reliable cars.

peter_the_piper

Had a Kia Picanto for 9 years no problems, except those caused by other drivers. Zero tax , though now about £125, insurance for an ancient driver about  £225 and averages about 50mpg. Nippy and quiet. plus 7 year warrenty.