GTTurbo

For a cheap first car up to £2000 it is the newest low insurance car (group 3) I can find for my girlfriend.

£2000 buys a 2001 car with power steering - essential, electric windows - important for shopping trip carparks! and looks 'ok' with its alloys etc.

Anyone driven one?

Anyone owned one more importantly?

Had thought about a Seat Arosa but £2000 buys a ropy old one in need of brakes, clutch tyres and are generally shabby!

Thanks.

Brendan Hughes

I suggest you search the euroNcap site for crash test results. Then, if you don't like your girlfriend, let her buy one.

JoeyDeacon

My wife had one as a courtesy car whilst her Punto was being serviced. She felt so unsafe driving it she refused to drive it again when she got it home.

As has been suggested, look at some pictures of this car in crash tests and prepare to be shocked.

40 MPH crash :

GTTurbo

I knew they were not the safest car on the road but had not realised that.

Thanks for the advice.

Jamescsti

I owned one for about 2 years, was my first car!
VEry reliable, never had a problem with it, bit basic inside, nice car to drive, any more questions feel free to ask?

Colinj

My mates after 40 / 60 head on crash into a drunk driver.....









Took it rather well I thought & done what it was meant to!!

Colinj

What about a Ford Ka??? Will probably be a better car than the Fiat & base models start ig 1 or 2

Brendan Hughes

If she's a new driver I wouldn't put her in anything so small. Maybe a 205, Fiesta etc. But not one of those glorified lawnmowers.

MooseRacer

Would (not) like to see pics of a 205 doing the same test as that one above ^

Get her something as modern as possible if you want a small car - otherwise get some mahoosive old Volvo or something

Gompo

I've probably driven about 10k miles in one over the past 2-3 years.

Other than the obvious safety issue I dont think there is a lot wrong with them. They're fun to drive, quite nippy and with the FIRE engine are pretty reliable.
The only problem we had with ours was the synchro to 2nd gear going. Was quite cheap to run although the tyres are not an especially normal size so I think they were quite expensive. I dont think there were any build quality problems with ours, and at 6'4'' i could fit in quite comfortably (dont think that will matter to your girlfriend). Rear seat space was non-existant if i were driving though..

I guess the safety issue is something you dont really want to compromise on, particularly when it's your girlfriend. If it were not for that I'd wholly recommend it, although I doubt the safety is much worse then your average £1-2K super-mini, and you'd struggle to find a more fun modern 'drivers' car of this size.

Cheers, Greg.

MooseRacer

although I doubt the safety is much worse then your average £1-2K super-mini

Nail on head, and its a damn sight better than an ageing 205 or Fiesta for sure

green scooby sport

i drove around in the cinqucento (sporting) the older model never had any problems with it very cheap to run and low insurance and a good handling car, the newer model i would of thought should be just as good

Andy M3

Ford Ka all day long thanks - safety is an issue - there are plenty of cars to choose from that are cheap to buy / run. BTW insurance grouping is a guide, but often the most unlikely cars can be cheaper than you think, even if they are relatively high on insurance.