Dunk

iTrader: (1)

Looking to find a first car for my nephew to learn in and then have. Budget no more than £750 to buy, it needs to be as cheap as poss to run and insure and not look like his Gran's car (Micra).
I was thinking of a Peugot 106, what else would fit the bill ?

D

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Smaller the engine, the better for a first time driver, try to avoid the micra's unless you give them a good check over, the front member normally rots away so cars like the fiat chinquicento etc are the best cars to go for, but the 106 is good as long as your nephew doesnt have huge feet (offset pedals).

Tony

stilover

A bog standard 106 is utter rubbish. As said it has offset pedals (but you do get used to them) and unless it's a Rallye or a GTI there not worth owning.

I got asked this exact question a few months back from a work collegue buying his son his first car. My answer was a Ford fiesta. Lots of kit, good ride, decent engines, cheep to maintain and repair, and being 17, he won't get laughed at.

Dunk

iTrader: (1)

Thks, 106 duly struck from the list for the pedal issue. I'll take a look at Fiestas

D

Jamz3k

Fiat Punto! Can look pretty sharp with a few tasteful mods and apparently out classes the equivalently aged Fiestas etc.

austinwrx

insurance is the killer. even if the car is 750, his insurance at 17/18 is likely to be double that ?

I'd avoid the 106- I had one for two weeks back in the 90's when they were new (does that make sense) - utter rubbish. nearly undriveable due to the horrendous pedal cluster.


puntos can be quite cool, watch the cylinder head, they tend to blow gaskets at about 60 k.

scoobyc

iTrader: (2)

saxo.

i had a 306. 1.6 at 17. ins group 5. great car

polo?

scoobyc

iTrader: (2)

classic mini?

djmisio85

Any cheap car with an MOT in my opinion...

Who cares about how good it is, or what possible mods can be done it's a first car...

My first car was a 1 litre Citroen AX.... great car, cheap to run, cheap to fix, and even handled quite well..... just ask some of the people at trax 2005/6 who were driving bigger engined cars.... sure, they took me on the straights.... but teh corners were a different matter

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Pug 106.

I have a little 1.1 as a runaround whilst money is tight. Cheap tax, insurance, parts ar readily availabel cheap and you can do most work on it yourself with a socket set

I had to change my backbox other day as the original had rotted away (12 years old). Didn't even need to jack the car up and I'm not exactly slim.

Very reliable little cars too and quite nippy for a 1.1 (800kg's or so).

As for the supposed pedal cluster - bollocks, I'm a size 9 and have no issues. Take a couple days max to get used to. Do not let something like that put you off unless your nephew has size 18 feet and is 7ft 6' tall

mamoon2

Saxo / Polo / Fiesta / Old mini / metro / Punto / Corsa

Engine no bigger than 1.2, 1l would be better for insurance

nickhasl

if you want cheap to run and cheap insurance it has to be the ka
ok its not the best car to look at but is cheap as chips

paulwrxboro

my son was quoted £3100 for a pug 106 for insurance..he bought a BMW 316i and pays £3500 a year . he is 17

jpor

iTrader: (1)

What about a Daihatsu YRV or a mark 1 phase 2 Sirion? Good japanese motors, range from group 6, 5 doors etc... share parts with Toyota. Engine sizes 1.0 - 1.5 litres.

rookymatt

iTrader: (15)

It's impossible to justify that!
Thats just mad!
Insurance is such a rip!
Now i know it's to cover the cost of a potential nightmare a bad motoring manouver can cause. But seriously......... £3100, for a car worth half that?!! Mind boggling!

Jamescsti

For me it would definately be a Fiesta, tons of them around for parts etc, dead cheap to run, easy to fix when the inevitable crash happens, go for the 1.25 if you can for spritely performace, 1.3's are a pig of an engine.
Insureance will be harsh whatever you opt for

Steve vRS

Something safe as it will take a trip through a hedge.

Steve

Matteeboy

Fiesta every time - cheap to run and fun(ish) to drive.

£3500 for a 316i?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Matteeboy

Fiesta every time - cheap to run and fun(ish) to drive.

£3500 on insurance for a 316i?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

unfeasablylargegonads

iTrader: (3)

brought my son a 306 as first car, it lasted about a year before being rolled over and slid down a road on its roof. In hindsight I am happy it was a slightly bigger car as he and passengers walked away with only a bruise or two.

paulwrxboro

Yep i paid £800 for the 106 and they wanted £3100 to insure then he got a quote on the BMW316 ( the car cost £1200) with it being bigger and safer im glad he did, poor kid is paying £70 a week out of his aprentice wages but loves the car

pslewis

Suzuki Swift GLS 3-Door 993cc 3 cylinder .... fantastic car, 100% reliable, great to drive, CD - Electric Windows - lots of kit.

Cheap as chips.

Ignore the Micra - for the first 6 years they are fine, then rot away and give up mechanically soon after!

rookymatt

iTrader: (15)

Glad he's loving it, plus if he is an apprentice mechanic, it's a doddle to fix!
The e36 316i has one of bmw's most reliable engines (the m43) So thats piece of mind. They are good cars and one of my mates uses one as a daily commute............... it just rolled onto 200,000 miles!