I'd suggest a 1.6 focus mk1-mk1.5 I loved mine when I had it, the only reason I replaced it is because I fell in love with the ST170 >.> Insurance was reasonable, they're fairly cheap on autotrader/focus owners clubs, and being Fords, everyone has spare parts for them.
Hate to burst your bubble, but a Focus ST170 is £750 FC, BMW E46 320i is £728 FC. Insurance is damn cheap for some reason. That's what I've been looking at a lot as well, I do love the look of the ST170, just wish I had more money to buy one tbh.
They're nippy as all holy hell, too. Love mine to bits. I forgot to mention that I'm perfectly comfortable driving the focus range, and I'm 6'6". Admittedly, seat is all the way back and down, and the steering wheel is all the way up, but hey. Who was the £750 quote from? Lowest I could get is 1k for my ST - Although I do only have one years NCB (Had a license for nearly two years now). The other thing to consider is that, with a standard focus, you could always apply some spare time to fitting the ST engine, wiring looms, and so on.
Mazda 3? It was my first car. Great to drive, very practical, plenty of space in the back Good on fuel and reasonable to insure over here.
a mercedes c180 old but bullet proof. Cheap and cheap to run, has huge back seats and you can get a 1.8 ltr engine
Through GoCompare with admiral insurance. Forgot to sat I've got no NCB, I have a feeling that my post code helps a lot. If I can find one for just under £1k, I'll have a look! Have a link to the exact model you're on about?
get an estate car insurance is a little cheaper as they class it as a family car(misses works with the insurance) 1.6 1.8 mondeo or astra. i like the astra vans can do a lot in them(no back seats but small mattress) plenty of room for subs too
Ahh. Admiral are nice, will be going back to them when I finish with Ecar (Two years NCB, and being 25). They wanted 1800 to insure me on the ST as it was when I got it.. Must live in a pretty good area then - Where I am is hardly crime central (The city is OAPS and that's about it..).
What about A VW Lupo? It may be a little small for you but it should be cheap enough to insure and run.
I do like the idea of an estate, able to pop an air bed in the back as well if I do camping trips etc, only issue is they seem to hold their value a little better, if you do find anything worth while, do let me know! That's what I'm worried about, the size. My height is make up mostly in my legs and I don't think the seats will push far enough back.
No need to apologise, bubble gladly burst. Been a while since I looked at car insurance, not sure if it's gotten cheaper or I've gotten older! I'll still stick to my bike tho
Just buy one of those grey import Skylines that's had tens of thousands of pounds of work done to it and sells for £500 - less than the cost of a new tyre Oh yeah... insurance. Don't then. I'm afraid you'll only attract other dolphins if you buy one of those...
To note on "decent back seat" hell if its going to happen it can happen anywhere so that's the least of your worries. Grab a mini, its more interesting if you want curb appeal than anything else on your budget.