Motors First Car

i don't mind micras - find them very easy to drive.

although the insurance actually tends to be higher on them for some reason.

look at Lancaster Insurance - I insured a 1.3 escort with them for £1300.

 

Yeah as with most cars a lot is down to personal prefference, I just didn't like it at all.

 

yep i do cos ive got one really but the reason i bough one was for my G/F, she will be in the same boat as you soon (learning to drive) so i wanted a car that was cheap to buy, insure, repair, reliable, cheap to run, comfortable, can go on the motorway etc

after alot of research the micra can top, ive owned loads of cars good and bad ones but i can honestly say that the micra is a good allrounder.

You could easily go for a Fiesta, Escort, Metro but the insurance companies didn’t like these that much in comparison etc but this is what I found

A micra on a full tank of fuel (about £35) will do about 350-400 miles on a mixture of roads

It can and will drive at 80mph comfortably for long distances so driving at the speed limit of motorways will be fine.

It does not have a cambelt it is chain driven which is a big thing as it can cost a lot of money to change a cambelt but it doesn’t need doing thus cheaper services

It has 55bhp as is faster to 60 that >2002 1.2 corsas

The insurance is cheaper as its not know by the insurance company as a possible “boy racer car” its normally driven by sensible old people who the insurance company favours and thus the category it is in is lower than most other cars in its class. A corsa, Escort, Fiesta, saxo with exactly the same spec, year etc as a micra WILL be more expensice as these cars are though of by the insurance company as cars “boy racers own” and they will drive recclesly and crash every 5 mins, so they put the premium up on them to recoup toe costs that they might incour.

The reason newer cars are more expensive for new drivers is the insurance company is expecting then to crash them and if you crash a 10 year old car you’ll probably leave it with that dent in it as its not worth repairing, but if you put a dent in a newer car you are more likely to get it repaired. The cost of repairs is expensive so you are less likely to get the car repaired out of your own pocket (average repair cost £1000) so you will use the insurance company to repair the car loosing your no-claims bonus and putt your premium up as well.

There are plenty of micras about and the parts are cheaper, you can find some in the scrap yard as well and the parts will be even more cheaper.

You don’t have to go for the 1.0l there is the more sporty 1.3l but get quotes on a 1998 S reg 1.0L and a 1.3L micra just out of interest.

Also get a quote on a corsa 1.2 S reg you will notice that the insirance will drop as its an older car, the new the car the higher the insurance

 

you must have drove one without PAS, all cars with out PAS are heavy ot start with if your used to PAS, Nissan has the lightest PAS ive ever used (ive had 2 Almera's 1 200SX S13 and ive driven loads of other Nissan as well as loads of fords, Vauxhals, Toymotas etc)

also cars without PAS must have the front tyres pumped up to the correct pressue at all times at it makes a bigger difference.

 

My S reg 1.2 Clio has served me well. It's got great visibility and driving position which has got to be a good thing in a first car.

 

Peugiot 206 is nice, micras suck,
Got for a GT/GSI metro (if a GSI exist) or a mini (non bmw)
DONT GO FOR ANYTHING ABOVE 1200 UNLESS YOUR RICH! aand nothing over £500
@Bindibadgi Im sorry but its above 1200 that they jack up the price.
@ Monkey200SX actually it was GM europe (general motors) and now the vauxall brand now use that but ugly look.
Some usefull info
1-1.2L (998 -1198cc) make rated speed =60MPH
1.3-1.7 = 70 -80mph
2.0L wow look and modshops.
Theres nothing to say you cant have a bored out 1.1L its still 1.1 even though its now 1.2+
Nissan are the company to follow cus there makiing an new "street race" car that under £24K as apposed to skylines price but it has the skylines power.

 

The thing is i want a decent car, one that isnt a heap of junk, one that doesnt look like its cheap, i want a car that can have speed if you need it, i also really want to feel safe in my car and i doubt i will if its a metro or a mini.

 

206 1.1? They're nice, mate of mine has one.

 

Urm if you can find a good metro there nice cus of a lower COG 9center of gravaty) but there also easy to mod/fix/make look good.
Have a look in miniworld magazine .you could get a metro, modit (stick in a bmw1.4L engine/tranny) and still be cheper the a VW golf and better off there size makes them great for town cus they can almost park anyware.
I dont know why people screw there face up at a metro when put to a good caring modder they can be class, and they dont look as nasty as golfs/festers.
Mini IS one of thoses all time modded cars along with scoobies escorts pug and fester.
Belive me when i say a good clean metro is worth it,

 

Urm if you can find a good metro there nice cus of a lower COG 9center of gravaty) but there also easy to mod/fix/make look good.
Have a look in miniworld magazine .you could get a metro, modit (stick in a bmw1.4L engine/tranny) and still be cheper the a VW golf and better off there size makes them great for town cus they can almost park anyware.
I dont know why people screw there face up at a metro when put to a good caring modder they can be class, and they dont look as nasty as golfs/festers.
Mini IS one of thoses all time modded cars along with scoobies escorts pug and fester.
Belive me when i say a good clean metro is worth it,

You dont have they choice unless youe have

 

You may think I am joking but why not a Skoda Fabia, it's based on a VW Polo so it is very reliable and even though they are a "skoda" but they are very good cars. Plus insurance is fairly cheap for a 1.4.

I work for Skoda, I recently sold a 2000 (V-reg) with 36k on the clock 1.4 16v, with aircon, remote locking, abs, alloys, all the nice stuff for £3,995. So if you can find one privatly you might be able to get one for nearer £3000.

 

Right well i have worked out that i can afford about 3180 a year once the car has been bought, so at the mo its about 1420 for insurance, 125 for tax, 35 for mot then i will prob do 7000 miles in one year so thats about 700 quids worth of petrol, so i should have around 920 quid left over for anything else. My dad is also a mechanic so he will be able to fix most things on the cheap for me

 

nissan micra inspiration 1.3.... beat 1.4 corsa sporty jobby off the line... first to 60 wooo

 

Im afraid that the metro and the nissan is a no go. I just dont like them at all tbh and i wouldnt want to spend my money on one. Lol

 

What about a Saxo.

Just make sure to get the exhaust checked first, the join at the catalytic converter gets rusty and it's a £300 job to get it all replaced.
Brake pads need replacing frequently, but are really cheap.

My mum has a 1.1i Saxo, and tbh it's a pretty decent car, it's quite nippy, great for town driving, not bad on the motorway, good for fuel, look ok, cheap insurance and other than the exhaust cheap to maintain

 

saxo = chav

 

Only if you stick a stupid spoiler to the roof and oversized alloys.

 

Get a Turbo Diesel. cheap to insure yet goes like a rocket, cheap to run, reliable. I used to have a Vauxhall Nova 1.5 TDI, but I doubt you can find one in good shape these days. If you do however, they are absolute pocket rockets for a penny. No seriously, really consider one. Just don't take sharp curves any faster than at 40mph. The Corsa TDI may be an OK successor.

Anything French will be good yet afforable also, although check the electrical switchgear (fragile). Otherwise go for the Skoda Felicia 1.9 Diesel. No, don't laugh. It is a bit unpolished, but bomb-proof VW build quality and rediculously cheap. Popular with pensioners so likely to be well serviced and maintained.

Best non-diesel bets for under £1500,--:

- Skoda Felicia 1.6 (avoid the smaller engine --some difficulties)

Best non-diesel bet for around £2000,--

- Skoda Fabia 1.4 basic model. Very polished drive, VW build and reliable, cheap to service and repair.

Also look for: ex-mobility scheme (reliably serviced and not caned to within an inch of its life) or ex-pensioner's car (generally well maintained).

Avoid: Ford Escort (any); Rover (any).

 

I remember when those were out, they were quite the Q car of the time.
I always wanted one back then.

 

Peugeot 106, about to change mine next wednesday for a 1.6 Astra after my first year of driving, been a great car. Just check for a blown head gasket and make sure the 'box is in good working order, fun in the dry scary in the wet

'doc