Motors First Car - 306 bought

Basically I want a decent sized car for getting to and from uni, basic run around, and for various planned camping holidays through the summer. I don't want something too small, and also I really don't like driving small petrol engines (I've had experience - my mums currently got a 1.3, 3 cylinder micra, and has had a few other small petrols in the past). I've been looking mainly at 2l common rail diesel (TDI/HDI) cars, as insurance is surprisingly low (about equivalent to a 1.4 petrol).

I'm not boy racer at all... I'm more concerned about my mpg, but I'd like to be able to be able to cruise comfortably on the motorway - which is probably the main reason I don't want a small petrol.

So far, the most viable car seems to be a peugeot 306, as Golfs are a bit pricey, and there are no other similar sized cars that I can think of that I particularly like - I know the Focus is a pretty sensible option, but I just can't stand them. (That is just looks wise - I've never driven one).

My dad owns a 2l diesel HDI 306 estate, and I've driven it a lot, so I'm also drawn to it by familiarity, and by all accounts they are one of the better cars to drive in this category. (Plus I like their looks)

I'm looking around the £1k mark, although can stretch to £1.5k. On any car I'm looking at about £1.5k insurance as well.

Any suggestions/ideas would be welcome

 

No ideaabotu the pricing over there, TBH
But Might I suggest looking at the Fiat Bravo 1.9 Diesel?
I drive a 150hp 1.4T petrol, and I'd take that over a golf any day... I hear the Diesel is quite nice as well.

Maybe a used Volvo C30 D5, though I reckon they might be a bit pricey.

 

Just remember that peugeots do break more often.

Plenty of cars about at this size, all are pretty good really. I'd have a look at a seat leon too.

 

For a first car I don't think you have much choice apart from a small hatchback.

 

I've got a Clio and get about 54 miles to the gallon, so if you want something that's cheap to run I could recommend that. Engine's a bit weak at times but in the city you don't really notice too much.

If you take care of them, they're good wee cars and will last to boot.

 

Skoda Fabia 1.9TDI (first model). You know it makes sense. You can pick up an X-reg (2000) for less than £1000,--.

 

I remember driving a older shaped 1.6 or could have been 1.8 ltr diesel feista, it wasnt awful.
I only lived with it for 2 says mind you, until my car was repaired.
For Uni an older less desirable car doesnt attract vandels or thieves, might be a plan? A sound Rover 216 diesel might be a very cheap alternative.

 

I don't see the point of spending anywhere near the car's value in insurance... but spending as much or more than the car's value in insurance boggles my mind
What does third party fire and theft cost? £500 or less?

Even if you have a crash which is your fault, and you wrote off your car, the third party insurance would cover anyone else's damaged caused, and the money you saved buys you a replacement car!
As a bonus, any parts you can salvage from your original car are bonus spare parts for the replacement car, parts for you to sell, etc.

 

ive got a 52 and 53 plate Ford Fiesta 1.4TDCi and i get about 55-57mpg with motorway and country road driving so pretty good.

insurance group is low too 5 (the new groups not old ones goes from 1-50)

road tax is £30 a year which is lovely.

its about 65Bhp i think and easily handles motorway cruising

not sure you will pick one up for £1500 though as mine were £2500 and £3500 but maybe a 02 plate for 90,000+ miles on

 

It would be very similar to fully comp.
UK insurance companies hate 3rd party insurance for younger drivers.

My first yeas insurance was £1800 on an X-reg 306 (although that was a few years ago) work £7k.
3rd Party wasn't available due to the value of the car.

 

That's right, I forgot about that
Come down to the land of oz The insurance is good and the women are hot

 

Yeh, Insurance isn't my choice - Its £2800 3rd party, £1600 3rd F+T, £1900 for fully comp.

I haven't looked at Bravos, cheers - I'll start reading up
The C30 though is a bit expensive - a quick search and i can't find one under £7k, although i can't seem to find any particularly old ones. I suspect they'd be pretty high insurance anyway.

My family have had a few peugeots, and found them to be incredibly reliable - especially the engines. Front suspension is a general weak point, but we live up a mile of really rough track and from our experience peugeots hold op longer than vauxhalls, fords and VWs. It is possible we've just got lucky though. Also we do our own repairs, and as pugs are pretty common, there are always plenty of spare parts in the scrapyard

I'd love a Seat Leon, but from what I've seen, they tend to be pricier than a golf, and the one insurance quote i did for one was hideous (icr, but £2k+)

A Fabia hadn't even crossed my mind, I'll take a look, thanks.

I do kinda agree here... but that would mean getting a car I didn't like so much
Also, I'm currently living in a rather nasty block of flats, in the middle of som quite nice suburbs, and I doubt any car i can afford will look desirable parked next to a TT, M6 convertible and a few other quite nice cars. I also really would like a car that I thought looked good... nobody wants to drive a rover (which is why you suggest it, I know )

The smaller clios and fiestas are just a bit too small. This car has to be able to take 2 people, and a lot of stuff back and forth to uni comfortably, and also cater for a few heavily loaded camping holidays.

You've given me more options to think about, cheers

 

fiesta is about the same size as a golf as long as its 02 or later when they changed the shape

 

They look about the same from the outside, and I can't say I've ever seen inside a newer fiesta, but I know Golfs have surprisingly massive boots, and in reviews the fiestas is described as 'fair sized for a supermini'.

When I take a wonder around car dealers, I'll take a look at one

Edit: Also it seems a 2003 fiesta is a bit out of my budget. they seem to be going for nearer 2k

 

Yeah its a old persons type of car granted. Might bring your insurance quotes down.

You'll always be in the situation where someone parks a nicer motor next to yours making yours look a bit naff, take this weekend I was out in my extremely shiny C4 911 feeling rather grand .. and parked up did a bit of shopping only to return sandwiched between to spanking looking DB9's .. (me'h two .. common as muck them) ..lol

 

Which 911 do you have?

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif.../postcode/m242ub/radius/100/page/13?logcode=p

Polo 1.9 diesel wouldnt look that out of place

 

Murraynt >996 C4 2002 facelift Model the 3.6 Tip

 

I know i shouldn't ignore the focus... I just don't like them. I probably should take one for a test drive, but I can't see it being a car I'd be happy to own.

I wouldn't be against an astra, and actually really like the newer shape (not sure when the refresh was, but about 2002). Unfortunately all the ones in my price range are the old shape, and they are huge :/

The skoda actually looks quite promising if i can get over the looks I'll see if I can get a test drive in a couple.

Puntos... I haven't really looked at much as their reputation seems to be pretty crap, and personally I think they're quite ugly cars.

I think the polo is a bit on the small side - i remember looking at them with my mum before she bought her micra. There was actually more boot space in the micra!

I was actually taking this as an advantage - an old hatchback won't look at all attractive parked outside my flats