Motors whats a good car for a new driver

aah, if i would have found this thread sooner. i just sold my cadillac coupe deville.....1977 model. sold it for $500
well, i lie, i sold it for $500 in tats but i'll get around $1000 worth of ink. and from what i was told, if i was in another state, the tat i got last sunday would have run me $1500 or so, so I think i got one hellova deal. i'll post pics up sometime.

 

im going to go agianst the grain

go for something big with no abs and no power steering llike a old rover

if you start driving a car with no paoswer steering or abs now you will not learn to rely on it

that and my 218 diesel is a lovely drive and is only worth about 300 quid and there is masses of let room

 

I dont know if you guys like the probe in the other side of the pond. I sat in a ford probe and im 6'2 but I fit in it alrite. In the states the probe se is extremly cheep with the 2L 4banger. And the gt is cheep as well with the 2.5L v6. The gt is a very nice car and its decently fast and light. But the se gets beter fuel economy.

Well give a 97probe a look. They are decent cars. Just replace the rear calipers before 80k miles and abs sensors. Also watch out for young ppl with heavy foot and just replace the cam belt b4 the 60k mile mark.

 

The Probe is an awful, awful, hateful car.

It doesn't handle and it is FWD.

*n

 

seconded

liek i said i peronally wpuld go for a slighty bigger car with no abs or power so you dont learn to rely on it and it amkes it easier to get used to different cars

 

Well I disagre to that that but to each his own. I have driven a probe gt and that thing was dam fast. and it handled well.

But like I said b4 to each his own. I didnt drive a probe on the other side of the pond so I cant say. But a probe is esentialy an mx5. The engine is zippy and the fuel economy isnt bad, and in the US its a very overlooked car because of its limited production runn. But it was meant to be a cheep sporty hatch. I can pick up a decent probe gt in the us for less than 3000usd and the nsurance is dirt cheep. The probe Se can be picked up in the US for as lil as 1500usd for a good sample or as lil as 800bux for a decent one.

my two cent.

I sugest you go on a test driving spree and see what suits you.

 

The Probe is not based on the MX-5.

The Probe is FWD, the MX-5 is RWD.

The Probe is big, the MX-5 is small.

The Probe handles terribly, the MX-5 handles great.

You're making things up again.

*n

 

mx5 is a miata. Ur rite. Mistake not made up bud. MX-6 base
http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/used/reviews/full/index.cfm/id/2040

It apers to share a motor with the 626 of the era as well.

Ur quick to point out my mistakes penski. Trying to make up for something?

I know ur a forum admin or whatever but so far You are the bigest a-hole I have had the displeasure of meeting. This will be my last post in mottors as you seem to not like that very moutch.

---Jag

 

Since when has pointing out the truth made anyone an a-hole?

If you don't know about something, say so. Don't make **** up. I used to be the world's most terrible bullshitter and believe me, it's not the best way to be.

I have not driven a probe or looked into buying one but I think they are too big, and probably have horrible weight distribution, fuel consumption and insurance prices. They are also fugly.

 

ahem well after that little tiff ^^^....

Im also looking to buy a first car in the next two weeks, have found a nice Nissan Micra 1.0 3dr for £2500 at a local garage that looks nice, people seem to think here that there a good first car, care to explain its good and bad points, as I know nothing much about cars and all I care about is getting from A-B with a CD player in a car that wont break down too often I couldnt give a **** if it can max out at 140mph as never going to need that or something

 

Bull mate, Dads just got one, 2.5 jobby, Damn quick, Wonderful handling, just nice

 

ive nver seen the point of spending more than a grand on your first car

i mean thare are some real bargins about and i still say gettign a heavier car with no powersteering or abs or traction control will teach you how to drive alot better than a small saxo/corsa/micra that had powersteerign and abs

 

Reasons to get a Micra -

1. Reliability. Mine is nearly 5 years old now and every morning starts first time, only had two problems - power windows froze up during last winter's cold weather, and car failed its last MOT first time round due to a broken windscreen washer pump.

2. They are suprisingly quick. With the air conditioning off (remember that, as the aircon really kills acceleration) you can really feel yourself being pushed back in the seat when you floor it. Mine is an automatic, too (1.3 though) so you should get similar performance with your 1.0.

3. They handle REALLY nicely - the steering isn't skittish at all but they will turn on a dime. However it's easy to break the stock tyres free in the wet...if you can afford it try to get a nice set of alloy wheels and some more grippy tires.

4. They are cheap to run, and different but not ugly. Mine looks really sleek and curvy after a good wash and wax (being a black car helps with that though). Don't see how people can say they're boxy at all - for a hatchback they are suprisingly good looking. Depends on personal taste though.

Only problem with them is that the bodywork is a bit flimsy - do so much as tap another car at more than 5mph and you're looking at £700 damage. very safe car, just try not to crash it

You won't regret it for a first car. Cheap, very sound, and you can have quite a bit of fun in them.

By the way - if it's an earlier model (pre 98) it will not have power steering. You can actually get a good example of a Micra for under £1000 if you look in the right place.

 

i'll go with that.mines 15 years old and everything still works(bar the handle my dad broke,the one for opening the window ) you'll get a fair few miles to the gallon so it'll cost you nothing to run(i put £6 in the tank a week.that gets me to and from work every night.)

 

I'm a new driver and I prefer my old L reg Ford Fiesta 1.1 to the 04 reg Corsa I learned to drive in

 

I'd like to recomend a late Beetle. Perhaps a Super (1302, 1303) as they are cheap as a cheap thing and have better handling. But they do look a little fat..


Edit: I obviously meant the aircooled bugs... and 100 posts

 

Im learning in an S reg escort and they suck donkey dick, i have a Ka and its so much better. It does 45+mpg easily and its a 1.3i which is always good. you can get them with or without PAS or electric windows and allsorts.
As long as oyu can find a cheap one i think they are great.
Mine cost £2400 its an 1998 R with 46k miles on it.

so my vote goes for a Ka

 

A Fiesta is great for starting in - Ford cars are good drivers cars and have great gearboxes (at least the ones from Ford Europe do)

I also drove an L-reg Ford Escort when I was learning, and that was good for getting used to a larger car.

Since passing my test in summer I've driven a Laguna (W), Mondeo (01) and Vectra (04). All big, 2 litre cars but they were great to drive.
Well ... the Vectra was just alright. The Laguna (petrol) is fast and fun, the Mondeo (diesel) is smooth, has good power delivery across the range and the f*cking best gearbox I've ever used.


Just drive whatever you can, whenever you can. Having knowledge of lots of cars makes you a better driver, and also means you can adapt quicker.

 

get some that has power nothing, and a stick shift. Any idiot can drive a power everything automatic. But only a few of us can drive a stick. I own a 1990 Suzuki, 3cyl 5spd, I get 54 mpg city & 65mpg highway. I might not drive the fastest car on the highway, BUT I sure pass a hell of alot of gas stations.

Here is my Suzuki which I placed 6th over all in This past summers North Shore rally, on the North Shore of Vancouver BC, Canada.

 

A Little honda is good for me!