We have 4 young adults between us so have some XP over the recent few years; Nissan Micra could be a money pit, major engine problems and surprisingly electrics. Shame as early Micras were superb. Yaris, brilliant. Big miles, reliable, parts not cheap. 1.2 Fiat Panda very good drive, cheap used, cheap to run and fix. Buy lowest miles/good condition. If you (they) can get over the name and image, it is the best value and a great little car. Clio 1.5dci fast, economic BUT....electrical problems galore, ending up with scrapped car. 1.2 petrol electrical problems galore. Peugeot 106 nice little thing, electrical issues, offset steering wheel, some good buys IF you can still find a good one. Ibiza 1.2 three cylinder...cheap for a nice little car heavy on fuel. Panda/Yaris best, good value used and insurance ok, though the Yaris will be more, watch for variants putting up the insurance price! Also...insurance goes UP after passing test, so if relevant, its worth getting quotes for, zero no claims new driver. This will be more than learner driver, assume because of accompanying driver.. All VW variants will carry a premium. A £3k Panda/Yaris will be much more car for the money than a £3k VW. Ford Ka. years back when my company Focus was in for a service, had one for the day. Hated it. Motorised bean tin. Later ones no doubt good (?) early ones sh1t.
Depends how successful he wants to be with the ladies mate. Rolling a Micra he better have some good banter haha. Im probably one of the youngest on here, just turned 27 the other week. I paid £3600 a year for my first car (Saxo Vtr). Its not going to be cheap whatever you pick, just have to close your eyes, think of England and pay it unfortunately.
Well happy days then, Micra it is. Maybe something with an ejector seat for when a lad makes a move. Neither did I now I think of it and that thing was all singing all dancing big exhaust the lot, so my original point was pointless.
Not my first car but when I met my wife I had a red MK2 Astra 2.0 GTE that was 13 years old and had 130k on the clock - she has taste no?
the GTE's and SRI's where always better built and faster than the XR's. tho the XR2 did handle v,well for their size.
I had a MK2 XR2 a few years previous, definitely a better handling car - tin worm saw the end of it though GTE was more hooligan
My other half ran a diesel k12 micra 1.5 dci (renault engine) for 10 years. Very economical. Only needed alternator and usual services during ownership. She loved the lilac colour and would still have it, if someone hadn’t run into back and totalled it! She runs an italian two cylinder now. Fiat 500 twin air. 105hp, goes really well!
Very happy with our daughters vw up, the basic model called the move up I think, 13 plate and she has owned it for just shy of 4 years , it's been 100% reliable and she has no plans to sell.
