First car, £3000 budget.

cyborg

cyborg

cyborg

Associate
Joined
25 May 2004
Posts
1,423
Location
Belfast
My friend has trusted me with getting a good car for his money.

Needs to be petrol, 3 door, reliable, lowish insurance group.

I first thought focus, which im sure you all were ready to post, but I showed him them and he doesn't like them, and hates the interior.

So I was thinking:

1.25/1.4 fiesta
1.4 16v/1.6 16v astra (MK4)
Xsara 1.6

He isn't really interested in speed, but I can't bear having him buy something dog slow :P The more money he can save from the 3 grand budget the better. I also looked at the mondeos, and although they are good cars, I don't really like anything but the later ones (mk3?) and doesn't seem like many good ones over here for this budget (NI)

Anyway, suggestions/views?
 
No chance to insure a Deo' in the Warzone, 1.25 Fezzer is good bet, 106s/saxos are acceptable, parts are cheap and they are simple to fix, tell him to drive a few and not the first he sees to get a feel for what a knackered old banger is.
 
Looking at the fiestas mainly, I see the mk6 fiestas are lower insurance groups (but also slower, I presume its because of the weight), looks to be nicer interiors too. Worth the extra money? Compared to the quite nice looking mk5s that is.
 
I've got an Astra 1.6 SXi as my first car, really liking it so far, had it three weeks as of yesterday. Chose it rather than a Focus largely for the same reason as your mate; didn't like the look of the Focus at all, whereas I quite like the look of the Astra.

Mine was just under £2,000 so for £3,000 you should be able to get one that's a bit newer and nicer than mine (2002 facelift). SXi is probably the version to go for though,as you get the tinted lights, fog-lights, some silver plastic trim on the centre console (ooh exciting), and alloy wheels.
 
I do also like the mk4 astras, they are faily well priced, and from my experience with older vauxhalls are pretty easy to fix with cheap parts. Probably the best looking out of the lot, but I think the fiesta would win with trouble free motoring. Going to show him two nice examples of each to see what he thinks.
 
Xsara is SUCH a bargain for the money they go for these days, but unfortunately i would rule it out for your friend due to insurance alone.

Guessing this is first car situation? Fez will be best.
 
I had a 1.2 clio dynamique for my first year, actually quite liked it. Good handling, lots of toys in mine (although this can be problem with some, check all electrics when buying) and good looks imo.

Or could go with the standard ocuk reply, 1.25 fez! :p
 
Bennie-Mac said:
How can you not like the focus interior but have no problems with the worse fiesta interior?
Click to expand...

Self explanatory really... just have a look at it, you might like it but its still quirky. Most civics around here are owned by spides(sorry chavs) I might look into the corolla, only problem is toyotas prices for parts.
 
He lives in NI, it will cost him a fortune to insure. A civic is probably out of the quesion.
 
Just to throw another into the mix. Clio 1.2 16v. They seem to be available for cheaper, same insurance group, slightly better performance?
 
Usual French car, check everything is screwed down and its got FSH, Owners Clubs will have searchable resources on what to look out for, faily good cars imo.
 
Just remember that the Clios aren't the most well built of cars. Rattles and squeaks will almost certainly be present from somewhere around the car.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom