First car for a mate 5k, suggestions?

AtomicBanana · 29 Mar 2006 at 17:02

Just a quick one for you guys - a mate is looking for a first car, and has 5k to play with (EXcluding insurance, though lower group wouldn't hurt for obvious reasons)

Main concerns are being easy to drive, cheap to run, non french (yeah... I know

), preferably an auto.

Suggestions?

saitrix · 29 Mar 2006 at 17:04

If he goes manual then a 1.6 Focus Zetec with Climate Pack.

Memphis · 29 Mar 2006 at 17:15

If possible, talk him out of an auto for a first car. If he did the full test, there is absolutely no reason not to get a manual.

AtomicBanana · 29 Mar 2006 at 17:27

sorry, I should have said - the reason the auto would be prefered is so his mum could drive it as well, a manual is perfectly acceptable

[TW]Fox · 29 Mar 2006 at 18:40

saitrix said:
If he goes manual then a 1.6 Focus Zetec with Climate Pack.

I cannot think of a better first car than this, really I can't.

It ticks every box.

It's not expensive to insure, its not expensive to run, it's not THAT big, it isnt that small, it's not powerful enough to get you into a huge mess very fast but it's quick enough that you wont tire of it after 3 months, plus it has the bare essentials of AC, CD and electric windows.

AtomicBanana · 29 Mar 2006 at 19:55

Can't say fairer than that

cheers guys