Stuck on first car to get?

triggerthat · 20 Nov 2006 at 12:45

I'd say Mondeo

You should be able to get a nice one for it. Plus it would be much for comfy

TerryWogan · 20 Nov 2006 at 12:49

Yep, you could get a mondeo with leather and every toy known to man and still have enough change to hire an army of strippers for a whole weekend to celebrate.

Fusion · 20 Nov 2006 at 12:51

Kaiju said:
Alritey, Fiesta 1.25 it is.

Will post pics once I have attained such a beast.

Got my heart now set on this for £3250.

That's a rip off mate. Remember that it's six years old.

Kaiju · 20 Nov 2006 at 16:41

Wow, shows how much of a nub I am, LOL.

Thanks for saving me from the blushes, I only just got my licence in the post today, but will do some more research about the place and see what I can find.

Will keep you lot informed.

fonzee · 20 Nov 2006 at 16:59

digitalwolf said:
Saxo VTR would be far more fun to drive than a Festa 1.25.

Tried Fiesta 1.6 Zetec S?

Oh, and Fiesta's may be reliable, but they rust.

Hardly compare a VTR and a 1.25 fez can ya?? Course itll be more fun.

ZS is deffo an option yes, nice one can be had for 3.5k.

Oh and my 10 year old fez doesnt rust

Kaiju · 20 Nov 2006 at 18:59

£1500 ONO... looks to be my fav at the moment having passed my test in a Fiat Punto.

Linkage

Stellios · 20 Nov 2006 at 19:02

Nice looking car, but be sure its alright before buying. Any chance you can get to see it? Its pretty high mileage, adn is a sport with a tow bar so it may have had a tough life.

digitalwolf · 20 Nov 2006 at 19:12

It's a Fiat :rolleyes:

Puzzled · 20 Nov 2006 at 19:20

Doesn't look stock either so be careful when checking out insurance. You need to list all modifications. (Well most of them, you'll get away with changing the air freshner

)

Jonners · 20 Nov 2006 at 19:33

MonkeyMan said:
Doesn't look stock either so be careful when checking out insurance. You need to list all modifications. (Well most of them, you'll get away with changing the air freshner )

Aslong it's nothing but cosmetic mods, Quinn Direct don't bother charging extra.

chrislusty · 20 Nov 2006 at 21:08

I still think the punto is too much, how much are you spending, £2k or more? or less? as you have given a set budget then going way over, then way back under.
That punto has a tow bar, indicating hard life, the central locking has stopped working, may be a cheap fix, something to knock the price down. Alloys, so I would wonder what other mods, also you will need to check to make sure the car is re-registered as he/she is selling the number plate.

OneWingedAngel · 20 Nov 2006 at 21:38

Try and get a 1.6L fiesta zetec s for that price if you don't mind the older style fiesta's. It'll cost around the 2.5k mark if your lucky, and whilst the insurance isn't that cheap, (same as for a focus for me, less than a mondeo) but its nicely sized, very responsive and nippy and easy to park. An ideal first car if you don't need a big boot.

if you want a cheaper option on both car and insurance, the 1.25 or 1.4 zetecs are also very good, and for the old styles your looking at 2k tops.

UKTopGun · 20 Nov 2006 at 21:39

Kaiju said:
£1500 ONO... looks to be my fav at the moment having passed my test in a Fiat Punto.

Fiesta. Cheap, cheerful and not as likely to die on you as a Punto.

Avoid the Punto, it is the slow 1.1 and looks like the local barry has owned it, so it would have been thrashed in every gear since the day he/she bought it.

1.25 Fiesta - ideal first car IMO.

i always say it. 1.25 is the one to go for. Pick up a hell of a nice example for 2k aswell... hold their value pretty well aswell.

Third Opinion · 20 Nov 2006 at 21:52

The Punto looks good to me however looks can be deceiving especially with Fiats.

Fiats tend to be the cars that people love to hate. Lots of what is said is justified and lots isn't. Believe it or not some people still believe they all rot within a couple of years.

Fiat + points

Fiat Punto's are quite pretty for a small car, they carry that Italian design flair if you like that sort of thing. Fiat also tend to offer good cabin space for their size, often the largest for the class of car. Lots of Fiats feel more sporty than they actually are. Their high depreciation also makes them excellent value used cars.

Fiat - points

Neglected examples will fall apart very quickly and cost an arm and a leg to maintain. Build quality can be very erratic although bad examples should stand out at this age. Electrics can play up big time so check everything works and toys like electric sunroofs can sometimes be more of a hindrance if they break. Some of the engine range has a reputation to blow head gaskets at 60k check the oil cap before purchasing.

fonzee · 20 Nov 2006 at 21:56

you listening to anything? lol

punto = no. fiesta = yes.

cant put it simpler than that

Kaiju · 21 Nov 2006 at 03:36

Thanks for looking out for me you lot, I really do appreciate it. I just came to the conclusion that I don't want to drive a Fiesta.

Third Opinion, thanks for the informative reply.

chrislusty · 21 Nov 2006 at 08:19

Ok, so ignoring fiesta then, maybe look at clios too. However when you look at puntos, look at standard ones, you can get them with alloys etc.
You may want to mod it, but i think it would be better getting a higher spec, with body coloured bumpers electric windows and the 1.2 16v engine.
And is your budget still 2k? and does that include insurance etc?

Kaiju · 21 Nov 2006 at 08:37

chrislusty said:
Ok, so ignoring fiesta then, maybe look at clios too. However when you look at puntos, look at standard ones, you can get them with alloys etc.
You may want to mod it, but i think it would be better getting a higher spec, with body coloured bumpers electric windows and the 1.2 16v engine.
And is your budget still 2k? and does that include insurance etc?

Thanks chris, I h aave 2K as a max for the car alone with MOT and Tax. Insurance will be added later.

So if a Saxo is too boy racer for my taste, a Fiesta is a bit too basic even though reliable and a Punto is too unreliable, I need a compromise. I also don't want a Clio or Corsa having had a few minutes behind the wheel of each. That leaves, lol, a 106?

chrislusty · 21 Nov 2006 at 09:31

I would have a punto over a 106 TBH

What about a Citreon Xsara, or a Mondeo, which is bigger, insurance may not be as bad as you think.

After owning small cars and now a mondeo, i much prefer the mondeo, much better on longer rides, insurance aint much more, more toys more power.

digitalwolf · 21 Nov 2006 at 12:25

Kaiju said:
So if a Saxo is too boy racer for my taste

Do you care about what others think you look like in your car??

Drive a Saxo VTR and then see if you are bothered.

As for 106 v Punto.

106 all the way. Punto's are nothing but trouble.

I'm thinking screw modded 306 1.9 TD for the win. Yes it may sound like a tractor but it'll munch up little Punto's & 106's no problems.