Wanted Small 5 door starter car

[The Other PaulG]

Hi - OK now it's the turn of #2 son..!

We are looking for a first car for him.

Ideally -

• 5 doors
• golf/fiesta or similar preferred
• more concerned about being mechanically sound than aesthetically perfect
• budget max c.£3,500
• happy to travel reasonable distance for the right car (based in Bagshot on Surrey/Berks/Hampshire border)
• reasonable insurance group (no GTis)

What's out there?

Cheers!

P

 

[camel_landy]

I don't have anything to sell on myself at the moment but I'd suggest having a look at some of the Volvos. The C30 D2 is a nice little sweet-spot, as they're essentially a Ford platform and the 1.6 diesel is reliable and cheap to run.

HTH

M

 

[The Other PaulG]

I don't have anything to sell on myself at the moment but I'd suggest having a look at some of the Volvos. The C30 D2 is a nice little sweet-spot, as they're essentially a Ford platform and the 1.6 diesel is reliable and cheap to run.

HTH

M

Thanks for that!

 

[Nitram]

Might not be much help ,but I go for a Kia picanto , most under rated car on the planet, £30 road tax will not go wrong and will always have a good resale vale. My friend has just purchased a 17 plate 40000 miles like new from a main dealer for £4500 , good luck

 

[autogs]

Might not be much help ,but I go for a Kia picanto , most under rated car on the planet, £30 road tax will not go wrong and will always have a good resale vale. My friend has just purchased a 17 plate 40000 miles like new from a main dealer for £4500 , good luck

Yep spot on kia picanto or hyundai i10

 

[DS]

Might not be much help ,but I go for a Kia picanto , most under rated car on the planet, £30 road tax will not go wrong and will always have a good resale vale. My friend has just purchased a 17 plate 40000 miles like new from a main dealer for £4500 , good luck

My sister had one for years. Racked up 80k miles. Never looked after it but never let her down. Bomb proof!

 

[Grizz]

I think those three ballerinas need coaching on how to confront, kick and contain properly.

I am clearly no expert, but they guy only had a knife didn`t he?

Might not be much help ,but I go for a Kia picanto , most under rated car on the planet, £30 road tax will not go wrong and will always have a good resale vale. My friend has just purchased a 17 plate 40000 miles like new from a main dealer for £4500 , good luck

Yep spot on kia picanto or hyundai i10

My sister had one for years. Racked up 80k miles. Never looked after it but never let her down. Bomb proof!

As a 63 year old driving a 21 year old 1.5 Diesel Renault Scenic, bought off here for £600.00 three years ago with 61k miles, now on 70k and returning up to 65mpg but averaging around 50mpg with my “brisk driving style” I stand firmly with you guys.

But none of us are 18 years old with an ego possibly fine tuned by social media and peer pressure, parents who want to partially protect their kids (my dad bought my brother a 68 Benz as a first car because he was a fearless kid) and my first car was a 1400 Datsun because he didn’t expect me to wrap it around a tree.


Back to my response here.


Parents have a tough time finding the perfect balance between want and need when buying a car for kids.


I would always vote for these “unseen” cars that deliver value in spades, cheaper insurance by a country mile than the cars the OP mentioned.



BUT……. We makes our choices, we pays our money.




PS. @The Other PaulG what are the kids dreams vs yours and possibly what will the car be used for??




Oh, and of course I have not helped.

 

[Grizz]

Hi - OK now it's the turn of #2 son..!

We are looking for a first car for him.

Ideally -

• 5 doors
• golf/fiesta or similar preferred
• more concerned about being mechanically sound than aesthetically perfect
• budget max c.£3,500
• happy to travel reasonable distance for the right car (based in Bagshot on Surrey/Berks/Hampshire border)
• reasonable insurance group (no GTis)

What's out there?

Cheers!

P

I found Pedro this 2005 model 1.4 Fiesta Ghia in August for £600.00 with under 80k miles. 10 miles from me.
Since then it had an alternator and front spring replaced. Both unusual but essentially maintenance items.

Sometimes bad advertising can get you a winner too.

Even my blue Astro van. Stuck in Scunthorpe, zero interest. So I took a train and drove it 300 miles home. That added £1500 to its value instantly.

A bit of effort on Pedros car to make it pretty.


Pictures as bought and as I handed it to him.

 

[DING-DONG]

But none of us are 18 years old with an ego possibly fine tuned by social media .

I recall when we bought the lad his first car a Vauxhall Corsa, several hours later i get a call "i cant open the windows where is the button" he was horrified we bough him a car with handles to roll the windows down.

The best one was when he upgraded to an audi tt convertable, he asked how to turn the rear wiper on because he couldn't see clearly out the rear window when it was raining, he was being serious.

 

[Grizz]

I recall when we bought the lad his first car a Vauxhall Corsa, several hours later i get a call "i cant open the windows where is the button" he was horrified we bough him a car with handles to roll the windows down.

The best one was when he upgraded to an audi tt convertable, he asked how to turn the rear wiper on because he couldn't see clearly out the rear window when it was raining, he was being serious.

Facts.

I don’t understand why things like checking tyres, being able to change a flat and other incredibly basic skills are not mandatory for a kid to get a car.

These should be enforced by caring parents.

My dad did.

 

[Posh Pete]

Honda Jazz

Honda Jazz. Good petrol miles. Cheap servicing (use non Honda garage). Ultra reliable. Should be ulez compliant after 2010? (Check that!) Only issue on older ones is the cat which is accessible and liable to theft so get a cat guard.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604251863254?sort=relevance&searchId=03a375ad-407a-43ee-81c5-892e09f9cd02&advertising-location=at_cars&make=HONDA&model=JAZZ&page=1&postcode=GU14AD&price-from=500&radius=20&fromsra=&backLinkQueryParams=make%3DHONDA%26advertising-location%3Dat_cars%26price-from%3D500%26model%3DJAZZ%26radius%3D20%26metropolitan%3Dguildford%26postcode%3DGU14AD%26flrfc%3D1&calc-deposit=200&calc-term=48&calc-mileage=10000

 

[Grizz]

Completely not what you asked for…..

But if I didn’t have the Scenic….. this would be on my drive.

I never tried a Jazz but suspect it would be great.


2008 Vauxhall Agila 1.2 Club. MOT November. 126k. Drives well and is surprisingly peppy for Grandad’s shopping car!



Bodywork very presentable other than some scratches and dubious paint repair to the nsr corner.

Funky(ish) blue interior is in very good condition but is missing the rear parcel shelf.

Had just had oil & filter change, and a number of the MOT advisories have been addressed: nsf tyre replaced & nail removed from osr tyre (so it now has excellent front tyres, rears have good tread but slight perishing), exhaust hanger re-attached, os headlight polished (not perfect but much better).

Negatives: clutch is stiff/heavy although it functions perfectly. It’s not the cable which is as free as a bird and seems to be a bit of a case of TADTS. Heater fan doesn’t work on any speed; fuse is ok so suspect the motor itself (looks like another common issue).

Price: £595

Location: Norfolk/Cambridgeshire border, somewhere in the middle of Wisbech, Downham Market and March. Can collect from Downham Market, March or Manea train stations, or Wisbech bus station.

 

[Grizz]

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[Jazbee]

Plenty low mileage Fiat Panda's around in your budget. All are 5 door, I'd go for the bullet proof 1.2 FIRE engine which is 69hp and enough for town or motorway cruising. Tax is £35 yr and insurance is cheap, 50+ mpg (about 45 around town) easy to self service if so inclined.

They remind me of Moto Guzzi bikes, both italian and a bit quirky with character.

Cheap enough to spend a couple of hundred on a nice car play/Android auto head unit (easy install) which your lad would love

 

[Grizz]

Curved ball??


A friend has a 2010 Skoda Yeti 1.2 petrol manual.
ULEZ Exempt, 90k miles

Dark green metallic.


Situated near Brands Hatch/M25 J3-ish.


He needs £2300.00 for it.


I think the tank is full too.

 

[Yakker]

Have a look on facebook for the motorhome towcars group.... a good number of small motors at reasonable prices...