A Good First Car?

[Triple_sod]

Decided it was about time I learned to drive, still a long way off taking my test but starting to have a look around.

Reckon I can go up to about £1500 although be nice to get a bargain as gunna get shafted on insurance for at least another couple of years....

Other than that, not really picky.

[metatron]

Decided it was about time I learned to drive, still a long way off taking my test but starting to have a look around.

Reckon I can go up to about £1500 although be nice to get a bargain as gunna get shafted on insurance for at least another couple of years....

Other than that, not really picky.

Suzuki Vitara 1.6
Volkswagen Polo 1.4
Mini Mayfair

I'd go with the mini if you are not that tall (although you will fit), its extremely mechanically simple so easy to fix everything yourself. If you are tallish Suzuki Vitara 1.6 are nice, but if you want something with a hardtop a Polo is nice.

[moocher]

Anything volkswagen or skoda with small engine.

[Medicine Man]

Mini tend to get very squashed in accidents.

Polo brilliant I've had 3

[scoobie]

For what sort of driving? About town, or mainly motorways, or mixed? Just you, or you and partner etc?

[Triple_sod]

Mixed really, although after the novelty has worn off, probably get used quite sparingly. Have been really looking forward to seeing a bit more of the country though, so want something they'll be alright long distance.

[scoobie]

Ford focus 1.6 I reckon. Cheap to buy and run, decent size, comfortable and got voted car of the year a bunch of times...

[preppingsu]

Ford focus 1.6 I reckon. Cheap to buy and run, decent size, comfortable and got voted car of the year a bunch of times...

I was going to suggest a Focus. Go for petrol though. We have a diesel and we don't find it very good for starting off at junctions/roundabouts etc.
Test drove a peugeot 208 at the weekend. Pretty good, econonmical. But I've opted for a 107, smaller - a ladies car, probably not good for longer legs!!!!

[Vespa]

I've had my Citroen Berlingo for 7 years. It had 60k miles when I got it, it's now got 170K. In that time it's had 3 new sets of tyres, 1 exhaust, 2 timing belts (1 at 70K and 1 at 140K), 1 full service a year and 1 CV joint. Cheap, economical motoring, big boot and reliable.

[metatron]

I'd avoid anything French, their just unreliable. Nearly everyone I know who has had one has had to replace gearboxes and engines.