Small car wanted

Tradewinds

Tradewinds

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Joined
12 Jan 2003
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4,205
Location
Suffolk
www.laurelberrystudio.com
My daughter has just passed her driving test (at the 4th go :) ) so we're looking to get a small petrol manual g'box car between 1.0 & 1.25l to transport her between home & the local Uni (UCS).

She's got around £850 to spend which limits the options.

Trying the usual places but I thought I'd ask on this forum just on the off chance a member of the forum was selling one (or knows of someone) that might fit the bill. We keep just missing the obvious 'good buys' on the local noticeboards :( .

She's been looking particularly at Clios, Punta, Micras, Corsas & Fiestas. Number of doors & colour not important but current MOT & reasonable condition is.

Please PM me if you have anything that might be suitable.

Many thanks
Nigel
 
Suggest you look at the insurance side first...it may well influence your choice!!

Corsa's possibly the cheapest on your list.. at least in my research for my son, but didnt look at Micras.

Go onto Autotrader, get a registration of a suitable one for sale and look for insurance quotes based on that.

Stand by to be frightened!!
 
We've been doing the insurance quote side - my daughter's 20 & is a darn sight cheaper than my 18 yr old son was.

Generally £1300 - 1000, less if my wife goes on as named driver.

So far, nothing that's a showstopper it seems (I'm not paying but will probably contribute one way or another ;)).

You're right, Corsa's cheapest, followed by the Punto - the Fiesta's the dearest so far.
 
Tradewinds said:
We've been doing the insurance quote side - my daughter's 20 & is a darn sight cheaper than my 18 yr old son was.

Generally £1300 - 1000, less if my wife goes on as named driver.

So far, nothing that's a showstopper it seems (I'm not paying but will probably contribute one way or another ;)).

You're right, Corsa's cheapest, followed by the Punto - the Fiesta's the dearest so far.
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Have a look at the AA insurance scheme that uses a GPS to track driving behaviour and sends out warnings should they drive recklessly too often. Seems a good way of getting a policy for the youngsters in their own name. Also saw one policy that got humpy if they were out after midnight to often, must be a bad time for accidents amongst the young.

Mind you I cannot talk as when I was 18 I had youthful mishap with some roadwork signs and a trench they had dug. I always remember the police car driving slowly past me with the PC grinning at me.
 
Hi,

Yes I'm aware of the 'report back' insurance schemes. Personally, I think they're a potential trap. I mean - I wouldn't want a tracker in my car as we all slip from the straight & narrow on occasions. To me it seems a good scheme which has the potential to make a reasonably careful young driver possibly uninsurable if they are not very, very careful.

But, this is thread drift -

Please, I'm trying to source a small car for my daughter - we've had insurance quotes which we can live with.

Thanks for the input though ;) .
 
Tradewinds said:
'Tis a thought - though I've never, ever bought a car that way.

TBH would be more comfortable to go the other routes first.

Thanks.
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I will have a look on the notice boards at work on Monday, quite often small cars on there. I work at Adastral Park ( Not for BT ) and there are around 3000 people who work there.
 
From someone who has been in the motor trade since the '70's, sadly not able to offer a car that fits the bill though, unless she fancies a Turbo charged Saab 9-3 auto lol :

Forget the Punto.

Under no circumstances buy a 1.0L Corsa.

Clio's can be OK, but suffer from electrical problems.

Micra, not bad but don't touch anything high mileage (might be hard in your budget).

1.25L Fiesta engine and general mechanics pretty much bulletproof, if it doesn't have rusty holes it'll be the best of the bunch you mentioned.

A 1.1L Peugeot 206 would be an excellent choice.

Unless you really know our stuff, avoid auctions. Stuff in this price range is very easy to get wrong and you lose your cash. Look on Ebay (classified, buy from a dealer) or Auto Trader.
 
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Can't remember your exact location, and haven't got one myself, but Lakenheath Bookoo is where I do most of my online shopping for things like that these days. Picked up a cheapo Transit van recently when my other wheels failed dramatically :eek:
How about This one back box is a simple enough job and it sounds half decent too
 
Thanks for the replies.

PG interesting - like Neale would like to know why (curiousity). It would be handy to give firm reasons to my daughter why not to go for a 1.0l Corsa or a Punto - is a 1.2 Corsa OK'ish. BTW Just missed a 1.1 Pug 206 :mad: .

Sixpence - wasn't aware of Lakenheath Bookoo - many thanks

Cheers
Nigel
 
Tradewinds said:
Thanks for the replies.

PG interesting - like Neale would like to know why (curiousity). It would be handy to give firm reasons to my daughter why not to go for a 1.0l Corsa or a Punto - is a 1.2 Corsa OK'ish. BTW Just missed a 1.1 Pug 206 :mad: .

Sixpence - wasn't aware of Lakenheath Bookoo - many thanks

Cheers
Nigel
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1.0L corsa engine is absolute garbage, 1.2L is a totally different beast and is OK.

Punto is a Fiat, generally falls to bits and isn't a good choice, especially for an older car.

The Pug is as good a choice as any, plenty on Autotrader for less than a grand
 
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