RS Grant

Ok, looking for a car for my wee sister at the moment.

She has just passed her test, and wants something Fiesta/Escort sized, nothing bigger, and nothing much smaller.

It needs to be nippy round town, easy to park, cheap to run, have enough guts to pull along the Dual Carriageway @ 70+ and have a reasonable amount of space inside for people/bags, etc.

Budget is about 4k for insurance and car.

Found a '99T Fiesta 1.4 Zetec 3dr for 2.8k and the insurance is about 1.1k which is fair considering its her first car, its not a small engine and she has just passed!!

However should there be other cars that we are considering in this price range which would have similar insurance/running costs??

Cheers,
Grant

Mr October

Have you thought about a Pug 106? Pug engines are nippy, the 1.1 will do a good ton, and I've known it to do 60 in under 10secs

DJ Dunk

iTrader: (5)

We have a Toyota Yaris, perfect as a little shopping car and surprisingly nippy with that VVTi engine.

Build quality is superb and its extremely reliable. Even managed to get a 2m long flat pack from Ikea into it with 2 people as well Highly recommended. Could maybe look at prices for the T-Sport is she wants a little more power.

The boot isn't huge, but you can slide the rear seats back and forth to change between more passenger or boot space, very handy. Still with the seats right back, we can get in 7 odd bags of shopping.

jjones

1.25 zetecs are cracking, cheaper to insure and quick enough

scoobybitch

Fiat Punto's r a good bet and as for insurnace try Diamond. one insurane co wanted bout 4k off me 4 fully comp Diamond did it for 1500. thats no no claims on a 1.8 turbo.

sc00by-d00by

Agreed. Girlfriend has an S-Plate 1.25 Zetec Fiesta in Silver. Looks nice, nippy enough, never broken down, starts first time. Look for one with QuickClear front windscreen - works really well.

Jay.

Petem95

Another vote for the Yaris.

You can get a good one for 4k, and it should be reliable, nice to drive, cheap to run and hold its money well too.

LG John

No danger!! Not without a hill or wind assistance. The VTR only just hits 60 in under 10s and its got a 1.6l engine and between 90-100bhp depending on the manufacture year.

P.S. VTR would meet the needs here I feel

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Ford Ka, it's a 1.3 but they rate as group 3 insurance!!

Lot's of them to choose from, and various different levels of trims (but all the engines are the same!)

Only gripe is that the brakes are not the best (easily fixed with some uprated pads) and over sensitive power steering (but my fiancee thinks it's fine!)

It can carry 3/4 passengers, as well as a driver! And enough space in the boot for a weeks worth of shopping for two people!!

Cheap to service (every 10k), even at a Ford garage!!! (20k was £120!) Oh and cheaper road tax.

Fast enough to keep up with a 'sensibly' driven STI8 as I found out on a trip up to Nottingham! (and up to *cough* 95mph)

16vmarc

Vauxhall Corsa SXi 1.2 16v

Phil M

Fiesta Zetec, don't get anything else.

Mr October

Saxo Boy, you forget that the car and its engine is only half the equation, the driver is the other half. May be you should learn how to get the most from your engine, or get a proper car!

Saxos are a bit boy racer aren't they!

:-)