What car to buy a learner.

StevenWilliams · 16th March 2009, 18:33

The wifey has just started taking lessons. I'm going to buy her a car for her birthday so she can practice in between lessons.

I'm trying to work out what sort of car to get her.

I have a few requirements

Cost less than £1500
Easy to service (I'll be doing it)
Cheap to ensure
Enough room for the kids in the back.
Manual gearbox.
Less than 10 years old.
Easy to park
Less than 80K on the clock.

Once she passes her test it will be used as a town runabout doing less than 5k a year.

I'm unsure what to get. I have beel looking at Ford Fiesta, Citreon Xsantia etc..

I learnt to drive in a Honda 2L Accord Aerodeck but I think she will need something smaller.

sworks · 16th March 2009, 18:36

I would say Ford fiesta or a late 200 'bubble'

Rabett_Rover · 16th March 2009, 18:41

What about this?
2003
less than 30,000 miles
5 - Door
Alloys
Electric windows
easy to repair
Job done?

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk...leRegLetter=53

M3NDEREZ · 16th March 2009, 18:42

A Fiat Punto would get my vote - 02/03 plates go for under £2k, and the 1.2L engine is amazingly nippy.. You get ridiculously good MPG from them, they're about £30 a month to insure even when you've only just passed your test, and they're in the really low tax bracket. So good we've had two of them in the past, both the 1.2L 5 door models.. There's one for sale 8 miles from me at the moment, 52 reg, 53,000 miles, body coloured bumpers, remote central locking, etc etc.. They're really good cars, and they don't really go wrong.. £1600! Check it out;

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk...leRegLetter=52

EDIT: That City Rover's not bad for the money! All that for £1350?! Didn't Top Gear slate it though..?

StevenWilliams · 16th March 2009, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3NDEREZ

A Fiat Punto would get my vote - 02/03 plates go for under £2k, and the 1.2L engine is amazingly nippy.. You get ridiculously good MPG from them, they're about £30 a month to insure even when you've only just passed your test, and they're in the really low tax bracket. So good we've had two of them in the past, both the 1.2L 5 door models.. There's one for sale 8 miles from me at the moment, 52 reg, 53,000 miles, body coloured bumpers, remote central locking, etc etc.. They're really good cars, and they don't really go wrong.. £1600! Check it out;

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk...leRegLetter=52

EDIT: That City Rover's not bad for the money! All that for £1350?! Didn't Top Gear slate it though..?

I just had a look at the Fiat. I may go and see that. It's in Crawley near where I live. :lol:

StevenWilliams · 16th March 2009, 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3NDEREZ

! Didn't Top Gear slate it though..?

Thats a bonus. They slated the 75 as well. :lol:

Rabett_Rover · 16th March 2009, 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3NDEREZ

A Fiat Punto would get my vote - 02/03 plates go for under £2k, and the 1.2L engine is amazingly nippy.. You get ridiculously good MPG from them, they're about £30 a month to insure even when you've only just passed your test, and they're in the really low tax bracket. So good we've had two of them in the past, both the 1.2L 5 door models.. There's one for sale 8 miles from me at the moment, 52 reg, 53,000 miles, body coloured bumpers, remote central locking, etc etc.. They're really good cars, and they don't really go wrong.. £1600! Check it out;

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk...leRegLetter=52

EDIT: That City Rover's not bad for the money! All that for £1350?! Didn't Top Gear slate it though..?

Thats because Clarkson hated Rover and the CityRover because Rover paid £3,000 for the entry level car and sold them for £6,500

Bernard LPG · 16th March 2009, 19:01

I would go for the small Rovers every time. They are such fantastic value as "everyone knows" that they are rubbish. I cannot believe how people have fallen for this, especially those that have never owned a Rover. Have a look at some of the other marques' forums if you think Rovers have problems.

tony g · 16th March 2009, 19:07

Nissan Micra ???

Phil · 16th March 2009, 19:15

If its to be learnt in, something wth tough mechanicals. How about a Honda Logo?

16th March 2009, 18:33	#1
StevenWilliams This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon 2.5 V6 British Racing Green. 81,000 miles and counting Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Crawley, West Sussex Posts: 6,183 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	What car to buy a learner. The wifey has just started taking lessons. I'm going to buy her a car for her birthday so she can practice in between lessons. I'm trying to work out what sort of car to get her. I have a few requirements Cost less than £1500 Easy to service (I'll be doing it) Cheap to ensure Enough room for the kids in the back. Manual gearbox. Less than 10 years old. Easy to park Less than 80K on the clock. Once she passes her test it will be used as a town runabout doing less than 5k a year. I'm unsure what to get. I have beel looking at Ford Fiesta, Citreon Xsantia etc.. I learnt to drive in a Honda 2L Accord Aerodeck but I think she will need something smaller. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Rover 75 2.5 2000 Club SE. British Racing Green. MEMBER NUMBER: MMMDCCXXVI Looking for: 7 seater

16th March 2009, 18:36	#2
sworks This is my second home Rover 75 Tourer, Classic mini Cooper S, Abarth 595 competizione, MG TF and a Hyundai Tucson PHEV Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cumbria Posts: 13,073 Thanks: 1,033 Thanked 1,686 Times in 1,040 Posts	I would say Ford fiesta or a late 200 'bubble' __________________ ................................................. 'Marmite' Possibly one of the most famous 75 tourers produced! left the production line as the last of only Three Rover 75 tourers produced in Trophy Yellow. 48 hours later Longbridge closed. The last sold ordered 75 Tourer. Paid for by the Phoenix Four and handed over by John Towers to the Warwickshire Northampton Air ambulance service as a Rapid Response vehicle

16th March 2009, 18:42	#4
M3NDEREZ Posted a thing or two R75 DUB Saloon Connoisseur CDT + Synergy2 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Earlswood, Surrey Posts: 1,344 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	A Fiat Punto would get my vote - 02/03 plates go for under £2k, and the 1.2L engine is amazingly nippy.. You get ridiculously good MPG from them, they're about £30 a month to insure even when you've only just passed your test, and they're in the really low tax bracket. So good we've had two of them in the past, both the 1.2L 5 door models.. There's one for sale 8 miles from me at the moment, 52 reg, 53,000 miles, body coloured bumpers, remote central locking, etc etc.. They're really good cars, and they don't really go wrong.. £1600! Check it out; http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk...leRegLetter=52 EDIT: That City Rover's not bad for the money! All that for £1350?! Didn't Top Gear slate it though..? __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] STILL WANTED: Black Leather & Chrome Auto Gearknob, Diesel Cruise ECU, EGR Bypass. Last edited by M3NDEREZ; 16th March 2009 at 18:50..

16th March 2009, 19:15	#10
Phil This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Connoisseur SE Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 12,227 Thanks: 469 Thanked 523 Times in 241 Posts	If its to be learnt in, something wth tough mechanicals. How about a Honda Logo? __________________

16th March 2009, 18:41	#3
Rabett_Rover This is my second home Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: - Posts: 5,895 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	What about this? 2003 less than 30,000 miles 5 - Door Alloys Electric windows easy to repair Job done? http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk...leRegLetter=53

16th March 2009, 19:01	#8
Bernard LPG I really should get out more....... 75 V6 Saloon 2003 LPG MGZT V8 260 LPG Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Evesham Posts: 2,134 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I would go for the small Rovers every time. They are such fantastic value as "everyone knows" that they are rubbish. I cannot believe how people have fallen for this, especially those that have never owned a Rover. Have a look at some of the other marques' forums if you think Rovers have problems.

16th March 2009, 19:07	#9
tony g Posted a thing or two MG ZT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: cumbria Posts: 1,238 Thanks: 8 Thanked 43 Times in 24 Posts	Nissan Micra ???