Weird situation just cropped up...

Mum's car (2001 Proton Wira, 1.5) is on the verge of giving up the ghost, and i've been told if i want it it's mine (as a first car), however it will probably cost a bit to fix. However she could sell it (Parkers reckon its worth between £1,000-£1,200, but still needs the work either way).

Or she could sell it and then i get £1,000 for my first car.

So the question is, what car should i pick? and is the Proton any good?

All i need is cheap insurance/running/repairs and economy.

might aswell sell it, get about a grand and get a nice fiesta 1.25 zetec, probably about a mk4. The insurance will be dirt cheap, and the 125 is a brilliant example of an engine. Also does apparently 45mpg on a nice motorway run, so less in town and that. If you get a good one there isnt a huge amount to go wrong, just try and get one around 60/70k miles

Probley gonna shoot me, but get a Vauxhall Nova for relability,repairs and economy. Insurance wont be too bad if you get a 1.2 or 1.0 or something

Hmmmmm....

Nova versus Fiesta, lol...

Quote from mcgas001 :

Probley gonna shoot me, but get a Vauxhall Nova for relability,repairs and economy. Insurance wont be too bad if you get a 1.2 or 1.0 or something

What if you crash?

Quote from Jakg :

Hmmmmm....

Nova versus Fiesta, lol...

haha, weird choice. There is a reason you see lots of young people driving about in the wee fiestas though.

You should sign up on UK Fiesta Network, will tell you a fair bit about them.

As you know I'm no expert but I found these cars:

Vauxhall Astra Mk4 : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vauxhall ... ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Another Vauxhall Astra Mk4 : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2002-52- ... ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Vauxhall Corsa : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2004-Cor ... ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Vauxhall Corsa (Again) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2000-VAU ... ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
A load of Ford Fiestas : http://motors.search.ebay.co.u ... s_W0QQfsopZ32QQsacatZ9801
A load of Ford Focus' : http://search.ebay.co.uk/searc ... p=32%26fsoo%3D2&fgtp=

Quote from shaun463 :

As you know I'm no expert but I found these cars:

Vauxhall Astra Mk4 : [url]ttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vauxhall-Astra-Sreg-mk4-1-6-16v-modified-no-px-or-swap_W0QQitemZ200192697071QQihZ010QQcategoryZ9858QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]
Another Vauxhall Astra Mk4 : [url]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2002-52-Vauxhall-Astra-MK4-G-SXI-1-6-Silver-A-C-5dr_W0QQitemZ270204551921QQihZ017QQcategoryZ9858QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]
Vauxhall Corsa : [url]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2004-Corsa-C-SRI-1-4-16v-Stylishly-modified_W0QQitemZ320205974817QQihZ011QQcategoryZ9858QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]
Vauxha

the astra never stops breaking down, and 4k for a shitey corsa?

To be fair, that last corsa isnt too bad, but add about 50 quid onto the price for an MOT.

Quote from DeKo :

the astra never stops breaking down, and 4k for a shitey corsa?

To be fair, that last corsa isnt too bad, but add about 50 quid onto the price for an MOT.

I found a better car, although it may be out of his price range

This little Nova would suit you Jakg

Does anybody serously drive nova's anymore? havent seen one in years around here.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1992-Vau ... mdZViewItem#onPhotoChoice

Something like that is nice..

Very reliable cars are Nova's and also VERY cheap to maintain and run, 350miles to a tank in a Nova and they only take around £25-30

Quote from DeKo :

Does anybody serously drive nova's anymore? havent seen one in years around here.

I've seen a few grim, riced Novas in Cornwall recently.
We are a bit backwards down yer though.

Quote from mcgas001 :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1992-Vau ... mdZViewItem#onPhotoChoice

Something like that is nice..

Very reliable cars are Nova's and also VERY cheap to maintain and run, 350miles to a tank in a Nova and they only take around £25-30

At this time I don't have the V5 as I was late in recieving it but if it has not turned up before the end of the auction i will send it onto the winning bidder!!


avoid like the plague.

I drive a Fiesta MK4 Diesel, would really recommend one. I'd love to have a 1.25 petrol, but petrol is very expensive over here (over diesel).
I really like the car, although I had a lot of bad luck with it (had been crashed and repaired, didn't know that, and the water pump broke down). But it has 150.000+ kms now, and it still runs pretty good and is reliable on starts.

Quote from sgt.flippy :

I drive a Fiesta MK4 Diesel, would really recommend one. I'd love to have a 1.25 petrol, but petrol is very expensive over here (over diesel).
I really like the car, although I had a lot of bad luck with it (had been crashed and repaired, didn't know that, and the water pump broke down). But it has 150.000+ kms now, and it still runs pretty good and is reliable on starts.

i agree with this guy here. go for the 1.25 zetec though.

Just sell the proton and get a nice runaround for your first car.

Also, although the prton is'nt a terribly powerful 1.5, i think the insurance *may* be a tad high-ish due to the fact its a 1.5 and insurers may overlook that.

If you wanted to make a sacrifice for a little more cash to get a first car, selling your scooter may be a good idea (if it is'nt broken for once ). I reckon you could make a tidy profit on that to go towards the cost of purchasing a car, or maybe the maintanence or insurance.

If you are going to get your own first car, as deko said, a fezza 1.25 may be a good idea. The old clio 1.4 RN's are alright too, and there pretty rapid for a 1.4.

Give us a shout on msn sometime with ideas on what car you may like, and i can give you a hand if you like, and im going to an auction soon so maybe i can get some ideas from there

Frenchy

My dad owns a Mk3 Vauxhall Astra 1.4 Merit but it never broke down. It's a looking a bit like an old banger now but still works fine. He payed £400 for his and has had it for 2 years now

Quote from shaun463 :

As you know I'm no expert but I found these cars:

Vauxhall Astra Mk4 : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vauxhall ... ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Another Vauxhall Astra Mk4 : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2002-52- ... ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Vauxhall Corsa : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2004-Cor ... ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Vauxhall Corsa (Again) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2000-VAU ... ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
A load of Ford Fiestas : http://motors.search.ebay.co.u ... s_W0QQfsopZ32QQsacatZ9801
A load of Ford Focus' : http://search.ebay.co.uk/searc ... p=32%26fsoo%3D2&fgtp=

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for recommending cars 4x over my budget and giving me a link to an eBay search.

The performance of the car really isn't important. ATM i'm riding (or at least i would be if my Dad would actually let me buy the bit to fix it) a bike with a top speed of 50 MPH, so as long as it does 80 i'll be more than happy.

The Proton is a high insurance group, though, however i thought t would be "more" of a car than what i'd get for £1,000...

A Nova is cheaping out a little bit too much, tbh.

I have no real preference to a diesel or a petrol tbh. More power and it handling well would freaking own, but i can live without that.

And of course, this will be my first car. Repair on the cheap if it ends up in a ditch (which without sounding cocky i really really doubt it will) would be nice.

Please, recommend me something...

Meh, I still <3 my Nova, when i first bought it, i went 80 miles on £5

Quote from Jakg :

Please, recommend me something...

Really JaKg, you cant go wrong with a Fiesta as a first car.

Cheap insurance, Cheap to run, Cheap to repair.

Shop around, you can find something good for a first car.

Most likely choices are what people have suggested, Fiesta's, Corsa's etc. Escort's can be picked up cheap and you get a bit more room than a Fiesta.

Although french cars suck monkey balls, Saxo? 106? Clio?

For a first car, I really wouldn't be too picky. But definately sell the Proton. My Nan is the only who buys them and they last ages, 'cause she never uses them.

Personal preference, go Ford. Cheap parts, pretty reliable and cheap overall.

Quote from Jakg :

Please, recommend me something...

Renault Clio
Ford Fiesta
Peugeot 205
XFG <sorry
Peageot 106
Citroen Saxo
Honda Civic
Honda CRX
etc.

Maybe have a look through here..
http://pistonheads.com/

Quote from beefyman666 :

Most likely choices are what people have suggested, Fiesta's, Corsa's etc. Escort's can be picked up cheap and you get a bit more room than a Fiesta.

Frankly i don't need much space. All i want is something cheap.

Seems that i need to look into a Fiesta, a Saxo or a Punto. Civic might be ok. Not sure i could get a CRX for that price though...

Thanks for your help.

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