Car for £1000 - ish

[glojo]

My daughter has decided she wants to drive so here we go again looking for cars.

She has just started taking lessons with an instructor who has a new vehicle and there is no way I will suggest buying a similar car.

My daughter is 5' 11" tall so perhaps the smaller Ka type vehicles are a non starter, but what do members suggest for about £1000?

Regards
John

 

[kbhogalW126]

190E 2.0

safe, solid, cheap car.

i think GRAV888 had/has one for sale.

regards,

KJ

 

[SportsCoupeRich]

mk3 golf? are they around that price yet?

p.s. TALL!

 

[Dieselman]

mk3 golf? are they around that price yet?

p.s. TALL!

Seconded..on both counts.

MB 190 would do but will be expensive on insurance and she may not want a car so big.

You would get a C-class for this money but again insurance would be the deciding factor.

Just had to have a look on Autotrader, nice C180 under £1300. SEE

Or 190s
HERE
That 190 2.5d looks nice...

A few Golfs too..

That's before looking on Ebay or bargaining.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Polo of whatever age you can get for £1K.

 

[Dieselman]

Polo of whatever age you can get for £1K.

The proposed driver is 5'11" tall. Older Polos were pretty small inside.

 

[Vlad]

I'm the same height and fit in a Ford KA with ease....as far as driving goes, they are the best small car to drive...great road handling, good suspension, comfortable, and cheap as chips to run and repair.

 

[Dieselman]

A Fiesta might suit..

 

[glojo]

The Golf is something we are considering, I was thinking about suggesting a Polo but Dieselman has answered my question before I asked it.

I'm 6' 7" and managed to drive most sized vehicles, but my daughter is very self conscious and a very small car is not going to be at the top of her list. I'll suggest a 190, but it might be too big, plus insurance might be OTT.

Thanks everyone

Regards
John

 

[Dieselman]

but my daughter is very self conscious

Tell her to not worry, she'll grow out of it..

 

[pammy]

Although she is tall she still might be surprised what she can fit into comfortably. The only way to find out is to go and try. So much comes down to the adjustability of the seat and also where her length is, ie body, legs etc. She might be OK in a Ka. She could also try a Fiesta. Plenty of men drive both and many of them are 6' or more.

 

[splang]

I drive the other half's fiesta and i am 6'2" and I can drive it fine..worth a look.

 

[glojo]

I drive the other half's fiesta and i am 6'2" and I can drive it fine..worth a look.

I think the Fiesta is a decent looking vehicle and something else to consider.

Just checked the insurance for a 1.8CL VW Golf and for a provisional licence holder with no driving experience, plus one named driver:

£813 fully comp.

I must confess to being pleasantly surprised.

Forgot to mention,
My wife (who MUST ALWAYS be obeyed) is on a one person boycott of ALL French produce, so French cars are not an option

Regards
John

 

[scumbag]

Forgot to mention,
My wife (who MUST ALWAYS be obeyed) is on a one person boycott of ALL French produce, so French cars are not an option

Regards
John

Saxo is out then? and the 206 which is really good!


I am not much use!

In that price bracket you need to look carefully, but I have started to find that people who mention the KA and Fiesta always mention how good they are to drive! This seems to make up for the fact they are rubbish in most other areas!

Get her to look at Golfs, Polos and the Seat equivilents. They are pretty much the same cars underneath!

I would tell her to look at a Vitara if i was suggesting anything!

 

[IanA2]

My wife (who MUST ALWAYS be obeyed) is on a one person boycott of ALL French produce, so French cars are not an option

Regards
John

She's probably right on the car front....but they make some v nice cheeses, and let not discuss Viognier.....

 

[GrahamC230K]

I have experience of 2 generations of Polo and at 6ft1 not had any problems.

I would try one for size. Smaller and lighter than a Golf the smaller engine will all round be more efficient and less insurance while not being too sluggish like perhaps a smaller engined Golf may be.

 

[lotusmark2]

Hi John,
As you know I'm 6'8", I would suggest staying with Ford as being consistantly bigger on leg room and cheaper on parts/insurance. I've driver a Ka, Fiesta, Escort, Mondeo and Focus all of which had enough room for me.

I would suggest perhaps looking at an Escort as it's small enouogh to not be cumbersome to drive and yet large enough for your daughter to feel comfortable.

 

[Dieselman]

I would suggest perhaps looking at an Escort as it's small enouogh to not be cumbersome to drive and yet large enough for your daughter to feel comfortable.

And it won't go either fast enough or long enough to be uncomfortable.

 

[PaulE230]

Drove this for a year and I am six foot tall

I loved it and didnt even sell it when I got my w210

Nice inside, drove really well and hardly used any fuel

 

[Dieselman]

This isn't the classifieds section Paul..