Learner cars...

[Ormorof]

ok ive taken the step, but im looking now for a car to learn in, ive been looking at what type and ive drawn up a list of the type of cars that i COULD be getting and was wondering what someone with more knowledge of these things would say (as tbh i havent got a clue about cars and have based this list that they are relatively cheap and ive seen other learners in them )

Ford Fiesta
Fiat Cinq's
Nissan Micra's
citroen AX, ZX
volkswagen polo
peugeot 205,106
renault clio

feel free to comment, praise and slag them off

 

[Furr]

I have the new fiesta...

Pros.

Cheap
Nippy
Road tax cheap
Fuel efficient
Soft Clutch
Short Gear shift
Good Drive

Cons
Plastic interior
Lots of road noise
Noisey engine
Rear headrests suck
Can feel every nook, cranny and grain of sand through the steering wheel, bit too much feedback
Clunky Gears


Things to get with a new car, AIRCON!!! i thought i'd save a bit of money by not getting it, i was sooo wrong...

 

[nath]

Renault Clio is supposed to be very reliable and the diesel version set an unofficial world record of 109mpg.

linky

 

[JingleBells]

seconded nath, I learnt to drive in a clio, great little cars, and I don't think my instructor ever had any mechanical failures with them.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Ford Fiesta
Fiat Cinq's
Nissan Micra's
citroen AX, ZX
volkswagen polo
peugeot 205,106
renault clio

Fiesta: I owned 3, and the build quality in them is so pathetically low. Also liable to breaking down lots and needing lots of new parts.

Fiat Cinq: I could step on it and it would be hidden.

Micra: Are you 65+?

Citroen AX: Have you seen how thin the chassis is on this car? If you have an accident death is very likely. Tin on wheels.

Polo: Poor man's Golf.

205, 106: French cars. Parts will cost more if you need them, they're dodgy and unreliable.

Clio: Same.

Out of the list, go for the polo. Personally, I'd suggest finding something more reliable and less shit.

 

[Tom]

Why small cars? Big cars are piss easy to drive.

 

[GDW]

I have a Peugot 106 as a second runaround car which I bought from new. Had it three years and cant fault it. Its cheap (£5.5K new in 2002) and gets you from A to B.

Not the trendiest or quickest car in the world but reliable, good handling, (brakes are a bit crap though) and good fuel economy(avg 40mpg +).

Ive also owned three Clios and cant fault them.

Better to listen to those with actual experience of those cars rather than those who rhyme off pros and cons based on here say and rumour. Their working knowledge of them is usually limited to 1 or 2 of them or nil.

 

[Milkshake]

I owned a Fiesta for about 3 years, and it never broke down on me once. I had to finally get rid of it because the inner shell was starting to break down into pieces (huge rust, but it was a G reg).

Now I got a Rover 25, and it's off the road more than it's on it. Fucking thing

I'd say Fezzy. Really nice car to drive when you start, just because you do feel in total control of it. Never goes too fast, but can be nippy if it needs to be. Steers well, easy to reverse and see out of and around (some newer cars have a fuck-ton of blindspots).

Best bit is, if you crash it, it's not gonna cost you much to fix, or get a new one

 

[Ormorof]

Why small cars? Big cars are piss easy to drive.

insurance is higher and im a student (so not much money )

oh and they arent neccesarily (or likely ) going to be brand new

 

[Will]

205, 106: French cars. Parts will cost more if you need them, they're dodgy and unreliable.

I've got use of a ten year old 205 diesel. It has never failed to start once in those ten years.

 

[Tom]

Pug engines are generally bombproof. The build quality of the cars however is not.

 

[Draylor]

Drove 2 Fiestas, both were shit. Hardly representative of the few million sold, but ....

Experience of Micra/Clio/Pugs was a bit better for what its worth.

 

[Milkshake]

Shame you guys have had bad experiences with Fiestas...I loved mine.

Cheap insurance too.

 

[Bodhi]

I'm gonna go for the leftfield option here and suggest the Fiat Cinq, as long as you get the Sporting. I had a red one for my first car and it was insane how much fun it was to drive, it was a go kart with a nice rorty Italian engine. Granted random stuff will go wrong with it (mine emptied it's washer bottle about 4 times randomly) and you'll probably be driving with fucked tracking for most of the time, but christ almighty it's a laugh. If you just want to get from A to B buy a Polo, if you want to have a laugh on the way, get the Cinq. You will never get bored of blasting past reps in their Vectras on the motorway. And even tho like I said random stuff will go wrong, mine never failed to start in 4 years. In fact, the Golfs I've had since have left me stranded more often than the Cinq ever did. Ignore people's preconceptions, the Cinq is a right laugh.

 

[mank!]

I drive a 1995 Clio, it's really nice to drive, clutch is pretty fucking hard but I like it that way - it was my Mum's from brand new and there's been very few problems, only the cam belt has gone in the entire time it's been used. Very reliable car.

I'd love a Polo though, good car!

 

[nath]

get the Cinq.

However, if you're above 5'4" then you're going to have some problems.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

You got the 4 and the 5 the wrong way round.

 

[Ormorof]

However, if you're above 5'4" then you're going to have some problems.

mmm well my mate has a Cinq (which is one of the reasons its on there) and im around 6'7" and have no problems getting in... he's only abit shorter than me and says its fine getting in and out... ill have a chat to him anyway

 

[Bodhi]

I'm 6 foot 2 and had no problems, had loads of headroom too. There just wasn't much room behind me.