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Great first cars for under £1,000
 The 1991-2003 Peugeot 106 is a favourite for comfort and handling 19 February 2008 We round up the best first cars for under a grand. View more images of great first cars for under £1,000 Peugeot 106 The 17-year-old Peugeot 106 is a favourite for its comfort and excellent handling, and it’s easy to pick up a bargain model on Auto Trader. The most popular UK trim levels encompass the basic XN, mid-range XR and top-spec XT. The sportier XSi and hot Rallye models are also available. It received a comprehensive facelift in 1996 with extra equipment and revised engines. Search for a used Peugeot 106 Vauxhall Corsa The 1993-1998 Corsa is Vauxhall’s easy-to-run, small, affordable motor, which replaced the popular Nova before it. Corsas are well-known for their reliability, handling and reasonable running costs. Read our Vauxhall Corsa new car review Search for a used Vauxhall Corsa Ford Ka Ford’s most radically-styled compact car made a huge impact on UK roads when it was introduced twelve years ago. With a steady fuel consumption rate of 45.6mpg, the Ka is renowned for its reliability and low running costs – car parts won’t cost you an arm and a leg. New models start at £7,095, but you can pick up a decent second-hand Ka for around £750. Read our Ford Ka car review Search for a used Ford Ka  Ford FiestaThe Mk3 Fiesta is a perfect first car with excellent reliability and compact size. But if you’re looking for something more recent and stylish, consider the 1995-1999 Mk4 model. The Fiesta offered 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre Zetec engines, and was Britain’s best selling car from 1996 to 1998. Read our Ford Fiesta new car review Search for a used Ford Fiesta Citroen Saxo Citroen’s Saxo had a similar body style, engine and components to the earlier Peugeot 106, but with a wide range of models spanning seven years from 1996 to 2003. Engine sizes range from 1-litre to 1.6-litre, including a 1.5-litre diesel engine and 1.4-litre model with an automatic gearbox. Hot hatch fans will want to seek out the hot VTR and even hotter VTS models. For the looks without the insurance bills, there's always the VTR/VTS lookalike, the Westcoast. Search for a used Citroen Saxo View more images of great first cars for under £1,000 Fiat Punto The 1995 European car of the year blended affordable motoring with a rounded, comfortable car shape. Fiat Puntos come in a variety of trim levels and start with efficient 1.1-litre models right up to a 1.7-litre diesel model. The Mk1 Punto 6Speed is fitted with a six-speed automatic gearbox. Search for a used Fiat Punto  Renault ClioPapa and Nicole’s classic French supermini is an affordable and popular choice for first time car buyers, combining excellent handling with decent fuel economy, at around 40mpg. Some 1996 RT models boast a 1.4-litre engine, electric sunroof, CD player, power-assisted steering and even alloy wheels. Read our Renault Clio new car review Search for a used Renault Clio Volkswagen Golf New drivers looking for a well-rounded, highly reliable and sturdy little motor need look no further than the Mk2 or Mk3 Golf. The classic-looking Mk2 can be bought for under £500. If you’re prepared to pay more for the slightly newer Golf Mk3, you won’t be disappointed either. Read our Volkswagen Golf new car review Search for a used Volkswagen Golf Honda Civic Honda’s Civic was originally released in 1973, but the best models for your money now are the Mk4 and Mk5 Civic. These reliable hatchbacks offer much more space than other bargain first cars and the 1.6-litre engines provide enough bite for overtaking. The wild Type-R models will bust the £1,000 budget as well as the bank when insuring one as a first car. Read our Honda Civic 2006 car review Search for a used Honda Civic  SEAT IbizaThe first generation Ibiza came in three-door and five-door hatchback forms, and the 1985-1993 models are cheap and cheerful. The sexier-looking Mk2 was produced between 1993 and 2002, and received a facelift in 1999. The Ibiza's 1-litre to 1.8-litre petrol and 1.9-litre diesel engines provide plenty of variety, but look out for the Cupra hot hatch if you want more power. Read our SEAT Ibiza new car review Search for a used SEAT Ibiza View more images of great first cars for under £1,000 |
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