Best first time car (threads merged)

Mikeyalma

I really like them one's dispointed about that now
Must people telling me go for a Japanese cars

how can you tell what makes are Japanese

CSSE09 wrote: »

Have an 07 corsa myself, only trouble I've had with it was with one of the electric windows. Cheap to run and my insurance wasn't bad on a learners permit. It is a bit sluggish to get going but it's not to bad.

Foxhole Norman

I'd have a clio myself. Decent nippy engine, decent boot and some good room in the back. I'd prefer one over my current Yaris.

Ardennes1944

This thread is a bit of a head melt

Mikeyalma

Its like yes no yes no kinda thing lol

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

This thread is a bit of a head melt

Mikeyalma

Need advice

Mar4ix

bad

colm_mcm

Need more info

discombobulate

What year? I started in an 02 1.4. Anything that could go wrong did head gasket etc. As said more info is needed as different years, engines etc. will make a big difference.

Mikeyalma

Looking at 04 up new body

Mikeyalma

Looking at 04 up new body

visual

The astra is a good car, relibable and parts are easy and cheap to get so running costs are low.

Obviously there will be a few with bad experiences if they bought a car that had a very hard life. But most owners do nothing more than regular servicing.

Service history is key

biko

Yes

Mikeyalma

I am looking in to getting myfirst car I looking at the new shape bravo and new shape punto

any information about them would help pls

CiniO

Bravo is bigger and therefore bit more comfortable and bit more safe.

colm_mcm

Its also less charismatic IMO

Mikeyalma

CiniO wrote: »

Bravo is bigger and therefore bit more comfortable and bit more safe.

Do you knew much about any problems they have

Mikeyalma

colm_mcm wrote: »

Its also less charismatic IMO

What do you mean

CiniO

I didn't hear about any particular problems with them.
I'm sure there are some model specific problems as with every car model in the world, but I never had any of them so I don't know.

What engine options you are looking at?

Mikeyalma

CiniO wrote: »

I didn't hear about any particular problems with them.
I'm sure there are some model specific problems as with every car model in the world, but I never had any of them so I don't know.

What engine options you are looking at?

I am looking at 1.4 I knew there ant any lower engine or is there

colm_mcm

Mikeyalma wrote: »

What do you mean

As in I really like the Grande Punto. It can pull it off vs a yaris/Corsa/polo etc but the Bravo isn't as nicely styled and it just doesn't feel nice. Its an also-ran next to its rivals. I nearly bought one based on the fact that they are well priced and specced and the front looks a bit like a supercar but it just doesn't do it for me.

Main problem is finding a punto that isn't a 1.2.

Mikeyalma

colm_mcm wrote: »

As in I really like the Grande Punto. It can pull it off vs a yaris/Corsa/polo etc but the Bravo isn't as nicely styled and it just doesn't feel nice. Its an also-ran next to its rivals. I nearly bought one based on the fact that they are well priced and specced and the front looks a bit like a supercar but it just doesn't do it for me.

Main problem is finding a punto that isn't a 1.2.

Ah I see I think bravo look nice are they cheap to run

CiniO

I personally think that bravo looks much better than punto.

Ded_Zebra

Mikeyalma wrote: »

Do you knew much about any problems they have

My mum had a 1.6 diesel from 2009 to 2013 (it was a 2008 car) and it literally never went wrong once! It was the single most reliable car that my family has ever owned. I think she did about 100,000 miles in it. Really liked that car, it's a pity they don't manage to sell more of them, really really nice cars.

IMO they are nicer looking than the punto. Much wider and overall better proportioned, but obviously I will have a skewed view

cml387

Is it just me (o.k. it probably is, I'm of that age) that find's it sad to see how far FIAT have fallen.

Fiat sold 442 cars in Ireland this year up to September (source:Indo).

CiniO

cml387 wrote: »

Is it just me (o.k. it probably is, I'm of that age) that find's it sad to see how far FIAT have fallen.

Fiat sold 442 cars in Ireland this year up to September (source:Indo).

It's only Ireland.
AFAIK Fiat in general is doing pretty well.

bazz26

I think you will get more Bravo for your money than Grande Punto as people liked the Bravos less than the GPs meaning they can be bought for similar money.

Mikeyalma

Thank you do you knew the tax on it

bazz26

Mikeyalma wrote: »

Thank you do you knew the tax on it

Just enter the car's reg number below and it will give you it's motor tax rates:

https://www.motortax.ie/OMT/motortaxinforeg.do

kmb

Hi,
I have the 2008 bravo 1.4 sport model 150bhp (48,000 km done) 4 years and nothing has gone wrong.
It does the 0-60 mph in 8.2 seconds and is very nippy.
The bravo petrol comes in 90 BHP, TJET 120 BHP and TJET150 BHP and has active, dynamic and sport models.
It is a heavy car and to be honest the 90BHP feels underpowered.
Try to get a TJET if you can, these have the turbo.
The crucial thing about Fiats is that they like the correct grades of oil and even the local main dealer Toyota garage last year did not have the correct oil and had to buy it in.
Look on the http://www.fiatforum.com/bravo/ for info.

Regards,

Stheno

Mikeyalma wrote: »

Thank you do you knew the tax on it

Look up the engine size, and check it on motortax.ie ffs

One of my favourite cars amongst the many I had was a punto, it suffered head gasket failure but due to it being a common fault was cheap to repair.

OP I drive an alfa romeo, so used to cars that need love and attention, but if you by any fiat, stick to the service schedule religiously, and be prepared to realise that the cheap purchase price will be negated by the more disposable nature of many parts on your car compared to other marques.

colm_mcm

Engine size may not be a factor if its 08 onwards to be fair.

bear1

Bravo:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/fiat-bravo-1-6-16v-mjet-eco/5749297

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/fiat-bravo-1-9-litre-diesel/5633302

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bravo1-4-t-jet150bhp-tribute-to-maserati/6002866

GP:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/fiat-punto-sporting-diesel/6132922

I wouldn't bother with the 1.2 engine which I'm sad to say is the only engine some Irish buyers believe is the best.
Under the circumstances I'd be going for the Bravo TJET or the 1.9JTD Bravo.
It took me an age to find a 1.9JTD Grande Punto so I wouldn't hold my breathe for a good engine'd Punto to show up.
Or go to the UK

@KMB: I hear those TJETs aren't as bad on fuel as one would think correct?

kmb

Hi bear1,
When I drive it I get about 30mpg and when the daughter drives it she gets roughly 37mpg.Guess who presses the sport button!!
In the diesel Bravo it is the 1.9 which is the most sought after due to it doesn't have the dpf as far as I know.

The things to look for in the bravo are:
Sport pack with cornering lights,17" Alloys,2 tone seats
Blue and me (Though some phones are not fully compatible with the early systems as Fiat brought out a newer system later on, my iPhone 5 works okayish on mine but the old nokia K800i I had made the system read out texts also.)
The Microsoft USB socket and Hill holder are very useful.
Dual climate control is also available.
My car has all the above but I wish I had the skydome like I had in the stilo!!

Ardennes1944

Id like a Tjet bravo but theres only one for sale on donedeal and its up for 5950 which is way overpriced. It has been for sale for 4 weeks too

road_high

Anything I ever read about that generation Bravo has been nothing but positives about it's reliability. Such a shame Fiat basically abandoned the development of the model and sales sank like a brick.

bear1

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

Id like a Tjet bravo but theres only one for sale on donedeal and its up for 5950 which is way overpriced. It has been for sale for 4 weeks too

That would be the one I posted above

Ardennes1944

Yeah, realised it just after I posted, wonder would they take 4500 :pac:

bear1

1.5k difference, sure why wouldnt they

NinjaTruncs

kmb wrote: »

Hi bear1,
When I drive it I get about 30mpg and when the daughter drives it she gets roughly 37mpg.Guess who presses the sport button!!

I get the same mileage out of mine (1.4 Tjet 150), approx 30mpg, motorway driving can be worse depending on the speed you're going, going to Cork once my mpg was closer to 24, but I got there in 2 hours :eek:, if you keep it to the limit I think you can get about 33mpg out of it.

I've had mine 5 years now, only issue I've had was a bearing issue on the gear box differential which needed to be replaced, that was three years ago (covered under warranty) and not an issue with it since.

Mikeyalma

Dont know much about cars so any help please

colm_mcm

How much money are you spending, what are expectations from the car?

biko

Depends on the particular car really.
Are you looking for the "most reliable car ever"? If so go Japanese (imo)..

Mikeyalma

I am looking for a car to last me good while I am keeping it under 5k looking at 1.4 vw is a good make I am told...

Mikeyalma

I am looking at 1.4 around 04 to 06

allthedoyles

First car VW - I would go Polo

04-06 Golf burn a lot of oil

colm_mcm

Hmmmm, I'd be looking at a Corolla instead, less likely to give bother and a bit livelier.

Mikeyalma

I am also loooking at opel astra.....are carollas not high in insurance and tax

djimi

Cant see a Corolla costing more than a Golf to insure tbh (assuming youre just talking a standard Corolla). Tax depends on which engine size you go for.

colm_mcm

Corollas are 1.4 as well, so no.

bazz26

I'd look at the Mazda 3 too, just as reliable as a Corolla but that much cheaper to buy than a Golf.