Advice for first car (student)

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Kopseer

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I am currently on the lookout for my first car and have a budget of R50k, max R60k. I am a full time student and am looking for something that is fun to drive and with reasonable maintenance costs. I don't want to race with the car but it should have some power for me to use in case I need it.

Cars I have been considering:
2004-2008 Ford Fiesta
2007 Hyundai Getz 1.6
2005 Peugeot 206 GTI 180 (most probably expensive to run, but definitely matches the fun criteria :P )

There are quite a few more, but I am not too keen on getting a Citi Golf or Tazz.

P.S. Live in Pretoria, Gauteng if that is of any importance.
P.P.S. Rear seats are also required, as I will have passengers.
 
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Out of that lot I would go with the 2007 Hyundai Getz 1.6
 
In these cases I would go for the "newest" car that will give you the least amount of problems. A decent low mileage 2008 fiesta might be worth a look at (below 90,000km).

Are these your only options?
 
Definitely not :) Anything within budget goes. And yes, really like the Getz (cheapest to run, also quite nippy) as well as a 2008 Fiesta, but finding a decent one is tricky.

But yeah, I am not limited to those cars, they (or the first 2 :p) were the best looking offers.
 
Look at some mid decade Polo's in your budget range, they are cheap to repair as a lot of the parts are made here.

1.6 will be relativly expesive, but don't be fooled that the 1.4L vehicles will be power deprived. Just don't get anything lower than 1.4.

Only exception would be if the car had crazy low KM on the clock
 
You're a student, don't spend so much on a car. Beetle! Good first car, cheap as anything to maintain/fix, you won't care if you scratch the **** out of it.
 
Velenoso said:
You're a student, don't spend so much on a car. Beetle! Good first car, cheap as anything to maintain/fix, you won't care if you scratch the **** out of it.
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well if he gets an ok car, and can afford it, the car can last quute a while. it will help alot when hes done studying not to have to purchase a new car for a year or two. or to sell this one for a lekker deposit on a new one.

I get what youre saying though. I didnt even have a car when I studied. Bicycle first year. Small motorbike the rest of the time. got an Old corolla when I started working. That would also be an option but corollas are often very expensive
 
A beetle is one of the worst first cars a student can have, because the only ones still in circulation are junked up rustbuckets.
 
Nether said:
Look at some mid decade Polo's in your budget range, they are cheap to repair as a lot of the parts are made here.

1.6 will be relativly expesive, but don't be fooled that the 1.4L vehicles will be power deprived. Just don't get anything lower than 1.4.

Only exception would be if the car had crazy low KM on the clock
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The Polos do seem like nice cars, and I actually like the older shape.


deweyzeph said:
You can get a decent bakkie, like a Ford Bantam, for that price range.
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Sorry I didn't mention this in my post, but I would like something with rear seats for extra passengers :(
 
Find a car that fit your requirements and ask to see the service history. Then check that service history with the agents. Then, take the car to the AA customer centre and ask for a bumper to bumper check. It costs a few bucks, but money well spent. You will then have a good idea how the car was treated and whether it was ever involved in an accident. There are some cars that cost more to maintain than others - find out what the cost of consumables is, such as brake pads, oil and air filters, shock absorbers, etc. Then write the cheque....
 
Zewp said:
A beetle is one of the worst first cars a student can have, because the only ones still in circulation are junked up rustbuckets.
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Not necessarily. I've seen a few good examples. There is a reason that car sold for so many years. It's reliable as hell and cheap to maintain. I had a beetle as a first car. Maybe times have changed and students are loaded.
 
Type RSA said:
Have you had a look at the previous gen Ford Fiestas?

They are great
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Yeah, am actually looking at 2 2008 Fiestas here, 1.4 3dr with 101 000 km, and a 1.6 5dr with 62 000 km but seems like the fuel flap/lid is missing, and it has "Ford" and "Fiesta" in green lettering on the back, which I find distasteful but can be removed. Both going for R50k
 
I used a 2006 opel corsa 1.4 sport. It served me well and is still running today. No mechanical problems at all
 
Kopseer said:
Yeah, am actually looking at 2 2008 Fiestas here, 1.4 3dr with 101 000 km, and a 1.6 5dr with 62 000 km but seems like the fuel flap/lid is missing, and it has "Ford" and "Fiesta" in green lettering on the back, which I find distasteful but can be removed. Both going for R50k
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If the 1.6 has a fsh & accident free I would go for that one, a fuel flap & lettering are cosmetic items.
 
I got a 2007 Clio III 1.4 with 70 000km for R60 000 which turned out very good so far!
 
ponder said:
If the 1.6 has a fsh & accident free I would go for that one, a fuel flap & lettering are cosmetic items.
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Neither state that they have a fsh, will maybe make a call to make sure.

elL0L said:
I got a 2007 Clio III 1.4 with 70 000km for R60 000 which turned out very good so far!
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From what I know Renaults aren't exactly the most reliable cars, and they are also very expensive to fix. My friend's mom drives a 2006 Clio and is about to sell it due to it giving constant problems as well as being too expensive to maintain. They do however seem like fun cars :)
 
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Go for the Hyundai, without a doubt. It will give you the low maintenance costs, which is a big benefit
 
we have a 2008 getz with 300 000 on clock, no hassles that we were not guilty of having started, lets not go there, still get 16km to lt and its still best value around, spares at KOREAN MOTORS opposed to Hyundai who like all agents are a total rip off.
 
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