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The eldest turns 17 soon and is looking for a corsa, preferably 2001 onwards. I have checked the usual places online but most of the decent ones are about 150+ miles away. Does anyone know a website or motor hypermarket that is local. Arriba, your suggestions are appreciated  :D

Funnily enough, I am looking for pretty much exactly the same thing.

Found any local ones?

Well, I live in London so there are quite a few around, struggling to find any without ridiculously high mileage.

Not too worried about mileage, as long as there is a service history and no known issues.

Corsas are dull as dishwater and far too conventional. Go for something with a bit more character.

If I could afford to, I would  :)

I'm one of those people that for the same price would rather go for a shitty car with a bit of character than get a Corsa or a Fiesta.

It's not for me :). Conventional = cheap parts and plenty of spares

There's a couple on Autotrader which are 2000 models and some newer than that which are a shade over £1k which you could probably knock down in price.

Could consider an Astra too - I don't think the insurance groupings are much different but that would depend on what size engine you're after.

For around a grand buy privately. I also wouldn't limit it down to one car. Consider similar cars too.

Is 'character' code for 'breaks a lot'?

Just gone through the experience of buying a car for a 17 year old. Try a different car, not a Corsa. They're impossible to insure for any sort of decent price since they're seen as boy racer cars, and it just gets dearer when they get their full driving licence.

as well as autotrader try gumtree and ebay.

Also go to used car dealers (swindon trade centres etc) own websites, since they often have a shite load of stuff which doesnt make it on to autotrader or ebay...

I'd be careful if you buy from a dealer for that sort of price. The reason for caution is that many of those cars will be ones traded in. Good cars generally don't get traded in then flogged for a grand.

I have heard good things about Swindon Motor Park, maybe check them out.

It's worth expanding your budget a little. I got the wife a Clio last year, 2001 Y Reg with 55,000 miles and full service history for £1,400.

That's good, where from?

Private sale, found it on auto trader.

Cheers. That is where I have found the best one so far, guess I will just have to keep persevering until one comes up.

IMO you generally find the better looked after cars on auto trader. Those people who've ragged the car to death and never serviced it generally can't be bothered to pay the listing fee.

Yeah, also I think private sellers know less about cars so you are more likely to get the price knocked down, whereas with a trader it's harder to get them to budge.

:clap: :clap: :clap:   :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

I'm with you on this one.

http://file046.bebo.com/20/large/2008/08/30/22/7171278037a8770840517l.jpg

(cue someone telling me these are really pricey/collectors items these days)

I would rather drive a Lada, at least I would stand out.

I would love to own a Yugo one day.

A couple of friends have just bought their 17year olds cars from the Westbury ( Wilts )  Auctions,Not sure if they have a web site. They both said they got good deals so maybe worth a look. I know one bought a decent Corsa for just under £1,200 It had a scratch down the side but he had that repaired for £70.
Just checked they do have at least one Corsa: www.westburycarauctions.com

I have a 02 plate 1.6 Astra for sale for under the magic grand.......

That sounds alright Pumbaa, trouble is it would probably cost well over 2k for insurance for a 17year old. Although there is other ways of insurance for youngsters.

Well of course. Its still for sale though, couldn't resist an opportunity......I need to sell it to get my new MTB!

Agree, free bit of advertising isn't a bad thing  :)

After checking, the cheapest insurance I found for a 1 litre corsa was £2100  :no:

Third party f & t?

This is the major problem. Therefore (probably stupidly) I have decided to buy a brand new Fiat Punto, £99 p/m 0% interest and only £800 insurance rather than spend £1500 on a 8-10 year old car and £2,500+ on insurance.

Generally more expensive that fully comp these days.

That sounds a bloody good deal - is it from the dealer?

Get in touch with a broker. Adrian Flux are good.

try looking for a polo, good first cars.

Amazing value on those, you can find some with 30k miles for well under £2k. Not sure about the insurance on them for a 17 year old boy though.

I'm currently looking for a Mini with under 50k on it, Polo's and A3's are great value but I'll only want a Mini in a year when I've had the chance to save a bit more, so borrowing a bit off my Dad to afford it. Was shocked by the £400 insurance quotes on a Mini, I was expecting it to be much more, though I'm 27 now.

Also really like the look of Lupo's (I want a small car) but there aren't many of them about and the GTI's are pretty expensive.

I'm not sure if I'd rather drive a Corsa or a Nissan Micra, both are eternally shit.

smaller engine polos are group 3/4 so insurance should be ok.

Or better, a Skoda Fabia. They are Polos, but with 'crapper' badges, so are normally cheaper. I'm not even joking, it literally is a polo underneath.

Only as of the MK4 polo. for £1000 you will be looking at a mk3 at best

A Fabia would be ideal. Part of the VAG group which is Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, SEAT, Škoda and Volkswagen. All depends if you are badge snobbery.

Do they have any weekly auctions over Swindon way, anyone would recommend ? I'm looking for a Polo for my lad. I've been looking on the Westbury auction site but a bit limited at present. Have a budget of around £2,000.

Notts this one is a steal

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/vw-polo-very-low-mileage-58000-12-months-mot-service-history-1849-ovno/1016178866

And I expect this one could be had for £2k

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/reduced-2004-12l-53478-miles-5dr-vw-polo-reduced/1016358618

Or there's 2 cheaper one's at the top here with higher mileage

http://www.gumtree.com/search?q=polo&search_location=Wiltshire&category=cars-vans-motorbikes

Cheers for that MG, that looks ideal. I've left it late as I was let down on one but hoping to pick one up this weekend as my lads BD present early next week.

This is a steal

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/268431-skoda-fabia-14-16vupdated-1000-priced-to-sell/

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/271218-citroen-c2-sx-11-2004/

Yep, there are only 300 I believe.

Oldest sales trick in the book!

"It's a limited edition offer, Sir"

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.

Do you never watch these BBC public information programmes?

Totally legit, it's from a dealer not some guy down an alley :)

I have a mate who works for Fiat so got a nice discount off the deposit as well!

Sort of, it's done 86k and is petrol.... AND IT'S IN PERTH, SCOTLAND! That's Britain's 3rd most Northern city.

I bought a Mini; keeping it Oxford.

Slightly off topic, but am on the verge of purchasing this lambretta,

Pun intended?

No, but well spotted :)

That's lovely...how much is that setting you back, if you don't mind me asking?

£3000 :moped: