First time driver - car?

[mega_gurl]

I am just about to start driving lessons and am planning on buying a car. I've been recommended the cleo, fiesta, micro and polo, but am confused when it comes to details putting one car above the others. Which is best value but generally easy to learn to drive in etc. :S Any hep much appreciated.

[Impret-Sir]

If you mean a Micra , ie, by Nissan, then it cant be a co-incedence that more driving schools seem to use this car than any other model. However, driving a car, and actually owning one are not the same thing, how much can you afford to spend? Will you have to service it yourself?, how old will the car you buy be? etc, all these factors need to be included in your reasoning.

[RobbieO]

it depends how much you have to spend, the older micra's tend to be unreliable, well the ones that have been owned by people i know have been. later ones are ok. I started to learn in a micra 12 years ago and found the pedals were too close together for my liking, then i learnt in a metro 1.4s which was a nice nippy car but they are not very strong if you have an accident, if you're looking at older cars that is. Polo's i've come across have tended to be good little runners and fiesta's tend to be a bit hit and miss again it comes down to age and mileage they've done. If you're looking at older cars Nova's are good and strong i hit a tree at 30 in an A reg one straight on and the only damage was a cracked grille and several other minor incidents without much damage. (I was young raced friends a lot in country lanes and was over enthusiastic about overtaking on bends)But if i was buying a newer i.e P reg onwards for the other half i'd be looking at Polo's or Clio's but make sure you take someone who knows about engines & bodywork

[RobbieO]

I wouldn't touch anything thats done really high miles for it's age or has been boy racered up i.e big bore's, spoilers, alloys that aren't standard cause you can garauntee they've been thrashed

[Gem123]

I think the best way is to actually drive some of them before you buy because you need to feel comfortable in the car. Your instructors car is prob a brand new model and your looking to buy something older im guessing and the two will feel very different.

I started out in a Fiesta and it was ok but it did have high mileage so try to avoid that!

[ianess]

Gem123 is on the ball.  If you go with a driving school you'll most likely do all your driving in the same type of car.   After you've passed your test your finances will probably dictate your strategy but whatever you buy will have to feel comfortable to you.  Most cars are very similar and very reliable so it just boils down to personal taste.   Enjoy!!

[theren]

I just passed my test (1st time! woo hoo!!!) i learned in a focus which was a real smooth drive...i now have a n reg fiesta, it's a good drive, but it doesn't have power steering - which took a bit of getting used to, (on the plus side its probaby the equivalent of 1hour at the gym performing my miraculous 12 point turns ;)  fiesta's tho in my experience are pretty good, but most of them have a funny sound on the engine on the models upto p'reg. i did a few lessons in a polo a few years ago, i'd have to say that was on par with a fiesta, maybe even better. 

I have some friends that have clio's - based on their experience, steer clear! they seem to have a tendancy to blow the head gasket on a regular basis which could be pretty costly!

[Hermia]

I have a 5 year old Micra and it's my first car. It's cheap to run and very reliable. It only needs servicing once a year and needs very little done to it. My mechanic says micras are great cars but he wouldn't be seen dead in one (they're too girly)!

I agree that you need to try a few cars to see what feels right. I know loads of people who adore fiestas, but I loathe driving them. They just don't seem to 'fit' me at all.