does anyone go to car auctions? how much do you think i can buy a corsa 2001 shape 51 plate.. i know it depends on whether people will bid for the car or not but does anyone know on average how much they go for in auctions? which car auctions are best to go to for corsa's?

or has anyone else got a new corsa, are they reliable etc? im after my first car..

Just buy privately if you want a no-risk car. You get to drive it for a bit first. I once wrote a buyers' guide for the Corsa. Eventually managed to produce a cogent narrative of sorts, but my first draft - and I had to write it to get it out of my system - went simply: "don't buy them, they're sh*t!"

The loathsome Corsa is dull, badly finished and truly, awe-inspiringly horrible to drive. Could put you off motoring for life.

Get a Micra instead. The 1.0-litre's incredibly cheap to insure and they're pretty bulletproof. Check www.autotrader.co.uk to get an idea of prices. It handles quite well and the engine's fairly bright.

Or a Toyota Yaris. For the same reasons.

Or a Polo, which for the last 10 years has been a remarkably good car. The current diesel is really quite top-notch.

i was told micra's are really good and yaris's aswell. i have driven the corsa before and it was really nice and smooth to drive... my limit would be about £3000...

You should do okay for three grand. Don't be too hung up on year of car. Just pay attention to service history and general condition. And check the clutch is okay if buying from an old person. They tend to ride it to an early death, bless 'em.

But I stand by my views on the Corsa. It won't age as well as a Polo, and it'll put years on you.

what other car could i get, it will be my first car so im after something reliable and easy to drive with low insurance. limit im now thinking possibly 2 grand, 3 grand would be stretching it.. (im a student!..)

A golf???? You could get a late mk3 or early mk4 for 3 grand. And of course it goes without saying that they are bullet proof cars!

what about insurance, isnt it high for a golf esp for a 19 year old..

Both of my Daughters have had Micra's as their first cars, and neither have been a spot of trouble.....and with cheap insurance too.

Avoid the Golf's until you can afford the insurance.

Originally posted by salma
what other car could i get, it will be my first car so im after something reliable and easy to drive with low insurance. limit im now thinking possibly 2 grand, 3 grand would be stretching it.. (im a student!..)


Almost anything small and Japanese!
Suzuki Swift
Honda Civic
Toyota Corolla
Find a nice one with a 1.3 or 1.4 engine in nice shape, service history etc and you're in business!
Also, Renault Clio...Pug 206/306, Seat Arosa, Seat Ibiza, there are better options than the corsa, as someone else has pointed out. Have a look at the many reader's surveys that magazines like Top Gear do, the Corsa is always lower than most of the above cars, sadly. Don't mean to offend any corsa owners, of course, just my own humble opinion!

A Golf will cripple you, a 19 yr old student, insurance-wise i mean. Stick to insurance group 4 or less if at all possible.

thanks for the suggestions!