In the market for the very first car of your driving career? You’re in an enviable position, since there exists an extremely competitive marketplace for entry-level vehicles. Dozens of manufacturers have offerings in this price bracket.
One option that’s proven consistently popular among new drivers is the Vauxhall Corsa. Let’s look at how it stacks up against the competition, and what qualities make it so appealing.
What Makes A Good First Car?
New drivers will naturally have very different priorities than experienced ones.
If the cost of motoring is a concern, then fuel efficiency will matter. Since new drivers tend to have less disposable income, it follows that a good first car should be cheap to run.
Practicality matters, too. You’ll want a car that can take passengers, but which can also be manoeuvred through tight spaces. This means striking a balance between size and capacity.
A good first car should be reliable enough that you won’t end up on first-name terms with your mechanic. It’s a good idea to look through polling of drivers to see which models fail most frequently. Usually, it’s the popular cars which are the least stressful, since mechanics will be more familiar with their faults.
Finally, a good first car should also be affordable, for the reasons we’ve already mentioned. If you’re willing to venture into the second-hand market, then you can easily pick up a bargain. This goes especially if you don’t intend to be driving your first car for very long.
Why Vauxhall Are Good First Cars
In 2021, the Vauxhall Corsa took the crown as the country’s most popular car. Launched in 1982, it’s sold more than 2.8 million vehicles over six generations. If you take European sales into account, then the figure swells to an amazing 14 million vehicles.
So, what has the manufacturer done right? You need only run through the criteria we’ve already specified. The Corsa is affordable to buy and run, excellent to drive, and capacious enough to serve the needs of most first-time drivers.
Due Diligence Before Buying
Before you put your hand in your pocket, it’s a good idea to do a little bit of research and make sure that the car you’re considering is everything that it appears to be. This advice holds especially true if you’re buying second-hand.
It makes sense to go to an approved dealer in used Vauxhall cars. That way, you’ll have some fallback in the event that things go wrong. If you’re buying directly from the previous owner, this isn’t always straightforward.
There are a few tips to bear in mind, whoever you’re buying from. Inspect the car in person before you pay up. Give it a thorough test drive. Check the MOT and history using an online tool.
If you’re going somewhere unfamiliar, then take a friend with you – or, at the very least, advise someone of your intentions so that you can check in later. Finally, make sure that you obtain the original log book!