The first car is often a thrilling, magical experience for those who have just obtained their license: the endless testing, remembering road signs, the actual buying experience, and the feeling of freedom on the open road now that you may go wherever you wish.
But what exactly is the ideal first car? Most people who have just obtained their license are on a very strict budget, and in today's economy it is expected for young drivers to have a small, practical car that gets a decent fuel economy. This list documents the best vehicles you can get your hands on for a modest budget. Of course, for a new driver, practicality, fuel economy and ease to drive are key factors in a first car. So, here's a list of old cars for new drivers.
#5: Citroën C2 (2003-2009)
With an bulbous curved body and a goofy front grille, the Citroën C2 is by no means the most attractive car on the planet, but it is known to be incredibly fun. The C2 is also quite fuel efficient, with the base 1.1 litre model achieving 6.9l/100km (34mi/g) and the higher-end 1.4 litre HDi model managing to get 4.2l/100km (56mi/g). With this small package comes a mighty little engine known for its reliability and easy service - though, since it is a mid-2000s car made in France, you may want to watch out for electrical failures. Since it shares a platform with the immediately recognisable Peugeot 206, parts are sure to be available for it for many years to come, and at an affordable cost. The C2 is incredibly safe, too, achieving a four-star rating from Euro NCAP in 2003 for an adult occupant's safety in a collision; and while the engine may not be very powerful (with the largest 1.6 litre VTS engine producing only 125 Pferdstarke), it is sure to keep running and at a low insurance cost. Here in Germany, you can get a Citroën C2 with under 180,000 kilometres on it for less than 3000€ ($3294). In conclusion, the C2 is a great first car that should last for years to come.
#4: Volvo C30 (2006-2013)
A more enthusiastic car for a more enthusiastic driver, the Volvo C30 is the only "luxury coupé" in this list. Released in 2006, the C30 produces 100 Pferdstarke on the base 1.6 litre model, with the 2.5 Turbo model producing up to 230 Pferdstarke. Power aside, the Volvo C30 is known for legendary reliability and maximum comfort whilst driving in a C-Segment car. For fuel economy, it wins hands-down against almost every other car in this list, striking in at 3.7l/100km (62.8mi/g). With a sporting exterior featuring sleek headlights and the esteemed Volvo badge, this car is also able to draw the eyes of whoever sees it in the street. With a top speed of 185km/h (115mi/h), this car is also exceedingly fast for your first car. Of course, since Volvo is a luxury brand, we can expect the insurance in this car to be quite high, but luckily this car starts at less than 5000€ ($5500) for a nice example. Closing the chapter on the C30 is difficult, but there is much more to come.
#3: Toyota Corolla (2002-2007)
You probably expected this car here. The Toyota Corolla has a reputation for being reliable regardless of generation or model year, and is known for excellent handling. With a low budget of roughly 1000€ ($1100), you can pick up an E12 hatchback with less than 160,000 kilometres (100,000mi) clocked on the odometer. Sure, it isn't the flashiest car in the world, but it sure will be cheaper to repair, or even replace, than any other car on this list. I picked this generation of Corolla specifically because of the engine: the legendary VVT-i engine. The VVT-i engine is known to be one of the most reliable engines on the planet, and because of this it is still often used in multiple cars today. Thanks to this, the car is able to keep an incredibly low cost and very low prices for replacement parts. Insurance is cheap too - around the same price to insure annually as the C2 mentioned earlier, but with a lot more space and power. In fact, the base 1.4 litre model has a top speed akin to the Volvo C30's, at 185km/h (115mi/h). Alongside this, the Corolla achieves 5.6l/100km (42mi/g), which is about run-of-the-mill for a two-decade-old runabout. Call me biased, but I personally believe the Corolla is the best car on this list, simply for practicality and for the cost. Alternatively, a Toyota Yaris of the same era can be picked up for around 1500€ ($1650) if you are more keen on the smaller size.
#2: Volkswagen Up! (2011-2016)
The first-generation Volkswagen Up! succeeded the unbelievably ugly, miniature Polo Volkswagen Fox in 2011 after sales began to faulter. Instead of making an ugly successor, Volkswagen made an adorable little city car with luxurious pedigree. While smaller than every other car on this list, the Volkswagen Up! has something special. With a modest fuel economy of 4l/100km (59mi/g) and a top speed of 161km/h (100mi/h), the Up! will get you almost anywhere and in relative comfort. With a starting price of roughly 2600€ ($2850), the Up! promises reliable city travel and a cheap-to-run highway machine for a relatively low price. If you're a new driver and have a thirst for a car that's a bit more modern (and are happy sacrificing size and power for age), then this may be the car for you.
#1: Opel Astra (2004-2010)
The pinnacle of the everyday car. Every junior executive's car. The people's car. The Opel Astra is a neat automobile. Available as a "sport coupé" and a hatchback (though personally the coupé is far nicer), the Astra is renown for being everywhere, meaning that parts are widely available and these cars are becoming increasingly affordable. The Opel Astra H Coupé begins at roughly 1400€ ($1550), and you get a lot for the money. The Astra, particularly this generation, is very reliable and manages to achieve a decent fuel economy of 5.2l/100km (45mi/g) and has a top speed of 180km/h (112mi/h). This puts the Astra at odds with the Corolla of the same generation, where the Opel sacrifices 5 kilometres per hour for 5 kilometres of extra driving. Overall, this puts the Astra ahead of the Japanese competitor, with its attractive exterior and comfortable cloth interior helping add to this. The Astra also has a large modification scene, and I'm sure if you go down to an ALDI parking lot on a Friday afternoon, you'll definitely spot a lowered, debadged and muffled car. These vehicles are widely capable for what they are, and offer seriously affordable insurance. Those in the UK may know the Astra as a Vauxhall, with American readers recognising this generation as a Saturn.
In conclusion, your first car is always special. Don't waste the opportunity to have fun, but don't spend too much money on something only for you to accidentally wreck it on a turn six months later.
