Best Car For Newly Qualified Driver

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Bicycle is best vehicle for new drivers. .then they might appreciate what nobends so many drivers are
 
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Am still looking at used cars for a newly qualified driver. I'm still trying to work out the best car to go for.

Obviously, there is insurance to consider, then reliability/ ease of fixing if it goes wrong.

I appreciate what people say about spending a bit more, but budget dictates a sub-£1000 car. Preferably, I'd like a small diesel, as the higher mileages that this price bracket will have are generally "worn" better by a diesel.
I'd like an engine that is chain-driven, so no belt to worry about.
Either that or a car that is cheap to replace the belt. Ditto the clutch!

So, to sum up, a car that is low in insurance, chain-driven diesel, with parts that are cheap and easy to get hold of.

Not a big ask!

Ford and Vauxhall are obvious choices as cars that have a cheap and plentiful supply of parts.

I know the TDCi engines (PSA's HDi's) are chain-driven, and AFAIR, so is Vauxhall's 1.3 diesel.

So, given the budget, what would you buy?
 
Ford focus 1.6 diesel.

Also I had a 1.9 vauxhall (fiat engine) and it was the worst car I've ever had. The joke was always Fix It Again Tomorrow. I found out the hard way.

Edit: that said I think the smallers focus are belt driven, but I've had more chains fail than belts so take that how you'd like.
 
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That is interesting! I've never known a chain to fail and have actually driven a car to a garage for a belt change, when the guy got the top off, it was literally holding by a few threads.....

I'm a bit of a Skoda fan. I know the 1.9 TDi is considered pretty bullet-proof, but is the 1.4 the same. I know they are belt-driven.
Have you seen the video about an old Octavia called Miles?

 
It was a 2l BMW diesel that the chain went on. Had just done 100k.
 
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