Lude Generation

Only a year and a few months until my eldest hits 17 and the nightmare of insuring a car starts.

I have NCB spare so I'm thinking about getting a car now, teaching him basic servicing, fixing things and of course cleaning a car, ready to then teach him how to drive.

Don't fancy a Corsaxanovo so was thinking a 1.4 Civic, the 3dr hatch, ek/ej I think, facelift circa 1998/2000 ish.

Seems to be alsorts of models, Tornado, Hawaii, Illusion, etc, but the Sport seems most appealing as it has alloys (wont be modifying due to his age).

Throw what you know at me, issues etc. I guess rusty arches will be something to watch out for like any other Honda.

Might be better off with a Jazz. Cheaper to insure, cheaper to run, good cars.

i prefer the pre facelift ej's but the 1.4's are solid reliable as hell insurance wont be dirt cheap as there common youngster cars and very slow but guess any first car will be

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Daihatsu-Cuor ... 4ac5488e1a
what i would get if i was back at first car time

Wifey has a 2000 1.4 civic, it's the five door but has a really good chasis and I am surprised at how well it goes round corners.

TBH it has no significant issues, and not a spot of rust anywhere, even the rear arches.

I had a 1.4 ek shape 2000 Civic Sport for my first car, it was a great car! Cheap to run, reliable, great handling and look good.

I'm talking spending £500/£750 on a car, so forget the Jazz, besides which they are fooking awful.

I will be driving it for the next year or so it won't be a Diahatsu either. Don't like the 5dr civics I'm afraid, will have to be the 3 door.

I can insure one for less than £200, just that it will be 7 times that with the lad on there!

Here's a pic of my old one....

That's the jobbie Rob. Is the sport the only one with alloy wheels?

Yeah, group 17 by the looks of things.

I'll have to drokk around with quotes and compare a 1.4 Civic against Fiestas and the like. Can't really think of any other hatch that I like though.