hiya,
I remember my first car, UEB121S, a Mini 850 that was more Isopon P38, newspaper and rust then metal
ah..... (bring on those rose tinted specs...)
On a more serious note though, generally, if you get something small engined (ie under 1.4 litres), with a good safety record, low CO2 emissions (therefore cheaper road tax), and something not too quirky, you shouldnt go wrong. Its always worth checking out the buyer's guides in magazines like Autocar, and also
www.euroncap.com will give you the vital stats on how cars have done in independent crash tests.
I suppose it depends on your budget, but small cars like the VW Lupo/Seat Arosa (same car, different badge), VW Polo/Seat Ibiza (ditto) Renault Clio, Vauxhall Corsa (ok, so all the Chavs love em), Citroen Saxo (even bigger Chav Points and free Burberry Cap) and the Fiat Punto are all cheap to buy and run.
Whilst it is always tempting to go and buy a 'banger' for a few hundred quid, unless you know what you're looking for, you could end up with a whole heap of trouble. And, yes I drive an 'old banger', but I've had the car 6 years and know it inside out, plus its fully maintained and has a proper MOT (rather then "here's £20, just stick a years ticket on that for us).
Avoid Chavved up Saxo's and Corsa's that look like they've gone head first into the accessory department at Halfords.
Another top tip, once you've passed your driving test, is to carry on to do your 'Pass Plus' and then take additional skills and awareness training and take the IAM or ROSPA tests. I did my IAM training 9 years ago, and it was well worth doing, as after 8 years on the road, I'd become complacent. The training was a real eye opener, and the test, which took around 2 hours, was conducted by a Police Driving Examiner.
If you see a car you fancy, PM me the details and I can probably check it out with my 'trade contacts' - or if you decide what make/model you want, I can also ask them to keep an eye out for one for you.
Remeber - Caveat Emptor (Let the Buyer Beware), and if it looks to good to be true, it probably is!
Hope this helps,
Claire
Full Licence since 16th June 1989
Shackled to the Motor Trade since February 1992