Hi Aisling,

You want something small, low-powered and economical, which almost automatically steers you towards city cars and superminis, the two smallest types of hatchback. And, if you take a lead from the cars that driving instructors use, then there are some perennial favourites – which are the Ford Fiesta, Opel Corsa and Nissan Micra. The advantage of all three of these is that they have always been big sellers throughout their lives, so there are lots and lots of used examples on the market, keeping second-hand prices low. The Nissan should be the most reliable, the Ford the best to drive, but if you’re on a budget, you can’t really go wrong with any of them. Make sure that you get the cleanest, most well-maintained used example you can for the money, which should mean it will prove to be a reliable runaround for a first-time driver. Also, the Irish motor insurance industry is still obsessed with engine sizes, so go for the smallest you can.