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Hi Jack - Which vehicle would you recommend as a first car for a teenager/student for getting around town - A 1994 Auto Nissan Pulsar X1 Hatch 1500cc with 201500 kms or 1998 Toyota Starlet Glanza 3DR Auto Hatchback 1296cc with 221,308 kms? Both appear tidy but they are private sales and with conflicting opinions about running costs, ongoing service and maintenance it's difficult to choose which one to put through the full AA inspection. Thanks for your help.
Both these models have a fairly good reputation for reliability - but obviously, in this case both are fairly high mileage. Look for a model in as good a condition as you can find, preferably with a known service history. One benefit of the Pulsar is that it has a timing chain (not a cambelt) so one less service item to worry about.
Neither of these cars should be hugely expensive to run, although the Starlet is likely to be a bit more thrifty on fuel.
Another popular model from that era was the Mazda Familia - it's more a competitor to the Nissan Pulsar size-wise, as the Starlet is smaller.