The range of R$ 20 thousand is the limit for those looking for a reliable used car and do not want to risk the "lasagna"
With the recent facilitations in the licensing process, the dream of having their first car has become closer to many young people. What, unfortunately, has not changed are the high values of used cars.
We put together this list for young people — or parents — who are on a tighter budget for their first car. In the current situation, R$ 20 thousand is the limit to have a model that can be reliable, easy to drive and with affordable maintenance.
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And we know that a young person who has just qualified wants to have a cool car that stands out and drives well. But it’s good to put your foot down with the first one and choose something sensible, don’t fall into the temptation of the cheap import.
The Fiat Mille Fire is one of the safest bets in the used car market. Its robustness and easy-to-maintain engine make it a good car for everyday use or for work.
As it is quite light, weighing only 830 kg, performance is smart with the 1.0 Fire engine of 65 hp. The low weight also helps when maneuvering, even without power steering it is not as heavy as in rivals.
The simplicity of the Mille plays against the equipment offering. Power steering, power windows, radio and air conditioning were optional and few buyers chose these items at the time. The small Fiat is from the “what you don’t have doesn’t break” team.
The second generation of the Brazilian Ford Ka was the first with profound changes to improve interior space and with the front suspension of the Fiesta Street, which uses a subframe. The design is not as well resolved as the first, but it is more comfortable and practical.
Our first car recommendation is the 1.0 model, which is found in the range of R$ 20 thousand. It was sold in a single version with several optional packages, even the hot air was paid separately, so there is no standardization in the equipment.
The 1.0 Rocam engine of the Ford Ka is reliable and uses metal chain in the timing of the camshaft, simplifying preventive maintenance. Its Achilles heel is easy to solve: change the original plastic housing of the thermostatic valve for an aluminum one. That way it won’t boil.
Chevrolet’s compact cars have built a reputation for being robust, cheap to maintain and performing well thanks to the Family 1 engine. This engine debuted with the Corsa in 1994 and is still on line in the Spin minivan.
For the first car equipped with this engine, we recommend the second generation of the national Corsa, launched in 2002. It was larger and better finished than the first.
In the range of R$ 20 thousand it is possible to find the hatch with a 1.0 or 1.8 engine. The Corsa is easier to find with comfort items such as air conditioning and power steering, due to its market positioning when new. And when it comes to maintenance, it is easy to find pieces at low prices.
French cars have a pejorative reputation for being “bombs”. This came from the problems with the 1.4 engine used by Peugeot and Citroën. Renault, which makes reliable cars, got a bad reputation without having anything to do with it.
The positive side of this playfulness is that the Renault Clio is a good option for a popular used car that has not been valued. It is better finished than the competition and manages to be very fun behind the wheel.
In the range of R$ 20 thousand we find models up to the year 2012, already with the flex engine. The 1.0 16v of the Clio was the most powerful 1.0 in Brazil and has simple maintenance. It is a good first car option for those who want something more interesting to drive.
Volkswagen’s used cars are valued, so options up to R$ 20 thousand are limited. For the role of first car, we list the Fox, which is a spacious hatch and is usually found in better condition than the embattled Gol.
The 1.0 EA111 engine suffers a little to pull the hatch, but it makes up for it by being easy to maintain. The models in this price range predate the VHT version, which was marked by chronic problems.
A weak point of the Fox is the hard suspension, to compensate for the tall bodywork. It can be uncomfortable on uneven floors and helps to disengage plastics from the panel.
