Advice needed - which car (UK)?

[Boot_WB]

I passed my driving test today! Second time round - failed the first time due to a relatively minor error which I should have avoided, but hey-ho!

Now I'm looking out for a car: 4 wheels, some seats, some sort of engine... but this is where my knowledge ends.

My priorities are:
Reliability
Fuel consumption (cost)

I don't give a monkeys about what it looks like, the enjoyment of the ride, what make, etc, as long as it runs with low maintenance and fuel consumption costs.

I'll be using it for a 35-40 mile each way commute Monday-Friday, mainly on A-roads; town driving will constitute a low proportion of my driving, as I have my bike for shopping, etc.

I have the vague impression that I should probably be looking for a 1.4 litre diesel, but by saying this I am not implying any sort of understanding. When people start talking about cars in this way I tend to switch off.

Advice please?

[Boot_WB]

Congrats

Thanks guys  :-)

[Boot_WB]

Well, after a bit of juggling the finances, and checking insurance quotes on various makes/models, I went with TVR Chimera.


Only joking, I went with (although adapted) Moto's suggestion and bought a Skoda Felicia - year 2000 (basically a VW Polo). £5 change out of £900 - I could have probably done better, but I need to get on the road, and whatever I buy, as it's my first car, it's going to be a learning experience.

@Bloodline
After just coming out of a 4-year relationship, the only thing I want the car to help me "pick up" is the shopping tbh (hey it's kinky, but each to their own!).
If it makes you feel better I can just go and burn down a few acres of virgin rainforest - should have the same effect as running the Chimera for a few months  :-P

Electrics are minimal (manual EVERYTHING), has a full service history, and has just had its MOT.
Went to the public library in Sheffield yesterday and scanned half the Haynes manual :lol: - will pick one up via Ebay for the rest. After a good check through the basics (fluids, tyre tread, drive belt, general condition under the hood) everything seems OK. It's a bit of a change from the Toyota Yaris (power steering, electric windows, air con, etc) that I learned to drive in, but it's got a reputation as being reliable, cheap parts, and (relatively) low fuel consumption. Only trouble is it is a petrol engine (1.3 litre), but if it proves reliable over the next couple of months, I may shop around for a quote for LPG conversion - with my current job it would earn its money back in 8-12 months, so if the car lasts that long it would be worth it.

I need to do a more in-depth check over, ie checking the brake shoes, etc but as it has just come out of its MOT I think that can wait until next weekend.

Thanks for all the advice guys!