Its usually the insurance that dictates what your first car is going to be
The older the better as far as isnurance goes. Diesels are also cheaper to insure than the petrol counterparts. Look for anomoalies in the groups.
Rover 220 GTi group 17 Rover 220 GSi group 15 (Same engine and same performance just without the GTi interior and bumpers - both cars still have a boot spoiler and share the same alloys!)