Keep us updated on how you go
An Uno is a great choice for a first car - you just have to get a good one. I think it's fair to say that Unos fall into three categories:
1. Rough condition but running OK. Good value transport. Statistically this will be the largest category. May not be 100% reliable as many things will be worn out by now. Major rust could suddenly make it uneconomic to get through an MOT. I mean rust in the floor, suspension turrets, roof, etc.
2. Nice condition 'fixed up' cars, lots of replaced parts. Previous owners who cared. Hard to assess the quality of the work - may have bodged repairs (e.g. rust in doors that reappears later), be careful not to pay too much! Will be more usable than rough-condition cars, less embarrassing and easier to live with, less work required.
3. Great condition original cars. This is your 'one elderly lady owner' type of car, low mileage, no rust. A lot more expensive than the other two types (may be three times the price of 'rough condition') but worth every penny in my opinion - these are a 'classic' car in waiting, the type you will keep long-term. Will still need replacement of some parts due to age - e.g. rusty brakes. Note that for the same money as a great-condition Uno, you could buy a rough-condition Punto, maybe even a Mk2 Punto. But which would you rather be seen driving? - I'd rather have a mint-condition Uno than a rough-condition Punto
The only danger is that as a first car, the situation is a little different to when you buy your 20th car, and I think you might want 'good' rather than 'great' condition. You might experience difficulty maintaining the original condition (I don't mean to criticise but we all remember some of the conquests our first cars went through
Friends walking on the bonnet at parties, screwdrivered locks in the street, salty trips to the beach, the odd dent from an unseen object... my first Uno had all of those) This is one of the reasons you want a CHEAP car, so you have less to lose
And money is tight enough; why tie up loads of money in a new-ish car than loses value every year?
I think you're making a great choice with the Uno. And it makes little difference what model it is, you don't need rocket performance to get from A to B (and back to A). I never think, "oh, that time all four of us drove to Opotoki and nearly rolled it in the sand while trying to drag in that boat would have been so much better if I'd had the Turbo..."
Like your first girlfriend, you always remember your first car
Cheers,
-Alex
