£800 for insurance on a 1.4 (I'm guessing 8v, as the 16v engine is IG10!) is really good IMO. When I insured my first car, a 998cc Mini, on a provisional license when I was 17, it cost me £1200! I didn't get any money back for passing my test 2 months later, the sods
As for alternatives, you could try an Ibiza - same floorpan, same engines too IIRC, and its still VAG group (so VW reliability) but cheaper. £1300 should find you a decent 1.4 Polo though, have a scout about in the local rag, auto trader, in the For Sale section here at UK-P and so on, and you should find something you like.
Happy hunting!
