Car for new driver

[AnilS]

Our youngest lad has just passed his driving test and we are looking for a nice small runabout for him.

Criteria

• 10 years old or newer
• Engine size under 1.2 litres
• Prefer less than 70K miles
• Must have reasonable MOT.
• HPI clear
• Nothing bigger than Fiesta/Yaris size
• Insurance friendly
• Prefer 5 doors but 3 will work
• Manual gearbox
• Must be viewable so anything in the West Midlands and/or Worcestershire are fine
• Budget is up to £1.3K but preferably less
• Bank of Mum and Dad waiting
  

Let me know

 

[MancMike]

My nephew passed recently. His dad bought him a skoda fabia that's similar to your criteria, but the insurance, as you'd expect was well into the thousands.

He instead got a 17 plate Fiesta and pays £220/month on a JAF deal.

 

[PobodY]

Hyundai Amica (or possibly an early i10)? - Ours was 1096cc and it was pretty hard to get in to trouble with it.

I can't say what the insurance would be for a new driver though.

 

[KennyN]

Peugeot 107 / Aygo / C1 - all the same car. Lowest ins group , £20 tax and cheap as chips to keep on the road.

Clio 1.2 mk 2 - As above but a lot more expensive for the tax and a wee bit dearer for ins.

We have both in the household.

Kenny

 

[kdh]

My son's just passed his test at 18 and he has a 2005 VW Polo 1.4 5 door insured for just over a grand on an Admiral multi car policy, which I thought was very good. No black box. Can't help you with the car I'm afraid.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

It's an insurance policy based decision

I went through this with my kids and was amazed how "prejudiced" the insurance quotes were. It's all about the smallest engines from the biggest manufacturers. Go "off piste," even to very dull cars, and the insurance quote scoots up.

Look around any college and the default cars are Corsa, Fiesta, Polo, and if you're lucky Golf or Focus. Look at your insurance quotes and you'll see why.

It's amazing how well the cars handle. Embarrassing really.

Personally, I'd go larger if possible: a five door Focus or Golf. They give more protection when they driven into trees. (As happened to the dead student known to one of my kids). And rear doors make it easier to get the bodies out.

 

[AMGeed]

Personally, I'd go larger if possible: a five door Focus or Golf. They give more protection when they driven into trees. (As happened to the dead student known to one of my kids). And rear doors make it easier to get the bodies out.

 

[clk320x]

I thought WTF too

 

[moonloops]

rear doors make it easier to get the bodies out.

In that case a convertible will ensure the bodies get ejected easily. Couple of shovels and some heavy duty bin bags = job done

 

[Smart320]

Nothing changes, in 1965 my 18 year old best friend managed to kill himself rolling his convertible on a twisting country road after an evening in the local pub, no breathalysers or seat belts though in those days.

 

[PobodY]

Conversely my 18 year old friend decided that his van needed a Chevrolet 6.3L V8 in 1995; he put it sideways at ~100kmh on a gravel road and it rolled for quite some distance. - He walked away with a scratch on his arm (I assume he was wearing his seatbelt).

I would not advocate letting a new driver have an engine like that. Dale could use a tank of petrol in a day, and tyres lasted him about a month. The van was undrivable in the rain, but it was incredibly impressive at the time.

 

[Dave.tam]

When my eldest was 17 we looked around for a car for her. Her nan gave her a very old micra (worth about £50) but the cheapest insurance was circa £7k!

She was more than willing to pay it as she just wanted to get driving, but I point blank refused. We did some digging and I noticed a trend when checking insurance quotes......the newer the car, the cheaper the insurance!

I ended up buying her a brand new Renault Clio. Got a good deal for a very well spec'd car, and the insurance was only £1800. I told her I'd pay for the car (which was only £160 a month) if she paid the insurance and everything else. Obviously she jumped at the idea lol

Anyway, moral of the story is, you may need to consider insurance over anything else if you want your son to build up his own NCD.

My daughter has 4yrs NCD now, so insurance is much better.

 

[gunning]

I paid £600 to insure my first car. A mini one (1.6) but was insurance group 6 at the time being very low. The car was a 53 plate back in 2009.

Don't think it's ever been that cheap since the curse of buying performance cars.

 

[AnilS]

Thanks guys. All great responses.

We have seemed to narrow down to a Yaris (1.0) as it was my wife's first car and was utterly brilliant and safe.
Additionally, a 1.2 Corsa is OK too. Everything else, including Fiestas seem pricey.

Venture to a 1.4 and the insurance is awful.

Been offered a 40K mile Yaris 1.0 for £1200 but it's miles away (through another forum).

Car for new driver | Retro Rides

I looked at a larger car (Golf/Focus) as they are a "mature choice" but the engines rule them out.

 

[AnilS]

Right, narrowed down to Yaris, Corsa, Fiesta and Polo.

If anyone is selling or knows of anyone (friends or family) that will sell their car to my son, as if it was their own child, please shout.

Thanks

 

[AnilS]

Will consider engines up to 1.4 litres.

Thanks

 

[AnilS]

Still looking

 

[vijilants]

Yaris is a good car....Good NCAP safety ratings, dead easy to drive, reliable, and comfortable.

My kids started of off with a Yaris and I also used to enjoy driving it. Great Toyota VWTI engine in it and it is chan cam drive so no additional expense with cam belt changes. The original clutch lasted 110,000 miles !

Avoid the Escort and Corsa. They drive well but too many either get stolen or parts are stolen.

 

[AnilS]

Now sorted.


Many thanks to all.

 

[PobodY]

Avoid the Escort and Corsa. They drive well but too many either get stolen or parts are stolen.

Surely the Escort is now classed as a classic car.