cheap learner driver car
Discussion
Hi guys!
I'm new to this forum so you'll have to excuse me if I'm out of order anywhere!
My daughter is seventeen and I'd like to start teaching her to drive (she's had eight lessons so far) I've not put her on my car, 1999 406 diesel, cause it would be a lot of money and I'm probably gonna have to scrap it when the mot is up (end of march).
What I'm thinking is a cheap small car, preferably for a few hundred quid. Something that's gonna be reliable. I know that "a few hundred quid" and "reliable" might not go together in some peoples minds but I been doing it for over thirty years now and its not gone so bad!
Does anyone have any suggestions? was thinking ford Ka but I'm reading they go through steering racks like nobody's business. I like diesels but I'm looking for lowest tax band, and cheap to insure so I don't mind getting a petrol (after driving diesels for last twelve years I'm actually looking forward to a petrol again just to see how much better diesel is?!)
One more thing. Will it be cheaper for me to insure the car in my name with her on it or in her name?
cheers all
I'm new to this forum so you'll have to excuse me if I'm out of order anywhere!
My daughter is seventeen and I'd like to start teaching her to drive (she's had eight lessons so far) I've not put her on my car, 1999 406 diesel, cause it would be a lot of money and I'm probably gonna have to scrap it when the mot is up (end of march).
What I'm thinking is a cheap small car, preferably for a few hundred quid. Something that's gonna be reliable. I know that "a few hundred quid" and "reliable" might not go together in some peoples minds but I been doing it for over thirty years now and its not gone so bad!
Does anyone have any suggestions? was thinking ford Ka but I'm reading they go through steering racks like nobody's business. I like diesels but I'm looking for lowest tax band, and cheap to insure so I don't mind getting a petrol (after driving diesels for last twelve years I'm actually looking forward to a petrol again just to see how much better diesel is?!)
One more thing. Will it be cheaper for me to insure the car in my name with her on it or in her name?
cheers all
Have you checked what the insurance would be on your car or just assuming it would be a lot? Not sure about learners but I've heard a lot of stories of new drivers finding older "dad" cars to be cheaper to insure than small hatchbacks as the insurance figures are based on accident stats, and a lot more teenagers crash 106's than 406's
There's a thread along these lines on the Alfa Owners Club forum. Yes, "dad" cars do work. I asked the Meerkats for a quote for a 17 year old student with a 2001 Fiat Punto 1.2 8V and got £2986, putting a 2001 Volvo S40 1.6 in instead dropped this by about £200. Then I added a 55 year old parent to the quote as an additional driver and it dropped to £1776.
Jazz, very good visibility, very easy to drive , costs buttons to run in insurance/petrol and will be trouble free as well! - All you asked for.
also costs around £500
Don't get her some unreliable piece of $hit as a KA or any other old ford/vauxhall which place is in crusher already not on road!
Sure It might be pensioners car , but that's why they are so popular among them.
also costs around £500
Don't get her some unreliable piece of $hit as a KA or any other old ford/vauxhall which place is in crusher already not on road!
Sure It might be pensioners car , but that's why they are so popular among them.
Edited by bagusbagus on Friday 20th January 19:40
With a Mk1 or Mk2 Smart you are limited to just two seats, an important advantage for a new driver especially if male (obviously less relevant in this case).
This means that the 17 year old's passengers are limited to just one who is much less likely to lead the driver astray. Even so a male 17 year old could still boast that they have a rear engined, two door, turbocharged convertible...
Smarts also have advantage of having plastic body panels, which are easy to replace in the event of a minor ding. They are fun to drive, but easy too as they have manual gearboxes but electrically operated clutches, the Brabus even has paddles as well as a shift lever.
This means that the 17 year old's passengers are limited to just one who is much less likely to lead the driver astray. Even so a male 17 year old could still boast that they have a rear engined, two door, turbocharged convertible...
Smarts also have advantage of having plastic body panels, which are easy to replace in the event of a minor ding. They are fun to drive, but easy too as they have manual gearboxes but electrically operated clutches, the Brabus even has paddles as well as a shift lever.
There are 1000's of sub £1000 cars out there ideal for a learner. Why not see how much your pug will cost to put through an MOT, and find out insurance for her on that?
Try "Ingenie" they chuck a black box in it to monitor speed braking cornering and even give money back if driver keeps into the green zone!
My daughter has it in her 1.0 Yaris......she hates it as all she worries about is keeping below the speed limit, but her insurance was £1250 for the year. She has had £39 back for the first 1/4, and on track for £70 back this 1/4 if she keeps to the green zone in the area's they watch.
I hear Tesco's is good for young people, and Adrian Flux whilst a leaner, but be warned they are expensive once they have passed.
106's, 206's, Polo's, Yaris, Fiesta's, are all really popular for first cars, if she got one for £750-£1000 she is likely to get her money back on it at the end of her first years driving when she wants something with more "Umphhh"
As a driving instructor I would suggest putting her on your insurance to compliment driving lessons with a professional, and get an instructor to get her through the test, rather than spending money on insurance, car, tax, servicing,tyres, and repair to an old car. Also realistically work out how often you are going to be able to take her out around your work, her studying and social life.....then buy a car for her once she has passed, many of my pups rush into buying a car, and repent in leisure when I ask if they had been out with mum/dad, and the reply is "No they are too busy!"
Unless you are a decent driver, have studied what she has to achieve to pass a test, pass on the skills she will require and don't shout at her every mistake, you may find the experience a little more difficult than you imagined. I have been an ADI for 13.5 years and teaching my daughter was not something I enjoyed.....we had "words" on more than 1 occasion ! But then she passed 1st time with no faults
good luck
Try "Ingenie" they chuck a black box in it to monitor speed braking cornering and even give money back if driver keeps into the green zone!
My daughter has it in her 1.0 Yaris......she hates it as all she worries about is keeping below the speed limit, but her insurance was £1250 for the year. She has had £39 back for the first 1/4, and on track for £70 back this 1/4 if she keeps to the green zone in the area's they watch.
I hear Tesco's is good for young people, and Adrian Flux whilst a leaner, but be warned they are expensive once they have passed.
106's, 206's, Polo's, Yaris, Fiesta's, are all really popular for first cars, if she got one for £750-£1000 she is likely to get her money back on it at the end of her first years driving when she wants something with more "Umphhh"
As a driving instructor I would suggest putting her on your insurance to compliment driving lessons with a professional, and get an instructor to get her through the test, rather than spending money on insurance, car, tax, servicing,tyres, and repair to an old car. Also realistically work out how often you are going to be able to take her out around your work, her studying and social life.....then buy a car for her once she has passed, many of my pups rush into buying a car, and repent in leisure when I ask if they had been out with mum/dad, and the reply is "No they are too busy!"
Unless you are a decent driver, have studied what she has to achieve to pass a test, pass on the skills she will require and don't shout at her every mistake, you may find the experience a little more difficult than you imagined. I have been an ADI for 13.5 years and teaching my daughter was not something I enjoyed.....we had "words" on more than 1 occasion ! But then she passed 1st time with no faults
good luck
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Add her to your car on a separate learner driver policy, Google Marmalade insurance. very reasonable costs. Insurance starts to be a pain after she's passed, not whilst she's learning.
bang on! marmalade, £70 a month. get us started for a couple of months till I find out if I can keep my old pug on the roadGassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff