First car for 18 year old? Test not passed yet.
Discussion
The time has come to start considering a first car for our daughter. 18yrs old, provisional only. The plan is for her to have 6-10 official driving lessons first and then I or her mum will accompany her in *her* car..
Insurance. I guess the car would need to be in mine or her mums name for insurance purposes??
The (fun) car bit. Any recommendations for a first car?? I was thinking something like a 1.0 Polo, maybe a Mini? Budget of probably 5-10k, I want it to be reliable, safe, and (hopefully) last her a couple of years at least. I guess that's a lofty budget for a first car but it needs to do a daily commute of approx 60 miles.
Thank you
Insurance. I guess the car would need to be in mine or her mums name for insurance purposes??
The (fun) car bit. Any recommendations for a first car?? I was thinking something like a 1.0 Polo, maybe a Mini? Budget of probably 5-10k, I want it to be reliable, safe, and (hopefully) last her a couple of years at least. I guess that's a lofty budget for a first car but it needs to do a daily commute of approx 60 miles.
Thank you
Phooey said:
The time has come to start considering a first car for our daughter. 18yrs old, provisional only. The plan is for her to have 6-10 official driving lessons first and then I or her mum will accompany her in *her* car..
Insurance. I guess the car would need to be in mine or her mums name for insurance purposes??
No, you insure it in her name as a learner otherwise you will be potentially guilty of "fronting".Insurance. I guess the car would need to be in mine or her mums name for insurance purposes??
I'd assemble a list of 5-10 and throw them all into insurance comparison sites, rate hikes after passing seems to be where a lot are getting caught out, so check that. Don't front it, insure them as primary, the NCB will likely be useful for them too.
Honda Jazz seems insurance-friendly, spectacularly dull, safe and efficient. They're excellent for those at the very start of their driving adventures, not just those at the very end.
Honda Jazz seems insurance-friendly, spectacularly dull, safe and efficient. They're excellent for those at the very start of their driving adventures, not just those at the very end.
Different country, so different insurance market, but my daughter had a 10yo Mazda2 as her first car at 17, replaced after 2 years by a CX3. Mazdas here are broadly in the same category as Toyota and Kia/Hyundai in that they are favourites with the taxi/Uber brigade here for general overall reliability and running costs.
Insurance quotes guided me towards Mazda with Toyota costs a little more. Def worth starting with a few insurance quotes - play around with the Excess - what would you really make a claim for - £500? £1000? £1500??
Insurance quotes guided me towards Mazda with Toyota costs a little more. Def worth starting with a few insurance quotes - play around with the Excess - what would you really make a claim for - £500? £1000? £1500??
On the insurance side, insure it in her name with you and your wife as named drivers. As others have said if you don't it can be fronting, which is illegal.
Insurance for learners isn't as much as you might fear. It's the first year or two after they pass that can be eyewatering, so bear that in mind.
On the car front, at that budget you've got loads to choose from. I'd get something fairly ordinary that is cheap to repair. Likely to be lower insurance once she has passed.
Insurance for learners isn't as much as you might fear. It's the first year or two after they pass that can be eyewatering, so bear that in mind.
On the car front, at that budget you've got loads to choose from. I'd get something fairly ordinary that is cheap to repair. Likely to be lower insurance once she has passed.
Phooey said:
The time has come to start considering a first car for our daughter. 18yrs old, provisional only. The plan is for her to have 6-10 official driving lessons first and then I or her mum will accompany her in *her* car..
Insurance. I guess the car would need to be in mine or her mums name for insurance purposes??
The (fun) car bit. Any recommendations for a first car?? I was thinking something like a 1.0 Polo, maybe a Mini? Budget of probably 5-10k, I want it to be reliable, safe, and (hopefully) last her a couple of years at least. I guess that's a lofty budget for a first car but it needs to do a daily commute of approx 60 miles.
Thank you
Insure it in her name with you & mum listed as named drivers, half the budget it's her first car & you can easily find a smart reliable car to do 60 miles per day with ease.Insurance. I guess the car would need to be in mine or her mums name for insurance purposes??
The (fun) car bit. Any recommendations for a first car?? I was thinking something like a 1.0 Polo, maybe a Mini? Budget of probably 5-10k, I want it to be reliable, safe, and (hopefully) last her a couple of years at least. I guess that's a lofty budget for a first car but it needs to do a daily commute of approx 60 miles.
Thank you
Put the extra money aside for something else.
0.9 Clio:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202609196...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202609105...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202610036...
1.0T:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202610136...
1.2N/A:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202610136...
Fiat 500 Lounge:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202609266...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606263...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202610126...
1.25 Fiesta Zetec, the Fiesta is the best steer:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202610157...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604131...
Kia Rio 3:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202610197...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202610197...
i20 Premium SE:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608215...
1.4 Kia ProCeed:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202610106...
All the above hit your brief of reliable safe & still being a nice place to be as well as a great first car.
Thanks for the great replies - keep them coming! Good point re insurance - I didn't realise the legalities of putting it in a parent name. I think the Toyota Aygo is a good shout reliability wise etc but I know she wouldn't have one. She keeps mentioning the VW Polo but I've experienced mixed reliability / high costs out of Volkswagens
eta the Clio looks a good shout too. I don't know anything about the reliability of them, but vfm they win over the Polo?
eta the Clio looks a good shout too. I don't know anything about the reliability of them, but vfm they win over the Polo?
Edited by Phooey on Sunday 25th October 09:07
Phooey said:
Thanks for the great replies - keep them coming! Good point re insurance - I didn't realise the legalities of putting it in a parent name. I think the Toyota Aygo is a good shout reliability wise etc but I know she wouldn't have one. She keeps mentioning the VW Polo but I've experienced mixed reliability / high costs out of Volkswagens
eta the Clio looks a good shout too. I don't know anything about the reliability of them, but vfm they win over the Polo?
Everything I listed is very reliable & easy to maintain, the Clio's are very good just overlooked, the Fiats are also well proven.eta the Clio looks a good shout too. I don't know anything about the reliability of them, but vfm they win over the Polo?
Edited by Phooey on Sunday 25th October 09:07
Kia Picanto 1.0L
Reliable car and small and easy to drive, cheap to maintain and also has a chain rather than a cam belt.
Very cheap insurance. Daughter paid £460 for her second year with Hastings (after the first year also with Hastings so she had 1yrs NCB).
They also told her she didnt need the 'black box' (just a bluetooth device they send you to stick in the windscreen to connect to your phone and monitor driving).
At the end of the day they need a relaible and cheap car to run and gain the experience and no claims, my daughter also wanted a Polo but they were much older/more miles than an equivalent Picanto.
Reliable car and small and easy to drive, cheap to maintain and also has a chain rather than a cam belt.
Very cheap insurance. Daughter paid £460 for her second year with Hastings (after the first year also with Hastings so she had 1yrs NCB).
They also told her she didnt need the 'black box' (just a bluetooth device they send you to stick in the windscreen to connect to your phone and monitor driving).
At the end of the day they need a relaible and cheap car to run and gain the experience and no claims, my daughter also wanted a Polo but they were much older/more miles than an equivalent Picanto.
Edited by duckson on Sunday 25th October 10:31
Phooey said:
The plan is for her to have 6-10 official driving lessons first and then I or her mum will accompany her in *her* car..
We did it the other way round, we got our son competent at the basics of driving a car, then hired an instructor for the more technical stuff. Spent a fair bit of time at the local office park in the evenings and at weekends when it was deserted. Worked well for us and our son required far fewer lessons than his mates. It also helped that he learnt to use his handbrake from the start - his instructor car had an auto handbrake and some of my sons mates really struggle on hills in their own cars.
It's all about insurance group, got Suzuki celerio for 3k, excellent value car, they came with a 10 yr warranty so there are lots around and ours was genuinely 1 lady owner and feels brand new
Find it much better than 107/8, aygo etc which have silly long gearing and a penchant for rust
Get some dummy quotes for when she passes before you buy, cheap before they pass then gets serious
Also there are accusations many of these cheap cars are tinny, with a 12" sub in the boot this ceases to be an issue
Find it much better than 107/8, aygo etc which have silly long gearing and a penchant for rust
Get some dummy quotes for when she passes before you buy, cheap before they pass then gets serious
Also there are accusations many of these cheap cars are tinny, with a 12" sub in the boot this ceases to be an issue
Edited by v8notbrave on Sunday 25th October 10:39
duckson said:
Kia Picanto 1.0L
Reliable car and small and easy to drive, cheap to maintain and also has a chain rather than a cam belt.
Very cheap insurance. Daughter paid £460 for her second year with Hastings (after the first year also with Hastings so she had 1yrs NCB).
They also told her she didnt need the 'black box' (just a bluetooth device they send you to stick in the windscreen to connect to your phone and monitor driving).
At the end of the day they need a relaible and cheap car to run and gain the experience and no claims, my daughter also wanted a Polo but they were much older/more miles than an equivalent Picanto.
Just to echo the experience with Hastings Insurance and my son's car insurance after passing. 0.9l Smart ForFour in our car but a £800 premium for the first year with the Bluetooth widget on the windscreen. Second year down to £500 and widget not required.Reliable car and small and easy to drive, cheap to maintain and also has a chain rather than a cam belt.
Very cheap insurance. Daughter paid £460 for her second year with Hastings (after the first year also with Hastings so she had 1yrs NCB).
They also told her she didnt need the 'black box' (just a bluetooth device they send you to stick in the windscreen to connect to your phone and monitor driving).
At the end of the day they need a relaible and cheap car to run and gain the experience and no claims, my daughter also wanted a Polo but they were much older/more miles than an equivalent Picanto.
Edited by duckson on Sunday 25th October 10:31
Just to add, prior to passing we had him insured via Marmalade as a supplementary policy to our own paying on a rolling monthly basis. It only covered him whilst learning.
Its very hard to ignore a 1.25 fiesta, for reliability, parts availability and ease of use. Dent a bolt on panel there will be some available in colour .
Bought a good engine last week for a cooked one, 125 quid.
Insurance though can be a little more than others, but weigh that up against parts and servicing costs, reliability and it is a very hard to ignore car for this scenario.
Bought a good engine last week for a cooked one, 125 quid.
Insurance though can be a little more than others, but weigh that up against parts and servicing costs, reliability and it is a very hard to ignore car for this scenario.
Doesitdrive said:
Its very hard to ignore a 1.25 fiesta, for reliability, parts availability and ease of use. Dent a bolt on panel there will be some available in colour .
Bought a good engine last week for a cooked one, 125 quid.
Insurance though can be a little more than others, but weigh that up against parts and servicing costs, reliability and it is a very hard to ignore car for this scenario.
After spending three weeks searching for a small car for my youngest, this is exactly what I purchased. I was given the following criteria, must be five door, must be silver or white, must have working air conditioning and must have remote central locking. Bought a good engine last week for a cooked one, 125 quid.
Insurance though can be a little more than others, but weigh that up against parts and servicing costs, reliability and it is a very hard to ignore car for this scenario.
I also excluded any of the following due to unreliable engines, Ford Ecoboost, Puretech and Renault 0.9/1.0 TCE. After driving the Citigo and Picanto/i10 I ruled out all three cylinder engines. I looked at the following cars, there were very few that met this criteria as most seemed to be 3 door or the wrong colour..
1)Hyundai i10/Kia Picanto - I must have sat in five of these and all but one had a horrible feeling clutch. Secondly the three cylinder engine is rough as old boots at startup, you could feel the steering wheel shake on strartup. I did try and buy a Mk1 i10 with the 1.2 engine, but most of these don't seem to have remote central locking, plus the cost is mental as I was offered a brand new one back in 2009 during the scrappage scheme for £5,995! Half of the 3 cylinder cars stated new timing chain in the advert which is another thing that put me off.
2)Skoda Citigo - Looked at a red one as I was getting desperate by this stage, but it was local and had done 15k miles. Again the three cylinder engine was rough at startup and the clutch was not nice in reverse. It took two attempts with the clutch before it would go into reverse, the first time it refused, the second time there was a massive crunch. I just didn't like it at all, it didn't feel like a 15K mile car. Plus you have the inevitable rust around the filler cap sooner or later
3)Ford KA/Fiat 500 - Basically the same car. My eldest has one and we have had to put about £900 in parts into it (Father is a retired mechanic so did the work) and it still drives horrible so I immediately rejected these.
4)Clio Dynamique 1.2 - This was my first choice, I found a really nice one for sale but for some reason they were £60 a month more than everything else to insure for an 18 year old.
In the end I went for the Fiesta as there were just so many of them for sale. Even then, there were initially 8000 Fiestas for sale on Autotrader but after putting White or Silver, under 80k miles, 5 door, under £4000 there were literally about 200 in the country and half of them were the Ecoboost.
I really wanted to buy privately, but all of them were either in London (a pain to get to) or literally miles away. I found one 45 minutes away at a small dealer that was about £500 more than I wanted to pay, but out of desperation I looked it it.
It looked mint compared to the dross I had already looked at, had working aircon ,started on the button, two keys, book pack and idled perfectly, had straight steering, really nice clutch and drove spot on. I bought it there and then and still think I made the right choice.
One thing I have noticed is the absolutely bottom of the market dealers who seem to operate in some abandoned car part of piece of waste land with the worst cars in the world for sale. These places literally look like scrap yards and the cars are all filthy, stink and even have McDonalds wrappers in them. All cars need to be jump started and I saw one which had the bumper held on with wood screws. There will be a shed in the corner used as a workshop and there will be car parts and engines just scattered about the place. Do they actually ever sell any cars from these sort of places?
I will say there are a LOT of rubbish small cars out there that people want all the money for.
Russet Grange said:
Aygo has to be in the top three to choose from. Great cars, won't go wrong.
Or C1/107, they are all the same car. Cheap, simple and chain driven engine so pretty robust. They can burn oil at high mileages so watch that.As others have said, insure in her name. Learners insurance is reasonably cheap and there are specialist companies.
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