Starter car for a teenager

[timeism0ney]

Following separation/divorce, I'm looking for a budget car that could act as a stop gap between now and my better future, and also at the same time a car that I could pass on as a starter car to my teenage son in a year or two. Budget is £5-7K right now, and can improve as time goes by, because I keep saving (and prices keep rising lol).

My own personal driving needs are currently minimal to non-existent. I am still working from home due to covid, and either way my work commute doesn't involve driving. I literally only need the car to do supermarket shopping at the moment. I miss doing road trips and being on the motorway for hours in anticipation of a new adventure, but in the scheme of things, for me, right now, there is no pressing need. I'm used to driving 1.6l engine so find 1.0-1.2 buzzy and loud on motorways but surely I will get used to it if it's only occasional use like once a month (if that)?

For my son I'm naturally thinking about the cost of insurance, plus I heard that it's hard for young people to get any insurance at all on bigger engines as it's considered more risky - at what point is this a problem? 2.0l?

Ideas so far:

• Hyundai i10, i20 or i30
• Volkswagen Golf or Polo (Up! is good for insurance but soooo tiny)
• Toyota Yaris
• Vauxhall Corsa
• Honda Civic, Jazz

Age of the car would be in the region of 2015-2017 year within my budget. I saw Ford C-Max that a friend is selling (2014) for £4,500 and was tempted but not sure if it's a bit big for a teenager to drive as their first car?

Another question is - should I wait until winter when car prices tend to go down? I'm in no major rush. And should I try and buy directly from a private seller (rather than a dealer) to save on costs, because it is a gamble regardless, particularly at this price range?

[simonrockman]

I'd look at a Skoda Citigo rather than an UP! And if you want something bigger a Yeti.
For my two sons, as first cars I bought a Citigo and a B-Max

[LunarOne]

I wouldn't worry too much about modern small engines. Even large cars have them now and they are refined enough for motorway driving. I personally don't own anything less than 2.0L and my other three cars are all 6 cylinder 3.0L+ so you might think I'd object to a small engine more than many. But no, I've been quite impressed by the small-engined cars I've driven. Okay so they don't have the smoothness or power I'm used to, but I wasn't expecting them to!

[Rockets7]

Before you buy anything get the teenager to quote their own insurance portraying that they passed their test the day before. Anything over group 5 is huge money.

[Oilchange]

Alfa Mito, Giulietta
Suzuki Swift

[timeism0ney]

Looks like Skoda Citigo is a clear winner - much better value for money for my circumstances than similar alternatives, particularly with young person's insurance cost in mind

[clockworks]

Citigo is a good choice for a small car, and pretty much the same size as a Picanto/i10. I had a Citigo, now got a Picanto.

It's worth looking at cars that are less popular with youngsters though, as sometimes much bigger/faster cars are cheaper for them to insure. Something to do with the fact that kids don't drive them, so they don't get crashed as often. Insurance cost doesn't always just follow the insurance group.

[MrVert]

We got a Seat Mii Toca for our daughter, great quality, decent kit level, cheap insurance..and it’s actually quite fun to drive!

Bought in 2019 for £3,500 with 30k miles on the clock, still worth about £3k now.

And been totally reliable..

Would thoroughly recommend one if this is the area you’re in budget-wise..

[InitialDave]

My friend bought his wife a very cheap mk1 Jazz to learn to drive in a couple of years back, and it's still rumbling along quite happily.

If you don't need to drive much, I wouldn't spend your whole budget, just buy a cheap older car like that.

[Freakuk]

A friend of mine used to buy and sell a few cars, he had a thing for mini ones as they were always a good seller for first time drivers, they appeal to the kids and pretty cheap to insure I believe.

[Objective Alpha]

From experience, Hyundai seem have have really cheap insurance, and are a little more spacey than something like an up, id go for the i20 if it was me

[ZX10R NIN]

timeism0ney said:

Following separation/divorce, I'm looking for a budget car that could act as a stop gap between now and my better future, and also at the same time a car that I could pass on as a starter car to my teenage son in a year or two. Budget is £5-7K right now, and can improve as time goes by, because I keep saving (and prices keep rising lol).

My own personal driving needs are currently minimal to non-existent. I am still working from home due to covid, and either way my work commute doesn't involve driving. I literally only need the car to do supermarket shopping at the moment. I miss doing road trips and being on the motorway for hours in anticipation of a new adventure, but in the scheme of things, for me, right now, there is no pressing need. I'm used to driving 1.6l engine so find 1.0-1.2 buzzy and loud on motorways but surely I will get used to it if it's only occasional use like once a month (if that)?

For my son I'm naturally thinking about the cost of insurance, plus I heard that it's hard for young people to get any insurance at all on bigger engines as it's considered more risky - at what point is this a problem? 2.0l?

Ideas so far:

• Hyundai i10, i20 or i30
• Volkswagen Golf or Polo (Up! is good for insurance but soooo tiny)
• Toyota Yaris
• Vauxhall Corsa
• Honda Civic, Jazz

Age of the car would be in the region of 2015-2017 year within my budget. I saw Ford C-Max that a friend is selling (2014) for £4,500 and was tempted but not sure if it's a bit big for a teenager to drive as their first car?

Another question is - should I wait until winter when car prices tend to go down? I'm in no major rush. And should I try and buy directly from a private seller (rather than a dealer) to save on costs, because it is a gamble regardless, particularly at this price range?

I'd buy a car for you, when your son is ready for a car then buy him something appropriate.

Why drive round in something like a basic Citigo/Up/i10 etc when you can have something smart nicely spec'd small hatch that suit motorway work.

208 GT Line 110 sensible power still insurable if you decide you want to go down that route:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103170...

Personally I'd go for the XY 156:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105162...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106033...

DS3 DSport Plus

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105303...

Fiesta ST Line 140

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104302...

Astra GTC SRI 200

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105082...

SRI 140

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007271...

[timeism0ney]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd buy a car for you, when your son is ready for a car then buy him something appropriate.

Maybe. I'm a bit on the fence with this but good point. And good links. Thanks.

[Countdown]

If image is not an issue then I'd go for Yaris every time. They're incredibly easy to drive and they're very reliable (by reliable I mean they tolerate the ham-fisted braking/gear changing/abuse that new drivers inflict on them)

[anonymous-user]

Rockets7 said:

Before you buy anything get the teenager to quote their own insurance portraying that they passed their test the day before. Anything over group 5 is huge money.

Good advice but to be clear, that is the insurance for AFTER they pass the test. When they are learning (supervised), it’s not too bad.

[mbwoy84]

Fiesta for me. Great to drive. Does it all. Anyone can get enjoyment from driving a Fiesta, no matter what size/power car they are used to driving, so it's always my default suggestion for a small car, regardless of which engine/spec level.

[HustleRussell]

I strongly advise OP gets insurance quotes as if he is his son, as a main driver with a full licence with the OP as a named driver. From the OP’s first post I got the impression that OP might be underestimating how randomly prohibitive insurance prices can be for a newly passed 17 year old as a main driver. Buying the right car as opposed to the average first car can amount to a saving of the thick end of a Grand in the first year.

[CG2020UK]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd buy a car for you, when your son is ready for a car then buy him something appropriate.

Why drive round in something like a basic Citigo/Up/i10 etc when you can have something smart nicely spec'd small hatch that suit motorway work.

208 GT Line 110 sensible power still insurable if you decide you want to go down that route:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103170...

Personally I'd go for the XY 156:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105162...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106033...

DS3 DSport Plus

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105303...

Fiesta ST Line 140

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104302...

Astra GTC SRI 200

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105082...

SRI 140

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007271...

ZX10R NIN gives some really good suggestions as usual.

I'd also recommend getting something with a bit of poke. The difference on insurance might be £500 the first year but that will fall every year and you'd still have a decent car.

As an example I got my fiancée a 208GTI while on her R plates to replace an old Corsa she had that give her nothing but issues. Her insurance the first year is £1750 on the GTI and the Corsa was £1200 or something. However in October when she comes to renew the GTI is looking to be around £1200 and the corsa would have been £1000 so the gap closes quickly.

Insurance is a con for young drivers no matter so my advice is get something nice they will enjoy and look after.

[LochTay]

I agree on getting insurance costs first.

2no. 47year (10+yr NCB) Ibiza ST 1.4 16v (a meaty 75bhp 😁 ) = Insurance Group 8 = £210
Add 17 year old learner = £675
Add 17 year old just passed his test = £1350


Just for giggles I tried a couple of other options -


- Ibiza FR 1.0 tsi 115 = Insurance Group 12 = £2.3k
- Ibiza FR Evo 150 = Insurance Group 19 = £3.4k
- My V70 D3 = insurance group 36(!) = £4.2k - even adding my son for two weeks of holiday = +£440!

[ScoobyChris]

Reading your requirements, it sounds like you really don't need a car and just need suitable transport for the odd few trips each month. Other half has similar requirements and we bought a Peugeot 107 which is reliable, cheap to run/maintain, reasonable fun to drive with a buzzy engine and go-kart handling, and easy enough to park in town, as well as being easy on the wallet for new-drivers.

Won't set the world on fire but ours was just 1500 quid and hasn't wanted for anything in the year that we've had it (I think it might just be on its 3rd tank of petrol!)

Chris