First car for daughter
Discussion
My daughter's turned 16 now and I've been thinking for a wee while about what sort of car to get her for her first car. Have a year to prepare so thought I'd ask you all what you reckon.
I want to get her something 'different', was thinking about some classics like an old Morris 1000 or something but safety is a priority so a newer car would probably be better.
Got to thinking about a Smart Roadster-Coupe. 2 seater convertible, tiny engined, good handling and I know it'll be different to what her pals will be running around in. Cheapest comprehensive insurance for her on a provisional was just under £400 a year too, which is an amazing price for a 17 year old.
I also have time to shop around for a decent one as I was reading http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=122... and seems quality can vary.
That said I'm all ears for suggestions of a better car to fit the criteria.
Safety - Something that won't kill her on it's own and will stand up to morons in their cars trying.
Handling - I'm new on the road and want to keep it between the hedges way not let's see how sideways we can take the BP roundabout way.
Style - Like I said, something a bit different to C2s and Corsas. She wants to drive the 'stang, this should divert her attention from that!
Price - I'm not in oil and gas so something around 5k is probably about it.
Insurance - Yeah, I know.
Any stories of your own around getting the kids a car gratefully received!
I want to get her something 'different', was thinking about some classics like an old Morris 1000 or something but safety is a priority so a newer car would probably be better.
Got to thinking about a Smart Roadster-Coupe. 2 seater convertible, tiny engined, good handling and I know it'll be different to what her pals will be running around in. Cheapest comprehensive insurance for her on a provisional was just under £400 a year too, which is an amazing price for a 17 year old.
I also have time to shop around for a decent one as I was reading http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=122... and seems quality can vary.
That said I'm all ears for suggestions of a better car to fit the criteria.
Safety - Something that won't kill her on it's own and will stand up to morons in their cars trying.
Handling - I'm new on the road and want to keep it between the hedges way not let's see how sideways we can take the BP roundabout way.
Style - Like I said, something a bit different to C2s and Corsas. She wants to drive the 'stang, this should divert her attention from that!
Price - I'm not in oil and gas so something around 5k is probably about it.
Insurance - Yeah, I know.
Any stories of your own around getting the kids a car gratefully received!
S2red said:
£400 WOW thats cheap to insure for your daughter as main driver
Yeah that's what I thought! It did range from just under 400 to well over 2 grand from comparethemarket. was probably going to take the 2nd (just over 500) quote as it was from adrian flux and not some insurance company I've never heard of probably based in the channel islands.
Driver101 said:
The Mini is cool with the kids.
Most young ones end up with Corsas and Fiestas as they are cheap to insure, run and replace parts.
She is likely to have a knock and a scrape or two.
I thought of an old Mini to begin with and actually quite fancy getting an old Mini to do up anyway, so that'd be 2 birds with one stone. Chances are it'd still be in primer when she turns 21 though... Most young ones end up with Corsas and Fiestas as they are cheap to insure, run and replace parts.
She is likely to have a knock and a scrape or two.
Never owned a Mini and I think that's a glaring omission from anybody's car history. *adds Mini to the list*
Only problem with the classic mini for a young female driver is lack of power assistance.
Steering will be heavy, brakes will be heavy etc. Maybe not ideal.
Only thing with those insurance quotes too would be to double check what the cost would be if she wasn't a provisional driver. I'm pretty sure it will go up.
As for suggestions I've got nothing other than the usual. Can't think of anything quirky that would be cheap to insure and run. Maybe a Figaro? 1.3, automatic and convertible?
Steering will be heavy, brakes will be heavy etc. Maybe not ideal.
Only thing with those insurance quotes too would be to double check what the cost would be if she wasn't a provisional driver. I'm pretty sure it will go up.
As for suggestions I've got nothing other than the usual. Can't think of anything quirky that would be cheap to insure and run. Maybe a Figaro? 1.3, automatic and convertible?
Welshname said:
Only problem with the classic mini for a young female driver is lack of power assistance.
Steering will be heavy, brakes will be heavy etc. Maybe not ideal.
Only thing with those insurance quotes too would be to double check what the cost would be if she wasn't a provisional driver. I'm pretty sure it will go up.
As for suggestions I've got nothing other than the usual. Can't think of anything quirky that would be cheap to insure and run. Maybe a Figaro? 1.3, automatic and convertible?
Figaro fits the bill perfectly. She might think it's a bit cutesy (very much the tomboy) but it's going on the list because I like it's quirkiness. Thanks for that!Steering will be heavy, brakes will be heavy etc. Maybe not ideal.
Only thing with those insurance quotes too would be to double check what the cost would be if she wasn't a provisional driver. I'm pretty sure it will go up.
As for suggestions I've got nothing other than the usual. Can't think of anything quirky that would be cheap to insure and run. Maybe a Figaro? 1.3, automatic and convertible?
For a young person a volkswagen polo or golf is the way to go.
Big Volkswagen scene with young people right now, especially if they're lowered (Doesn't have to be unusably low) with bbs alloys. Depends if she's "into" cars or not, there's certainly loads of enthusiasts around her age with vw's. I know a couple of young girls with golfs and vw ups.
Big Volkswagen scene with young people right now, especially if they're lowered (Doesn't have to be unusably low) with bbs alloys. Depends if she's "into" cars or not, there's certainly loads of enthusiasts around her age with vw's. I know a couple of young girls with golfs and vw ups.
Edited by MethylatedSpirit on Tuesday 22 July 22:45
MethylatedSpirit said:
For a young person a volkswagen polo or golf is the way to go.
Big Volkswagen scene with young people right now, especially if they're lowered (Doesn't have to be unusably low) with bbs alloys. Depends if she's "into" cars or not, there's certainly loads of enthusiasts around her age with vw's. I know a couple of young girls with golfs and vw ups.
Agreed - something like thisBig Volkswagen scene with young people right now, especially if they're lowered (Doesn't have to be unusably low) with bbs alloys. Depends if she's "into" cars or not, there's certainly loads of enthusiasts around her age with vw's. I know a couple of young girls with golfs and vw ups.
Edited by MethylatedSpirit on Tuesday 22 July 22:45
Don't trust the insurance quotes. I did the same and bought a car for my youngest. A 1500 X1/9 when we went to confirm the insurance it went up from £400 to £2000 on the same facts. I believe some companies quote cheap to drag you in and then.............
The dilemma is what happens in a crash. Doesn't matter whose fault it is. It is still a crash. I wanted to buy old car for mine, well I did for the youngest but didn't give it to her till she was 20, but the others had cars with air bags and anti lock brakes. Modern cars, that is really anything built from the 90's up are generally massively safer than older cars. The first one I bought was a 2004 pre reg colt for that reason.
Crap to drive, but it was a safe car.
I love the old Fiat 500, but just couldn't face the idea of anything hitting it and crushing it and them inside it.
The dilemma is what happens in a crash. Doesn't matter whose fault it is. It is still a crash. I wanted to buy old car for mine, well I did for the youngest but didn't give it to her till she was 20, but the others had cars with air bags and anti lock brakes. Modern cars, that is really anything built from the 90's up are generally massively safer than older cars. The first one I bought was a 2004 pre reg colt for that reason.
Crap to drive, but it was a safe car.
I love the old Fiat 500, but just couldn't face the idea of anything hitting it and crushing it and them inside it.
Welshname said:
Only problem with the classic mini for a young female driver is lack of power assistance.
Steering will be heavy, brakes will be heavy etc. Maybe not ideal.
They are not bad, young females have been driving them for 50+ years, (some not young any more) Mrs D a young female drives ours with ease and loves it.Steering will be heavy, brakes will be heavy etc. Maybe not ideal.
As a first car I would say no, not safe and a classic car reliability ours is a toy. I would hate to live with it in the depths of winter as well.
LOL @ the V8 Lexus barge!
I'm not too worried about the insurance, I know it's going to be high for a new driver, it's a hit we need to take. If it's upwards of 2grand well, that's the price. Don't need to insure it yet anyway. She can get a paper run... ;oP
Was more thinking of the actual car in this thread as I (perhaps for my own selfish reasons rather than what she wants but hey, I'm paying for it and Dad[with you guys help] knows best!) don't want her running about in another 'meh' car. I realise the small hatch clios and fiestas etc. are popular with the kids for good reasons and some of those, such as insurance, are well valid.
I want to get her something a bit off-beat from these kinds of things. Smart Roadster-Coupe, Nissan Figaro, old Mini, old Fiat500, original Beetle convertible all kinda fit the bill here. Something that most kids in Aberdeen won't have even seen never mind be driving. I'm not really looking to get her anything samey as her pals, though I appreciate the suggestions as there IS merit in this approach and it would be the approach of you know, a sane thinker.
I'm not too worried about the insurance, I know it's going to be high for a new driver, it's a hit we need to take. If it's upwards of 2grand well, that's the price. Don't need to insure it yet anyway. She can get a paper run... ;oP
Was more thinking of the actual car in this thread as I (perhaps for my own selfish reasons rather than what she wants but hey, I'm paying for it and Dad[with you guys help] knows best!) don't want her running about in another 'meh' car. I realise the small hatch clios and fiestas etc. are popular with the kids for good reasons and some of those, such as insurance, are well valid.
I want to get her something a bit off-beat from these kinds of things. Smart Roadster-Coupe, Nissan Figaro, old Mini, old Fiat500, original Beetle convertible all kinda fit the bill here. Something that most kids in Aberdeen won't have even seen never mind be driving. I'm not really looking to get her anything samey as her pals, though I appreciate the suggestions as there IS merit in this approach and it would be the approach of you know, a sane thinker.
Yeah! as others have said, the insurance rockets once they pass their test as they are then out on their own.
Back when I passed my test, errr 1982, insurance wasn't a problem but then most cars couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding, well the one's I could afford anyway.
Nowadays even modern shopping cars do 100mph and accelerate quickly.
My first car was a Renault 6 with about 30hp and it took about 20 secs to change gear with the push/pull gear stick
I'm not sure how true this is, but previous threads have mentioned getting your kids into something a bit special ie an old Jag as 1000s of kids own and crash Corsas, thus high insurance costs, but not many drive XJ6s.
Back when I passed my test, errr 1982, insurance wasn't a problem but then most cars couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding, well the one's I could afford anyway.
Nowadays even modern shopping cars do 100mph and accelerate quickly.
My first car was a Renault 6 with about 30hp and it took about 20 secs to change gear with the push/pull gear stick
I'm not sure how true this is, but previous threads have mentioned getting your kids into something a bit special ie an old Jag as 1000s of kids own and crash Corsas, thus high insurance costs, but not many drive XJ6s.
I wouldn't consider an old car like an original Mini or Beetle.
The law of averages say young drivers are likely to have a crash or some sort.
Those old cars stand little chance against modern cars when it comes to a crash.
I appreciate your point of wanting to get something a bit different that she'll love, but I know at 17 I'd love having any car.
If you have something really nice, it's going to hurt a lot more when she inevitably has some sort of prang with it.
The law of averages say young drivers are likely to have a crash or some sort.
Those old cars stand little chance against modern cars when it comes to a crash.
I appreciate your point of wanting to get something a bit different that she'll love, but I know at 17 I'd love having any car.
If you have something really nice, it's going to hurt a lot more when she inevitably has some sort of prang with it.
Got to be honest went through this last year with son and it is amazing how price sensitve cars are even different trim levels had vastly different quotes Corsa Design being much more than an SXi for some reason is one that stuck out
Fortunately once you get basic data entered in the comparison sites just changing registration number quickly generates new Quote
Tesco with Black box were way cheapest for my son
Fortunately once you get basic data entered in the comparison sites just changing registration number quickly generates new Quote
Tesco with Black box were way cheapest for my son
Edited by S2red on Wednesday 23 July 15:09
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