First car for daughter
Discussion
cowboyecosse said:
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.
What does her mum think? While I appreciate your idea (trust me it's something I would want for my daughter one day also) putting your child in a car with no airbags and slightly old would not be something I would be happy with for her first car, let's face it we have all probably had a few wee bashes as kids after we passed our test only back in the day we were made to pay for the damage ourselves and not claim insurance lol. If she's a tomboy chances are she's probably had wee shots of your car and maybe breeze through driving but it's the other idiots on the road that would worry me at least for the 1st years driving. 
SSC! said:
What does her mum think? While I appreciate your idea (trust me it's something I would want for my daughter one day also) putting your child in a car with no airbags and slightly old would not be something I would be happy with for her first car, let's face it we have all probably had a few wee bashes as kids after we passed our test only back in the day we were made to pay for the damage ourselves and not claim insurance lol. If she's a tomboy chances are she's probably had wee shots of your car and maybe breeze through driving but it's the other idiots on the road that would worry me at least for the 1st years driving.
Yeah this is what led me to the roadster idea. Safety and innovations get better year on year so a newer car *should* be a safer one. The safety issue is the one that will be the decider ultimately, all other points equal. Wouldn't like to see the state of an old mini vs an SQ5, Cayenne or Range Rover Sport (which in Aberdeen are numerous - so a likely match!)I've not asked her mum about older cars in so many words, she liked the smart tbh. anything that won't have all her mates piling in and won't find every hedge in the area will be fine with mum. (famous last words)
Perhaps a better idea is to get something newish but plainer as the first car with a view to getting her something "better" after a year of trouble-free motoring... My first car was a 1986 950 Fiesta and I totally loved it. Someone mentioned earlier that the chances are she'll love ANY car as it's *hers*. Maybe it's time I put what she wants first and not my own ideas eh...
hahFirst car for my son was (is) a 10 year Skoda Fabia 1.4 16v. Goes well, is well made (except for window regulators), has abs and aircon. Cost £500 to insure as a provisional with wife as main driver and now he has passed his test costs £1300 without blackbox and son a main driver.
As its an atypical type for young drivers but insurance is cheaper than for the equivalent Fiesta, Polo, Golf, Saxo, Clio etc
Junior is 6' 4" and plays in a band, so anything smaller was a no go because he and stuff wouldn't fit
As its an atypical type for young drivers but insurance is cheaper than for the equivalent Fiesta, Polo, Golf, Saxo, Clio etc
Junior is 6' 4" and plays in a band, so anything smaller was a no go because he and stuff wouldn't fit
Edited by blueg33 on Wednesday 23 July 15:13
Why has nobody mentioned an MX5 yet? I had one as my first car (and my second!), taught me a lot about driving and it's quite different from the usual. When she does eventually crash it, replacement wings/bumpers/wheels etc are cheap as chips. Was cheaper for me to insure that a Corsa, less than £1000 to buy, and it had pop up headlights.
We got our daughter a Ford StreetKa convertible. She loved it and kept it for 3 years, called it her "bubble". OK to insure and reasonable to repair. You will take the insurance hit in first year but 2nd is so much better. Ours halved. Put another adult driver on (you/wife) makes it much cheaper too.
blueg33 said:
First car for my son was (is) a 10 year Skoda Fabia 1.4 16v. Goes well, is well made (except for window regulators), has abs and aircon. Cost £500 to insure as a provisional with wife as main driver and now he has passed his test costs £1300 without blackbox and son a main driver.
As its an atypical type for young drivers but insurance is cheaper than for the equivalent Fiesta, Polo, Golf, Saxo, Clio etc
Junior is 6' 4" and plays in a band, so anything smaller was a no go because he and stuff wouldn't fit
Good suggestion, I didn't even consider practicality! lol She plays bass and goes snowboarding so something that'd fit her gear would probably help as well!As its an atypical type for young drivers but insurance is cheaper than for the equivalent Fiesta, Polo, Golf, Saxo, Clio etc
Junior is 6' 4" and plays in a band, so anything smaller was a no go because he and stuff wouldn't fit
St. Anger said:
Why has nobody mentioned an MX5 yet? I had one as my first car (and my second!), taught me a lot about driving and it's quite different from the usual. When she does eventually crash it, replacement wings/bumpers/wheels etc are cheap as chips. Was cheaper for me to insure that a Corsa, less than £1000 to buy, and it had pop up headlights.
That's a good idea too, I hear MX5s are also road-huggers so should keep the car:hedge ratio down. I'd actually quite fancy an MX5 for myself...mcm66 said:
We got our daughter a Ford StreetKa convertible. She loved it and kept it for 3 years, called it her "bubble". OK to insure and reasonable to repair. You will take the insurance hit in first year but 2nd is so much better. Ours halved. Put another adult driver on (you/wife) makes it much cheaper too.
I like this one too, had a quick swatch on autotrader there and these are cheap as chips. *adds to the list* Cheers folks!
My wee Girls are only 8 and 5,but I am already planning ahead! Just bought a new Corsa Nurburgring as a runabout. Told them I can keep it for them as their 1st car.5yr old says she would rather have my Opel Kadett C Coupe!!! Both of them want to learn to drive in the HSV Monaro!!! Better get saving now for the insurance! The next generation of Pistonheads is ready and waiting.BTW,just got divorced,so having a bit of a "blowout"!!! Cars,eh!
I've just bought a 5 door Corsa 1200cc for my son. He wanted a large hatch back so he could carry sports kit, piping kit etc.
He only passed his test a fortnight ago and is 19. Insurance is only £650 with his mother and I as named drivers. He used Ensleigh
through their students policy. Other quotes ranged from £550 - £1200. Surprised me as I was expecting a far larger premium.
He only passed his test a fortnight ago and is 19. Insurance is only £650 with his mother and I as named drivers. He used Ensleigh
through their students policy. Other quotes ranged from £550 - £1200. Surprised me as I was expecting a far larger premium.
From experience - ask her. Amazing what kids like and don't like. She will probably want to drive around with her mates - so that rules out a 2 seater. 'Old' stuff like original minis are not 'cool' with da kids nowadays. VWs are seen as old man cars.
Daughter ended up with a 2L Hyundai Coupe - amazingly cheap to insure and its Japanese so servicing and running bills at a minimum. She loves it.
Daughter ended up with a 2L Hyundai Coupe - amazingly cheap to insure and its Japanese so servicing and running bills at a minimum. She loves it.
Please don't buy her an old car. Buy her something - anything - as long as it is modern, with ABS, air bags and good crash protection.
I work in the ambulance service and you should have seen some of the horrific injuries caused by having accidents in old cars. Old Minis, Beetles, Escorts etc are truly horrible in an accident. Today, most people just walk away from some spectacular accidents in modern cars that would have killed them before.
(Yes I know I drive a TVR without ABS, air bags etc, but I'm not a just-passed-my-test teenager.....)
I work in the ambulance service and you should have seen some of the horrific injuries caused by having accidents in old cars. Old Minis, Beetles, Escorts etc are truly horrible in an accident. Today, most people just walk away from some spectacular accidents in modern cars that would have killed them before.
(Yes I know I drive a TVR without ABS, air bags etc, but I'm not a just-passed-my-test teenager.....)
Jumbo +1. Check out any future purchase on the NCAP site.Someone mentioned Fabia 1 1.4/16v, that's 100bhp. There's also Fabia 1.4TDI which is 75HP, so possibly cheaper n insurance (but with PD injection and cambelt replacement at 60k /4yrs needs a good service history). As mentioned Fabia has it's got ABS and Aircon ,and something extra- Thatcham 2 immobiliser. And an extra selling point for daughter- a smashing radio. , and for you- NCAP 4. My pensoner car is a 1.4TDI, which I've taken up the M6 /74 and a bit further north ,and on all roads it just loved to go .
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