Small first cars with DSC - whats out there ?

[cptsideways]

I've been tasked with finding my niece a first car, obviously budget conscious & insurance friendly etc.

My first criteria is something with DSC or stability control, having been demonstrating it on new cars for a years it's something I'd suggest any new driver should have - having seen the consequences of not having it & the lack of experience to not make up for it.


So what cheap/small insurance friendly cars come with DSC?


I'm thinking something about 5 years old should have it but suggestions welcome I know my 2000 Audi A2 had it, so I'm thinking something small & premium'ish would be a good bet.

[KB_S1]

Fiat 500 has a system.
My GF has one and it gives me a telling off at every decent corner.

[va1o]

You mean ESP?

Quite a few of small cars have it. The first to get it standard fit would be the original Merc A-Class, 1997 onwards. I think Golfs got it fitted standard around 2001.

[Six Fiend]

Not being funny here but why not just teach her to drive properly?

All the gadgetry is removing the understanding of how to operate a vehicle correctly. People believe they are invincible...

As for suggestions, sorry, nothing to add

[Stuey145]

don't some of the smaller offerings from Citroen/Peugeot offer it?

[eldar]

DSC is like seatbelts, you only need it when things have gone wrong and its the last resort. Best to avoid invoking them

[Targarama]

Pandas come with it as an option. I have it, doesn't get in the way of me having fun. I'd say it would be a useful addition for any new driver who suddenly finds themselves out of their depth.

[Targarama]

Six Fiend said:

Not being funny here but why not just teach her to drive properly?

All the gadgetry is removing the understanding of how to operate a vehicle correctly. People believe they are invincible...

As for suggestions, sorry, nothing to add

I don't agree. Any new driver would benefit from being kept out of the ditch. No amount of tuition gives you the experience you gain over time.

[Stuey145]

Targarama said:

I don't agree. Any new driver would benefit from being kept out of the ditch. No amount of tuition gives you experience over time.

agreed.

[Capt Bravz]

MY11 Kia Picanto has ESP as standard now.

[Kiltox]

Capt Bravz said:

MY11 Kia Picanto has ESP as standard now.

Damn, beaten to it

My Picanto has ESP but I've never driven a car with it before (apart from perhaps my Laguna which had more electronic mentalness than anything in the world, all of which in various states of working)

I've never been killed to death driving cars without ESP and I'm hardly the best driver in the world unlike most of PH.

[rottie102]

Targarama said:

I don't agree. Any new driver would benefit from being kept out of the ditch. No amount of tuition gives you the experience you gain over time.

Few trackdays for beginners and a skid pan visit would be more beneficial, but that's just IMO.

[bigandclever]

Targarama said:

Six Fiend said:

Not being funny here but why not just teach her to drive properly?

All the gadgetry is removing the understanding of how to operate a vehicle correctly. People believe they are invincible...

As for suggestions, sorry, nothing to add

I don't agree. Any new driver would benefit from being kept out of the ditch. No amount of tuition gives you the experience you gain over time.

I kind of disagree with that - any driver, not just a newbie, would benefit

Having said that, no electronic aid is going to overcome the laws of physics. Far better to educate the driver to avoid getting into a sticky situation in the first place.

[cptsideways]

Six Fiend said:

Not being funny here but why not just teach her to drive properly?

All the gadgetry is removing the understanding of how to operate a vehicle correctly. People believe they are invincible...

As for suggestions, sorry, nothing to add

I instruct & demonstrate DSC for a living when new cars get launched. In my experience about 80% of experienced drivers can be caught out when its switched off as part of the live motorway speed demo's we do. Common one is an emergency motorway lane change, most people end up spinning the car. Yes about 80% of drivers get it wrong when put in a situation Turn DSC on & 100% survive the test. So young drivers are'nt going to be any better - I think the stats prove that.

I am probably one the best people in the country to teach car dynamics to a young driver or anybody for that matter so yes there will be some advanced tuition going for sure, she's already requested it


It seems odd that more smaller cars were'nt fitted with it, being in the higher risk catergory, at least its mandoatory fitment from 2012.


Oh & before anyone suggests about the nannying factor, I'll happily run around in my 500bhp rwd car with none of it. Though will happily have it on my daily driver.

[EDLT]

Some Fiat Pandas have it.

Also real drivers blah blah blah better than any computer blah blah get a TVR instead.

[Six Fiend]

cptsideways said:

Useful stuff

But needing an emergency lane change on a motorway could be blamed on poor planning and observation. Hmmm, I suppose in that case they're better off not smashing into everyone around them!

Fair dos

[The Moose]

The original BMW mini diesel. Cheap to buy, cheap to insure, cheap to run, doesn't depreciate badly. I think it has dsc to boot.

Cheers

The Moose

[J500ANT]

VW Polo? I know the smart forfour had esp on almost all models (bar the 1.0 poverty spec)

[Cerberus90]

The Moose said:

The original BMW mini diesel. Cheap to buy, cheap to insure, cheap to run, doesn't depreciate badly. I think it has dsc to boot.

Cheers

The Moose

Surely those two statements don't go together.

If something doesn't depreciate badly, its not going to be cheap to buy.

I don't think the Mini is that cheap to insure either.

The latest Mini, taken from their website is insurance group 13E.

[The Moose]

Cerberus90 said:

Surely those two statements don't go together.

If something doesn't depreciate badly, its not going to be cheap to buy.

I don't think the Mini is that cheap to insure either.

The latest Mini, taken from their website is insurance group 13E.

When I had my two diesel minis 2003 and 2005 models (off the top of my head) they were insurance group 4 IIRC.

Because of their age, they are pretty cheap and they won't depreciate so I don't see what the issue is. I'm not talking about a new or nearly new car.

Cheers

The Moose