Something a bit different/left-field for a 17 year old boy??
Discussion
My eldest is turning 17 in April and I will be buying a car both for him to use and for me to use as a runabout. He has expressed absolutely zero interest in cars and was completely indifferent when I mentioned Citroen C1/C2, Suzuki Swift, VW Up! etc.
I jokingly mentioned that a Land Rover Defender would be quite interesting as a first car and - staggeringly - he suddenly seemed interested and got quite animated about the idea!
Realistically, a Defender is not going to be suitable - insurance too high, too difficult to drive for a first car, too expensive for anything halfway decent etc.
However, he now really likes the idea of something a bit different from the normal city cars/superminis. I have been racking my brains and have only managed to come up with a Suzuki Jimny (he was less keen) or a Skoda Yeti with the 1.2l engine. These are probably just about insurable.
Can anyone come up with other suggestions I may have missed?
Does not have to be a 4x4 but he would definitely like something a bit left-field. The insurance group is obviously the major factor - and if it is ULEZ compliant it would be a bonus - we are in greater London so not within the zone but will be relatively close to it when it is extended (another issue for a Defender!).
Budget is £5k max (lower if possible).
I jokingly mentioned that a Land Rover Defender would be quite interesting as a first car and - staggeringly - he suddenly seemed interested and got quite animated about the idea!
Realistically, a Defender is not going to be suitable - insurance too high, too difficult to drive for a first car, too expensive for anything halfway decent etc.
However, he now really likes the idea of something a bit different from the normal city cars/superminis. I have been racking my brains and have only managed to come up with a Suzuki Jimny (he was less keen) or a Skoda Yeti with the 1.2l engine. These are probably just about insurable.
Can anyone come up with other suggestions I may have missed?
Does not have to be a 4x4 but he would definitely like something a bit left-field. The insurance group is obviously the major factor - and if it is ULEZ compliant it would be a bonus - we are in greater London so not within the zone but will be relatively close to it when it is extended (another issue for a Defender!).
Budget is £5k max (lower if possible).
My best mate had a lightweight landrover as his first car back in the 90's, we had no issues driving it including doingplenty of events in it.
It may not be as bad as you think insurance wise as there are lots of specialists out there.
I'd rather have a landy than a bloody electric mitsubishi
It may not be as bad as you think insurance wise as there are lots of specialists out there.
I'd rather have a landy than a bloody electric mitsubishi
Pothole said:
Too difficult to drive? OK.
Maybe modern ones are better, but my memories of driving a farmer friend's Land Rover at 17 was a combination of brakes that didn't stop, a gearbox that was like a lucky dip and front wheels so far out of alignment that it wandered around the road like a drunk on roller-skates.Great fun as you could get four people in the cab and another half dozen in the pickup bed
If I can find acceptable insurance, then the Defender would be top of the list - I would love one as well!
In terms of "difficulty to drive", this is more to do with the agricultural feel of the Defender which would be totally alien to what he learns in. It is also a big, heavy vehicle and it would take some time to get used to - especially the brakes and the steering.
Maybe I am being too pessimistic and he may be fine ... perhaps I will have a look at one with him and we can take it from there although I still think the insurance will be the problem as they are also a bit of a theft magnet
In terms of "difficulty to drive", this is more to do with the agricultural feel of the Defender which would be totally alien to what he learns in. It is also a big, heavy vehicle and it would take some time to get used to - especially the brakes and the steering.
Maybe I am being too pessimistic and he may be fine ... perhaps I will have a look at one with him and we can take it from there although I still think the insurance will be the problem as they are also a bit of a theft magnet
OP, it will be interesting to see how you get on with trying to insure a Defender for a 17 year old lad.
Did lots of quotes when my daughter was coming up for 17 and anything other than a small hatchback eg. Fezza, Polo, 206 etc.. was a no go. Not even a stupid quote, just nothing. That was using comparison sites.
Did lots of quotes when my daughter was coming up for 17 and anything other than a small hatchback eg. Fezza, Polo, 206 etc.. was a no go. Not even a stupid quote, just nothing. That was using comparison sites.
Tuk Tuk running costs are cheaper than daily train tickets, ULEZ compliant and not a target for thieves.
Insurance on a 200cc vehicle is so affordable the insurer will actually give you a few quid each month.
Its not so fast that he can hurt himself, and its not so big and burly that he will destroy half the town if he gets it wrong unlike a defender which would demolish an entire row of shops if he started it in gear and it drive off by itself.
Insurance on a 200cc vehicle is so affordable the insurer will actually give you a few quid each month.
Its not so fast that he can hurt himself, and its not so big and burly that he will destroy half the town if he gets it wrong unlike a defender which would demolish an entire row of shops if he started it in gear and it drive off by itself.
The Volvo C30 has a large young-driver appeal and many 17 year-old drivers are placing their insurance funds into one.
I own one, too. As a commuter car. And I have a son who is 17 who seems to rather like my little C30.
He drives a 2007 Ford Fusion. Bought a few years ago for £950, it's slightly different, dirt cheap to run, incredibly practical as it's a small estate and mildly left-field.
I also own a Defender. Insurance shouldn't be too much of a problem for a 17 year-old and they're amazingly practical and not at all difficult to drive. An a combined father-son hobby, you could do much worse.
Security on a Defender is a big point as you have alluded to, but there's a lot of aftermarket product available to give you a fighting chance.
I own one, too. As a commuter car. And I have a son who is 17 who seems to rather like my little C30.
He drives a 2007 Ford Fusion. Bought a few years ago for £950, it's slightly different, dirt cheap to run, incredibly practical as it's a small estate and mildly left-field.
I also own a Defender. Insurance shouldn't be too much of a problem for a 17 year-old and they're amazingly practical and not at all difficult to drive. An a combined father-son hobby, you could do much worse.
Security on a Defender is a big point as you have alluded to, but there's a lot of aftermarket product available to give you a fighting chance.
Daughter has a black Mito multiair* with leather. Talk of the school when she rocked up in it. Neighbours son liked it so much they got him one in 8C red!
I got a Panda 4x4 twinair which is ULEZ compliant. Goes really well and has a 6speed box.
I got a Panda 4x4 twinair which is ULEZ compliant. Goes really well and has a 6speed box.
- only 50 quid more to insure than the twinny
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