First car for son

[ro250]

My eldest is coming up to 17 so the car conversations have started. I know my way around the basics of used car buying but I'm out of touch with that market segment. I guess we're looking around £4k (preferably less) for something a new driver will get insured on, so probably a1 ltr something.

I've been amazed at how much things like a tatty 12 year old Fiesta are retailing for so I wanted to keep options open. Corsas seem popular. He likes Polos but they're expensive so I think off the table.

My question is really what to go for or avoid in this 10-12 year old small engines hatch market. Clios any good? I seem to recall something about the Fiesta Ecoboost engines so is there something to avoid there?

Any steer helpful!

[ro250]

This is all great advice and I'm expanding the search now and will look at all the suggestions. I'd run some quotes on a Corsa and Fiesta and it was looking like around £1500pa insurance once he's passed. His mates seem to be paying the same.

I will check insurance on some of the others. I remember back in the day how cheap my Orion was to insure compared to the equivalent engined Escort.

[ro250]

PistonBroker said:

jonny996 said:

Amazed no one has mentioned a Mini, ours got a First model, it’s a 1.6 but only has 74hp & insurance was about £800.

Yep.

My folks' are going down to one car, so I've convinced my old man to give my daughter his 07/57 Cooper.

I ran some quotes as if she's 17 already and it was £950 without a black box.

A One, which I figured was what I'd be buying her before this option presented itself, was only £100 less.

Mind you, I can trust her with 120bhp of MINI. Not sure I'll feel the same about her brother when he turns 17 - I've seen him in a kart!

Do you expect service and maintenance to be higher than the likes of Fiestas etc.? They're effectively a BMW but maybe things like brakes aren't so much more for an older model away from a main dealer?

[ro250]

Dashnine said:

sunnyb13 said:

M140i

£4k down £399 a month.

Great car for teenagers.

And how have you been getting on with the insurance for a 17 year old?

Ignore it, he's trolling.