planning ahead - bit of a what car

[sawman]

Having just seen an item on the news regarding costs of learning to drive, it just dawned on me that within the next couple of years the kids will be old enough to drive.

Both of our current family cars are automatics and so having a manual transmission car in the garage might be a good idea. So the thoughts of a third car are on the agenda to teach the kids and possibly run about in myself from time to time, the question is what car?

I initially thought about classic minis, theres a few on the trader for about £5k, I'd hoped to invest less into the project, and I then moved on to things like original Ka's but I am not sure that I would want to drive about in one
I have rejected pumas on account of poor over the shoulder and rear visability (which might be helpful for learners)
I had an automatic merc 190 a year or so ago, and that was very easy to drive and comfy, with excellent all around visibilty, but it wasnt cheap to insure for me so God only knows what the cost to insure learner/new driver, and I did drive a manual 190 which had a dreadful gear change.

I know my daughter would be happy with something like a fiat 500, but again £5k seems to be the starting point for these.

Older classics might be an option, but not sure I would be able to add a novice driver to the insurance

If I still had my Morgan, I would not be having this debate, as it would have been perfect

I'd be grateful for some more ideas, heres the criteria:

Manual
Cheap as poss - maybe up to 3k
Likely to be cheap to insure
some character
Good all round visibiilty (I'm thinking about learners reversing around corners etc)
relatively simple mechanics, as I would like to make sure the kids can deal with basic maintenance


Let the floodgates open.....

[BFG TERRANO]

1.4 petrol Fabia.

[BFG TERRANO]

1.4 petrol Fabia.

[BritishRacinGrin]

Beware classic insurance policies aren't as young driver friendly as they used to be.

Also do you really want your kids in classics knowing how unsafe they are (comparatively speaking)?

[sawman]

BritishRacinGrin said:

Beware classic insurance policies aren't as young driver friendly as they used to be.

Also do you really want your kids in classics knowing how unsafe they are (comparatively speaking)?

TBH, that doesn't really bother me - I have driven around (and transported the kids) in all manner of old things over the years, and havent been killed to death yet - I'd like to think that driving around without the airbags etc might heighten their awareness of danger and make them better drivers, although I do understand that you cant mitigate against the stupidity of others relying on safety kit, braking systems and crumple zones to keep them safe whilst attempting to defy the laws of physics