“Under the radar cars” for young drivers…

[T5GRF]

My daughter will be learning to drive fairly soon. She’s inherited some of my passion for cars and I’d like to try and help her find something interesting to drive that we could actually afford to insure.
So given a budget of say £6-£7k for the car and around £1-1.5k for insurance what potential left field choices might be affordable to insure and fun to drive. Anything considered apart from large saloon cars.
Lastly any recommendation for reasonable newly passed drivers car insurance providers or search engines for quotes?

[M22s]

RS twingo, Suzuki Swift sport (to obvious?), Fiat Panda 100HP, Fiesta Zetec S (the 1.6 N/A - Mk6 I think it is). The 1.4T polo GT’s are surprisingly good if she wants something a bit newer.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Convertibles are always a hoot. A MIni One convertible would be a bit of fun.

[Caddyshack]

Would the daughter get insurance on any of the above with those cars within the insurance budget?

[anonymous-user]

Smart cars are really cheap to insure and great fun. You can get an 84hp coupe for not much and hen she is ready get it flashed to Brabus spec. there's even the Smart coupe if you can find one.

They're also tiny, so really easy to place on the road and park, yet safe because of etc Merc build quality and safety cell.

[OPC100]

It was a year ago now, but my 17 year old son was just under £1000 fully comp for a ZC32S swift sport when things like aygo, i10 and up where about £850. A honda cr-z wasn't too bad either, at about £1300. That would be an interesting first car.

All done via comparethemarket.

[duckson]

It really is going to be heavily weighted on location, compared to the above poster my 17yr old paid the best part of £1800 on a Kia Picanto 1L, just renewed at £900 with 1yrs NCB (both with Direct Line which we found the cheapest using the app on the phone as the 'black box').

[OPC100]

Yep, we are in a quiet part of Dorset, so insurance probably pretty low compared to a city.

[sjc]

Volvo C30 1.6 petrol.

[Caddyshack]

sjc said:

Volvo C30 1.6 petrol.

That looks like a great car, probably a lot better to drive than something like a c1 etc.

[Yomamaisasnowblower]

Insured my 18 year old son on a Mini One for £650 fully comp with Post Office insurance. He is the main driver with us as named, not a black box policy and £350 excess. Very cheap we thought.

[ZX10R NIN]

Look at VW Beerle's they always srrm to come up with sensible numbers.

[georgeyboy12345]

The Volvo C30 is a good idea.

Run the C30 and some of these though your favourite insurance comparison site, with your daughter as main driver (put her as having a full license to get a better idea of how much it'll cost when she's actually passed) and you as named drivers.

VW Up 1.0
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211041...


Renault Twingo 1.0 SCe
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208319...


Fiat Panda 100HP
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301123...


Suzuki Swift 1.2 SZ3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301183...


Seat Ibiza 1.4 TOCA SC
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211081...


Mazda 2 1.3 Tamura
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302164...


Alfa Romeo MiTo TwinAir
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211221...


Honda Civic 1.4 i-DSI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212212...


Renault Wind 1.2 TCe
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301193...

[sjc]

Caddyshack said:

sjc said:

Volvo C30 1.6 petrol.

That looks like a great car, probably a lot better to drive than something like a c1 etc.

Hes had it 3 years now,loves it.His mate’s can’t understand his he’s got that and if only cost 1800 quid.It feels so solid compared with the alternatives,and has fantastic seats to boot.

[anonymous-user]

Daughter paid £680 on the Smart ForTwo

[Crusoe]

For lower insurance always worth trying some left field options, what is her age group not driving? Might be some sportier options like z4, slk, or sensible but not many out there like a holda crz, or too expensive for most to maintain like an old 5 series or 944 convertible.

Edited by Crusoe on Sunday 26th February 09:07

[daqinggregg]

There are a few people on PH who have gone with a Volvo C30 (see SJC above) as a first car. Good reliability, nice interior, and a 5 star NCAP rating. IMO a good looking car, easily available within budget.

[ARHarh]

Quantum 2+2 kit car. see second link for insurance. No idea what the prices are like but, why not had one years ago and it was fun and fiesta based so easy look after.

https://www.quantumowners.club/index.php/qoc-cars1...


https://www.quantumowners.club/index.php/qoc-about

[sjc]

ARHarh said:

Quantum 2+2 kit car. see second link for insurance. No idea what the prices are like but, why not had one years ago and it was fun and fiesta based so easy look after.

https://www.quantumowners.club/index.php/qoc-cars1...


https://www.quantumowners.club/index.php/qoc-about

I’m no lover of drivers aids whatsoever but the minimum I’d want in a first car for my kids is an airbag and ABS.

[Caddyshack]

Are the prices quoted for a learner driver or someone who has passed…it normally jumps up when they pass.