Car for (almost) 17yr old daughter.
Discussion
My daughter turns 17 next month. Plan is to buy her a car for her birthday, choice at least partly driven my insurance costs.
Flirted with leasing a car for a couple of years (friend did the same thing 18mths ago, £120/mth for a Fiat 500). Zero running costs, maintenance, worry, etc. But lack of small, manual cars now make that perhaps less attractive.
So, looking at a 2nd hand. Probably £6-8k budget, more if it's worth it. Polo or Fiat 500 looking. Any parents of recently turned 17yr olds got any specific tips?
She'll practice in it (alongside driving lessons), so manual is critical.
Thanks!
Flirted with leasing a car for a couple of years (friend did the same thing 18mths ago, £120/mth for a Fiat 500). Zero running costs, maintenance, worry, etc. But lack of small, manual cars now make that perhaps less attractive.
So, looking at a 2nd hand. Probably £6-8k budget, more if it's worth it. Polo or Fiat 500 looking. Any parents of recently turned 17yr olds got any specific tips?
She'll practice in it (alongside driving lessons), so manual is critical.
Thanks!
Insurance wise, look at Fabia 95 TSI Models. From experience that was one of the cheapest. Don't forget insurance will increase massively post pass, so in order to protect first years no claims make sure that you don't buy cheap as learner and find it is eye watering when new driver.
Anything under 100PS is where you need to be really.
Anything under 100PS is where you need to be really.
The previous Mrs O'Logical and I bought our daughter a basic Polo for £2k, which was good enough for a reliable first car and wouldn't matter if she put a ding in it while manoeuvring around a multi-storey car park.
Which is what happened. A valuable lesson.
It was perfect for her, 18 months or so and then she bought herself a much newer Polo, which she described as "like driving in the future". And she didn't manage to hit anything, so after a couple of years she part-exchanged that one for another, almost new Polo which is absolutely perfect for her, because it fulfilled her two main requirements at the time, being automatic (DSG) and having Apple Car Play.
She likes driving, and likes a Polo. Spending too much on a first car is a mistake, a slight misjudgement and you're into the realms of a costly repair or an insurance claim, which is the last thing a young driver needs.
Which is what happened. A valuable lesson.
It was perfect for her, 18 months or so and then she bought herself a much newer Polo, which she described as "like driving in the future". And she didn't manage to hit anything, so after a couple of years she part-exchanged that one for another, almost new Polo which is absolutely perfect for her, because it fulfilled her two main requirements at the time, being automatic (DSG) and having Apple Car Play.
She likes driving, and likes a Polo. Spending too much on a first car is a mistake, a slight misjudgement and you're into the realms of a costly repair or an insurance claim, which is the last thing a young driver needs.
Muzzer79 said:
Colleague got his lad an Alfa Romeo Mito as the insurance was notably cheaper than anything usual like a Fiesta or a Corsa.
Could be worth a look.
My niece had one of these when she started driving 3 or 4 years ago. The 900c version was pretty cheap insurance, and for a fashion conscious teenager they look way cooler than most of the usual small cars learners start with.Could be worth a look.
No idea what they're like on reliability but her dad had a succession of Alfas and now a Masarati so he knew what he was getting in to.
Some good suggestions above. Actually CarPlay is a good option to have for youngsters as its much safer navigating and using that rather than the phone on a stand which they'll fiddle with.
I'd also add a Mini One (F56) to the list as they are solid but characterful cars. We have had a couple of Coopers, which weren't too bad to insure surprisingly.
Get a dashcam too.
I'd also add a Mini One (F56) to the list as they are solid but characterful cars. We have had a couple of Coopers, which weren't too bad to insure surprisingly.
Get a dashcam too.
£8k for a first car.
At 43, I don’t think I’ve ever spent £8k of my own money on a car. In fact, I’m sure I haven’t.
That said, not everyone is a mingebag.
But I would start with something sub £2k and go from there. Then nothing is taken for granted and she can learn to properly take care and maintain a car.
She’ll be perfectly safe in something from the shallow end.
At 43, I don’t think I’ve ever spent £8k of my own money on a car. In fact, I’m sure I haven’t.
That said, not everyone is a mingebag.
But I would start with something sub £2k and go from there. Then nothing is taken for granted and she can learn to properly take care and maintain a car.
She’ll be perfectly safe in something from the shallow end.
Got my lad this 2018 1.2 Lounge in Sept 2024. He passed in June 2025. Had his own learner policy which was great value but the companies that offer it cater for that market and after he passed they wanted nearly £2k p.a.
Went on comparison site and got offered £550 black box or about £1k without and with protected no claims and breakdown plus enhanced coverage. I took the £1k option. His one owner , FSH 2018 cost me £4995 in 2018, 60k miles. I then had the cam belt and water pump changed and a full service. Since also had new front brakes and discs (Brembo £56).
The 500 has been brilliant and likely hasn’t lost me any money.
Things to watch out for
door handle failure cheap and easy to repair.
Porous sump. They are basically thin steel and develop pinholes and leak even on relatively new cars. The new sump was £25.00. Local garage charged me £100 labour to change it and also did a full service. I provided the genuine Fiat service kit including cabin filter etc (cost £45).
One last thing look at when a car was first registered. I got the 2018 car as it was years newer than others at the same price , most were 2015 or older and I wanted the face lift. A 2017 1.2 petrol is between £0 and £30 road tax. Our identical but 2018 1.2 is £190 because it was registered after a certain date…March 2017?
Very happy with Frank the Fiat
mmm-five said:
Just got my 17yr old a £450 fox and they commute to work in it, had two coil packs go (£35 each), insurance still thousands though !VW Up!, Skoda Citigo or Seat Mii.
Great little cars, my eldest had one (Citigo) at 17 and he still loves it at 19.
£20 tax, an easy 50mpg on a run, cheap (ish) insurance, there's a lot to like.
We got ours from Marketplace, paid £2250 a couple of years ago for a 2013 three door with 75,000 miles on it. It's now on 83,000 miles and all we've done is the front discs and pads and a set of tyres.
It's 3 cylinder engine even sounds decent.
Great little cars, my eldest had one (Citigo) at 17 and he still loves it at 19.
£20 tax, an easy 50mpg on a run, cheap (ish) insurance, there's a lot to like.
We got ours from Marketplace, paid £2250 a couple of years ago for a 2013 three door with 75,000 miles on it. It's now on 83,000 miles and all we've done is the front discs and pads and a set of tyres.
It's 3 cylinder engine even sounds decent.
worsy said:
Insurance wise, look at Fabia 95 TSI Models. From experience that was one of the cheapest. Don't forget insurance will increase massively post pass, so in order to protect first years no claims make sure that you don't buy cheap as learner and find it is eye watering when new driver.
Anything under 100PS is where you need to be really.
And my Fabia estate was £240 a year less to insure than the hatch...Anything under 100PS is where you need to be really.
Basically if it's a trendy car, then more youngsters drive and crash them, therefore insurance is higher. In my experience insurance group and speed has less to do with it than fashion...
My son's 140bhp Civic is cheaper than the Fabia to insure for the same people.
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