Car for a new driver

[nopanic - neil]

OK - I'm now getting old.

My son, is 17 this Sept, and as we have no cars (ours are Autos and a Cherry Picker) that he can drive or learn in, we are looking in getting a general use car that he can learn in and when he is good (after he has passed his test) can use.

As its his first car, he's bound to bang it, and as insurance is going to be expensive, it needs to be cheapish to insure and safe. I'm thinking of only going 3rd party, fire and theft.

My own view is a nice solid car - like a TANK, but that may not go down to well. (or even a nice classic, but not to sure how safe that would be)

Anybody has advice ?  

What would you do?

[Steve Pyro]

Easy - cheap insurance too!

Click the link

[Robspot]

f**k*ng lovely car

http://www.shieldsmotorcompany.co.uk/vehicle-details.asp?new=&region=&order=&Model=&Make=&notMake=&notModel=&BodyType=&FuelType=&Transmission=&intMin=&intMax=&RSpage=2&ID=956766&popup=&Modela=&Ref=&NotRef=

As long as he doesn't mind looking like a c**t 

[Christopher]

f**king lovely car

http://www.shieldsmotorcompany.co.uk/vehicle-details.asp?new=&region=&order=&Model=&Make=&notMake=&notModel=&BodyType=&FuelType=&Transmission=&intMin=&intMax=&RSpage=2&ID=956766&popup=&Modela=&Ref=&NotRef=

As long as he doesn't mind looking like a c**t 

A 1.7     that will cost about £2k for the insurance   

Best bet would be make some enquiries about the insurance costs.

If it was me, I would be looking at something like a Pug 106 or Micra (K11 model, the Noddy car, built up to 2002). The more popular / trendy Saxo, Corsa, Fiesta, Ka, etc will cost you more to buy in the first place.

There are plenty of 106 and Micra around so getting parts if a ding should happen will be easier and cheap. I know the perception is that the Pug will fall apart, but choose carefully and you can get a good one. Both will come with the basic air bag assortment and are as safe as any of the other alternatives. (I walked away from a 40mph head on in a 2001 Pug 106).

The Micra is perhaps not cool, more anti cool, but they are cheap to run, and if you are reasonably competent with spanners they are easy to maintain.

Getting a classic sounds like a good idea, but I doubt there really exists a cheap classic at the moment, not the sort of cheap a 17 year old is interested in. Save the classic until the experience and commitment is there.

Just my thoughts.

[Barry]

Fiat Panda, not the old model, but it does depend on budget.

[Andy Zarse]

Easy - cheap insurance too!

Click the link

How far does the flex reach on that Steve?

[Steve Pyro]

Easy - cheap insurance too!

Click the link

How far does the flex reach on that Steve?

The down side is, of course, that you need to have all that chicken wire overhead!

[nopanic - neil]

Easy - cheap insurance too!

Click the link

How far does the flex reach on that Steve?

The down side is, of course, that you need to have all that chicken wire overhead!

Showed that to Sam, he asked who posted it, I said Steve (man with the fresh chicken eggs)

His reply - "of course!  "


 


Also told him, he could just knick one form the fair, next time it's in town.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTbwrMN6uEk

[chop456]

Safe, unique and no harder to park than a medium-sized truck.  Room for 2 in the back or 4 if you sit up straight.

[Kev_mk3]

what about a clio or micra small engine easy to fix and cheap to insure! not classed as "boy racer" cars

[nickliv]

Land Rover series 3, 90, or an early defender. - Classic insurance might be worth a punt.

He'll learn to fix it, he will find it hard to crash it, and once he can afford to insure something less agricultural, he'll love it so much he won't f**k it up.

[Nordic]

Golf or Polo.

loads of places to fix them, strong and reliable.

Not sure about the insurance though.

[Kev_mk3]

Golf or Polo.

loads of places to fix them, strong and reliable.

Not sure about the insurance though.

depends on what mark golf / polo as i know mk3 golfs are quite expensive insurance wise

[landman]

What about one of these?

http://www.youtube.com/user/madengineering#play/all/favorites-all/1/8FM4je-2I2I

[nopanic - neil]

What about one of these?

http://www.youtube.com/user/madengineering#play/all/favorites-all/1/8FM4je-2I2I

He was not keen on that, but this one made him smile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FM4je-2I2I&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fuser%2Fmadengineering&feature=player_profilepage

anyone got an old dodgem car?