Spec me a car for an Au Pair?

[George Hincapie]

I'm hoping that someone else will have been in this position and can advise.

We have a 21 year old French Au Pair joining our family in July (No, I won't post photos!). She has driven in France for 2 years, but never in the UK. We are going to sort some driving lessons out for her, just for orientation really, and then we need to get her a car.

So, it must have 5 doors and something small will probably be better for her from a confidence perspective. What's best? A Lease? Or buy something for £3-4K and then not care if it gets a few dents? Performance is obviously irrelevant, she won't be driving more than 5 miles each way in it.

TIA.

 

[mjt]

Honda Jazz or something?

I'd want something safe as well if it's for shuttling kids...

Citroen Xsara Picasso is a complete turd and is therefore cheap as chips. Also French, so she'd probably be used to it!

 

[radderfire]

VW Polo
VW Golf
Ford Fiesta
Honda Jazz
Toyota Aygo
Mazda 2

 

[geekman]

I assume you've already checked insurance? I'd be surprised if there's many British companies willing to give business insurance cover to a young, non-UK licence holder for a reasonable cost, even on a low powered car.

 

[mjt]

I assume you've already checked insurance? I'd be surprised if there's many British companies willing to give business insurance cover to a young, non-UK licence holder for a reasonable cost, even on a low powered car.

Business cover? Say it's a family friend or something.

 

[geekman]

Business cover? Say it's a family friend or something.

That relies on the au pair being happy to lie to the police/insurance companies if there was an accident. I'm not one of these people who's incredibly anal about declaring everything to insurance companies, but if I was offered a job and my employer then explained to me that I'd have to lie to the authorities in the event of an accident, I wouldn't be very pleased.

 

[PMKeates]

I'd suggest a Noble

 

[George Hincapie]

We haven't spoken to our insurers yet, but I shall look into it tomorrow. It isn't uncommon for Au Pairs to drive in the UK, but I am not sure what everyone else does.

 

[George Hincapie]

I'd suggest a Noble

Our sons would love that, my heart not so much

 

[Scottland]

Panda

 

[Diddums x]

I have very fond memories of an Au Pair. She used a Focus provided by the family and was an absolute cracker in bed.


Take from that what you want

 

[Nutella33]

small cheap petrol of the types raddarfire mentions and then sell it after to get some expenses back

 

[ianh]

No Renault Clio suggestions, I Am Disappoint!

Papa..............Nicole

 

[sports_brah]

Something with comfortable back seats

 

[Diddums x]

Something with comfortable back seats

(you and I may have very different reasons for this however)

 

[mjt]

That relies on the au pair being happy to lie to the police/insurance companies if there was an accident. I'm not one of these people who's incredibly anal about declaring everything to insurance companies, but if I was offered a job and my employer then explained to me that I'd have to lie to the authorities in the event of an accident, I wouldn't be very pleased.

I see your 6 months in France hasn't affected you...

 

[Housey]

2CV

 

[233]

hang fire and see what extra services she brings to the table first

 

[George Hincapie]

Some comedy comments

Thanks chaps, will have a look.

 

[panthro]

When we had an au pair we gave her a Volvo 340 GL. It was pretty beat up and she beat it up even more, but it was built like a tank.

We had 5 au pairs and they were all terrible drivers. One of them I am sure lied about being able to drive.