Suggestions required - First car for 17 year old

GSXRMovistar

GSXRMovistar

GSXRMovistar

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Joined
6 Nov 2002
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London UK
Hey all, scarily my daughter will be 17 in the next couple of months and Dad has made the unwise decision to get her a car! :p

I honestly have no idea about small cars so looking for advise on what should be considered, obviously something insurance friendly, safe and not massive. Also open to suggestion on something out of the norm if it helps with insurance.

Initial budget in mind is £4-5k but again no idea what’s appropriate.

Any pointers/suggestions appreciated. :)
 
What did she learn in?

Instinctively, I’d go for a Polo or Fiesta.

Different drives, both excellent first cars in their own right.

For the fiesta, go for the 1L eco boost.
 
Maybe ask her, or show her a few models to select what she likes.
Pretty sure what the male petrol head OcUK crowd likes isn’t what she will.
 
You might not find this response helpful but set her up on auto trader and show her all the hatch backs available at this price point. I'd always lean to buying a car she likes and actually wants to drive. She'll be more likely to look after it and not crash it than something she didn't actually want.

If she likes quirky or vintage things then Fiat 500 or Mini, if she likes more modern than Polo's or Fiestas, Corsa or 206 etc.

Insurance is a much of a muchness on 'normal cars' with normal amounts of power. The same goes for how cars 'drive', everything in this price bracket and segments are pretty bland, tame and are all basically the same unless she is a massive petrol head. I doubt the latter applies because this thread wouldn't exist :p.
 
Insurance is a bit of a random number generator too, so in addition to the post above, you could setup a 'fake' profile to run some quotes that exclusive of name and door number of your house, matches your daughters profile entirely. The reason to not run it on her exact details are that some believe it can cause latter quotes to come in higher...YMMV...
 
MrRockliffe said:
What did she learn in?
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She hasn't started lessons yet, thinking she would get some learner experience in this car also, neither my mine or the wife's car is suitable for lessons.
SDK^ said:
Maybe ask her, or show her a few models to select what she likes.
Pretty sure what the male petrol head OcUK crowd likes isn’t what she will.
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Haha there's probably more chance of her picking something petrol head oriented. Been showing her various things but I myself have no idea what to put into that selection over all the typical small motors, i.e. Mini, Fiat 500, Feista, Polo etc etc
b0rn2sk8 said:
You might not find this response helpful but set her up on auto trader and show her all the hatch backs available at this price point. I'd always lean to buying a car she likes and actually wants to drive. She'll be more likely to look after it and not crash it than something she didn't actually want.
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That's what I've been telling her, I want her to like it then she will be inclined to look after it.
BUDFORCE said:
Do you have an idea on annual insurance?
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Again no idea at this point, once she shortlists a few cars we will start getting quotes and then adjust from there.
 
GSXRMovistar said:
I honestly have no idea about small cars so looking for advise on what should be considered, obviously something insurance friendly, safe and not massive.
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Worth looking at either bigger (focus or golf sized) or less obvious choices (Toyota, honda, Volvo, Kia etc) for a young driver as well, as less common may equal less risk and lower premiums
 
GSXRMovistar said:
She hasn't started lessons yet, thinking she would get some learner experience in this car also, neither my mine or the wife's car is suitable for lessons.
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Thats a good idea.

The fiesta was a great first car for me since I learned in it.

Met my dad in Guildford, who had my car with him, and drove home the day I passed my test :-)

Plus, I’d done 10 hours or so of driving in my car as a learner.


I still have the same fiesta, so if you’d like an extended test drive in one post covid (I.e. not a 10 min drive up the road and back again), get in touch. I’d be more than happy to take you out and show you good/less good and let you drive it.

Equally, feel free to bring your daughter down so she can have a look/drive if it’s different to the car she learns in.
 
Armageus said:
Worth looking at either bigger (focus or golf sized) or less obvious choices (Toyota, honda, Volvo, Kia etc) for a young driver as well, as less common may equal less risk and lower premiums
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Aye, buy a Volvo only low claims old gits drive those.
 
Think of the obvious ones like Clio, Fiesta, Fiat 500 etc etc then forget about them!

Insurance is mainly based on crash statistics. Think of cars that aren't normally owned by young/new drivers.

For example my partner went Citroen C3 1.4, MK2 Clio 1.2, MINI Cooper 1.6, and now a MK6 Fiesta 1.25. The MINI was the cheapest to insure.
 
billysielu said:
imo learn automatic, she will pass quicker, drive safer, and manual has no future.
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LOL no chance, I want her to understand how the car works as I think that will make her a safer driver. She's driven manual in my Mustang which has a heavy clutch and a clunky short shifter, she managed that ok without stalling.
 
billysielu said:
imo learn automatic, she will pass quicker, drive safer, and manual has no future.
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Don't do this. She will find herself unable to drive many older cars.

GSXRMovistar said:
She's at college, she can't afford bugger all by herself! :p
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Then does she need a car? Maybe an e-bike might be a better choice. It would teach her how fantastically dangerous the roads are, if nothing else.
 
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