What car for teenager? - sensible advice needed please...

[SalVolatile]

Hi, it's probably sexist asking this question here, but dh (much as I love him) still has a Morris Traveller he cradles and enjoys, and knows naff all about cars in general! Ah well.., question is, we need to by ds1 his first car, as both dh and I drive autos. I want to get a fairly new model, say '04 upwards, and it will probably go on to service siblings as well. It needs to be the usual low engine/insurance thingy, but also 1)easy to maintain & reliable as I have already said we know naff all about cars and 2) ds1 is a large rugby playing type so it needs to be on the roomy side. Personally I want loads of airbags and body protection? Does such a car exist, please, and what should I be looking out for? Al advice gratefully received!

[lilysmummy2007]

yes is does, try a vw golf, or polo, cheap to run, insurance is a decent, nice little runner, loads of space, and definitley not a Morris Traveller check this one here it depends on your budget really, and if he just needs to get from a to b but looks good too, i think they do several versions including a diesel,

[BexieID]

Fiat Punto? here.

Wish my parents could have afforded to buy me and my brother our first car, which was the older style Punto .

[laura032004]

A Fiat Punto would have plenty of space for him - DH is 6ft 4, and fits into his fine. Not much space behind him though. However, I don't think they're one of the safest cars on the road. Ours, which I think is an 04 plate has driver and passenger airbags though.

[Bubbaluv]

Astras are good.

[BexieID]

Look here for reviews.

[jwithin]

I've just been driving a Punto and although it's not really fast, it's very light on the steering and I could have easily had problems going round corners if I hadn't been a really experienced driver. My ds (18) thinks it's really cool so it must be what kids are into. Hope you find something safe, my ds hasn't passed his test yet but I'm dreading him driving, especially having seen how some of his mates have already totalled their cars.

[SalVolatile]

Thanks everyone

[Kevlarhead]

"try a vw golf"

If the insurance for those is the same as when I was a teenager, you'll pay out the value of the car in insurance each year.

[Solitaire]

Big vote for the Punto, stylish yet sensible. I love my little Punto

[Daddster]

Euro NCAP is a good place to look for crash resilience. The pre-1997 Puntos are pretty poor (2 out of 5), but the recent ones are better.

According to the ABI teenage drivers are 10 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured while driving than motorists in their 40s.

Don't suppose it's worth asking why a teenager needs to have a car bought for him before he can afford to buy his own?

[loopylou6]

if it was me id go for a renualt clio they look good and are nice too drive perfect for a new driver my second choice would be a vw golf very well built and reliable we have one ourselves

[charlotte121]

heya sal...I'm 20 and passed my test a year or so ago. my first car was a corsa... the insurance was a bit of a killer the first year but i think you will find that with any car you choose especially with a boy. My corsa is really cheep to run tho, quite nippy, its a 1.2 and has so far been relyable. Im just about to trade it in for something a little bigger as i dont think its going to be big enough to accomodate 2 kids and a double buggy but other than that i would say it has served me well and i would recomend it as a first car for anyone.
Does your son not have an opinion on what he would like/ prefer or is it a supprise?

[Flashman]

hmm what about a Saxo - cheap as chips to run insurance is not bad.

[alibubbles]

DD had a new Punto 1.2 for 4 years which was great and cost virtually nothing to run and has just traded it for a Peugeot Convertible.

DS wanted something a bit more trendy so had a 2 year old Punto Sporting, which was much more robust than the standard Punto, but still only a 1.2, but appeals to boys.

He wrote that one off on a wet windy lane ( outside our house) and then had another Sporting, which he wrote off on the M6- he had a blow out in the fast lane, so not his fault really.

He survived both withput a scratch. he now has a VW golf

Elephant were the cheapest insurers for DS and the premium reduced by putting myself and DD as named drivers on the policy.

Tesco was cheapest for DD. but increased the premium for named drivers, so it was in her sole name.
Do not be tempted to insure it in your name with your DS as a named driver to reduce the insurance cost, it is called 'fronting' and insurance companies are getting very switched onto it, and will not pay up in the event of an accident if they determine that your son is the main driver - particularly if you and DH have your own cars which DS does not drive.

You will have to bite the bullet on the insurance for the first year, get him to do pass plus, it reduced their premiums by a lot.

Make sure they can check the oil, tyre pressures and change a wheel and a bulb if need be.

I also bought a bag of stuff from the AA, - jump leads, warning triangle, torch, tow rope, Hi Viz vest etc, a blanket, bottle of water and some biscuits/chocolate that is kept neatly in the boot, if they are prepared it won't happen, if it does they are well prepared an won't panic.

Good luck, it scary having driving teenagers!

[missingtheaction]

have a look here www.idealfirstcars.com/ - they sell loads of peugeot 206 (my ds has one of those) but all their cars are intended for young drivers

[MrUmble]

Try to get something with an engine size under 1.6, which will keep down the insurance.

Basically get a cheap car that your teen wouldnt feel bad about damaging (yes there will be a few dents).

[ladybird69]

My sons first car was Peugeot 306. He had a horrendous accident that've shouldnt have survived (he rolled off road on black ice) the whole car was crumpled all apart from the area around drivers seat where he was sitting. He walked away with scratches. When we saw car we collapsed! I believe that car saved his life.

[Skywalker7]

I'd suggest a fairly basic hatch back. They've come along way since I passed my test in the 1990's and even with the smallest 1.0-1.3 litre engines they can cruise comfortably on motorways. I drive a Ford Fiesta 1.25LX and it is a great car to drive, and is well enough equipped. Other hatchbacks that I'd reccommend are the VW Polo or Golf and its Skoda/SEAT cousins, Vauxhall Corsa, and the small Japemnese and Korean cars if you want something reliable. Peugeots/Citroens and Renaults have become pretty awful to drive lately and have a poor reputation for reliability. Look at Top Gear's or Autocar's websites for free advice.

[DanGleeBalls]

Land Rover Defender.

We bought our son a nice little Citroen C2 when he went to Uni. New, safe, mod cons and cheap insurance...............so we thought.

After one term he decided to get rid of said car and purchased an old slightly battered Defender. The good thing is they can't go fast, insurers like younger drivers because they can't speed. They are build like tanks so are safe. And they can get all of their uni crap in the back so you don't have to even go and pick them up from anywhere.

The only downside is maintenance costs can be high if they are not looked after.

He has driven Defenders ever since. And have I!!

[TheOneWiththeNicestSmile]

Fwiw DS2 took over his sister's Y reg Corsa, subsequently rolled it (low speed but still...) & walked away without a scratch

[Muchtoomuchtodo]

Skoda Fabia would be well worth considering

[Cheeseandwinegirl]

Hi OP,

Obviously safety is paramount, but to be honest most small hatchbacks are largely the same when it comes to safety standards. Best thing to do for safety is to make sure you get a hpi check to ensure it hasn't been written off and get you DS to know how to check things like tyres, oil etc.

As for models look for something under a 1.6, 5 doors (useful if he's taking kit etc).

VW's are great, but can be pricey and expensive to repair. However they do hold their value.

Skoda's and seat's are VW's with a different badge, so if you're looking for the same quality as a vw without the cost look at seat Ibiza or skoda fabia.

Ford's are also a great shout as generally are reliable, easy to drive and cheap to fix. I've got a 1.4 diesel fiesta, great for getting from a-b, also for long journeys (drive it round France at least once a year) and its cheap as chips to fix.

Personally I'm not a fan of vauxhalls, used to work for a hire car company and we had terrible problems with their reliability and for the price there are just better vehicles on the road.

As for the frenchies (Peugeot, Citroen and Renault) I don't think any of the newer models are a bad shout, Renault Clio is a fine first car.

Nissan micra's are reliable but you feel like you're in a tin can. Fine if say if you're making small journeys but not if you're motorway driving.

Hyundais and kia's are a great shout for being reliable, and the Toyota yaris is a great first car, although can be pricy.

Do you have a budget in mind?

[SevenAteNine]

I have a Vauxhall Agila.

Utterly uncool. And, I believe, the cheapest insurance of any car. I'm 37, admittedly, and have loads of no claims bonus. But my insurance on it is about £200.

It has airbags, and a 900cc engine. It's been very cheap to run and not needed any work. It's getting on now, but when it wears out I'm buying another.

[grassroots]

Landrover. Lots of street creed, good roll bar and if you get an older model it probably won't have any acceleration worth worrying about.