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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy DD a crap car?

96 replies

AtYourCervix · 07/03/2014 21:29

She's 18 in April. (My baby is 18!!!!!!!!)

Anyway. She can't drive Hs car (too big and crap). She can't drive my car (too new and precious). Her plan is to buy one herself for her Gap Yah. But she is an absolute darling. She is good, hard working, nice, helpful and puts up with so much extra shite (D2 issues) without barely a whinge.

So I thought I might surprise her and get her a little crap car she can play with and practice. If it's crap it doesn't matter if she prangs it.

So.... should I?

I was going to get her theatre tickets but that's a bit rubbish rwally.

I could wrap a car up and put a bow on it.

OP posts:
southeastastra · 07/03/2014 21:32

yes that would be really nice! would she be able to afford the insurance etc? though it would matter if she prangs it surely!

Annunziata · 07/03/2014 21:33

Look for a middling car, it's better for insurance.

Garcia10 · 07/03/2014 21:33

Do it! For my 18th my parents bought me and my twin a Triumph Dolomite to share. It cost £400 back in the 1990s and was absolutely the best present we ever had. It gave us freedom and the experience to drive properly. She will love you for it.

I have such fond memories of that car.

Mamafratelli · 07/03/2014 21:36

Do it! I would look at insurance and maybe buy her a ford ka or similar. She sounds lovely and so do you.

MichaelFinnigan · 07/03/2014 21:41

Nissan micra is what you need

TheZeeTeam · 07/03/2014 21:43

Go for it!
Alternatively, if you want to take some ownership in it, tell her you will match anything she saves. That's what we did and DS ended up with a great, almost new runaround. I felt he was safer in that than in an old banger.

Finola1step · 07/03/2014 21:43

Yes. Do it. I second a little micra.

dellybobs · 07/03/2014 21:45

She sounds like she isn't expecting it if she's saving for it herself at the moment so it would be a lovely surprise for her, it's not like she's whining at you to buy her one and acting spoilt. What an awesome present.

MyNameIsKenAdams · 07/03/2014 21:50

Ooh I was going to suggest a Micra too - im 28 and have only just after seventeen years got rid of my micra (ive had two in that time).

southeastastra · 07/03/2014 21:52

no not a micra they are ugly, look for an old astra or fiesta

YellowTulips · 07/03/2014 21:55

I think teaching kids how to drive is really important for their independence.

I also LOVE cars (and spend stupid money on them) so I have to declare I am a bit - very - biased on this one Smile

I'm also in the same position that in a few years when DSD is eligible for L plates there is no way she could learn or either my or DH's car.

So yes - get her a car BUT check the insurance quotes before you do.

Brace yourself for the possibility that the insurance may well cost more than the car......you need to factor that into your budget.

I'd look at a VW Fox (or the newer UP! depending on budget), Toyota Yaris or a Fiat 500.

ChillySundays · 07/03/2014 21:55

Do it! My daughter has car for her birthday. Would have preferred a newish car but appreciated that wasn't going to happen without a lottery win. Check insurance. Rang the insurance company every time we looked at a car - surprising the difference in cost between the small cars

FudgeyCookie · 07/03/2014 21:56

I've just got a micra as my first car, with dp as a named driver it's going to be £86 a month for insurance which is one I the cheapest I found on any car.

I bet she would love it!

littlewhitebag · 07/03/2014 21:58

We bought DD1 a Renault Clio 4 years ago when she was learning to drive. It was a great buy and it is a fab little car. DD2 hopes to learn in it at the end of the year. Wheels equals freedom. I say go for it.

Original poster
AtYourCervix · 07/03/2014 21:58

She is lovely. Mostly.

The plan would be when she buggers off to austrslia and indua later next year, the univerdity, D2 could take it over (if it is still alive).

Anyone selling a micra?

OP posts:
ChillySundays · 07/03/2014 21:59

First year the insurance for a corsa was £1800 - the car cost £1200.

ConfusedPixie · 07/03/2014 22:01

Not too crap a car, else it'll die like my first two did Hmm But a cheapy semi-crap one is fine for a first car! Best thing really!

I'd say a bigger car though, as when it does get bumped it's not going to cause a huge amount of damage. And it'll make her really fecking good at parking! I wish I'd gotten an Astra earlier than I did, it doesn't look pretty but it would have survived my prangs a bit better, I could have fit more into it and had I really had an accident I would have been a bit safer than had I been in one of my first two cars (a peugeot 106 and a ford fiesta).

ivykaty44 · 07/03/2014 22:03

I disagree cars are not a key to freedom but a drain on your bank account

Why not let her drive your cars and get her a plane ticket to Australia instead

If she wants to get around she will using other types of transport

FullOfChoc · 07/03/2014 22:05

Match whatever she saves towards a car, that way you can see she gets something safe but she will feel invested in it and appreciate it properly.

YellowTulips · 07/03/2014 22:06

AYC - focus on the insurance before you decide on a make and model.

A colleague at work bought a fiesta for his son for £4k. The insurance quote was £3k......

There is massive variation so do your homework first.

WorrySighWorrySigh · 07/03/2014 22:13

I second what people are saying about checking the different insurances. We ended up getting DD a Ford Ka. It is DD's pride and joy.

Insurance through Admiral with a black box was the best deal for us. Around £1500 for 10 months.

StarGazeyPond · 07/03/2014 22:15

If it's crap it doesn't matter if she prangs it.

Well I hope she bloody doesn't 'prang it' into me !!

Ziplex · 07/03/2014 22:20

What a lovely gift, my DS is 18 in June and I have contemplated getting him one but he's a lazy devil who won't get a part-time job so until he helps himself ( and me) then he won't get one.
Your daughter sounds lovely and what a better gift the sense of freedom a car gives.

NearTheWindymill · 07/03/2014 22:29

If you can make it work insurance wise I'd do it.

Catsmamma · 07/03/2014 22:31

ds1's first car was a micra...he was driving at 17 and gutted when it failed the MOT last year.

it's the insurance that'll be the killer, so i'd advise some serious searching there.

dd is named driver on my little seicento sporting, which is keeping the insurance down a bit, but it'd be almost double for it if it was solely her car

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