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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

JumpingJackSprat · 07/03/2014 22:34

I'd offer get the money you would have spent on a car so she can choose one herself. Then be prepared to do the same for your other children.

Nocomet · 07/03/2014 22:40

DDad bought DSIS a car for her 18th and we did put a bow round it (he had a friend who made sails and got hold of a long strip of fabric).

Hopeless car, it burnt more oil than petrol, but it looked cute with it's bow.

DDad gave me a car too, but mine was his old one (new job came with a company car, so I got his old Renault 14. Which was a beautiful car mechanically, with bodywork heals together by it's paint).

Nocomet · 07/03/2014 22:42

That car is to blame for the fact that 20 +years later I'm still married to the lad I gave a lift home and he has two teen granddaughters.

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 07/03/2014 22:43

I bought both Dcs cars for their 18ths, was so glad to be able to do it for them and it made such a difference to their lives. And mine as they could now pick me up from the pub :-)

doorbellringer · 07/03/2014 22:44

Fabulous idea. Agree price insurance for every single one u are interested in. *useful tip** Go onto the big compare sites and get a quote for the first one you look at and save it. That way you can stand at the end of someone's driveway whilst viewing a car and click the "change car details" button and enter the reg of what you are viewing to get an instant idea of the insurance price. Very helpful when deciding if it's a good car v potential insurance costs.
You sound fab, so does your DD. I plan to do the same for my DS (he's only 2 just now) .

Original poster

AtYourCervix · 08/03/2014 08:47

Thanks all.

I'll spend next week searching insurance.

OP posts:

MoominIsWaitingToMeetHerMiniMe · 08/03/2014 23:19

I've been learning in a little 2001 Fiat Punto. Lovely car to learn in, dead easy to drive and isn't too embarrassing for a teenager (well, I'm 19 and no-one has laughed at me for it ) insurance hasn't been too bad either.

thesecowsaresmallthosearefaraw · 08/03/2014 23:35

Have a look at EuroNCAP ratings as well as insurance - safety ratings. Older small cars may have less protection.

MrsFlorrick · 09/03/2014 01:47

Oh yes do get her a small car.

Small being kind on insurance and petrol costs. Micra, Astra, something Ford variety.

And yes if it's older then she won't feel awful if she scrapes it. And you won't feel awful either

She won't look at the car as old/banger. To her it will be "new" and precious.

And oh yes the freedom of your own car. Can't beat it. I have fond memories of my first cars. They were all old bangers (ford fiesta and escorts.) but brilliant. And it didn't matter that they were old. I still felt cool driving them and it gave me such freedom.

Ah many happy memories.

whogrewoutoftheterribletwos · 09/03/2014 02:03

Great idea but can I suggest a wee Skoda Fabia or Honda Jazz? Both incredibly reliable cars (once they're a bit older cars will get costly on maintenance - these models shouldn't need much more than a routine service and mot for 7 years I reckon) and economical on fuel. The right engines will have low road tax too. Should be fairly cheap to insure because they're renowned for reliability, though for any young, recently licenced driver premiums are going to be quite steep

Oswin · 09/03/2014 02:09

Get an old corsa. The old ones are the most reliable car my families owned.

AgaPanthers · 09/03/2014 02:09

I suspect £2,000 on a taxi account might be cheaper and more useful.

FourArms · 09/03/2014 07:07

Consider a brand new car on interest free credit if they do free insurance as part of the deal. That's how I got my 1st car :)

Novia · 09/03/2014 07:23

I (recently) passed my test and got a little Suzuki Swift. It's a cute, nippy little car with a good safety rating. I really wanted a Nissan Micra until I actually sat in one and realised how boxy and bare it seemed.

Novia · 09/03/2014 07:23

LokiDokey · 09/03/2014 09:38

We bought ds a Clio, but his grandparents chipped in as well so it wasn't really a cheap banger.
Try and avoid old puntos, they are renowned for head gasket failure.

Whatever you buy take someone with you who knows what they are looking for older cars can come with many expensive issues.

Ds's car changed his life, getting to uni was so much easier, he was independent and actually learned something of car mechanics and maintenance. Never a bad thing.

Liquoricelips · 09/03/2014 09:43

I bought my daughter a Citroen C1, she adores it and it meant that she could pick me up from a night out for a change!

ComposHat · 09/03/2014 10:14

Without knowing where you live (and assuming your daughter has no points) I'd budget about 2-2.5k for insurance, which if she intends to pay herself could be a big drain on her finances. In all likelihood a year's insurance could be more than the cost of the car. However ahe could look at those pay as you drive deals with a black box fitted. Another wholly legal way to get the premium down would be to put you or your husband down as named drivers on her policy. It reduces the premium if they think the car will be driven for part of the time by an older more experienced driver. This could also be handy if you ever need to borrow it. (Don't do it the other way round by insuring the car in your name and putting her down as named driver - fronting an insurance policy is illegal! )

I am guessing what will make up the premium will be a) her age (which you can't control) b) where she lives (ditto) c) the engine size d) how desirable it is to thieves e) how much it costs to repair.

If you do go down that route I'd look at cheap city cars with the smallest engine possible a( Daewoo Matiz citreoen c1/ pugeot 107 that sort of thing) or a Nissan Micra with the 1 litre engine.

Original poster

AtYourCervix · 09/03/2014 10:21

lots to think about. thanks.

OP posts:

specialsubject · 09/03/2014 10:32

to add; it isn't the cost of the car that determines the insurance for a teen, it is the damage she can do to others. The recent 'gender equality' nonsense means that girls now pay as much as boys, the latter have a 1 in 4 of a flowers-on-a-tree crash each year.

Corsas are popular with this age group and can be v.v. pricey to insure as a consequence.

look at black boxes, pass plus etc to reduce HER risk. And please don't pass on the attitude that a prang doesn't matter. It does if another vehicle is involved, or another person.

cardibach · 09/03/2014 10:40

We bought DD a Clio for her 18th in Jan. We live in a very rural area, so buses, and even taxis, are often a problem. It really has given her freedom. I did the insurance through Drive like a Girl (Google them) - it was £1100 doe her with me and her dad as Ned drivers for 12 months. There is a black box so if she drives safely for 3 months we will get about £130 back. It includes handbag insurance and if the black box registers a bump they will phone her and if necessary organise emergency services. Great peace of mind. Do it!

cardibach · 09/03/2014 10:41

Excuse typos. Stupid phone. I think it is still comprehensible!

ChoudeBruxelles · 09/03/2014 10:43

I was brought a two coloured fiesta for my 18th. The bonnet had been replaced and was a different colour. Best present ever. It only had a 950cc engine but I loved it.

mrsjay · 09/03/2014 10:45

I bought dd an old banger for her christmas of her 18th birthday it lasted her 3 years and it was fine and really helped her confidence driving she never really pranged the insurance cost a bit more than the car did

mrsjay · 09/03/2014 10:46

was a fiesta dd had I am sure she cried when she had to let it go ,

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