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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

First Car

216 replies

Zippyx · 19/10/2019 20:58

Hi

As a bit of context, we live in a good area for insurance. DS has done 'young driver' 3-4 times (1 hour lesson each time) and has driven about 4 hours on private roads around our farm. DH and I have both gone through basic parking manoeuvres with him, which he has grasped with relative ease. DS is therefore pretty confident as a driver; DH and I are equally confident in him, given the rate of progress he's made in a relatively small time. Obviously as we are not professional ADIs, he will have at least 10-15 hours of lessons as a minimum.

Now it's time to buy a car, we are looking to spend around £6,500. Firstly, is this reasonable?

Secondly, the car we are looking at is a BMW 1 Series 2011 with about 60k miles on the clock. Insurance would be about £1,500 so not too bad at all. WIBU to buy it for him?

Thanks!

OP posts:
Zebraaa · 19/10/2019 21:48

Saucery, I don’t think the OP would be coming on here and asking if an old banger was ok for a first car though Hmm

formerbabe · 19/10/2019 21:49

@Saucery. Don't try to imply everyone is jealous. Teenage boys are generally pretty fucking stupid in cars...they are even worse usually in flash cars.

CormacMcLaggen · 19/10/2019 21:50

Some 17 yr olds do just take to driving after a few hours, not sure why there’s snippiness about that

There's a big difference between being confident and being competent.

8 hours doesn't make for an experienced driver, no matter how comfortable they are behind the wheel.

Ponoka7 · 19/10/2019 21:52

Jesus, my DD's (22) car insurance is going to be £4k when she passes, here in Liverpool. That's on a small usual first car. The car will be around £1.5k.

I've never known a teen to get something like a BMW and not wrap it around a lamppost. The flashier the car, the more they show off.

TranquilityofSolitude · 19/10/2019 21:54

Is this the insurance as a learner or as a driver? There can be an awfully large hike in price when they pass their test. My DDs passed within 6 months of each other and it went up massively twice, once when the first one passed and started driving alone, and then again when the second one passed. It's worth calling the insurance company to check what the price will be once he's passed before you make a decision.

SPARKLYSTARSHINESBRIGHT · 19/10/2019 21:56

8 hours driving experience but hasn't encountered another car on the road. It's not real experience. My DS1 bought a Fiesta (£350 learner insurance and £1300 when he's passed). He's had 10 lessons and I've done around 25 hours driving practice with him. He's just about ready. Fiesta was £5000, he put deposit down which he paid for with his part time job. The remainder he will pay us back, interest free loan, direct debit every month. He will look after it, pays for the petrol, has researched service/MOT costs. It will teach him to budget and he will look after the car and drive sensibly if the buck stops with him. I don't understand son's friends parents who buy them cars with private numberplates, what have they got to work for if it's handed to them on a plate?

RainbowMum11 · 19/10/2019 21:58

Well I've been driving over 20 years and have just spent £2.3k on. Focus.

That's a huge budget for a first car - def more sensible to go for a fiesta or similar, absolutely no need for a BMW.

Disco3000 · 19/10/2019 22:03

BMW bit powerful for a first car....stick with the trusty fiesta.

LouiseLouisa87 · 19/10/2019 22:05

Fiesta

ashvivienne · 19/10/2019 22:09

@Ponoka7 really? DHs niece is 22 and has just bought a small SUV and insurance is 1200 a year in Liverpool - that’s with an accident. Would definitely check a few other insurers.

OP I wouldn’t spend that on a car with such high mileage he’ll love his freedom and will more than likely rack up a good bit of mileage himself. Even just taking a quick look on auto trader there’s a 16 plate corsa with under 10k miles, heated seats and Apple car play/android auto for £6500.
For first cars I’d go C1, Corsa, VW up (up! Beats a good one if he’s into music) or a Dacia sandero

ClientListQueen · 19/10/2019 22:14

I had a Fiat UNO with manual choke. God I feel old now Grin
Although to add my deal was - do 12 months with no speeding fines, not even a parking ticket, no scrapes, accidents, basically a years clean safe driving and get a new car

SallyLovesCheese · 19/10/2019 22:14

I had a Citroen AX as my first car, I think it cost my dad about £350. And that was 20 years ago!

SandunesAndRainclouds · 19/10/2019 22:17

I had a mini metro handed down from my grandad then I bought a Peugeot 205 for £850...

I’ll be getting DDs (to share) something like a fiat 500 or Citroen c1 as a first car to share.

safariboot · 19/10/2019 22:23

£6500 seems a bit fancy for a first car but if you've got the money you've got the money. YANBU if you want to buy something modern and safe.

I might not go for a BMW though. Being rear-wheel-drive they're easier to crash if you're an idiot, and a teenager in a flash car is likely to drive like an idiot.

dramaqueen · 19/10/2019 22:24

Speaking to the AA, they reckon it takes 100 hours of driving before a new driver is truly competent. I’m inclined to agree.

My DS had a VW Up! as his first car (2nd hand). He paid for it, we pay his insurance and fuel to & from college. He pays anything else. My DD will also be getting an Up! as they come out well in safety tests and reliability.

I really wouldn’t be getting a BMW or anything that expensive. The insurance tends to jump up by a third when they pass.

BlouseAndSkirt · 19/10/2019 22:25

There is no way I would buy a rear-wheel drive for a new / young driver.

Ginger1982 · 19/10/2019 22:26

Do not get a BMW!

Look at something smaller and less 'look at me, I'm a flash git.'

misspiggy19 · 19/10/2019 22:27

Rear wheeled BMW for a 17 year old? What could possibly go wrong? Hmm

TheFairyCaravan · 19/10/2019 22:28

DS1 bought a 3 series BMW when he was 19. His insurance was less than £1k. He bought a newer one last year when he was 23.

Not all young lads drive like twats and neither do all young drivers have lots of knocks and scrapes. My 2 (24& 22)have been driving since they were 17 and have never had a scrape in their cars.

ruralcat · 19/10/2019 22:29

My first car was a BMW, I certainly didn't knock it around. The only thing I noticed is that people would almost look to race you a bit, I was not sucked in. Would your son be tempted to react to this and do something stupid? If yes get him a different brand.

Walnutwhipster · 19/10/2019 22:34

Did you even realise it is rear wheeled drive?

Inferiorbeing · 19/10/2019 22:38

Think of the insurance! A corsa, fiesta, focus, golf.. those are all far more reasonable. I got a 2004 coraa for my first car 5 years ago and loved it, in fact even though I have upgraded it's still sitting in my parents garage as I can't bear to sell it

feelinghelplesstoday · 19/10/2019 22:44

@Zippyx don't do it! My DSS bought (against our advice) a 1 series bmw and has had no end of issues with it. Expensive to repair and insure and a tendency to be heavy footed.
It's a ridiculous first car

Thetruth02 · 19/10/2019 22:50

Urgh don’t get a one series - they are shite. Get Gina golf instead of that’s the sort of thing you’re looking for.

Personally I would go for something very cheap to fix/replace things on for a first car.

Itsrebekahvardysaccount · 19/10/2019 22:52

Polo

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