To go against dh re car for dd3 to learn in

[wasgoingmadinthecountry]

DH is adamant we should get an old C1 for dd3 to learn in (money a bit tight right now but I could do with a new commute car too - her school is on the way). Dd isn't keen - someone rear ended us over summer while I was driving one (frightened her) and ds has put her off a bit too. He says they all have damaged front/backs through learner shunts.

DH has form for buying crappy cars from the auction house - his friends do it too but can afford a few duds. Two years ago it was a shitty Audi convertible that drove me to Tesco before breaking down for good. We can't. I want reliable and not embarrassing.

Any views on the best budget cars for learners gratefully received!

Fiesta?
i10?

DD1 learned in a Nissan Micra.

My Hyundai i10 has been very reliable. They’re a bit grannyish, but good reliable little cars.

VW Polo. Great, cheap, reliable, good build quality.

DS just bought an 08 plate clio as his first car. He is still learning at the moment.

I’ve been browsing auto trader for months for my first car. Clios, fiesta, corsas or Peugeot 207s are a good shout, easy to find ones with a good MOD history. Be aware clios are notorious for
Electrics, if they have a poor MOT history concerning this avoid. And Peugeot’s have oil leaks. If it’s had an oil leak I’d avoid also. You can pick a fab car up for under £2000 on autotrader. Just check the MOT. I was lucky enough to go be bought a clio for Christmas and I love it as a learner!

www.gov.uk/check-mot-status

yes, there's a site called RapidCarCheck I think, where you can check a car's MOT history. We used this site, and AutoTrader to make a shortlist. DS wanted to spend up to £1750.

We’ve just got a 13 plate C1 for me and ds1 to share (he is currently learning). It’s absolutely fine and very cheap to insure. It’s not pleasant to be rear ended in any vehicle.

Tell you husband you don’t want one from the auction house. Trawl round local garages, get an AA check on whatever you buy.

i10 is on my to look at list. These things always come up on a bank holiday for me! Her birthday is just over a couple of weeks away so unless she wants to drive a classic MX5 (mine so not happening) or an absolute shitmobile BMW that bits fall off, I'd better get my finger out! The old C1 was the plan until someone drove into me and wrote it off. I think how easily the car was written off is what has put dd off a bit - plus she did get pretty bad whiplash.

Thanks for the ideas - any more very welcome!

Honest John is a great website for car info.

Suzuki swift was a high scorer for safety and all rounder.

I can't remember what else though anymore! I think I looked at 7-10 year old cars when I was doing my research

They write cars off so quickly nowadays. It’s not always that the car can’t be repaired, it’s just that it’s cheaper to write off than deal with! That happened with my Aygo - which was my first car and I loved it! Definitely recommend for a learner.
Otherwise corsa’s are good for learners also.

I would look at a polo. I find vw very reliable and pretty cheap to also insure. ;) Do you have a budget in mind?

I do t think you can go wrong with a Corsa. I've had 4...1 I upgraded as it was 18 years old (but still going strong), 2 other people wrote off and 1 I sold as I needed something bigger for my son's pram but they've all been rock solid

Dh bought Ds1 a Hyundai. Dh knows a huge amount about cars. Please don't let your Dh who clearly doesn't buy anything!

If you get a old car get one with service history, not from the auction house!
Also the insurance will probably cost more than the car itself so I would check that first.
The thing about c1s getting shunted by learners sounds a bit hysterical. Surely the same applies to all small cars, although obviously most learners don't crash their cars, and those that do, it will most likely be pretty obvious if it's been bashed around. You can look up safety profiles for cars which is not a bad idea.

I had a I10 for my first car I loved it!!

There are a few votes here for the VW Polo but I just traded mine in. It was fun to drive but I’m short and I couldn’t see the end of the bonnet from the driver’s seat (even after raising the seat), which made parking awkward. I never quite got over pranging it on a bollard while trying to swing into a bay a couple of years ago

I’ve now got a Suzuki Ignis and it’s fab, plus it’s half the price of the Polo to insure. Fantastic visibility all around too - I didn’t realise how big the blind spots in my Polo were until I started driving the Ignis.

The old C1 was the plan until someone drove into me and wrote it off. I think how easily the car was written off is what has put dd off a bit

The fact that it was old will be the reason it was written off.

I have a VW UP.
Small car but feels big inside. Brilliant viability all round and very easy to park. Very cheap tax, low insurance (though maybe not if you're 18) and it drives well. Pretty nippy when you need it to be and a good all-rounder for town/City and longer distance.

I was also looking at the i10 and c1 (tax way more expensive). KA was awful for viability and teeny tiny as was the fiat 500.
A swift was going to be my 2nd choice.

@Oblomov20

Tell me about it!

@Santaisreel

I know, but she was pretty shaken up when some idiot drove into us while stationary. I'm fully aware it can happen in any car (and it was the fault of the guy who didn't look) but want her to start off with something different as she was actually injured. That's more the reason I'd rather not get a C1.

If you’re looking at VW UP look at Skoda Citi go or Seat Mii, same cars but without the VW price tag.

Same with C1, Peugeot 107 and Toyota Aygo (at least in the age bracket I assume you’d be looking at for a learner car)

To be honest, up until 3 months ago I’d have written off the C1 as being entirely too flimsy but I witnessed a head on collision between a parked Audi Q7 and a C1, both cars written of but the driver of the C1 was completely unharmed.

Suzuki Swift are pretty decent and quite quirky.

Audi A1 if they’re in budget are good as well.

@houselikeashed

yes, there's a site called RapidCarCheck I think, where you can check a car's MOT history. We used this site, and AutoTrader to make a shortlist. DS wanted to spend up to £1750.

I wouldn't use a third party site when the DVLA can check a car and it's MOT history from the reg number. A lot of these secondary sites go on to charge. Stick with the DVLA.

vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/

As a guide, check it's been MOT'd regularly, check Miles between tests (less could mean it's been off road), check advisories and see if they repeat over the years.
A failure or advisory for something simple like a bulb, wiper or tyre could well indicate the car hasn't been looked after well. Trust your gut.

DD has a Skoda Citigo. As mentioned above same as VW Up but cheaper. Good first car - a wheel ar each corner as my mum would say - but what swung it for DH and me was the NCAP safety rating. These can be lower in smaller cars but the Skoda was good.

Anything other than a French car for the safety whiplash angle

Japanese cars ten to last ages and are reliable. My husband has had his Nissan Cube for 9 years and they've actually stopped deprecating and are going up in value, it's not needed much spending on it over the years either. Funnily enough my first car was a mk 1 MX5, one day I'll have another.