Need a car for me and 17 year old DD

[Primrose123]

My car is on it's last legs and will need to be replaced soon. DD is now 17 and we want her to learn to drive, so I'm looking for a car that is reasonably nice for me, but is cheap enough to insure for her too.

I'm thinking of something like a fiesta, golf or clio. I used to have a golf, which I loved, but it was quite sporty, so not practical right now. I don't want anything too small as I have two tall teenagers, and don't like feeling squashed in a car. It would have to have back doors.

Any suggestions? I don't do a huge mileage but need the car for work, picking up kids etc. New or a few years old would be good, whichever is better value.

I would also be interested in any good insurers for teenagers.

Golfs are awesome, and serviced correctly go on for aaaages. I have a ford ranger (because is work on a farm and have too many dogs and horses of my own not to) that guzzles fuel like nothing else in town and DH has a pissy Renault (never buy one of them) that cuts out constantly at 3000 revs and I refuse to drive so I bought a cheap second hand diesel golf with 160,000 miles on the clock.

Its now got 280,000 miles on and still runs like the clappers when I need something for around town and you can fit a reasonable amount of crap in the boot too so on a practical level it achieves a fairly high standard also. Alas its downfall is it cannot tow a horse trailer or make it out of a sodden field without being pulled by a tractor but it does hold its own up the farm road too. The fiesta is not bad either though I prefer the focus but your daughter will get hit with insurance for that one.

Out of those choices I'd take the Fiesta. Otherwise look at offerings from Kia and Hyundai with much longer warranties.

I have just enquired about putting DS on to my insurance (he is learning to drive at the minute and is 17). I have a Seat Ibiza which is on par with a Golf.

My insurance is £17 per month. To put DS on the premium goes up to £103 per month and his excess will be £600.

Maybe ring round first to see what the cheapest option would be?

I've just got rid of a fiesta because my tall teenagers were struggling to fit in it, so it depends how tall they are really.

Thanks for all the advice.

Tabulahrasa - my DDs are both about 5'6". Are yours much taller?

Ramrod I'll look at Kias and Hyundais thanks. I really like those, but I like the SUV types, but I think those will be too expensive for DD's insurance!

I must admit, I do like Golfs. I would like to pay a little more, and have a car that I really want, but I think it's important for DD to learn to drive and to practise regularly. She won't be having her own car for quite a while!

Have a look at the Kia cee'd

Much cheaper than the equivalents from other manufacturers, very reliable and an easy drive