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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

What car for a 17 year old

40 replies

Alainlechat · 10/12/2022 12:26

Hi everyone, just starting to look at cars with my 17 old DD. Naively thinking you could pick up a decent car for around 2k, but looks like the budget will have to be stretched a bit further than this.

What sort of cars has anyone else's teen ended up with for a budget of around 4k or maybe a bit less. Or do we need to go higher to get anything decent?

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 10/12/2022 12:26

Something slow and safe!

MrsSkylerWhite · 10/12/2022 12:27

(We’ll be considering this shortly, too and safety record will be top priority)

bloodywhitecat · 10/12/2022 12:32

My two both drove around in our old SKODA Fabia after passing their tests, it was a workhorse of a car and never let us down. It probably wasn't the coolest of cars for a teen though.

boboshmobo · 10/12/2022 12:38

We got dd a ford. Ka..

Great car but it was £5k! Second hat decent cars are expensive !

KangarooKenny · 10/12/2022 12:39

We went with a Toyota Aygo for DD. DH looked at all cars and decided that was best.

clary · 10/12/2022 12:41

I would say something with a small engine for lower insurance, speed and petrol usage. Then pick what's in your budget.

There's big love on MN for the Hyundai i10 - we had one which was a dog but maybe we were unlucky.

I love my Toyota Aygo.
Lots of teens choose a Vauxhall Corsa or Nissan Micra.

VW Up on Citroën C1 are similar tk the Aygo and easy to drive and park.

clary · 10/12/2022 12:43

Ah @KangarooKenny is with me on the Aygo! Mine is the absolute base model but it's nippy in town and drives well at 75 on the M1 too (unlike the Hyundai which used to sound as if it was about to take off).

KangarooKenny · 10/12/2022 12:44

The Aygo was great for a first car, nippy and cheapish on insurance.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 10/12/2022 12:46

I'm planning on giving my dd my 10 yo Toyota aygo, it's very reliable, cheap to run and doesn't go over 60mph so perfect for a first car!!

username8888 · 10/12/2022 12:51

Toyota aygo with airbags all round, black box fitted by insurance company, additional driving lessons to go on motorways, ideally a rear camera and all round sensors as parking and manouvering is one of the most often reasons they cause accidents.

username8888 · 10/12/2022 12:52

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 10/12/2022 12:46

I'm planning on giving my dd my 10 yo Toyota aygo, it's very reliable, cheap to run and doesn't go over 60mph so perfect for a first car!!

Mine does over 70 on the motorway, so average for a small car.

Itsonlyagame · 10/12/2022 12:54

Hyundai i10, great wee car, or it's sister car Kia picanto.

weegiemum · 10/12/2022 12:55

We got the i10 for ds when he passed his test, it's been a great wee car and very economical.

cptartapp · 10/12/2022 12:59

My two share a Vauxhall Corsa. It cost around £4k and has 45,000 miles. No issues so far. Small engine.

Carrieonmywaywardsun · 10/12/2022 12:59

Yaris, micra or corsa. Go for second hand and look at Facebook, autotrader etc

gogohmm · 10/12/2022 13:04

Mazda 2 here. Was £1000

Original poster
Alainlechat · 10/12/2022 14:39

Some great suggestions on here, some I wouldn't have thought of.

The Toyota and Hyundai definitely worth looking into.

OP posts:
Sandysandwich · 10/12/2022 14:48

Skoda Citigo
The basic models are really affordable secondhand and they age well.
Very reliable, small, light and fuel economic. And they have sister cars like the volkswagon up! And the Seat Mii so parts are generally always available.

CharlotteStreet · 10/12/2022 14:52

Itsonlyagame · 10/12/2022 12:54

Hyundai i10, great wee car, or it's sister car Kia picanto.

I have the kia Picanto and I bloody love it (clearly not a petrol head 😂).

MarkBright · 10/12/2022 15:27

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 10/12/2022 12:46

I'm planning on giving my dd my 10 yo Toyota aygo, it's very reliable, cheap to run and doesn't go over 60mph so perfect for a first car!!

I've had four Aygos and they've all gone over sixty easily.

Round by us there's me and lots of teens driving Aygos 😂

clary · 10/12/2022 15:32

hahah @MarkBright and me joining you among the adult Aygo drivers! Yes as I said, mine does 75-80 easily (I don't drive faster than that anyway). Mind you it is slow going up a hill with four people in...

This is the current model Aygo btw; I believe the older version may not be so nippy.

Alexandra2001 · 10/12/2022 15:34

C1 Peugeot 108, or the Aygo, they are the same car based on a Toyota engine.

My DD got one just before passing test and 4 years on, still going strong.

Cheap to service and insure, plus they have very cheap plastic brackets that hold the bumpers and wings together, so very easy repairs when she clouts something as they break before anything expensive.

PeekAtYou · 10/12/2022 15:35

My dad drives a Fiesta, my son drives a Corsa.

AnythingConsidered · 10/12/2022 15:41

We've just bought our 17 year old a Citreon C1. It is literally the same car as a Peugeot 107 (the engine has a Peugeot badge on it!)

We bought a 63 plate and it was £4k with 12 month Mot, fresh service and new tyres.

It's £0 tax per year and insurance class 2 so very cheap on insurance, plus incredibly low cost to run.

It was from a specialist small second hand car company that was recommended to us. They're in the South West, but only buy/sell small cars and said that 80% of their sales were for first cars.

They love learning in it.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 10/12/2022 15:43

Mine does go up to 70mph but at a push (my aygo is getting on now bless it!) It doesn't cope well with hills and will crawl up them 😂

My point being it's a safe car and not one my dd is going to be able to drive silly speeds in.