Wanted: A Little 'First Car' for my Lad.

[Greenmist]

Having recently gone through this and done a fair bit of research, have a look at a Skoda Citigo (same as a VW up and Seat Mi), picked up one for our son, they are a 3 cyl, 1.0lt and are one of the cheapest to ensure, they also have a really good spec - sat nav, Bluetooth, electric windows, AC, alloy wheels, sports trim….it is a pretty well rated car for safety, well built and fast enough to be good fun, it also handles really well and I can get 60mpg out of it!! We were just over 3k for a 12 year old one with 70k miles, but it’s a well looked after example with a good service history.

They had a 5 star NCAP rating although it was lowered to 3 due to stricter testing and “vulnerable road users” rating - which is how the car effects people it hits such as pedestrians and cyclists - and with all due respect I’m more concerned with the occupant safety rating which is 81%.

The boot is enormous for the size of car and it seats 4 adults comfortably.

We ended up getting him his own insurance with me and the Mrs as named drivers, for the period while he is learning to drive it is £195 per year, so he’s earning his own no claims.

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My wife has a VW Up, as you say, same car, good little motor well made, surprisingly spacious, I'm over 6' and have no problem driving it

 

[gixer1]

They drive them fast and they’re not that safe these little toasters.

Better buy him an old Volvo mate

Actually that’s not correct - a series two discovery has a lower rating than both the small cars mentioned above - you’ll find the bulkhead landing on your knees an issue in a crash!

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

Many thanks for all the feedback and advice everyone and sorry for the delay responding. I have been busy trying to get my knives back from Stansted Airport and reliably delivered to the USA

 

[hendrix's rifle]

As a CEng, I have been particularly impressed with many of the unique engineering design issues - it is to me a remarkable little car

Off topic and sorry to the OP - have you seen a merc thats been in a crash? They dont deform or crumple like a normal car and subsequently, any shock or impact also goes through the occupants of the vehicle. I've had the unfortunate pleasure of seeing it a couple of times!

 

[wytonpjs]

Off topic and sorry to the OP - have you seen a merc thats been in a crash? They dont deform or crumple like a normal car and subsequently, any shock or impact also goes through the occupants of the vehicle. I've had the unfortunate pleasure of seeing it a couple of times!

Yes, but this "isn't" your typical Mercedes, although saying that, my wife's friend, her husband and 2 kids were in one in a head-on in Holland and all walked away unscathed.
I had the misfortune to take-off at a junction having seen that the car in front of me had started to go. I looked right to check I'm still clear and run smack into him - he had stopped My fault entirely but it was rather embarrassing - his car an oldish Ford Fiesta was written off, but there was no damage to the Smart car. The plastic front panels absorbed so much of the energy that when I took it off to check the crash bar behind, it hadn't even started to crumple. Told you I was quite impressed!

 

[hendrix's rifle]

Yes, but this "isn't" your typical Mercedes, although saying that, my wife's friend, her husband and 2 kids were in one in a head-on in Holland and all walked away unscathed.
I had the misfortune to take-off at a junction having seen that the car in front of me had started to go. I looked right to check I'm still clear and run smack into him - he had stopped My fault entirely but it was rather embarrassing - his car an oldish Ford Fiesta was written off, but there was no damage to the Smart car. The plastic front panels absorbed so much of the energy that when I took it off to check the crash bar behind, it hadn't even started to crumple. Told you I was quite impressed!

Should have specified sorry - the smart cars. They look great after a low speed, not so much high speed. Well certainly not whatever is inside them. I believe its well documented if you have a search.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Should have specified sorry - the smart cars. They look great after a low speed, not so much high speed. Well certainly not whatever is inside them. I believe its well documented if you have a search.

A city car first and foremost so expect designed for low speed shunts, they get misused as a motorway vehicle by poor students going home to get their washing done.
I rented one in 2001 for a long weekend from Stuttgart to Calais, bone crippling it was, great air con though

 

[willowbank]

Long shot, I know.

I am looking round at the minute but thought I'd ask here too, someone might have something sat on a a drive or in garage that isn't seeing any use.

First car so nothing sparkling, I am thinking £1,500/2,000, small engine, 1.0/1.2, you all know the type of thing.

Let me know if you know of anything please, thank you.

Ok so you found the lad a nice little runaround, now FFS don’t let him have free rein for a few months, driving around with it rammed with his “ new found” mates… so many accidents, often fatal, where the driver through inexperience loses control after being egged on by back seat drivers clubbing or pub crawling.

WB

 

[wytonpjs]

A city car first and foremost so expect designed for low speed shunts, they get misused as a motorway vehicle by poor students going home to get their washing done.
I rented one in 2001 for a long weekend from Stuttgart to Calais, bone crippling it was, great air con though

It’s definitely NOT a long distance car but for driving in Bristol (or any city) it was my weapon of choice

 

[wytonpjs]

Ok so you found the lad a nice little runaround, now FFS don’t let him have free rein for a few months, driving around with it rammed with his “ new found” mates… so many accidents, often fatal, where the driver through inexperience loses control after being egged on by back seat drivers clubbing or pub crawling.

WB

And that’s where a Smart For Two scored - room for 2 only. As his first car, it’s been a great learner. He has to drive defensively, doesn’t go that fast, can only carry 2 but it’s so easy to park and VERY cheap to run. It’s served its purpose rather well IMHO for his first year.

 

[willowbank]

And that’s where a Smart For Two scored - room for 2 only. As his first car, it’s been a great learner. He has to drive defensively, doesn’t go that fast, can only carry 2 but it’s so easy to park and VERY cheap to run. It’s served its purpose rather well IMHO for his first year.

Well done you… I had kittens when my daughter went out with her non driving “ mates” clubbing, I spent a few evenings worrying when she wasn’t back when she said she’d be, she did wreck a really nice Fiesta Ghia I got her. but she was ok… calmed down after that.

Willowbank

 

[markyw]

Engine size is a factor, but also "popularity" of the car. My son started with a Mazda 2 1.5ltr (relatively large engine for a newbie) BUT the insurance was markedly cheaper than a similar or smaller Fiesta, which was basically the same car. The norms - Fiestas, Corsas, etc - came out as more expensive to insure as they were more popular and so (probably) crashed more.

Looking at the prices of those cars above, things have dropped markedly since I bought my daughter's Nissan Pixo (basically a Suzuki Alto) 2 years ago.

Regards

Mark

 

[merlin]

My daughter (still a learner) has just bought a Suzuki Splash; 5 doors, small engine, v tidy, insurance is peanuts 20 quid road tax, and it sips petrol.... for a 'first car', I'm v impressed so far

 

[wytonpjs]

And that’s where a Smart For Two scored - room for 2 only. As his first car, it’s been a great learner. He has to drive defensively, doesn’t go that fast, can only carry 2 but it’s so easy to park and VERY cheap to run. It’s served its purpose rather well IMHO for his first year.

Bloody jinxed it didn't I

Broken down this morning with an apparent electrical issue! I hate those and I'm off tomorrow for 36 hrs fallow shooting - guess what I'll be doing Sunday PM