[Closed] 1st Car For a Learner

Don't bother.

Just get them thru their test using the Instructors car.

Once they've passed then buy one (insured for them with you/spouse as named drivers).

My youngest passed his test earlier this year, did the above for all three of mine.

Less risk and (probably) cheaper.

Anything "cool" to young people will statistically feature in more accidents so focus on stuff that young people wouldn't want to be seen in. So more Renault Laguna than Renault Clio.

Suzuki Ignis 1.0l.

Original fiat panda 750cc

There mates will laugh until they realise it will carry the beer across a field to without plastic panels being ripped off.

Hilarious

Something small as you say, Peugot 107 or similar ? Older Polo or Seat ?

FWIW we bought a 6 month old Yaris which all my 3 shared and is still running perfectly 10 yrs later. I believe there is one panel which isn't dented, somewhere.

Micra - the jelly mould variant:

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Like the sound of the Ignis.

I had a 1986 Panda 999cc, what an excellent vehicle it was (yes, really)

Old Polo if you can find one. Wolfsburg built Polos are extremely good at dodging rust, are mechanically very simple and have a cunningly designed chassis that dissuades any spirited driving whatsoever. If it stops working, hit it with something until it starts working again. Engines thrive on being revved and they sip petrol. Indeed, you'll struggle to find a diesel, because VW never made any.

Oh, you'll notice that the brakes are rubbish. They're all like that, even when brand new.

The Fiat Panda idea is genius, a proper festival friendly car.

The main Wombatmobile isn't suitable as its automatic (and would cost an additional £165 per month to insure her, even as a learner ).

You do know a learner-mobile will cost that a month to insure? Pre-test I bet it is below £1k (just) with you as main driver. Double that the day they pass.

VW Lupo ?

Skoda Fabia - strong cheap simple ish available .

Suzuki Samurai - not really safe as a learners/new driver car on tarmac , any experiments or mistakes will be punished - no safety at all.

Dont focus so much on very small cars. There is a misconception that smallest is cheapest but Surfer junior has recently passed his test and slightly larger cars such as Focus/Golf (old of course) appeared cheaper to insure. Young drivers go for the smallest car which means statistically they end up in more scrapes and parasitic insurance companies are wise to this.
Bottom line spend some time on the price comparison sites.

Get a transit van, my dad taught me manoeuvres in his. It was a doddle to reverse park as you could see all the corners and the big door mirrors made the 3 point turn easy as you could see the curb sooner (I think on the real test you drop your mirrors now)

On a more useful note something no one wants like a Toyota/Nissan saloon if insurance is the issue. I hear aygos etc can cost a fortune

Having just gone through this, I found that the cheapest way to insure a learner was by buying additional insurance to let a learner drive a car already owned and insured by a parent. These policies lapse immediately they pass the test. Choice of car seamed to have little effect on the cost of these policies (My son learned in a 140PS Mondeo diesel estate, my daughter in a 125PS Auris)

Once they pass, it's a whole different cost model though.

When daughter passed earlier this year, the best solution for us was to buy a 3 year old C1 and her to insure it in her own name as owner and main driver, on an Admiral multicar policy which was already in place for mine and the Mrs's cars . This was about £100 per month.

Mrs, Miss & MasterT all went to instructor then test, only MissT failed(x3)and still can't drive.
Tjnr has recently sold his Suzuki Ignis Sport 1.4 to a young guy who recently passed his test. The buyer was apparently saving £500 over similar cars such as Corsa etc. The Ignis Sport has a full body kit and Recaro seats!!! It was also fitted with a daft big bore "silencer" and a "sports" intake system!!!! It was a cracking wee car and having owned a few VWs over the years I think I would prefer an Ignis v a Polo. Tjnr had a mk2 1.3 Jetta for a 1st car....

Lupo has already been mentioned but I'll say seat arosa (facelift) you'll get lower miles for your money and they are more or less the same. They are based on a shortened polo chassis, plenty of space in the front for a 6 footer like me and they were 4 star euro ncap rated back in the day.

Not a Fabia as mentioned above! The Vrs models have made them attract the boy and girl racers so are loaded accordingly.

I went the classic car route when I was young, '72 Mini then an SD1 V8 both of which were miles cheaper to insure than a boggo Fiesta/Corsa/Nova/Polo. My sister had a Kia Pride which was surprisingly good!

Go to your local Waitrose and see what small cars the elderly are driving then get one of those. Something like a Suzuki Ignis (non-Sport model?) or Honda Jazz would be good. Or if you want something newer the Hyundai I10 is good.

Panda or C1/Aygo. Something that you can 'place' and 'feel'.

Thanks for the replies, I like the idea of an Ignis or old (possibly 1.9d) Golf.

Got a couple of months to decide what to do, guess I'll be spending a fair bit of time consulting meerkats during Augus & September.

Thanks for the tip Ecky Thump, will investigate that option

Well, following consultation with the well informed meerkats it would appear that we can insure a 10 year old 1.3 Suzuki Ignis fully comp with Wombat Jr as main driver (provisional license, 17 y/o) and me as a named second driver (full licence, quite a bit older) for a smidge over £400 a year with a £350 excess, based on 8k miles p/a.

I'm very pleasantly surprised but I also know that once she passes there's likely to be a fairly significant hike in this price 😯

Ver generous of you, but it sounds like it would be cheaper for them to get lessons . I didn't have a car until I needed and could afford one myself.

E-bike with sidecar instead. 😉

@thecaptain, Wombat Jr will be paying the extra over cost of insuring her on the car, it will also be used by Mrs Wombat for work & child ferrying duties.

The second car has been on the horizon for a few months now due to work changes, we're just trying to maximise the potential usefulness of any vehicle we get.

I found that the cheapest way to insure a learner was by buying additional insurance to let a learner drive a car already owned and insured by a parent

Choice of car seamed to have little effect on the cost of these policies

rocket jr learned to drive in mrs rocket's Fiesta ST