Young People and Cars

[PaulSB]

My youngest son recently passed his driving test at age 24 - second attempt.

He now wants to purchase a car. I am of the opinion he should go for new, quality used or contract. This should minimise running costs and insurance. When I was his age I had a beat up mini van held together with rope and kept running by a mate who could tinker.

Times change. I'd be interested to get opinions. Buy a quality small car or an old banger?

 

[swee'pea99]

Depends how rich he is. If he's anything like as cash-strapped as I was at that age he'd almost certainly be way better off getting £1000-worth of Polo or Hyundai - tho' he'd have to choose with care, and it would certainly be a massive advantage to either know something about cars or someone who does.

 

[mickle]

Buying new is a mug's game. The very cheapest form of motoring is to run a banger that doesn't break down. And this requires a car that was built well to start with and has been looked after ever since. If he's not intending to use it every day then he needent worry too much about fuel economy, and run something bigger and/or an auto.

Excluding fuel my 940 GLE wagon costs less than £1000 a year to run.

Oops, sorry, no, this:

 

[MichaelW2]

Do people still run old bangers?
If you do, select something with cheap and easy to find spares.

 

[swee'pea99]

One of the most important things with a banger - other than going German, Japanese or Korean (and avoiding French or Italian at all costs) - is a service history.

 

[vickster]

Do people still run old bangers?
If you do, select something with cheap and easy to find spares.

If they can't afford anything else, for sure

My sister in law has an X reg Agila run around, to ferry the dog, go to the allotment, shopping etc, cost £750 a couple of years ago

My brother has an X reg BMW Alpina, larger more practical banger with serious attitude

 

[Profpointy]

If he can do withought till he's 25 his insurance will plumet - perhaps halve. And insurance will be a lot even then.

Regarding what to buy - the best value in my view are older "executive" cars but they may be ruinous for a youngster to insure. My then 10 year old saab was a mere £2500 having doubtless cost the previous owners £30k or more. 5 years and 50,000 miles later it's looking a real bargain - but I'm old and can afford insurance.

Cars are simply more reliable and last longer these days so I't not worry unduly about something a few years old, maybe even quite a few years old, but the bigger posher cars are best value

 

[Crackle]

Some of the lease deals which include insurance are quite attractive for younger drivers as insurance can be so ruinously expensive that running an old banger is not so attractive. I'd look at them. Average insurance costs for under 25's are about 1300 a year or more

 

[vickster]

[QUOTE 4504743, member: 45"]What does he want?

I'd tell him to get an old (pre-Renault) Micra.[/QUOTE]
That'll give him immense street cred amongst his mates (as long as they are all aged 70+ )

 

[vickster]

[QUOTE 4504747, member: 45"]Maybe a Fabia then....[/QUOTE]
Definitely, a VRS
It's the most economical car I've run for years

 

[Nibor]

Check the insurance before he buys anything

 

[Deleted member 35268]

Check the insurance before he buys anything

+ 1, the insurance is the biggest issue

 

[Fab Foodie]

Dacia .... deffo a Dacia :-)

 

[bigjim]

I runa 2002 Yaris with 125k on the clock. I paid £1000 for it three years ago. Just had to shell out for a new water pump. Thats it. In over three years. Mechanic says the engine is as sweet as a nut. It's chain drive as well so no worry over cambelts.

 

[bikingdad90]

Avoid the usual 1stuff car types like corsa's, fiat punto, polo etc and go for a typical small family car like a Fabia, Megane, Focus. In my case it was cheaper to insure as it is not seen as a boy racer car and actually a whole lot more practical and good experience for later life when children and the like come along and larger cars are needed.