Mitchy260

Little saxo vtr. (Ph 2version)

Sporty image, cheap to buy and she is unlikely to get bored of.

Buying a 1.2 corsa and shes just going to get bored with it after a few months.

Insurance on a 100bhp 1.6 car at a young age may be a problem though if she is main driver

Chip

Insurance budget about £1200.

Chip

Brendan Hughes

Chip, at that money, she can get loads. Yaris, Micra, Skoda Fabia... I'd go for the Yaris or Fabia as I think the designs (and thus crash protection) are better at that age. Also, what will she do with it? 10 mile round trips, or is she going to university and will have to drive back for 3 or more hours at weekends (in which case don't get a tinny Yaris)? How much is she interested in power, handling, or is she more interested in colour and a sunroof?

C2 a leftfield suggestion, certainly max safety, but might lose more money over time.

TopBanana

Image / getting bored don't come into it. She's getting the car bought for her!

Brendan Hughes

post #13...

Aaquil

Ford Focus is also a good idea excellent handling and not too big or small. My sister got a Focus as her first car and has had no problems, 2nd hand and she must have had it for a few years now. Yaris excellent but a bit pricey. Polo, Fabias are also good it... You also have to look at Insurance and running costs I guess. If she is going to do a bit of motorway driving then maybe a slightly bigger car (Focus) for piece of mind or a more solid small car (Yaris or Polo).

AudiLover

I think a focus the best all rounder. I wouldnt trust french crast test ratings as they engineer theyre cars specifically to pass NCAP instead of making a propper safe car. Basically they know what to do for NCAP to tick all the boxes.

Focus insurance for a 17 yr old 2nd driver is about 1800-2000 grand for a 1.6 in London.

Cupramax

lmao, another class Audilover post.

Why exactly do you think the NCAP crash tests were created? Could it be perhaps to mimic common accident situations that cause the most injuries i.e. the offset head on and the side impact and to try and improve structural safety of new model therefore reducing injuries. God you do post some crap....

If you watched last nights 5th gear you'd see the effects. Head on crash with an Espace and a Discovery... I know which one i'd rather have been in!

AudiLover

Slap a 2000 polo into a 2006 citroen C3, which car would you rather be in? The C3 got better ncap ratings, but a polo would stand up much better than it.

Dont you think its a bit funny that the french are always top of crast test ratings these days, but when in real life theyre fragile, poorly put together cars?

Diablo

LOL

The C3 mate.

French cars were fragile, no question. When I jacked up my 205 Gti and opened the door it used to drop noticably.

Different nowadays. The C2 I had was a solid little thing, very well made and stiff shell. You sit so far back from the front end as well.

And for anyone who doubts the C2 has the right image for a teenager - have a look here:

Its the new Saxo.

http://www.c2sportsclub.com/forum/

Almost as bad as scoobynet

As for depreciation and problems, the worst will be over.

You'd get this for £4,000
http://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/ATD...a?id=299319786


2003 CITROEN C2 1.1i LX 3dr,
16,500 miles, PAS, Drivers airbag, Passenger airbag, Side airbags, Isofix child seat anchor points, Remote central locking. Still under warranty. 6 months tax. FSH. Alloy wheels, CD player, spoiler. Excellent condition must see. £4,300
Telephone: 01904 691200
Email: Email Advertiser
Distance: 181 miles
Price: £4,300



Glossary of Terms

logiclee

The french cars may feel flimsy and the trim quality is poor but you cant fault there crash design. The way that Espace dealt with the impact from the Discovery on fith gear was amazing. All the chassis is designed and built to spread load during an impact and keep the passanger compartment intact.
80mph closing speed, frontal offset impact with a Land Rover Discovery and you can walk away while the Disco driver is seriously injured.
Top Gear did a similar trial with the Clio.

I'd take the French option for crashing, not sure about owning one due to build and reliabity issues though.

Cheers
Lee

JTaylor

Exactly the car I was about to recommend. Bought my girlfriend a V plate with FFSH, 27k, Air-con, CD player and heated front screen for £2,400. Never had a problem and we just did Plymouth to Cardiff in an 1hr and a half .

Chip

No shes not, She's paying for it herself. I'm just taking her around looking.

Chip

Chip

160 miles in 90 minutes?????
Thats an average of 105mph.


Chip

JTaylor

Marsh Mills roundabout to High Cross in Newport in an 1hr 35mins. Gimme a bit of poetic license for goodness sake . No hold ups .

Chip

Chip

JTaylor

Just noticed your location. Might be moving up there soon to work for Dream (they flog beds). Where are the nice areas to live?

Edcase

Bristol

LOL

To be fair there are some lovely dockside apartments around Cardiff now. I miss being out in the mountains on the bike every weekend

JTaylor

I've heard the roads are full of nutjobs around Bristol .

I quite fancy buying something out in the sticks with a bit of land.

EVOLUTION

i seen an offeron a new 206, there trying to get rid of the last registered models, they come with one years free insurance and that was for 17yr oldsi think, £134 pcm which didnt seem like a bad deal to me.


worth a look if nothing else

Chip

Where was that?? Website says min age of 21

Chip

EVOLUTION

will have to check that mate,

I know my parents are looking for a car for my little sister and that was an option, will ask them tonight and post it later for you.....


God, i now hope my source was right lol