Hi there
Our oldest will be 17 next week and will be having driving lessons.
Our second car is a 1999 Accord and SWMBO has always found it to be a bit of a bus and obviously it's not the ideal car for my daughter to learn on.
So.....
The plan is to buy a smaller car (2nd hand) mainly for the wife (she's a community nurse so does a fair bit of driving during the day) but also for driving lessons and for my oldest to scoot about in on evenings and weekends when (if) she passes.
The plan will then be to give that car to my daughter in about 18 months when she heads off to Uni.
I know there's a school of thought on here that cheapest is best due to the inevitability of prangs/insurance costs, but to be honest since the wife will be the main user for 18 months and also because of safety concerns I'm inclined towards something a bit more substantial.
I can't really see past the 1.4 petrol or the 1.5 (86bhp) diesel Megane II (probably 2003) as it seems to be the only sub-5K car with a 5 star Euro NCAP rating and it's also funky enough for the girlies.
My obvious concern (apart from insurance!) is the reliability of these things.
Anyone got any altrnative suggestions?
Thanks
Steve
|
|
Buy the car your wife needs, I'd suggest. What about a Yaris - loads at all budgets, well thought of, and if your daughter says it's not funky, suggest she gets the bus or a lift!
|
|
|
I just saw a Fiat Punto 1.2 Active (04) with 8k miles for £4,500.
Nissan Micra 1.4 SE (53) with 30k mile for £4,800.
|
|
|
|
I'd probably spend a bit less and get an Astra/Focus 1.4 (Astra's faster, Focus is better looking). I might even consider a Nissan Almera as you could get a much newer 1.5 S with a/c etc. It's not too bad looking in my eyes either, and though it's a bit light to steer, I imagine the Megane is much the same. The Megane doesn't exactly lend itself to learning to reverse park with that sticky-out rear, and as you say there are many concern's with reliability. Also I'm not sure you'll get an 86bhp Megane for less than £5k, it'll actually be the older 80bhp unit with less torque and struggles with the Megane's weight. Renault servicing is also pricey.
|
Road tax for the diesel is peanuts.
I'd want at least 4 stars too. But if the thing breaks down in the middle of nowhere the risk might be greater? Not sure I'd fancy any modern diesel out of warranty, esp a Renault.
|
Keith S
I'd disagree with you on your diesel bashing. In this scenario i don't think the mileage / usage needs a diesel, and the OP would probably be better off with a petrol motor.
For every one person who delights in bashing french cars and modern diesels there are hundreds or thousands who drive them happily every day. Are french cars any less reliable than VAG or M-B cars? Judging by comments on here and elsewhere I think not. But the french seem an easy target. I've run french cars for over 10 years, and have never ever had a reliabily issue.
|
|
|
|
I think something like a Yaris would be better than a Megane. Although the Megane has the 5 star rating, you don't use the crash worthiness of it every day. It's better to have a car that suits your needs on a daily basis rather than one that might save you a scratch or two if you every have a massive impact.
I think something smaller would be more ideal - possibly easier to handle/park for a new driver [even if its only a perception]. A corsa could be another option - i had a 1.3 cdti corsa on a 3 week loan a while back which seemed very competent and quite funky to look at.
The suggestion of an Almera made me chuckle. Your daughter will dislike you intensely if you buy her one of the blandest non-descript pipe and slippers cars ever to grace the earth. On the flipside, an almera will reduce male interest in your daughter which might be something you are keen to achieve!!!!
|
Don't get too tied up with ncap ratings as the decision maker on the car. Take them into accounts by all means but just remember they are only rated by a pre determined test(s).
If you can predict how and what the car will ever hit then the rating maybe very important. But they are not tested against trees, hgv's, railings, bushes, idiots, ditches etc etc etc.
They are tested against certain vehicles, and although I agree with some sort of rating system it is not a comprehensive guarantee that you will escape from an accident with no injury or death.
Drive carefully and defensively in any car (including older so called weaker cars) and you will stand the greatest chance of no injury/accident/death etc.
Choose the car for practicality, driveability for a learner, reliability and cost with just an eye on the ncaps.
|
Hello
Just thought i would add my thoughts.
I personally would not purchase a new car for a new driver i would buy a run around for them to drive until they are fully competent as the new car will only get bumped etc.
These are my thoughts only unless someone agrees.
--
(iam not a mechanic)
Martin Winters
|
|
|
|
|
"Our second car is a 1999 Accord and SWMBO has always found it to be a bit of a bus and obviously it's not the ideal car for my daughter to learn on"
Sounds like a great car to learn in, why not? My sisters and I learnt in seven-seater estates, I don't think the size of a car is an issue at all.
|
|
I'd be tempted by a small diesel, they are much easier to learn to drive in due to them being more difficult to stall. Once in first most just require the clutch releasing and no gas until the car is moving.
|
|
|
Its for the girls. The megane is an excelent choice, girlies love Renaults. Stylish and easy to drive. And they very rarely leave you stranded, may cause you agor, but never actually leave you stranded on the side of the road.
------------------------------
TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
|
|
|
Loads of Army drivers in the RLC (was the Rickshaws, Carts and Taxis) learn to drive in a Class 3 LGV, from scratch. A test pass automatically confers a car test.
I don't really get this learn to drive in a go-cart - clearly they are cheap to run for a driving school, but apart from insurance issues, there's no need to learn in one, IMHO.
|
|
|
|
:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/fallback/coming-soon.webp)
:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/b203b15d5975e2ada5b40ae6dc57325a/d827b6480c42272d53e1338257715a1d.jpg)
:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/c12d5371d593a599678c7173efd04a27/5d6a381182af211e6ddedb908129665b.jpg)
:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/d0457533f905e1bef44ce511defd09fc/5d5a293044811df7d67925c54641a0af.jpg)
