Small safe car for teenage girl

rois!

Heya, im an 18 year old who's just done my leaving cert and my parents want to buy me a small,safe car. What sort of car do people recommend? Any help would be greatly appreciated

peasant

It would help to have a budget to work to

Owen

A renault clio would be a good bet, the only really reliable renault, and they've got a good safety rating, and they handle well to boot. But if your budget is large enough, we can supply lots of other options too!

Mr Benevolent

Hmmm, that gives me an idea. Base the budget your kids will have to buy a car on a multiplier of their points, say X5 if 500 or over, X4 if 400 or over etc. So if they gets 600 points they'll get €3000. Far more inspirational!

Seriously though OP, we need a budget figure. Bentley or Trabant territory?

Saab Ed

peasant wrote: »

It would help to have a budget to work to

In fairness Clios had a 4 star NCAP from 00 onwards so no matter what the budget there's probably a Clio out there that fits the bill. OP 2 grand buys a minter small mileage clio with good kit and a decent NCT. Even 1500 quid should get a higher mileage yet still very good one.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Renault/Clio/1.2/200923193023704/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Renault/Clio/SPORT/200932194817010/advert?channel=CARS

or this in the private ads...

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/952013

Lots of them around

PS dont spend much more than this on a first car...You will scrape it of some wall somewhere

Mr Benevolent

You will scrape it of some wall somewhere

I'd disagree with this. I'd guess that only about 10% of first time owners ding (as in superficially dent or scrape) their car. Granted I know one girl who did it twice, but the car's fine now. Buy the best you can afford and take care of it. Driving with the cavalier attitude that the car's going to get dinged is the wrong mindset imo. Don't get me wrong, I can see your point but I disagree with applying the attitude to a large lump of potentially high speed metal.

EPM

Confab wrote: »

I'd disagree with this. I'd guess that only about 10% of first time owners ding (as in superficially dent or scrape) their car. Granted I know one girl who did it twice, but the car's fine now. Buy the best you can afford and take care of it. Driving with the cavalier attitude that the car's going to get dinged is the wrong mindset imo. Don't get me wrong, I can see your point but I disagree with applying the attitude to a large lump of potentially high speed metal.

I agree wholeheartedly. I put my first scratch on a car after over a 100k miles...but it was because of a surfing injury but no excuse...i kerbed an alloy lightly once too but we'll ignore that...

Buy a facelift clio. They are reliable and a decent car to boot. Feel like a focus sized car too and are genuinely a nice allrounder. I'd usually recommend a fieshti but its what the old fella insisted my sister get after an accident in an old shape micra

Anan1

Confab wrote: »

I'd disagree with this. I'd guess that only about 10% of first time owners ding (as in superficially dent or scrape) their car. Granted I know one girl who did it twice, but the car's fine now. Buy the best you can afford and take care of it. Driving with the cavalier attitude that the car's going to get dinged is the wrong mindset imo. Don't get me wrong, I can see your point but I disagree with applying the attitude to a large lump of potentially high speed metal.

I dunno, i'd put the figure closer to 90% myself. I do agree with your point re the attitude though.

rois!

Yeah acutally i realise i should have given my budget!! like no more than 8000 apparently....thanks so much i really appreciate the help!

ottostreet

rois! wrote: »

Yeah acutally i realise i should have given my budget!! like no more than 8000 apparently....thanks so much i really appreciate the help!

8000?!

Jesus! You can buy quite a lot for that!

I'd recommend a Mitsubishi Colt
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/953727
or seeing as how you have 8 grand:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200933194870688

Yakuza

My sister bought herself an 05 Yaris a few weeks ago, she's only learning but she loves it, very easy to manouver, I think it cost about 7/7.5k (cash deal, no trade-in).

The-Game

8K leaves you with massive choice, could pick up nearly anything nowadays for that!

Robbo

Shouldn't the safest car for a teenage girl be one with a small, uncomfortable back seat?

x in the city

not a hope i would leave an 18 yr old her own car....

might have been alright 5/10 years ago, but the craziness of our roads now means that a vast majority of youngsters wont be able to cope.

Caboose

Something german or Japanese. Vw golf or polo. Or a mazda 3 or 2. Something that can take a hammering.

Remember a car needs oil and water as well as petrol. Grats on the car and happy motoring.

Owen

You'd get a 03 MINI, perhaps even a 04 for that money with no trade in. Plus, the MINI's a 4 star safety rating too. No harm in throwing it out there (And I own 2 myself, so I'm probably completely biased).

spank_inferno

I'd also go for the Renault Clio or the Skoda fabia

Both have a good nippy 1.2 ltr engine
Both well spec'd and are a nice drive
Can fit 4 adults and the fabia has a better boot if need be.

Plus both are Euro ncap 4star rated cars

Little Miss Cutie

I have a yaris and love it, easy to learn in and is great for parking as it is only little.

kuro_man

'06 ford fiesta, less the 10k miles, can't go wrong really
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200932194862130

kuro_man

or something completely different
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200851191247280

-Chris-

Donnelly117 wrote: »

no car is safe when a woman is driving it :pac:

:rolleyes: really? That's your contribution to this thread?

*sigh*

Infraction given...

FearDark

kuro_man wrote: »

or something completely different
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200851191247280

The girl said safe... i.e. not made from recycled toilet seats.
Tbh I wouldnt give any first time driver an 8000 euro car.

Cionád

x in the city wrote: »

not a hope i would leave an 18 yr old her own car....

might have been alright 5/10 years ago, but the craziness of our roads now means that a vast majority of youngsters wont be able to cope.

I would say the roads today are far safer than 10 years ago tbh.

Mr Benevolent

€8000 is pretty good. But most small, safe cars you can get for €8000 you can get for €6000 really. Don't tell your parents that though.

I highly recommend a Fiat Grande Punto. Lovely cars, safe, reliable and good looking.

Mike...

Stay well clear of the Renault or anything french, they make muck cars.

I would say a fiesta or a VW Polo.
2 great cars.

Cionád

I'd second the Fiat Grande Punto, or even a Panda (very good value).

I would have recommended a Fiesta but I was in one a few weeks ago when it exploded, only 44k miles, dead.

SEAT Ibiza might be worth a look too.

EPM

Mike... wrote: »

Stay well clear of the Renault or anything french, they make muck cars.

I would say a fiesta or a VW Polo.
2 great cars.

Clio is the one decent car they do make IMO and at least as reliable as a Polo...

OP, with a budget like that look at a Mini like said. Should tick all the boxes

SV

Mike... wrote: »

Stay well clear of the Renault or anything french, they make muck cars.

*yawn*
Don't speak unless you know what you're talking about as you clearly don't have a clue.


OP for that budget I'd be going for a newer punto. Not a bad car and fairly nice to drive!

-Chris-

Let's not turn this into another Renault-bashing thread. Their strengths and weaknesses are well known by now...

Saab Ed

EPM wrote: »

Clio is the one decent car they do make IMO and at least as reliable as a Polo...

...infact I'd say a Clio is streets ahead of a modern Polo with regards to quality what with the Polos electrical gremlins nevermind timing chains and crap scratchy plastics. OP some Renaults are crap i.e Meganes 02-06 and Lagunas 01-05 but Clios are top of the pops, probably one of the best in class. Dont mind the " all renaults are crap " comments. Thats just badly informed .

JohnThomas09

my sister was in the same postion,she bought a 00 Ford Fiesta 1.25cc.she bought it for €1100 with 2 years NCT,a great wee safe car and it running very well.

Tigerbaby

" Harumph !!

as a parent of a 19 year old grl, I'd advise an M1 Abrams or maybe even a German Leopard, but she might find it hard to park.

However, it really depends on what you want to do with it. Just city driving or long jaunts into the Country. The perfect City car is the Yaris. You are a little higher off the ground than the Clio and even my own Primera, thus great visibility. Really easy to park too. Had a Yaris for 2 years until it was thrashed by cretins who danced on it for fun. Insurance write off. roof completely mashed in. Hope they fell off and broke their fu***... CALM calm...

A Car that is good for long spins and city is the Focus.
Best of luck, wish I had that 8k at the mo...

BadCharlie

Big sized car
Old BMW or Merc (dont have to be to old)

Medium sized car
Ford Focus

Small sized car
Mini
Clio
Fiesta

The Real B-man

Cionád wrote: »

I'd second the Fiat Grande Punto, or even a Panda (very good value).

I would have recommended a Fiesta but I was in one a few weeks ago when it exploded, only 44k miles, dead.

SEAT Ibiza might be worth a look too.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/SEAT/Ibiza/1.2-Cost/200914192379394/advert?channel=CARS

Lovely little Car 1.2 70Bhp only 3pot but has more than enough power.

baldbear

Been given 8K at 18 to spend on a first car is crazy money!!!Do you have your full licence? Go for a toyota yaris you wont go wrong.

cantdecide

Haven't read thread.

You MUST look at your usage when choosing any car. Most people who buy these city cars are using them in a capacity where they'll never achieve the economy or safety performance they are designed to in urban environments. They're also quite hard work to drive in certain cases.

IMO, the smallest intercity cars suitable for most peoples usage you can buy are Golf/ Corolla type hatches. My recommendation would be a civic...

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Honda/Civic/1.4-NCT'/200840190290707/advert?channel=CARS

Heroditas

baldbear wrote: »

Been given 8K at 18 to spend on a first car is crazy money!!!Do you have your full licence? Go for a toyota yaris you wont go wrong.

I'd agree with this. Keep the change and put it towards your second car OP. When you're more experienced you'll be able to buy a bigger car if you want.
Yaris is a great car for nipping around the city and dead easy to park!

The Big Red Button

rois! wrote: »

Yeah acutally i realise i should have given my budget!! like no more than 8000 apparently....thanks so much i really appreciate the help!

Loike omfg, only €8000 for your first car, that's so unreasonable :mad:

-Chris-

chatterpillar wrote: »

Loike omfg, only €8000 for your first car, that's so unreasonable :mad:

The next person to give a pointless, unhelpful response gets a week off.

Women can't drive and OMG, like totally €8k aren't helpful.


Add to the thread & help the OP, or keep quiet.

The Real B-man

chatterpillar wrote: »

Loike omfg, only €8000 for your first car, that's so unreasonable :mad:

Get this friend of mine is getting a 2009 Ford Ka for her first car 12K!!! :eek:

I really honestly do not think u should spend that much on ur first car i totalled mine and all my friends have crashed or damaged there car in some way get something less expensive that you can afford to dring scratch untill you get more confident.

Saab Ed

Do you know with 8 grand I think I'd go back the years and get something much more substantial and use the extra money on the insurance than on the car itself. For example http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus/1.4i-LX-/200933194918208/advert?channel=CARS

or

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Astra/1.4-njoy/200933194885998/advert?channel=CARS

Just a thought. That way you still get a very nice car and your dad will be happy

Anan1

The Real B-man wrote: »

Get this friends of mine is getting a 2009 Ford Ka for her first car 12K!!! :eek:

Can we keep this on-topic please?

congo_90

PaintDoctor wrote: »

A renault clio would be a good bet, the only really reliable renault, and they've got a good safety rating, and they handle well to boot. But if your budget is large enough, we can supply lots of other options too!

Clio's are the best option here.
All the safety renault promise with a comfortable, practicle car.
My sister started off in one till a bus took it out. She then got a 00 model clio and swears by it now going on 8 years!

Some other advantages include: 4 doors, central locking, cheap to run and generally a nice looking car.

*edit*
op make sure to get insurance quotes on said cars before buying!
quinn-direct are the cheapest

Zonda999

Its hard to pick an 8k€ car for an 18 year old without knowing any of the priorities.

A mini definitely springs to mind for obvious reasons. Trendy among that age group, good resale value, even on one thats worth 8k€ now, and quite reliable.



Something like this possibly? Click to go to ad:)

Bobo78

So what if she wants to spend 8k on a first car, if she has the money and can afford it she should def go ahead with it.
3 and half years ago when I first started driving I didn't scratched or damaged my car once and I m on my 3rd car now and still haven't done any of those.
OP I think you should def think about Renault Clio I think that s very good car and quite reliable.

Cookie_Monster

Is the 8k for just the car of for insurance, lessons etc?
Just bear in mind that at that age you may be paying anything up to €2k insurance on bigger cars.

My advice would be buy a small cheap cheap car and drive it for 6 months to get used to it all. Then move on.

3DataModem

rois! wrote: »

Yeah acutally i realise i should have given my budget!! like no more than 8000 apparently....thanks so much i really appreciate the help!

If you are looking for safety and "coolness" buy an 02 beetle.

congo_90

Zonda999 wrote: »

Its hard to pick an 8k€ car for an 18 year old without knowing any of the priorities.

A mini definitely springs to mind for obvious reasons. Trendy among that age group, good resale value, even on one thats worth 8k€ now, and quite reliable.



Something like this possibly? Click to go to ad:)

Not sure if that was intentional but may I suggest not the cooper S? If the car has to be safe also bearing in mind op is only an 18 year old so insurance would be a money pit on this.

On my other post: I didn't read the full thread sorry so didn't know 8k was the budget.

Biro

Lads, forget who thinks it's too much or whatever, just post up recommendations. 3 pages of tripe is all we have now.
OP, what takes your fancy? As you can see the choices are varied, so should we keep suggesting more cars like the Clio, or should we move towards suggesting cars like the Civic? Or does the MINI fit the bill?

biko

I would suggest something used with 2 years NCT.
Reason being that after two years you'll probably want a bigger car and then you'll still have money left to use on that.

Clio, Yaris or Micra, all cheap to drive, tax and insure.
Mind, it's not unknown for sellers of these cars to change the mileage to get extra money from you. Make sure to check previous service receipts and have a mechanic look at it before you buy.

Apple Orange

You'd definitely be better off getting a small car with a small engine for less money while you're learning. Keep the extra money for your next car. I started driving 5 years ago, and have had 2 cheap second hand Clios since (the first one only being replaced cos I damaged it cos I wasn't experienced enough!!), neither ever gave a days trouble, so reliable, easy to park and drive etc. loved them!

With the excitement of starting to drive and having your first car etc, you'll get just as much satisfaction from a car at half the budget!