Best first car for €10000

DaDon

My son has recently turned 17 and now has his provisional licence, we only have one car in the family and I want to buy a car that him and I can share. I have €10000 to spend on the car and was just wondering what car would be best.I'm looking for a decent,good quality car. I was considering an 05/04 BMW 5 or 3 series probably a 2 litre,a 2008 citroen c4 1.6 or even a 2006 focus ST(2.5). I'm really not sure what to expect regarding insurance, I would be the policy holder andd my son a named driver. After a while putting in random cars in online quote sites I find only €500 (out of around €3000) to be the difference between a 2008 1.6 citroen and a 2006 2.5l focus st.
What do ye think would be the best thing to do? Can these online quote sites be trusted?

Thanks!!

SORRY!! Wasn't paying attention while writing above, should have read it first!!
I'm really just questioning if its possible for a 17 year old to get insurance as a named driver on any of the above cars. One of my sons friends is a named driver on a 3 litre landcruiser so I wasnt sure what to expect. The most I'd realistically allow him drive is the 1.6 c4. Sorry again!

Matt Simis

DaDon wrote: »

My son has recently turned 17 and now has his provisional licence, we only have one car in the family and I want to buy a car that him and I can share. I have €10000 to spend on the car and was just wondering what car would be best.I'm looking for a decent,good quality car. I was considering an 05/04 BMW 5 or 3 series probably a 2 litre,a 2008 citroen c4 1.6 or even a 2006 focus ST(2.5). I'm really not sure what to expect regarding insurance, I would be the policy holder andd my son a named driver. After a while putting in random cars in online quote sites I find only €500 (out of around €3000) to be the difference between a 2008 1.6 citroen and a 2006 2.5l focus st.
What do ye think would be the best thing to do? Can these online quote sites be trusted?

Thanks!!

Why not go for an M5 and while you are at it, Google the poster called AmericanM5 to see how well that turned out. Or PorscheGirl.
I assume you are trolling, so much of your post is idiotic not to be.

SpannerMonkey

at 17 even as a named driver you probably shouldnt go above a 2 litre insurance would be difficult to get or prohibitively expensive
+ you dont want to give a 17 year old who just got their licence a powerful car, in fairness

Lex Luthor

You would have to be mad to give a 17yr old the keys to a focus st or the likes. Ins companies are not idiots and will load you to the hilt on a high powered car if u put him down as a named driver.

andyseadog

at 17 on a provisional, nobody will insure him on anything over a 1.6, and even that will be eye wateringly expensive.

expect to pay about 2500- 3k to insure a 1.0.

also, at 17, he might not be in a bad accident, though that is possible, it is going to get kerbed wheels, bumper scuffs and friends thrown in and out of it so its going to become very tatty, so theres really no point splashing out big money as your just going to lose it.

Marcusm

DaDon wrote: »

My son has recently turned 17 and now has his provisional licence, we only have one car in the family and I want to buy a car that him and I can share. I have €10000 to spend on the car and was just wondering what car would be best.I'm looking for a decent,good quality car. I was considering an 05/04 BMW 5 or 3 series probably a 2 litre,a 2008 citroen c4 1.6 or even a 2006 focus ST(2.5). I'm really not sure what to expect regarding insurance, I would be the policy holder andd my son a named driver. After a while putting in random cars in online quote sites I find only €500 (out of around €3000) to be the difference between a 2008 1.6 citroen and a 2006 2.5l focus st.
What do ye think would be the best thing to do? Can these online quote sites be trusted?

Thanks!!

Can I ask if you and the wife are still together? I wouldn't be surprised for a separated dad to try and give a 17 year old access to a wet dream car like a Focus St or a 5 series Beemer. If not, you might want to check your emotional age.

keithclancy

jesus ..... h ...

*shakes head* ... goes back to gluhwein

Smoggy

<deleted> - possibly inappropriate

DaDon

SORRY!! Wasn't paying attention while writing post, should have read it first!!
I'm really just questioning if its possible for a 17 year old to get insurance as a named driver on any of the above cars. One of my sons friends is a named driver on a 3 litre landcruiser so I wasnt sure what to expect. The most I'd realistically allow him drive is the 1.6 c4.
Sorry again!

andyseadog

id be surprised to be honest.

it would be possible on the land cruiser because its most likely diesel and commercial.

BArra

not a hope will he get insured on a focus ST

unless you wanna pay 3 or 4 grand just for the insurance

im not sure you have thought this out fully, the power a car like an ST can put down in seconds is something a new driver should not just jump into, id really suggest you get something of less power first to get some proper road experience, and then perhaps move onto something like that

SpannerMonkey

you can get insured on any car if you have enough money technically he could be insured on a Ferarri Enzo if ya had 2 million for insurance
if insurance companies refuse to insure i think the government has to insure you but it would cost big time

MagicMarker

Letting a 17 year old learner drive around in any 10k car is ridiculous.

Buy a fiesta and insure it for a few hundred quid. If you want a second car for yourself then you've about 8 grand to spare.

ironclaw

Who in there right mind gives a 17 year old a BMW or Focus ST as a first car?

Tell ya what, bank the spare change once you've got it as your going to be looking a funeral or a huge repair bill in a few months.

Buy a banger for him. Get him passed. Save the €10,000 and splash out on the 21st Birthday.

cozzie55

My parents insured me when I was 17 on a brand new 2.2l toyota avensis with 150bhp which cost about 35k. The Insurance was only 800 quid to insure my mother and me as a name driver. Now I know the focus might be a bit ahead of this in terms of power but the likes of a BMW would be in the same bracket.

My advice would be to shop around for the insurance. Don't trust the online quotes as they tend to turn up results of 2-3k when you mention provisional license and 17 in the same search. Ring the companies directly.
If you know of any of their local offices ask to speak to them as opposed to the people in they Dublin office who tend to also give ridiculous quotes as well.

If you have insurance with a company for your other car already then get on to them first and see what they can do for you, make sure to mention that you already have a policy with them.
It also helps if you have your house insurance with them as well. The more policies you have with one company the more likely they will quote you cheaper insurance quotes.

From my experience your better off to get a very very very slow car for a 17 year old, especially if you value your relationship with your son at the minute. Every time I got into the car, I ended up arguing with one of them cause they considered me to be driving too fast at all times.
Although 4 years later the arguing still continues even though i have my own car at this stage.

cozzie55

also everyone should note that the OP said that his Son is going to be a named driver and not the owner and only driver of the car.

ironclaw

cozzie55 wrote: »

My parents insured me when I was 17 on a brand new 2.2l toyota avensis with 150bhp which cost about 35k. The Insurance was only 800 quid to insure my mother and me as a name driver. Now I know the focus might be a bit ahead of this in terms of power but the likes of a BMW would be in the same bracket.

That would be a diesel wouldn't it? Generally I find diesels are cheaper to insure. I'm insured as a named on two cars, one is a 2l Diesel and the other is 1l petrol. Insurance all told is about the same.

cozzie55

ironclaw wrote: »

That would be a diesel wouldn't it? Generally I find diesels are cheaper to insure. I'm insured as a named on two cars, one is a 2l Diesel and the other is 1l petrol. Insurance all told is about the same.

ya its a diesel...... have only ever driven diesel so didn't know insurance was cheaper on them.
My mothers insurance was roughly 500 quid per year without me so it was only costing me about 300 to be insured a year.

I know that FBD considers named drivers to only drive the car rarely and in times of emergency and as such they insure named drivers cheaper than most companies.

sollar

btw don't google porschegirl unless you are prepared to look at some hideous photos.... i did and wish i didn't.

DaDon

DaDon wrote: »

My son has recently turned 17 and now has his provisional licence, we only have one car in the family and I want to buy a car that him and I can share. I have €10000 to spend on the car and was just wondering what car would be best.

Or you could split the money, €9000 for yourself to get a new car and a €1000 to get your son a 2000 - 2001 Fiesta, grand car for him learning. Far better idea than letting him behind the wheel of a Focus ST or a 5 series BMW.

Smoggy

sollar wrote: »

btw don't google porschegirl unless you are prepared to look at some hideous photos.... i did and wish i didn't.

damn

I had to look. Also wish I didn't

EPM

Marcusm wrote: »

Can I ask if you and the wife are still together? I wouldn't be surprised for a separated dad to try and give a 17 year old access to a wet dream car like a Focus St or a 5 series Beemer. If not, you might want to check your emotional age.

Grow up

-Chris-

Marcusm wrote: »

Can I ask if you and the wife are still together? I wouldn't be surprised for a separated dad to try and give a 17 year old access to a wet dream car like a Focus St or a 5 series Beemer. If not, you might want to check your emotional age.

Banned for 3 days for trolling and insulting another poster.

You might also want to check your emotional age before posting here again.

Atomic Pineapple

Jaysus! 17 year old + prov licence (No experience) + Focus ST = disaster waiting to happen!

When learning all drivers make mistakes, little tips, bumps, scratches, catching corners of piers, would be a real shame to see a nice ST subjected to that.

Also he would be far better off getting a cheap, small, not very powerful car and getting insurance in his own name from the off, it will work out a lot cheaper for insurance in the long run if he builds up NCB.

So my advice would be to buy a €3k - €4k, small car like a Fiesta/Clio/Yaris or 1.4 Focus/Golf/Leon and then get him insured under his own name and you'll still have change left out of your €10k.

Matt Simis

cozzie55 wrote: »

My parents insured me when I was 17 on a brand new 2.2l toyota avensis with 150bhp which cost about 35k. The Insurance was only 800 quid to insure my mother and me as a name driver. Now I know the focus might be a bit ahead of this in terms of power but the likes of a BMW would be in the same bracket.

One is FWD and the other is RWD, that alone makes a big difference. No BMW (fanboi'ism's aside) is "like an Avensis" in a driving manner.

sollar wrote: »

btw don't google porschegirl unless you are prepared to look at some hideous photos.... i did and wish i didn't.

Smoggy wrote: »

damn
I had to look. Also wish I didn't

Sorry guys, shock therapy, but I always remember those two kids, best we learn something from their and their parents mistakes.

Tea 1000

draffodx wrote: »

Jaysus! 17 year old + prov licence (No experience) + Focus ST = disaster waiting to happen!

When learning all drivers make mistakes, little tips, bumps, scratches, catching corners of piers, would be a real shame to see a nice ST subjected to that.

Also he would be far better off getting a cheap, small, not very powerful car and getting insurance in his own name from the off, it will work out a lot cheaper for insurance in the long run if he builds up NCB.

So my advice would be to buy a €3k - €4k, small car like a Fiesta/Clio/Yaris or 1.4 Focus/Golf/Leon and then get him insured under his own name and you'll still have change left out of your €10k.

I never subscribed to the general theory here that all learner drivers will bang their cars off things and that's OK, so buy something cheap.
I think that's rubbish. If someone's interested in cars and has any degree of talent, they won't hit it off things or kerb it. I didn't.
However, buying any car for a 17 year old is stupid and is as good as signing their own death warrant. If he earns the price of his car, he'll respect it. If it's handed on a plate, he won't respect it as much. Buy him a PS3 or something, let him earn his car himself. He'll mind it then.

YouTookMyName

Get him a 1.3 corolla. Handy enough insurance, great car to drive.

Atomic Pineapple

Tea 1000 wrote: »

I never subscribed to the general theory here that all learner drivers will bang their cars off things and that's OK, so buy something cheap.
I think that's rubbish. If someone's interested in cars and has any degree of talent, they won't hit it off things or kerb it. I didn't.

How can someone who has such limited driving experience have any degree of talent?

sollar

Bit of a mess up there mods

ironclaw

draffodx wrote: »

How can someone who has such limited driving experience have any degree of talent?

Absolutely agree. Driving, while a talent, is something you have to learn. I would be of the opinion its not something your instantly amazing at.

From learning myself, and I'd consider myself a "good" driver, I still hit things when learning. Its natural I think.

I also agree you should earn a car like a BMW or similar. You'll never respect something your just given with no work involved.

Anan1

Matt Simis wrote: »

Sorry guys, shock therapy, but I always remember those two kids, best we learn something from their and their parents mistakes.

Nikki Catsouras was unwell, and had taken her father's car without his permission. Two California Highway Patrol employees leaked extremely graphic photos of her body, which were posted online as well as being used to taunt her parents. I wish i'd never seen those photos, and I wish for her parents sake that they weren't plastered all over the internet. IMO they are entirely irrelevent to this discussion, and serve only to illustrate the depths of cruelty to which some people are prepared to subject her family.

guyfo

ironclaw wrote: »

Absolutely agree. Driving, while a talent, is something you have to learn. I would be of the opinion its not something your instantly amazing at.

From learning myself, and I'd consider myself a "good" driver, I still hit things when learning. Its natural I think.

I also agree you should earn a car like a BMW or similar. You'll never respect something your just given with no work involved.

I disagree with the first car being something worth 10k. His son should prove that he can take care of a cheap car before being throw in at the deep end.

Saying that learner drivers have no driving talent and it comes from experience is just pure ignorance. Just because someone is a learner driver doesnt mean theyre new to to driving. By the time i started "learning" i had at least 4 years driving experience under my belt on tractors, off road go karts, field cars and not to mention over a half a year of autotesting experience. You cant group all learners together, comparing someone who has never sat in a car before to someone with years of experience from an early age at car control than probably most of you who have posted in this thread negatively is plain stupid.

andyseadog

guyfo wrote: »

I disagree with the first car being something worth 10k. His son should prove that he can take care of a cheap car before being throw in at the deep end.

Saying that learner drivers have no driving talent and it comes from experience is just pure ignorance. Just because someone is a learner driver doesnt mean theyre new to to driving. By the time i started "learning" i had at least 4 years driving experience under my belt on tractors, off road go karts, field cars and not to mention over a half a year of autotesting experience. You cant group all learners together, comparing someone who has never sat in a car before to someone with years of experience from an early age at car control than probably most of you who have posted in this thread negatively is plain stupid.

yours is the exact kind of 'im invincible' attitude that causes accidents

guyfo

andyseadog wrote: »

yours is the exact kind of 'im invincible' attitude that causes accidents

You think racing experience and driving field cars creates an "im invincible" attitude? Its exactly the opposite. Im not some boyracer arsehole. Ive had multiple crashes (not on the road, in fields farm lanes and on the track) my attitude isnt im invincible. My attitude is leave racing for the track but i know if i get into trouble i can handle a car. Just cuz u have 20 or 30 years of driving experience doesnt make u a good driver, it means u have experience of road driving. Not car control or the ability to save a car from a crash.

andyseadog

You think racing experience and driving field cars creates an "im invincible" attitude? Its exactly the opposite. Im not some boyracer arsehole. Ive had multiple crashes (not on the road, in fields farm lanes and on the track) my attitude isnt im invincible.

Good!

My attitude is leave racing for the track but i know if i get into trouble i can handle a car.

When you find yourself in a sitiuation where your car is out of control and your going to have a crash, your car is as it suggests, out of control, it cant be controlled, and your ****ed, thats the point i was trying to prove.

Just cuz u have 20 or 30 years of driving experience doesnt make u a good driver, it means u have experience of road driving. Not car control or the ability to save a car from a crash.

As i said above, if your going to crash, its becuae you've lost control. the car cant be controlled. your in the hands of God, or its all down to chance and luck, whichever you believe in.

20 years ago i was 4 months old. just encase your wondering.

guyfo

i wasnt refering to you i was saying in general.

just because ure car is out of control doesnt mean you cant regain control.

andyseadog

guyfo wrote: »

just because ure car is out of control doesnt mean you cant regain control.

it makes it unlikely for most drivers, and if you lose control on a public road its only mere seconds before you hit another car/ person, even if you have the skill to correct the car you may not have time.

Matt Simis

Anan1 wrote: »

Nikki Catsouras was unwell, and had taken her father's car without his permission. Two California Highway Patrol employees leaked extremely graphic photos of her body, which were posted online as well as being used to taunt her parents. I wish i'd never seen those photos, and I wish for her parents sake that they weren't plastered all over the internet. IMO they are entirely irrelevent to this discussion, and serve only to illustrate the depths of cruelty to which some people are prepared to subject her family.

Thanks for info, I didnt know all the facts, had just seen the end result and the "summary" of what happened.
While I think the fact she got the keys that could have been so easily kept out of her hands means to me they cannot be totally "off the hook", having read more of the back story, its clear "PorsheGirl" wasnt a case of being handed a high performance car before ready at all, as I insinuated.

There have been numerous cases of kids even as young as toddlers emulating parents by stealing cars that I think like the keys to the Gun cabinet, the keys to a car should be kept safe (and controlled).

guyfo

yes. true.. alot of people, if they get into a situation that could turn bad just slam on the brakes. and crash. Despite huge experience on roads it still happens.
In general people in this country just dont know how to drive

ps: Thread Hijack!