Best car to learn in

chancer12

Hi, am about to change my car and my daughter will be learning to drive this summer. Trying to decide between an Opel Astra and a fiesta, any opinions on which would be best to learn in?

akelly02

all the same once its safe to drive.

Captain Chaos

All the same really, I mostly learned in '10 1.4 Astra and it was far easier to drive than the 1.4 07 Corolla I started in. The Astra had a far lighter clutch and better feed back from the steering. The Corolla was like it was floating around and I had a sore left leg every time I got out of it, bit of a pig of a car tbh.

chancer12

That's hilarious, I'm trading in my Corolla and I love it! But, thanks for the comment, v encouraging!

Henry Ford III

Fiesta, Yaris or similar.

Small, light, good visibilty and reasonably agile.

chancer12

thanks, I really like the Astra but think that the Fiesta is probably the better option for learning in! Will do a security check on both and maybe toss for it!

Alanstrainor

chancer12 wrote: »

thanks, I really like the Astra but think that the Fiesta is probably the better option for learning in! Will do a security check on both and maybe toss for it!

The fiesta would probably be the easier car by a small margin. I'm sure after a couple of weeks driving either they will be used to it. Although the Astra is bigger, it's not massively so. If you need the extra space then perhaps the astra is the one to go for?

I do like the newer fiestas though... especially with the 1.0 litre ecoboost.

chancer12

I'm not normally this indecisive but it really is a 'toss up'. The Prime Time programme on dodgy cars last week really frightened me, that coupled with the fact that so many garages seem to be selling UK imports.

Lia_lia

I learned to drive in my Mother's 1.4 Astra and after a few months bought my own Fiesta . Not a huge difference really. I found the biting point difficult enough to adjust to when I got the Fiesta, as did my Mother. Conked out a good few times. But that's just something to get used to. Fiesta is easier to park. I prefer the Fiesta but that's just because I drive it everyday and only now drive the Astra the odd time. Either car would be a good choice I'd say!

Alanstrainor

chancer12 wrote: »

I'm not normally this indecisive but it really is a 'toss up'. The Prime Time programme on dodgy cars last week really frightened me, that coupled with the fact that so many garages seem to be selling UK imports.

You should really get whichever one you're choosing checked by an independent mechanic. Or at very least bring someone who knows a little about cars to check them out.

chancer12

Have decided to go with the Fiesta, probably because it will be easier to park. But, you're right, I'll ask the mechanic I use if he, or one of his guys, could go along and check it out for me. Thanks everyone for all your advice, really appreciate it.