I want a new car ( a little one! ), All advice appreciated!

golddustmedia

I agree that insurance and motoring costs are high, but so is the cost of full time disability care... let me explain.


As a new driver you are MASSIVELY more likely to have an accident compared to experienced drivers. The fact you're looking for a small car implies you may lack some confidence behind the wheel too (not meant to be a dig but ironically large cars can be cheaper to insure).

So my advice is this. Given there is a very real risk you may put yourself in harms way while still learning/gaining experience do you really want to be in an accident in a "banger".

My personal experience was I bought a large car that was underpowered (such as a 1.6 Vectra) which will be cheap since the power to weight ratio is low.

There is no way I would take to the road in Micra/Metro/Cinqaciento etc if you've seen what happens to them in an accident. Worse still you don't even have to make a mistake. Someone else is just as likely to hit you on the road, however as a new driver you most likely lack the experience to avoid an accident if imminent.

My advice, be safe. Buy a car that will save your life if the worst happens. What's an extra couple of thousand compared to losing you life?

If you're after car suggestions VW's hold up well in a crash. My wife crashed ours (with me as a passenger) during her 1st year of motoring. Head on at 50mph (car pulled out of a junction right in front of us). We walked away just a little shaken. The police on the scene if we'd been in fiesta we'd be dead. (I felt sick as we test drove one the month before!).

(sorry for the sombre reality check, but I'm fed up of seeing new drivers nervously negotiating the motorway/junctions in rolling deathtraps).

stevebananer

Last poster having probably scared OP half to death, maybe the NCAP safety rating might finish them off, or just give food for thought...

http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/ratings.php?id1=1

ditzymuppet

Thank you very much for all of your advice, you've all been fantastic.

To be honest, I've been looking at VWs....for the wrong reasons, i.e I think that they look nice (What?! I'm a girl!!) which is completely the wrong reason for buying a car.

As golddustmedia said my safety is worth a couple of grand more, so thank you and this is something that I will consider a lot more compared to how "pretty" i find a car. (You also hit the nail on the head by saying that I'm v. inexperienced and nervous behind the wheel - I've every intention of keeping my P plates on for as long as possible!!!) I'm also very sorry to hear of your accident, that must have really been horrible

This is all very daunting, and I'm trying to do as much research as possible on it now whilst I still have the time to do the research.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for your input, i REALLY appreciate it... Some very useful advice coming out....so thank you

~ditzy x

P.S nah, no chance of scaring me! I'm a well'ard southerner !!! haha

golddustmedia

Sorry if I did scare you! I just think driving is a serious thing and too many people buy cars that would obviously be dangerous in circumstances beyond your control... (ever seen how close a rear passengers head is to back of a Fiat cinqaciento? it's about 3 inches!).

Despite my warnings most driving trips are perfectly safe and I'm sure you'll be fine! Good luck and happy shopping!

Incidentally, I think the 2000 model VW polo 1.4TDI is an excellent buy at the moment. I've seen X reg ones with about 40k miles on for £4k. Which for a small, safe and economical car seems pretty good to me!