Recommend me a car, with kids learning to drive soon

[Deleted User]

Skoda Citigo, absolute brilliant performer, a pleasure to drive. Whatever car they choose beg them not to be seduced by the cute Fiat 500. Appalling car, a Fiat Panda in a different coat. Citigo looks like a box on wheels but fits like a glove once behind the wheel.

bigjl

Was in the same situation and looked at Corsas, Clios, Citigo, Mii and UP!

Finally decided on a 14 plate Picanto as the spec was much better than the Citigos, Miis and UP!s that were in stock at CarGiant. The Clio and Corsa had RFL over £100 as I wanted petrol not diesel.

The Picanto is "City" spec, leather wheel and gearknob, Rev counter, parking sensors, alloys, free road tax and you can Bluetooth your iPhone to the stereo to listen to music aswell as Aux and USB input.

£5698 out the door. And has a full 5 years Kia warranty at the end of March (7k miles).

Identical 13 plates (9k miles) at a local Main dealer was £6700.

I can drive it with my work boots on easily which surprised me.

Currently showing 47.5mpg over 200miles on the little computer, took £30 to fill it up from empty with the light on. Is on just below 1/2 tank now so will be doing a more accurate calculation next week.

Ride comfort could be better at low speeds and it tends to crash a bit over rough roads and you have to go slow over those small but steep speed bumps you get in some car parks.

It may be too small for your needs but putting my 17yr old on the Insurance was still under £750 a year. Without her in it was under £350. This is based on Outer London prices.

1st annual service is £99 at Kia Dealer and 2nd year service is £129 at the same Kia Dealer.

I was surprised with the interior room and comfort, really wanted a 5door but at that price it was a good deal for me.

peter_the_piper

+1 picanto, just don't expect to go on holiday with more than 3 people as the boot takes one case and some twiddly bits. Insurance is good at 250 for me and 3 named drivers. get the 1.25 though, 1 litre is just too slow.

Gloomendoom

EdGasket wrote: »

Ha ha yeah my dad was always driving uncool cars while I was trying to get him to buy a Zodiac with a dual band radio (no NOT FM, Medium wave and Long wave)

A school friend of mine learnt to drive in his mum's car. He passed first time.

One of these...

GwylimT

Honda Jazz.

I personally wouldn't consiser small cars with only four seats to be medium sized cars? I would have thought the Jazz just makes it into that catergory.

bigjl

peter_the_piper wrote: »

+1 picanto, just don't expect to go on holiday with more than 3 people as the boot takes one case and some twiddly bits. Insurance is good at 250 for me and 3 named drivers. get the 1.25 though, 1 litre is just too slow.

I must admit I don't find the 1.0 to be that bad but you do have to rev it.

The 1.25 would definitely be an improvement. And the boot is a bit tight.

The 1.0 actually feels quite nippy after a few months in a 1.4 petrol Berlingo!

robbies_gal

my instrutor always told me not to dirve with family and friends whilst learning as theyre not up to date with the rules and wold give conflicting advise

as for the car what about apolo?

mr_accountant

my advice go for a Japanese or Korean PETROL car, modern diesels can be an expensive nightmare

in that price range you have a lot of options, maybe a hyundai i20 petrol of kia rio, honda jazz, the Hyundai or kia should still have some warranty left (5 years or 7 years respectively)

thy are reasonably large inside front and back and should be reliable and well built subject to all the usual second hand car buying checklists

Ectophile

robbies_gal wrote: »

my instrutor always told me not to dirve with family and friends whilst learning as theyre not up to date with the rules and wold give conflicting advise

But then a driving instructor would say that, wouldn't they?

They have a bit of a vested interest in the pupil not getting any experience except on the driving lessons.

iolanthe07

peter_the_piper wrote: »

+1 picanto, just don't expect to go on holiday with more than 3 people as the boot takes one case and some twiddly bits. Insurance is good at 250 for me and 3 named drivers. get the 1.25 though, 1 litre is just too slow.

The Picanto is a good buy with suprising kit for a cheap car. Mine has reversing sensors, power folding mirrors and voice recognition software, which you don't really expect for a £10K motor. It costs £175 a year to insure and with the 1.25 engine is quite fast enough for new drivers, very easy to drive and a cinch to park. The seven year warranty is a plus too.