Car for nervous driver / small person

lucy_w86

Ok, so the title of this post is a bit strange but here is goes

I am a very very nervous driver and passed my test 2 years and 8 months ago. I havent driven since. I am going to look into driving an automatic to get my confidence up and will book some lessons to learn in an automatic.

I want to buy a car and my budget is up to £5.5K

I am only small and as I said, very nervous, so dont want a beast of a car. Something small to get me going.

Anyone been in this situation? What would you recommend?

:beer:

Idiophreak

I'd recommend spending as little as possible on a first car - probably no need to spend more than £2k to get one that will last you a while.

I'd be tempted to stick with a manual - you'll get used to it and it'll be useful in the long run...

Carwise, I'd look at an older clio, corsa, something of that nature - a 1.0-1.2l engine will be cheap to run and keep insurance costs down.

Idiophreak

(I'd also suggest taking more lessons / practicing around a quiet business park etc as much as possible - nervous drivers are pretty dangerous on the roads...)

lucy_w86

Idiophreak wrote: »

(I'd also suggest taking more lessons / practicing around a quiet business park etc as much as possible - nervous drivers are pretty dangerous on the roads...)

I said I am going to have more lessons

HenryWeston

Buy yourself a beatup old landrover, everyone will move out of your way!

vikingaero

lucy_w86 wrote: »

Ok, so the title of this post is a bit strange but here is goes

I am a very very nervous driver and passed my test 2 years and 8 months ago. I havent driven since. I am going to look into driving an automatic to get my confidence up and will book some lessons to learn in an automatic.

I want to buy a car and my budget is up to £5.5K

I am only small and as I said, very nervous, so dont want a beast of a car. Something small to get me going.

Anyone been in this situation? What would you recommend?

:beer:

Mrs Viking is a nervous driver too. She's held a licence for 15ish years, bought a small manual car which was never driven and only drove a few years ago when we got a small automatic. She would now never go back to driving a manual and sings the praises of automatic cars. She could/never get to grips with clutch control.

You'll get a few people both on here and in real life who sneer at automatic cars and spout the virtues of a manual and how you should learn in a manual first. Ignore them and do what you feel is right for you.

£5,500 will buy you a 2/3 year old Corsa automatic or something like a 1 year old Kia Picanto auto.

wolfehouse

i was nervous when i first started out and have driven small automatics ever since.
my 1st was a metro- tin coffin on wheels but small enough to give me some confidence. my 2nd was a corsa- i feel the gas and brake pedals are too close together and if you aren't paying attention you could possibly mix them up. but they may have solved that on later models. my 3rd was a yaris which i loved - but don't (really, i mean it) get an mmt (clutchless manual) version.
now i've got a micra which i love just as well. if i change over i'll get another micra. i found sitting positions and control panel position really mattered to me. best to try whatever you find out and see if you feel comfortable.

Chaddee

I am also both nervous and small and am very happy with my VW Polo. It's not as small as some small cars but it's still nippy and easily parked, and it has a nice sense of stability. My boyfriend has a Corsa which is much smaller and feels more tinny to me which only makes me more nervous! It may be worth trying a few different shapes and sizes, I surprised myself by ending up with something bigger than I'd imagined for the sense of safety.

M4RKM

automatic cars are good to drive, especially around town, as you don't have to be changing gears all the time.. i do like them, but would personally never have them as they do consume more fuel, and thus make them more expensive to run...

personally, i'd stick with a manual, you'll eventually get used to it and with more practice, and more driving, you'll come to enjoy driving, rather than be nervous about it...

corsa, clio, fiesta those types of cars are small and best value, also, don't spend too much.. as someone else said.. 2k is plenty for your first car (i think i spent 1200 on my first!)

LB1985

I have a small VW Lupo, which is an automatic. It's a nice small car and, based on my experiences, the automatic gearbox is good. The engine is 1.4 and it is comfortable on the motorway. Mine is V-reg (1999, one owner from new), I bought it a year ago and paid £2995.

(For a picture of a Lupo, see http://home.quicknet.nl/qn/prive/redscrpion/images/PictureTune/VwLupo-Original.jpg)

wannabe_a_mum

My first car was a Ford KA in 2000 and I paid £5995 for it. It's OK for local roads and things but wouldn't recommend motorway as it feels like you're walking.

Anyway, i traded it in after 4 weeks!!! (lost £1.5K!)

This type of car is good if you're just looking for local trips and things.

I think something like a Yaris is good (my friend has one, she too is nervous!) or a VW Lupo (another friend had one) or a Ford Fiesta

Good Luck with your search and happy driving!!!