What is a good first car.

[Lewis Stephens]

Well the time has arrived when my 18 year old grandson has obtained his license and has come to me, knowing I'm a bit of a car dork, to ask , ' Pa, what should I get for my first car'. At the outset his parents have set 2 rules, a $10,000 price point ( 5,000 pound ) and nothing more than 10 years old. He is studying and can't afford big repair bills. I have added some additional criteria, ready access to spare parts, cheap spare parts, not too expensive or difficult for mechanics to work on, durability for Australian roads, no reputations for rust, and with good reliability reputation. The young lad did come up with some suggestions, eg, Alfa, Jeep, BMW, oh, and 'all my mates drive Golf's'. He's not mechanically minded. If he was and wanted something remotely interesting then I would close my eyes on the ten year rule and suggest a pre 1994 Mercedes. When they made bullet proof cars.
So, from a purely Australian perspective this is what I said.
1. Avoid anything German, French, British, Italian, Swedish, Czech ie, EU & UK. They are all no go zones because they fail on all criteria, at least as far as a first car is concerned. You can get a 2016 Jaguar XE here for around $8,000. Timing chain fail $6000. Mum and Dad pick up repair bill. VW Golf. Known here as a mechanics nightmare. A service usually around $2000.
2. Korean generally ok. Avoid Kia/Hyundai's with the Theta 2L and Gamma 2L engines. . Avoid all Daewoos.
3. Avoid anything Chinese. They were cheap and nasty when new.
4. Avoid ALL diesels. For first car buyers expensive to service and repair in Australia.
5. Japan mostly ok. Avoid Nissans, Mitsubishi's, & Subaru's with CVT transmissions.
6. Avoid anything American. Jeep, Chrysler. Need I say anymore ? Nasty, very nasty.
7. Avoid anything with a GM or Ford badge. Nothing Australian made came from these badges in the last 10 years, and the cars they marketed here after that were the worst of the worst on all the criteria, even worse than VW's. On the later when I told him about the criminal enterprise known as Dieselgate he decided a VW wasn't for him anyway.
8. Avoid Electric. 2016 Toyota Prius's about due for their $8,000 battery change.
So what was my recommendation ? I could see his face drop as I said, 'An automatic Toyota Camry, Corolla or i30 Hyundai 1.8L or any petrol Mazda.
YET he does want to be a lawyer so exposure to the makes that are constantly having lawsuits thrown at them in Australia, eg Jeep, Ford and VW could be a professional development opportunity. However commonsense must prevail.

And what was my first car in 1972? A 1970 Australian built Morris Mini 1100cc Deluxe. Cheap, reliable, fun, and what other motor could get six uni students in it as well as the driver to get to the local pub. ?

What would you tell your real or hyperthetical grandson or grand daughter. ?

 

[Mick Rae]

At that price point you have to cross fingers a bit of course, and even a reliable might well need some work to the 'consumables'. I have been, and continue to be quite impressed by how well Mazda's are put together, their Sky active engine series being very reliable in my experience. Petrol, normally aspirated, timing chain, okay, perhaps not setting the world alight with performance but they seem to keep going. A ten/sub10 year old Mazda 3 should be in range, but not sure about Australia. Good luck with the car buying!

 

[cobraboy]

We all want our kids first car to be a good experience, but lets bear in mind, a first car generally does not turn out to be a first car for long.

My own Daughter had a Clio, I think that was gone inside 6 months. Grandad then drove his VW Polo into a flood and bent a con rod, that was her second car for quite a while.

With that in mind you can take out any longevity issues and start thinking along the funkier and cooler lines - which make a lot of difference to a youngster at the late night car meets, or in the University car park !
'All my mates drive Golfs' - So what other cool hatches are in Oz ?

 

[Stuck-in-1972]

Hi Lewis. Nice for you to have a grandchild that values your opinion in this way. My opinion relatively boring:

May be different in your part of the world, but in the UK a big consideration for new drivers is insurance cost. Picking a car that is in a very low insurance group will outweigh maintenance and repair costs over those first 4 years driving versus a higher group car.

I would expect that there will be a few accidents....statistically likely for young men, little bit less likely for young women. That would push me towards a cheaper car in the first place...just to get through the first couple of years. And it might be too early to judge how this young man will care for his car. I'd suggest start with a cheap beater until he can demonstrate driving skill and car care over a couple of years.

I would not rule out small Fords or small GMs....fiesta and corsa. Lots of them, cheap parts, easy to service. In Europe anyway.

Getting your first car, and the freedom to drive, is a real landmark...for me, it really did not matter what the car was...being able to drive where you want when you want was the juice.

Happy Motoring - Munro.

 

[jp928]

Cant argue with any of the above - about to go through the same problem here!

 

[keynsham1]

My daughter wants a Citroen C1/Peugeot 107/ Toyota Aygo, which are to all intent and purpose the same thing.

 

[eggbert68b]

Our 20 yr old son had been looking at my P6 as his first car, but that's now likely to be written off and/or sold (See P6 auto in Selling section).
Next in line was our 78 Beetle which is like driving a tin can and no driver protection, so that's a no as well.
So he'll settle for a yellow and black Camaro, like Bee in Transformers. The reality is we're looking at a VW UP or similar.
I inherited a 64 Minor from my grandfather as a first car in the 80's , which rightly or wrongly started this path of driving old cars for the rest of my life...

 

[mrtask]

My first car, in 1986, was a 1972 Lincoln Continental Town Coupe. Stonking great 7.6 litre V8. Concealed headlights. Eight individual cigar lighters. I paid seven hundred and fifty quid for it. Sadly it had a huge dent all along the passenger side rear wing, which was about as long as a bus. I ran about in it for about four months before the motor overheated and siezed. (Instruments had ceased to function prior to purchase!) It sat outside my poor mother's flat for a few months, serving as a smoking lounge for me'n'my mates, until I flogged it. Got back what I'd paid for it from the chap who towed it away on a flatbed truck!
I just wanted to disqualify myself from this discussion with that boast.
This is a tidier example than mine was.

 

[colnerov]

My first car, in 1986, was a 1972 Lincoln Continental Town Coupe. Stonking great 7.6 litre V8. Concealed headlights. Eight individual cigar lighters. I paid seven hundred and fifty quid for it. Sadly it had a huge dent all along the passenger side rear wing, which was about as long as a bus. I ran about in it for about four months before the motor overheated and siezed. (Instruments had ceased to function prior to purchase!) It sat outside my poor mother's flat for a few months, serving as a smoking lounge for me'n'my mates, until I flogged it. Got back what I'd paid for it from the chap who towed it away on a flatbed truck!
I just wanted to disqualify myself from this discussion with that boast.
This is a tidier example than mine was.

That's a fair bit of real estate, very Frank Cannon.

 

[mikecoombs]

Go Mazda.
Theyre well put together and designed. Parts are relatively cheap as is insurance and they are nicely styled outside the ordinary.

 

[Lewis Stephens]

Our 20 yr old son had been looking at my P6 as his first car, but that's now likely to be written off and/or sold (See P6 auto in Selling section).
Next in line was our 78 Beetle which is like driving a tin can and no driver protection, so that's a no as well.
So he'll settle for a yellow and black Camaro, like Bee in Transformers. The reality is we're looking at a VW UP or similar.
I inherited a 64 Minor from my grandfather as a first car in the 80's , which rightly or wrongly started this path of driving old cars for the rest of my life...

Well eggbert68B if you son is mechanically minded then, as Arthur Daley once said, 'The world is you Lobster' BTW my second car was a 1964 P6. In 1975. But the topic of second cars is for another day.... The problem of getting older cars for young people is that in this day and age as a parent you would always be worried about safety, ie, no airbags, etc.

 

[Duane]

Growing up in Wellington, New Zealand, I drove my Dad's Hillman Hunter until I was 21. For that birthday (1990) he suggested I start a project instead of spending my money on Airfix model cars. His idea was a work colleague selling two non running Rover P6s which he duly bought for me.

Making a good car out of two, I ended up with a very nice 2200TC that was my every day driver for 8 years. A totally seized engine that was freed with a can of Coke, I learned all my car fettling skills on that car - bodywork, painting, engines, brakes, etc.

It got me to University daily and did some big round the country excursions. That was the motivation for getting the P6B project I completed earlier this year.

My daughter will be looking for a first car to learn in next year. Am going to have the same dilemma. She ain't using the Rover!

 

[Lewis Stephens]

We all want our kids first car to be a good experience, but lets bear in mind, a first car generally does not turn out to be a first car for long.

My own Daughter had a Clio, I think that was gone inside 6 months. Grandad then drove his VW Polo into a flood and bent a con rod, that was her second car for quite a while.

With that in mind you can take out any longevity issues and start thinking along the funkier and cooler lines - which make a lot of difference to a youngster at the late night car meets, or in the University car park !
'All my mates drive Golfs' - So what other cool hatches are in Oz ?

If you are thinking outside of the initial parameters I mentioned then for many 18 year old boys in Australia, particularly in regional areas where I live, they want a 'Ute' ie, a truck with a ladder frame chassis. They usually end up buying second hand Toyota Hilux's that were initially used in the mining industry, have been thrashed and had the odometer turned back. These utes last about six months before the engine blows up. However Alternatively they buy an old Ford Ranger. Heck, they were clapped out when new. As for cool hatches here, I guess the Ford Focus R/T was popular at one stage, until the transmissions blew up. Old Hondas are popular and of course old Toyota Supra's and Nissan Skyline/GTR's. Not to mention VT-VZ Commodores with the 3.8L six.

 

[cobraboy]

In the UK to get on the insurance ladder a first car typically needs to be less than 1.0 l engine capacity, for some reason at the time of my daughter starting the 1.2 l Clio was looked upon favourably by insurers.
She was driving my 1.9 TDI Audi when learning very cheaply as she was accompanied, as soon as she passed her test the insurance quote for that was thousands.

I don't think you can have an avoid this, or avoid that list in terms of choosing, the lads driving Golfs are doing so for a reason, they are probably plentiful, reasonable to insure, reliable, and cheap to maintain.

The youngsters will know what the best deals are, just because a car is German, GM, Ford, Korean does not apply, getting going is the criteria.

And if the particular car chosen has a bit of Kudos amongst the kids then happy days.

 

[Gargo]

In the UK to get on the insurance ladder a first car typically ..........

I agree, the cost of UK insurance for a first time driver is insane. The insurance can easily be more, than the cost of the car. The first car is more about first insurance. Only after a few years has the cost reduced enough where they can pick the car they want.

In some Australian states is it still the case that individuals don't require insurance, as it is provided by the state?

Like a horse and water, teenagers can be told what a cool car is; but do they listen to me........
Let them buy and use a car they like, hopefully they'll look after it cause they like it. I think all modern cars are boring to drive, but all are also fantastic to be in; the sound systems are, well sound, the seats are comfortable, they have great head lights, good heating and will follow the car in front all day long.
That's all I do in my modern car; join a line of cars and listen to the radio in the dry and warmth.

After they've bought their first car, buy them a Austin 7 as their 2nd car.

 

[MikeMelb]

Whilst they don't meet the 10 year rule and are considerably cheaper than $10k I wouldn't reject a rear wheel drive Volvo, 7 or 9 series.
Later fwd like 2012 S40 0r V50 are pretty reliable (plan is to pass it V50on to twin grand daughters in two or 3 years when on L plates) and basically Ford Focus/ Mazda3 chassis.
Our son had the P6B when he started driving in the late 1990s and our daughter had it in 2000 (in preference to the 2yo Magna bought for her to use)
My first, a FIAT 1100D, won at the 1965 Melbourne Motor Show.

 

[j_radcliffe]

Well the time has arrived when my 18 year old grandson has obtained his license and has come to me, knowing I'm a bit of a car dork, to ask , ' Pa, what should I get for my first car'. At the outset his parents have set 2 rules, a $10,000 price point ( 5,000 pound ) and nothing more than 10 years old. He is studying and can't afford big repair bills. I have added some additional criteria, ready access to spare parts, cheap spare parts, not too expensive or difficult for mechanics to work on, durability for Australian roads, no reputations for rust, and with good reliability reputation. The young lad did come up with some suggestions, eg, Alfa, Jeep, BMW, oh, and 'all my mates drive Golf's'. He's not mechanically minded. If he was and wanted something remotely interesting then I would close my eyes on the ten year rule and suggest a pre 1994 Mercedes. When they made bullet proof cars.
So, from a purely Australian perspective this is what I said.
1. Avoid anything German, French, British, Italian, Swedish, Czech ie, EU & UK. They are all no go zones because they fail on all criteria, at least as far as a first car is concerned. You can get a 2016 Jaguar XE here for around $8,000. Timing chain fail $6000. Mum and Dad pick up repair bill. VW Golf. Known here as a mechanics nightmare. A service usually around $2000.
2. Korean generally ok. Avoid Kia/Hyundai's with the Theta 2L and Gamma 2L engines. . Avoid all Daewoos.
3. Avoid anything Chinese. They were cheap and nasty when new.
4. Avoid ALL diesels. For first car buyers expensive to service and repair in Australia.
5. Japan mostly ok. Avoid Nissans, Mitsubishi's, & Subaru's with CVT transmissions.
6. Avoid anything American. Jeep, Chrysler. Need I say anymore ? Nasty, very nasty.
7. Avoid anything with a GM or Ford badge. Nothing Australian made came from these badges in the last 10 years, and the cars they marketed here after that were the worst of the worst on all the criteria, even worse than VW's. On the later when I told him about the criminal enterprise known as Dieselgate he decided a VW wasn't for him anyway.
8. Avoid Electric. 2016 Toyota Prius's about due for their $8,000 battery change.
So what was my recommendation ? I could see his face drop as I said, 'An automatic Toyota Camry, Corolla or i30 Hyundai 1.8L or any petrol Mazda.
YET he does want to be a lawyer so exposure to the makes that are constantly having lawsuits thrown at them in Australia, eg Jeep, Ford and VW could be a professional development opportunity. However commonsense must prevail.

And what was my first car in 1972? A 1970 Australian built Morris Mini 1100cc Deluxe. Cheap, reliable, fun, and what other motor could get six uni students in it as well as the driver to get to the local pub. ?

What would you tell your real or hyperthetical grandson or grand daughter. ?

I would suggest if he goes Hyundai then avoid the motors with timing chains. At least the American assembled motors (timing chain) spin bearing. The Korean made motors (timing chain) might not be as bad perhaps. The motors with timing belts go 300000km easily. Just remember to change the belt every 100000 km.

 

[03-P6_3500]

I would say: buy a motorcycle.