First car for 19 yo

nickbose on 31/10/2015 - 13:21
Last edited 11/11/2015 - 10:46

Some of you might have come across this thread https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/166717 where I discussed what to get for my son on his 18th birthday.
I'm glad I chose a good Leathermann - he always keeps it at his bedside and used occasionally. He also liked the Orient watch but has stopped using it for some time after the "leather band" became so stinky and worn out. I will have to look for a really good metal band replacement - he likes mesh band.
Now he is about to get his P and we are researching on what car to buy. The budget will be within 20K. Can be new or used but should still be under warranty and less than 20,000km. It also must have reverse camera and GPS navigation.
I have looked at Suzuki Swift, Corolla, Yaris, Hyundai i20, Mini but more suggestion would be great.

Update:
It took me so much time to go through the list. It is getting even more confused now to decide.
I also looked at Toyota Prius, 86, Peugeot 208, Hyundai i30, Ford Fiesta, Focus, Mazda 2, 3, VW Golf, Nissan Pulsar, Mitsushitty Mirages, Honda Jazz, Civic, Kia Rio

But let's clear something up: I asked opinion about cars so stop lecturing me about how to raise my son and how much to spend on his car. I said budget is 20K, doesn't mean at 20K but means "within 20K"

The revised criteria will be less than 50,000KM (so not necessarily under warranty) but ANCAP must be 5 star and must have stability control (ABS is almost standard for a long time I think).

I made that a top priority after reading this most stupid comment
"Perhaps they should make sure the kid can drive and drive defensively instead of relying on more "cotton wool" to protect them from the real world"

And some comments I very much agree with
"Something that has stuck with me from the time I did a defensive driving course recently (which I also recommend getting for your son) is when the instructor pointed out the irony of the most inexperienced driver in the family, and arguably someone more important to the parents than themselves driving around in the least safe car (i.e. The shit box a lot of people buy for new drivers in the family)"

"This doesn't have to mean buying a brand new car but it does make me realise that you should spend a decent amount to ensure the major safety features are included in your purchase"

I am also surprised to find on Carsales that a 4-5 year old Merc series A or B at about 50,000km is about 12 to 14K only. That can be a good choice too.

So on with more research. My son still have 18 hrs more to complete before taking the P test.

Automotive

Comments

        • Banana on 02/11/2015 - 20:57

          @tshow:

          Spackbace sells Swifts
          tshow sells Golfs Edited after seeing tshow's next post.

          Am I right?

          I think Swift has a more feminine appeal while I see more guys driving Golfs.

          I don't have a car yet but hope I could afford a Ferrari one day. Ferrari car salesman please hit me up!

        • [Deactivated] on 02/11/2015 - 21:00

          @Banana:
          I dont sell cars. Only buy lots of them.

        • Banana on 02/11/2015 - 21:02

          @tshow:
          I figured! Was kind of hoping you were buying cars from my cough cough friend, but you live in a different state.

        • [Deactivated] on 02/11/2015 - 21:38

          @Banana:
          Dealers can be decent folk (but they are not going to be rich being so). It's a rough business so I like to cut them some slack.

        • Banana on 02/11/2015 - 21:40

          @tshow:
          Tell me about it -.- I don't work in one but I am involved one way or the other, not the best job in the world.

        • spackbace on 03/11/2015 - 00:28
          -1

          @Banana:

          That's why I first suggested a black one :)
          Plus I'm 6'3 and I can comfortably drive one, not something that can be said about many small cars :)

    • [Deactivated] on 02/11/2015 - 15:37
      +1

      Poor resale doesn't apply to the petrols, look at carsales, most of he tsi have gone up in price, not down

      • [Deactivated] on 02/11/2015 - 20:03
        +1

        Maybe not yet but it will shortly.

        The drop in second hand value usually follows the drop in brand new drive away price. (If the brand new price drops, then the difference between second hand and brand new becomes smaller, hence second hand sellers will lower the price accordingly).

        Currently, there is a massive decrease in sales of VW petrol vehicles (diesel models have been withdrawn from the lineup). The prices of the brand new cars have also been significantly discounted in their recent string of sales.

        I use VW as my company cars. My dealer tells me that it has been "rough" (he used much more graphic language).

  • Cluster on 02/11/2015 - 15:29
    +3

    What your son wants: the fastest, most powerful car with rapid acceleration and something that will impress girls

    What you want: a safe reliable car that goes 0 to 100 in around 10 seconds

    I would guess a Swift, Yaris, Corolla, and i20 are not on the wish list of any 19 year old male. How about a Mitsubishi Lancer? $20k drive away with automatic right now. Perhaps a Subaru RX so your son can at least feel like he has the WRX he really wants? Mazda 3 would also be a good choice. Looks sharp and has pretty good performance without providing the temptation to hoon.

  • Dsquall on 02/11/2015 - 16:48
    +12

    Buy yourself a new car, give your son the old one.

  • Tripnfelt on 02/11/2015 - 20:29
    +2

    I'd get him a project car, the lessons he will learn about mechanics and maintenance will save him much more over the years, make him a better driver and is a wholesome constructive hobby that's fun with friends.

    • Serapis on 04/11/2015 - 23:09

      This but entirely depends on parent and also garage space + availability of tools…

      I learnt basic mechanic skills from dad because he used work in aircraft maintenance + we had a double garage at home with complete tools

      Had to teach a friend oil changes at my place since he lived in an apartment and his dad was a IT guy with no mechanical knowledge or interest.

  • Lucky13 on 03/11/2015 - 03:04

    Any Toyota, just regularly service it and itll last forever and nothing will ever go wrong with it. Best cars A++++

    • Karlos101 on 04/11/2015 - 16:30
      +3

      are you kidding?
      used to be A++++, now just surviving on brand brainwashing from the past.
      sorry, but they arent what they used to be.

      • Lucky13 on 04/11/2015 - 20:25

        Oh ok Ive got an Echo and have never had a problem with it. Its a 2002 so maybe thats back when they were good?? Never heard of anyone having any major problems with Toyotas, our old mechanic used to swear by them.

        • Karlos101 on 05/11/2015 - 10:22
          +2

          yeah i think they started falling behind around 04, or 05.
          their vehicles from the late 90s were bulletproof and would just go and go and go.
          and ive heard of a lot of Prado owners that bought them when they were relatively new and have now gone and bought the newer ones from the last 5 or so years and just been really disappointed, mechanically and also ability wise.
          i think if they brought their prices down, they would be considered a better brand, but the fact that they are still charging more money for less features and performance pisses me off as a consumer because they are relying on peoples brand loyalty from before they fell behind the 8 ball.

          i think by way of Japanese manufacturers, Mazda probably has it in the bag at the moment, although, they dont have a proper 4WD in their range, unless you consider the BT-50…

        • RocketSwitch on 05/11/2015 - 11:40
          +1

          @Karlos101:

          I agree with Toyota, they have dropped the ball from 09, but if you get a car without any problems, they are good with regular service.

      • Azn310 on 04/11/2015 - 23:17
        +2

        FYI the latest Yaris still runs on 2nz-fe, same engine as Echo. Should be of the same reliability.

        Yeah perhaps they re just surviving because they choose not to put too much rubbish crap (aka latest tech) in the car. Their cars are so basic that they re losing sale to the competitors. I mean cars without seat heaters, side mirror heater, automatic rain sensor wipers, who would buy that?

        Lets also not forget Toyota was one of the first to bring hybrid cars into the public scene, that was some 15 years ago. And they have recently launched hydrogen engines too. Instead of investing in the temporary tech, they spent their time on the tech that matters.

        @lucky13 - I'm also an Echo owner :) of 2004, 180,000km on the clock and counting. Engine and drivetrain are solidly built. Parts are dirt cheap, couldnt be happier.

        • sv123 on 05/11/2015 - 07:29
          +1

          My 1998 commodore just hit 320,000km. Smoothest car ever. Unfortunately the head gasket has now gone. Nothing stop leak cant fix :)

  • Elnato on 03/11/2015 - 07:26
    +9

    Wish my parents came and said to me "you're 19 now what car would you like our budget is 20k", seems a bit much for a 19 year old. At 19 I bought a 98 magna for 2000, which i saved for months after working in an average retail job. Is it a loan, will he pay you back?

    • Lucky13 on 05/11/2015 - 03:26

      I agree $20,000 does seem a bit excessive for a first car. I realise you want them to be safe and not break down in the middle of nowhere, but you can get really good cars for $5,000-$8,000. Just look for regular service history, low kms and good brands like Toyota and Mazda and the throw away cars like Hyundai are reported as being super amazing up until 130,000ish kms and then they start having problems. I read heaps of reviews like we're talking lots before I bought the car I ended up with <3 Toyotas <3 but definitely read lots of reviews it helps. Thats when I read about heaps of people having issues with Holdens and some issues with Fords but not as bad but Toyota reviews were glowing also Mazda 6s etc got good reviews and Mitsubishi Mirages were pretty favourable too. Def check out reviews tho :)

      • Elnato on 05/11/2015 - 08:45
        +1

        Next car i bought was a nissan pulsar 2005, got that for $5000 its light on fuel, decent boot and room in the back, never had any problems with it, very reliable car and i still drive it today, its no wrx or or toyota hilax like most guys my age drive but its a damn solid car

  • frostman on 03/11/2015 - 09:08

    Hyundai i35,
    Mazda 3 hatch neo

    Don't bother with the rest

  • Shadowsfury on 03/11/2015 - 10:18
    +2

    Something that has stuck with me from the time I did a defensive driving course recently (which I also recommend getting for your son) is when the instructor pointed out the irony of the most inexperienced driver in the family, and arguably someone more important to the parents than themselves driving around in the least safe car (i.e. The shit box a lot of people buy for new drivers in the family).

    Somehow that really resonated with me even as a 26yo and not a parent.

    This doesn't have to mean buying a brand new car but it does make me realise that you should spend a decent amount to ensure the major safety features are included in your purchase.

  • OzBestDeal on 03/11/2015 - 11:07

    I wonder why no one mention Toyota 86?
    It's small, looks badass, and some used on carsales are around 20k…

    • humdingaling on 03/11/2015 - 13:54

      they are all around 20k+..also none are close to the 20km range either

      except that one guy in SA

  • freddofrog42 on 03/11/2015 - 11:13
    +2

    1 - what car does your son actually want?
    2- why the reverse camera? He NEEDS to learn how to reverse for himself as he won't always have driver aids.
    3 - GPS. Tick although a phone or Garmin etc will be fine and most likely better than a built-in unit. Make sure car has Bluetooth or at least a head unit with BT can be added.
    4 - Spending $20k is cool if you can afford it but don't expect to sell the car after a coupe of years for much with sundry scratches and dents etc. IT WILL happen.
    5 - By all means go for safety features
    6 - Invest in several driving courses.
    7 - Can he drive a manual? I personally believe that anyone who can make smooth gear changes tends to treat steering and brakes the same way.

    Car picks, and I'm assuming a degree of cool required (all hatchbacks as so much more useful and how most of these cars are engineered in the first place):-

    Mini - cool and you just the regular Cooper is fine. Handle brilliantly and great resale.
    Swift - really enjoyable to drive.
    Mazda 3 - as above only bigger. Earlier models shared the same platform as a Focus. Mazda 2 also great.
    Golf - yes spares can be expensive but there are Euro specialists out there and they are MUCH cheaper than normal suppliers
    Fiesta/Focus - great drives, both. Arguably earlier model Focus were even better. Used to love the Mk1

    Others are all worthy e.g. Hyundai, Corolla etc but hardly fun, just eminently practical cars that just do the job of getting from A to B. I suspect a p-plater wants more but we've not been given anything to go on, even car size.

    In all cases I'd get your son to agree NOT to modify it e.g. bigger wheels/exhaust or lowered etc. Involve him in the decision making process!!

  • TheOneWhoKnocks on 03/11/2015 - 15:58
    +9

    OP better be reading and acknowledging all these comments. Has only commented once.

    • Lucky13 on 05/11/2015 - 23:46

      Yeah would be the right/respectful thing to do

  • hangdog on 03/11/2015 - 19:00

    You can pick up a used Toyota Prius C for $15K or so. It has a reverse camera. The higher i-Tech model has GPS, not sure about the base model – but really, a GPS app on any smartphone will be 10 times faster to use, and more convenient.
    Prius Cs have no grunt to speak of, but are very cheap to run.

    Alternatively, see if you can find a Ford Fiesta Econetic turbo-diesel. Low fuel costs and lots of torque.

    • Serapis on 04/11/2015 - 23:11
      +2

      lol no Prius. Seriously. No self respecting 19YO will want a Prius. Your son will disown you (or at least want to).

      • GameChanger on 04/11/2015 - 23:14
        +2

        lol ain't that the truth.

      • hangdog on 05/11/2015 - 16:47

        We don't actually know what priorities the OP's son has – he might like performance cars, he might view them as a way to impress others, he might like fuel-efficient transport. I think my suggestion was comparable to the models that the OP said he was looking at.

        • BartholemewH on 05/11/2015 - 22:24
          +1

          Not sure if serious :/

          I'm not sure if 'fuel efficient transport' has ever floated a 19 yo Aussie male's boat in our country's brief history.

  • Jikx on 04/11/2015 - 12:29
    +1

    Manual or auto?
    The Ford Fiesta has great power, especially when paired with the 6 speed dual clutch auto.
    Stay away from anything offering a 4 speed auto - it will turn the turtles in your short-list into snails.

  • Davros on 04/11/2015 - 16:57

    Mid 40's now and driving a $5000 commodore not because its all I can afford but because it is simply a means of transport and this does it very well, very comfortably and very safely.
    I would happily and do drive it from Brisbane to Sydney and back and to Whitsundays and back a couple of times a year with no issues at all.
    Airbags, cruise control, cold a/c, electric windows,power steering, great suspension and tyres, it was a very well maintained car that is 100 x better than my first car ever was.
    Reversing cameras and plug in gimmicks do not make a driver safer or better but they do cause distractions to fools playing with them vs concentrating on driving. At least once a day I get some idiot drift across lanes not paying attention.
    The price difference between this and less thirsty vehicles that others suggest buys enough fuel to drive this thing indefinitely and the fact that the 6cyl engine is less loaded than many 4cyl's means it mechanically is near bulletproof.

    • spackbace on 04/11/2015 - 17:02
      -1

      Appreciate what you're saying, but I daresay your $5k Commodore doesn't have 6 airbags, or 5 star safety. I'm sure you can understand OP wanting that for his son. Not saying $20k is needed to spend in order to get 5 star safety, but there's certainly a happy medium between the 2.

      • Davros on 04/11/2015 - 17:33

        "I daresay your $5k Commodore doesn't have 6 airbags, or 5 star safety. I'm sure you can understand OP wanting that for his son"

        Perhaps they should make sure the kid can drive and drive defensively instead of relying on more "cotton wool" to protect them from the real world.

        • spackbace on 04/11/2015 - 17:35

          You know accidents happen right, and I'd say >90% of the time, 1 person is a completely innocent party…

          Get T-Boned in a car with curtain airbags and the right body structure, you have a chance of survival. Do the same thing in a car with zero crumple-zones, guess who takes all the momentum? Yeah, not the car…

        • Davros on 04/11/2015 - 17:40

          @Spackbace: The commodore possibly does have 6 airbags
          "Multiple point sensing system – two front and two side sensors
          Dual-stage front airbags for driver, front passenger – standard on all models
          Side impact airbags available on all models – optional on Omega, standard on other models
          Curtain airbags available on all models – standard on SS V, Calais and Calais V; optional on Omega, Berlina, SV6 and SS"

          and it has a 4* ancap rating.

          @Spackbace:"You know accidents happen right, and I'd say >90% of the time, 1 person is a completely innocent party…"

          I had a lot of accidents that "weren't my fault" when I was younger
          The next 20 years I have had none.
          What does that tell you?

        • spackbace on 04/11/2015 - 17:50
          -1

          @Davros:

          What does that tell you?

          Luck. You'd have to just be naive and stupid to have never seen an accident where an innocent party got cleaned up or badly injured. Just because you haven't had an accident for years, doesn't mean they don't happen.

          OK so you have a VE series 1. Unless you have an SS-V, Calais or Calais-V, you won't have curtain airbags. Yeah they were optional, but no one chose that option. So you actually have 4 airbags, 2 in the dash and 2 in the side of the seats.

        • Davros on 04/11/2015 - 17:55
          +1

          @Spackbace: You'd have to be naive and stupid to think that accidents are unavoidable. I have seen plenty of innocent parties get cleaned up over the years by NOT driving as if everyone is going to kill them and by NOT thinking several steps ahead.
          I ride a motorbike as well both here and in Asia and I have not had an accident on those either.
          Luck you say - awareness says I.

        • spackbace on 04/11/2015 - 17:59
          -1

          @Davros:

          Sigh Let's agree to disagree, and when your Commodore needs a timing belt, or new tyres, or the roof lining starts sagging, think of the $$s wasted and how you recommended that car to a 19yo

        • Davros on 04/11/2015 - 18:07

          @Spackbace: New tyres? All cars wear them out, not just second hand commies.
          Timing belt? about $1k
          Roof sagging? Had a guy come to my house and replace the liner on my last car for $180.

          But its OK, I have $15k in the kitty to get them fixed if need be whereas the OP has nadda as they dropped every cent on a car.

        • spackbace on 04/11/2015 - 18:19
          -1

          @Davros:

          But its OK, I have $15k in the kitty to get them fixed if need be whereas the OP has nadda as they dropped every cent on a car.

          Sigh Sure, because the car has no resale value, right? Like a $20k car can't be resold for over $10k after a couple of years? But sure, you use that $15k price difference to justify your argument.

          You know that many parents buy the car for their kids, but the kids maintain it? (Ok, you likely don't realise that.) New car means stuff all maintenance, and no timing belt needed if they pick the right car (yes, there's cars out that there that don't use belts…). Not to mention that having a warranty means more peace and mind.

          Not to mention registration on a V6 is more than a 4cyl, plus the obvious cost of fuel.

          You may think your option is more economical, purely because you don't know any better. If I had more time and more effort I'd love to crunch the numbers of owning a new Swift over 5yrs/100,000km, compared to owning your old VE over that same period. There's a reason the Swift has been voted on numerous occasions as the cheapest to own and run!

        • Davros on 04/11/2015 - 18:42

          @Spackbace: "You know that many parents buy the car for their kids, but the kids maintain it?" So what, its still extra dollars on top of the $20k initial outlay, it doesn't matter who is paying, it still costs.

          "Not to mention that having a warranty means more peace and mind."
          Warranty from used car yards? Are they even worth the paper they are written on?

          "There's a reason the Swift has been voted on numerous occasions as the cheapest to own and run!"
          Because they only run the numbers on new cars of similar values.

          "Not to mention registration on a V6 is more than a 4cyl, plus the obvious cost of fuel."
          Not to mention I have $15k more than you to pay for rego and fuel.

  • striker5950 on 04/11/2015 - 17:02

    Nissan gtr < civic / corolla

    • Serapis on 04/11/2015 - 23:14
      +2

      Well… that escalated quickly

      I think you also have the symbol the wrong way around
      (ie Bugatti Veyron > Nissian GTR > Civic / Corolla > Shopping trolley)

      • Karlos101 on 05/11/2015 - 10:33
        +1

        ahahahaha

        someone knows how to use 'greater than'
        well done good sir.

      • Karlos101 on 05/11/2015 - 10:34
        +1

        although as a nissan fan, i'd debate your veyron > nissan GTR

        • Serapis on 06/11/2015 - 13:37

          It holds true if both cars are stock (Skyline R34 or R32), GTR vs Veyron in a straight line or if you're talking about an R33 =P

        • Karlos101 on 06/11/2015 - 16:40

          @Serapis:
          im talking the latest GTR, the bugatti has a lot of wank factor, and yes it faster in some areas. but as a track car and for so much cheaper i think Nissan is better than the Veyron.

          i love the R34 VSpecII, dont care much for the R33 and R32 are only just starting to grow on me now.

        • Serapis on 07/11/2015 - 00:56

          @Karlos101:

          Yeah stock Veyron will beat a stock GTR in a straight line unless you had a tuned GTR like the Top Secret GTR or the even faster AMS GTR which has a slower top speed but can beat a Veyron by around 2-3 seconds in a quarter mile. Will probably handle better on track as well.

          Doesn't really compare anyhow because the Veyron is so damned expensive, most who buy it just get it for the wank factor (* cough * Floyd Mayweather * cough *)

          • R32 is well respected in the car circles, is a monster if tuned right
          • R33… is a boat =P
          • R34 is Godzilla (check out the Z-Tune esp)
          • GTR is a whole 'nother level of crazy

          Btw if you want to test them all, would recommend this place in Japan if you ever get the chance. You can hire any one of them and test drive for around $100 AUD per hour or so:

          http://fun2drive.co.jp/

        • GameChanger on 07/11/2015 - 01:20
          +1

          @Serapis: Hate seeing class less Floyd buying Veryon for fun of it.

  • p1 ama on 04/11/2015 - 19:18
    +3

    There's a few myths that I think are worthy of clearing up.

    First is the myth that somehow young drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents. Yes, whilst it is somewhat true, the truth is much more complicated and convoluted than the media (and others) want you to believe. I'm a statistician (hold university degree in statistics & finance), I've worked as a statistician, I'm currently a graduate statistics student - so I'm not likely to fall for these misleading conclusions. This has little to do with experience, but more to do with recklessness, younger lads tend to be more reckless on the road (we've all been there, me included), younger drivers tend to speed, be careless and drive slightly idiotically until they have an accident or get a couple of expensive fines sent home. They change their behaviour pretty quickly after that (I know I did). Driving a car isn't hard, it's just about taking care, being able to identify risks and not being an idiot. If anything, younger people have faster reactions and are more alert anyway.

    So the key is learning to drive properly and actually driving responsibly. That said, the probability of dying on the road is so small, more people die per year (in Australia) through heart disease and cancer than traffic accidents.

    (For those of you who are interested, concluding that there is a causal link between being young and being in an accident is a case of endogeneity bias - knowing this and being able to identify it makes you realise how spurious a lot of the things perpetrated by the mainstream media is).

    Second is the myth about how important parking sensors and all these whiz-bang gadgets and gizmos are. The way I see it is that if you learn to drive relying on these gizmos, you're not likely to learn the skills that are actually important to driving. I'm not old (in my 20s), but I learned to drive with a nice car that that doesn't have any of these advanced features. I learned to parallel park, I learned to do headchecks and I learned how to judge how far the car in front and behind me actually are, I didn't have a GPS, so I learned the roads (and I generally can get from A to B faster than GPS recommended routes now). It's important to learn how to drive before using these gizmos. They're great safety features, but I still reckon a simple car is the best way to learn to be a safe and knowledgeable driver.

    Also, I would recommend against you buying your son a car. I know that back when I bought my first car, I was quite lucky because I had a scholarship, so I blew a year's worth of scholarship money (and some savings) buying a nice-ish car ('07 Camry, a few years ago) but laying out the cash myself and having to save for it meant that I took care of my car, made sure it was serviced properly and that I always drove it carefully (not recklessly) and it gave me a real sense of responsibility which I'm glad I was able to learn.

    If you really want to help your son, use the money to put down as a deposit for a house. Take out a loan and rent out the house, use the rent to pay the interest and in a few years' time when your son has a job and moves out, transfer the title to him and let him pay off the rest of the loan. He'll thank you for it. This is speaking from the point of view of someone who probably should move out in several years time but can't see any way to break into the housing market with prices as high as they are. Believe me, one day, when your son is 25, he'll be so thankful that you saved him years of turmoil trying to battle to get the finances together to purchase a house, as opposed to a car that's basically worthless now. Invest, don't fritter away money on depreciating liabilities.

  • aussieprepper on 04/11/2015 - 19:50

    Maybe let him find hes feet first and get a cheaper car for now?

    like a older yaris or jazz can be had for alright prices within 5 years old…they are cheap to fix and easy to service.

    he will ding and scrape the car and that shouldn't matter as much because the car is cheaper to buy…

    plus sides are he can't really speed at extreme speeds and wont be doing to much street racing in those cars that is why insurance is cheaper…

    down sides are he will not be scoring any chicks because of hes purchase lol

  • mjerath on 04/11/2015 - 20:38

    Hyundai I30 with reverse camera is advertised for $20k d/a. You will be able to negotiate at this price. I bought I30 Active X Diesel auto with metallic paint for $24.5k d/a for my daughter.

  • Azn310 on 04/11/2015 - 23:19
    +3

    OP realized he asked the wrong community, he went and posted this question on ozmillionaires instead

  • This Guy on 04/11/2015 - 23:51

    If you have to buy new, the 60kW Peugeot 208 manuals are light, fun and feel like a proper car.

    Unlike most cars in this price range, the plastics are nice. If you get a 2014 model you also get a touch screen stereo.

    They are 5* safety and come standard with premium tyres and euro (excellent) style brakes.

    They are slightly bigger than a small car but their cabin is around the same size as a golf.

    The 81kW 1.2 litre should be fun, but it is 3k extra.

    At the current 17k drive away the 60kW 208 is reasonable value for a new car.

    As for satnav, get your son a $10 phone holder.

    AVOID THE 1.6 LITRE 208 LIKE THE PLAGUE.

  • Cozdog on 05/11/2015 - 11:14
    -3

    Don't buy an Asian car - ESPECIALLY not a Corolla, the safety sucks balls. I totaled my corolla into a small truck (the truck was fine) and barely escaped with my life. Only the fact that the truck crashed into the exact middle support bar of the car kept me alive. At the wreckers found that my corolla was parked next to another corolla that was smashed up even more than mine - there was dried blood on the driver's seat - the wrecker told me the driver didn't make it.

    For my next car went with an Audi Q5 - my wife drove it into the side of an Accord - the whole side of the Accord was caved in, the Audi was barely scratched. The Audi dealer reckons Volvo is even more safe than Audi, but both are miles better than Toyota.

    Recommendation based on personal experience: If you can, get a second hand European car, NOT a Japanese car.

  • fr33loader on 05/11/2015 - 11:47
    +1

    Corolla or Swift is good.

    But please don't get any power cars, I'm terrified enough encountering teen P-platers driving V6/V8/utes around!

    • BartholemewH on 05/11/2015 - 22:30

      I noticed rotaries aren't on the terrifying list? Maybe something with a 20B?

  • [Deactivated] on 06/11/2015 - 11:27

    a honda civic

  • Findo on 06/11/2015 - 18:38

    Make sure it's a rear wheel drive car with enough killer wasps and solid parts in the bonut things. I recommend a XR6 or SV6, plenty can be had for under $20k and the new ones come with fancy reversing gear anyway. Not that big a car either.

  • Bludgeman on 06/11/2015 - 23:37

    Every single one of my friends who had generous parents in high school/uni still have no idea about money. They were spoonfed most of their life and now they have to stand on their own 2 feet, they're clueless. They were given the right direction through education, but now all work basic professional jobs and grovelled to their parents to pay their house deposits. Im not saying everyone's like that but my experience has shown me spoonfeeding does more worse than good.
    Give your son 20k and tell him its for a car, but he can do what he wants with it.You'll learn aalot about his maturity depending on what he does with it.

    • GameChanger on 07/11/2015 - 00:19
      +1

      lol you contradict yourself ;)

      If you want him to be not spoon fed, tell him to get a job and use his own money to buy the car. Giving 20k doesn't show him how long it took to earn that or the value of money.

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