As I reached the age of 17 my mother upgraded her old car and bought herself a Fiat Punto. Eagerly clutching my provisional driving licence and longing to hit the road, I persuaded her to let me learn in her car. Being small, safe and easy to drive, the Punto was an ideal car to learn in. Before long, I successfully passed my driving test and my mum's trusty Punto and I were ready to explore the world. That is, until I accidentally wrote it off... oops. Luckily I escaped from the crash unscathed, but very shortly after the accident my mum found herself having to upgrade again. In the meantime I had managed to save up enough money to buy my own first car, a Ford Fiesta, meaning that mum could keep her nice new car away from me!
From my years of experience at Thame Car Sales it appears that my story isn't unusual, and that many parents decide to upgrade their car to something a bit newer, and let their fledgling son or daughter have their old car. For anxious mums and dads looking to give their kids a bit of freedom but still ensure their safety, there are a number of positives to this. Firstly, having lived with the car yourself you know it's safe, reliable, economical and has been looked after. Secondly, if you already own the car you may find it much cheaper to add your child as a named driver on the insurance, rather than giving it to them entirely and having them face the increasing cost of taking out their own insurance policy straight away. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, you can have a new car out of the deal too!
The novice driver’s trademark car used to be an unreliable old banger, which spent more time broken down on the driveway with no wheels on than it ever did out on the road. But teenagers are a little more discerning these days, and I think parents are starting to realise that their kids are better off with a newer car. There are several benefits of a nearly new car over an older car, such as:
1) They are safer: Newer cars have more safety technology packed inside such as ABS, daytime running lights and airbags. They also perform far better in crash tests than their older counterparts, which is a relief for any parent who worries about the prospect of their teenager having a bump.
2) They are cheaper to run: Spending less money on an older car is often a false economy. Older cars need more maintenance, drink more fuel and are often pricier on road tax and insurance. So when your little cherub asks you for some petrol money for their nearly new Corsa (trust me, they will try it!), it should be a little longer before they come back for more! A newer car will also hold a better resale value when you come to part exchange. Cars from Thame Car Sales have the remainder of the manufacturer’s warranty as well, so there's an even slimmer chance of a nasty unexpected bill.
3) They are easier to drive: For a novice driver a nearly new car is easier to live with. Modern cars have a range of driver aids such as power steering and are generally smoother and easier to operate. This means that a new driver can spend less time worrying about controlling the car, and more time watching what’s going on around them.
Thame Car Sales specialise in nearly new cars, all under two years old with up to a 50% saving from new. We keep a large stock of learner-friendly small cars such as the vibrant Vauxhall Viva or the feisty Ford Fiesta, giving you decent fuel economy and a low insurance group to help get your offspring out on the road without breaking the bank.
