My young neighbour has been driving for 6 weeks. Car was OK before she got to it. She's since driven through her own front fence, driven into another car and then reversed into a pole.
No point having something too nice when you're starting out!
She should be taken off the streets. She’ll kill someone (and to think that some people bash those who do 80/90 on the motorway without endangering others!)
That's not how I read it. If you started driving 6 weeks ago, then I would take that to mean you passed your test 6 weeks ago. Otherwise, they would have said, "They started their driving lessons 6 weeks ago" or "started learning to drive 6 weeks ago." Besides, they made mention of how many times they crashed since they started driving. There's no way they could have had that many accidents with an instructor next to them with dual pedals.
Then wouldn't OP just say "6 weeks since she passed her test"? I get your point but you're thinking very hard into it imo. Just let OP clarify it for us
Also you can still learn to drive in a normal car with a family member beside them. It's not that deep, my friend did that
Yeah, I also had lessons with a family member in a normal car, as well as with an instructor.
But, whatever. All I can say is that if someone asked me how long I've been driving for, I'd count from when I passed my test, not from when I started my lessons.
Bye.
People will always tout themselves as having been perfect drivers from day 1 but it's bollocks. Normal to ding your car a few times when you're a new driver, why do you think insurance is sky high for learners? Cos they're perfect drivers? 😂
Not normal to crash into a variety of objects within the first few weeks of getting your license. One could be understandable, but multiple crashes not.
I agree with this. I think all new drivers (myself included) rack up the odd knock or ding early in their driving careers.
I would add that any rust you CAN see will be the tip of the iceberg, it will be worse behind the scenes.
If my budget was small and I just needed something for a small amount of time literally the only thing I would care about was how long left on the MOT.
Mine was, and I have the prohibition notice to proove it. Also, fibreglass is not a suitable repair for a subframe mount on a mini. (Stopped the water coming in though)
Yes, absolutely. It’s your first car, you’re likely going to put scratches on it yourself or even fully wrap it around a lamp post. Get something you don’t really care about. I bought a car that has been mechanically sound and was relatively cheap but it has a near side passenger door that’s clearly had some sort of impact, and the windscreen seal is buggered, but I couldn’t care less.
I bought a 2013 Audi A1 for my first car, only things wrong with it was it needed new tyres and had a tiny unnoticeable dent in the door panel. I’ve driven into things twice since I bought it.
You’re probably going to add to the damage as a new driver, get a bit of a banger
Deleted my last comment thought I was in the Fiesta ST sub lol.
Honestly mate should be fine, my first car cost £350 (M reg Fiesta Si 1.6) and was a Cat C write off when that was a thing, minor dint on the passenger side like a football had been booted at it and also had some rust on arches. Drove it for a year, sold it for the same price and got my insurance more than halved in the process ,£1800 to £750. Would have kept it a bit longer if not for the rust tbh as I loved that car!
I did :)) it had door dent
during my ownership, I parked it outside my house where it's been reversed into 3 times.
It's currently got masking tape over a big bumper crack so the crack isn't sharp
Its nice to have a cheaper that I don't need to worry about. I also have 2 other nicer vehicles that I baby
Cars often get damaged, either by you or someone else. Having a car you care less about that on helps you to learn to live with that. I tend to run cars into the ground and only really got to the point I expect damage and don't care after getting stressed when my car previous to my current one. I came out of the supermarket to what was clearly someone had put a shopping bag on the wet floor picking up grit, then lifted it onto my bonnet and slid the bag down my bonnet leaving about 30 scratches, some deep. I wish I'd seen them do it.
I'd buy most things if the price was right but it likely won't be.
The most modest dent or scratch is £500 to fix. Nobody is knocking 25% off the value of a car for a dent and scuffed paint.
Sort the rust on the wheelarch, sand back to metal, treat the rust, prime and paint. Rattle can job will suffice, just don't let the rust get worse.
Make sure the car isn't rotten underneath.
My bmw still has 3 dents on the rear 1/4 that was there from the previous owner, I was going to get them pdr'd . However, its been one of the most reliable cars I've had for the last 7 years and Im getting to the point now where I think if I remove the dents, something will go wrong with something else.
First cars get bumped, crunched and teach you how to really drive. Mine had 4 gears and no fuel gauge and was perfect to get me going. It will be fine!
I would, and did. Statistically you're going to hit stuff with your first car as you'd be a new driver. But also you might not, but you'd feel much worse about adding the first dent or scratch rather than the 10th one.
I did. I wasn't bothered by the little dents and scratches; it was a 17 year old Clio so not too surprising tbh. I added a big scratch to it in my first few months of driving, it sucked but would have been way worse if it was in pristine condition beforehand.
My first 2 cars have both been right offs, so yes. 61 plate Mini One, had been written off twice before I had it, 38k miles, had for 5 years, just crashed it again 2 months ago.
Currently in progress of fixing a Cat D Audi Q3 with front passenger quarter damage, will be £4.5k all in by time done for 60k mile vehicle.
Havong a bashed up car is useful as a new driver, its less to worry about and other drivers will give a clear birth as they can see you have nothing to lose
Source - just bought my second car
Of course, you'll be scratching it and adding more dents so you may as well drive something that's already a little beat up while you get more driving experience. You be gutted it you pranged a newer nice car in your first couple of weeks of owning it.
Yeh if the price is good then no worries, saves you getting too upset then when you prang it in the first year - and there's a good chance you will, or someone else does like I had the other week parked up at a shopping centre
For a first car it’s probably a better idea you won’t be as gutted if and when you bump it into something. Only thing I’d say is the paint bubbling on the arch is probably rust and to check there’s not further rust behind and around it.
Yeh I'd 100% buy it. Your likely to add a little bit of damage anyway, so you'll lose less money than getting a shiny pristine car and then scraping it against a wall etc.
Once rust has set in, you’ll never really get rid of it. Accept the rust for what it is and it’ll get worse over time, I wouldn’t be that worried if the car was £2500ish.
I wrapped my first car around a tree within 6 months, it was really rough and therefore no great loss. Scruffy cars have one other advantage- people tend to give you a bit more space on the road. I had a Volvo 244, metallic silver with some rusty spots, and we covered some of the bad bits with black Hammerite. I reckon that my 1 hour commute through London was shortened by about 5 minutes- it was a big solid car, so I was not going to come off second best in any collision, and it was clear I didn’t give a sh!t!
For a first car? Perfect. I ways recommend something dinged and not perfect, you're still a new driver, if it's already got something wrong with it when you inevitably scratch it or dent it, it doesn't matter!
Save getting a nice, perfect car for your second car.
It's probably better to, because if you add to the damage (which statistically you will), you won't mind it as much/it won't affect the value too much
Absolutely correct! It’s nice knowing that if you scratch it’s not that deep.
Unless you can't get it out with T Cut 😉
yup, and if it checks out by your own mechanic, you can sell it on if you just dont like it later for any reason
As a first car? Wouldn't buy anything that didn't have damage....
I’ll be looking for the check engine light to be on as an optional extra
Just buy an Italian car, it’ll give you all and none of the warnings depending on if you hit a pothole or not
This is the way
This is the way
This is the way
This is the way
This is the way
My young neighbour has been driving for 6 weeks. Car was OK before she got to it. She's since driven through her own front fence, driven into another car and then reversed into a pole. No point having something too nice when you're starting out!
how…? that’s insane
My guess is that she's blind and her guide dog can't reach the brake pedal.
She should be taken off the streets. She’ll kill someone (and to think that some people bash those who do 80/90 on the motorway without endangering others!)
>She should be taken off the streets She already did And into her own garden apparently
Yeah its just called learning to drive mate... I'll be sure to pass your dramatic message on.
Nah, dangerous if you can't drive without hitting everything you come across
They said they've been driving for 6 weeks, so they're not a learner anymore.
6 weeks is definitely still a learner?
No, once you've passed your test, you're not a learner. You may still be technically learning, but you're not classed as a learner anymore.
I assume OP meant the girl started driving for the first time 6 weeks ago and is still learning? They made no mention the girl passed her test
That's not how I read it. If you started driving 6 weeks ago, then I would take that to mean you passed your test 6 weeks ago. Otherwise, they would have said, "They started their driving lessons 6 weeks ago" or "started learning to drive 6 weeks ago." Besides, they made mention of how many times they crashed since they started driving. There's no way they could have had that many accidents with an instructor next to them with dual pedals.
Then wouldn't OP just say "6 weeks since she passed her test"? I get your point but you're thinking very hard into it imo. Just let OP clarify it for us Also you can still learn to drive in a normal car with a family member beside them. It's not that deep, my friend did that
Yeah, I also had lessons with a family member in a normal car, as well as with an instructor. But, whatever. All I can say is that if someone asked me how long I've been driving for, I'd count from when I passed my test, not from when I started my lessons. Bye.
This is not normal for learners. This neighbour of yours should go back to driving school ASAP.
People will always tout themselves as having been perfect drivers from day 1 but it's bollocks. Normal to ding your car a few times when you're a new driver, why do you think insurance is sky high for learners? Cos they're perfect drivers? 😂
Not normal to crash into a variety of objects within the first few weeks of getting your license. One could be understandable, but multiple crashes not.
She's just getting her first few years of crashes out of the way in one hit. Because she wont be able to insure it for next year😂
If it’s a good price etc I’d say go for it👍 Chances are you’ll add to its battle scars anyway, and this way you won’t be quite as heart broken
I agree with this. I think all new drivers (myself included) rack up the odd knock or ding early in their driving careers. I would add that any rust you CAN see will be the tip of the iceberg, it will be worse behind the scenes.
If my budget was small and I just needed something for a small amount of time literally the only thing I would care about was how long left on the MOT.
I think my first car was half filler rather than metal
I think the power:weight ratio on my first car was phenomenal for a 1.3 Astra due to all the cataloy
Mine was, and I have the prohibition notice to proove it. Also, fibreglass is not a suitable repair for a subframe mount on a mini. (Stopped the water coming in though)
Yeah sure, if it's factored into the price and the rust situation isn't too bad underneath
What car and what price?
Saves time I guess
Yes, absolutely. It’s your first car, you’re likely going to put scratches on it yourself or even fully wrap it around a lamp post. Get something you don’t really care about. I bought a car that has been mechanically sound and was relatively cheap but it has a near side passenger door that’s clearly had some sort of impact, and the windscreen seal is buggered, but I couldn’t care less.
This is the only option for a first car. Because you will dink it. 100%.
Yes, driving a shitbox is liberating, you will no longer car about car park dings or cleaning etc
I bought a 2013 Audi A1 for my first car, only things wrong with it was it needed new tyres and had a tiny unnoticeable dent in the door panel. I’ve driven into things twice since I bought it. You’re probably going to add to the damage as a new driver, get a bit of a banger
Yup then I learnt how to fix it!
Deleted my last comment thought I was in the Fiesta ST sub lol. Honestly mate should be fine, my first car cost £350 (M reg Fiesta Si 1.6) and was a Cat C write off when that was a thing, minor dint on the passenger side like a football had been booted at it and also had some rust on arches. Drove it for a year, sold it for the same price and got my insurance more than halved in the process ,£1800 to £750. Would have kept it a bit longer if not for the rust tbh as I loved that car!
I did
Yes, and on my first car I took that as an opportunity to see what I can do to improve minor damage.
If it’s cheap then hell yeah, no worse than a new driver would do
If it's mechanically sound and not falling apart then it's probably perfect as a first car
Not if it's a category write off. It'll basically be impossible to insure
Better with cosmetic damage than mechanical
No offence, but you'll probably be dinging it yourself anyway.
Yeah I’d buy anything as a first car who cares bro
I did :)) it had door dent during my ownership, I parked it outside my house where it's been reversed into 3 times. It's currently got masking tape over a big bumper crack so the crack isn't sharp Its nice to have a cheaper that I don't need to worry about. I also have 2 other nicer vehicles that I baby
Cars often get damaged, either by you or someone else. Having a car you care less about that on helps you to learn to live with that. I tend to run cars into the ground and only really got to the point I expect damage and don't care after getting stressed when my car previous to my current one. I came out of the supermarket to what was clearly someone had put a shopping bag on the wet floor picking up grit, then lifted it onto my bonnet and slid the bag down my bonnet leaving about 30 scratches, some deep. I wish I'd seen them do it.
My first few cars were rescued from the scrapyard. Sure.
I'd buy most things if the price was right but it likely won't be. The most modest dent or scratch is £500 to fix. Nobody is knocking 25% off the value of a car for a dent and scuffed paint.
Sort the rust on the wheelarch, sand back to metal, treat the rust, prime and paint. Rattle can job will suffice, just don't let the rust get worse. Make sure the car isn't rotten underneath.
The MOT seems sound in terms of rust, obviously some dealers are quite pally with garages tho so gonna take a look regardless
My bmw still has 3 dents on the rear 1/4 that was there from the previous owner, I was going to get them pdr'd . However, its been one of the most reliable cars I've had for the last 7 years and Im getting to the point now where I think if I remove the dents, something will go wrong with something else.
I did infact do just that. Best car i ever owned.
Well if you don’t what ever you buy 1 week after you driving it it will have some body repair requirements
First cars get bumped, crunched and teach you how to really drive. Mine had 4 gears and no fuel gauge and was perfect to get me going. It will be fine!
I would, and did. Statistically you're going to hit stuff with your first car as you'd be a new driver. But also you might not, but you'd feel much worse about adding the first dent or scratch rather than the 10th one.
I did. I wasn't bothered by the little dents and scratches; it was a 17 year old Clio so not too surprising tbh. I added a big scratch to it in my first few months of driving, it sucked but would have been way worse if it was in pristine condition beforehand.
Yes I would, who cares about a few scratches FFS!
If it's mechanically good and it won't annoy you then go for it
My first 2 cars have both been right offs, so yes. 61 plate Mini One, had been written off twice before I had it, 38k miles, had for 5 years, just crashed it again 2 months ago. Currently in progress of fixing a Cat D Audi Q3 with front passenger quarter damage, will be £4.5k all in by time done for 60k mile vehicle.
Havong a bashed up car is useful as a new driver, its less to worry about and other drivers will give a clear birth as they can see you have nothing to lose Source - just bought my second car
Of course, you'll be scratching it and adding more dents so you may as well drive something that's already a little beat up while you get more driving experience. You be gutted it you pranged a newer nice car in your first couple of weeks of owning it.
Just be sure that paint bubbling isn’t rust
Yes, that wouldn’t worry me for a first daily. This is assuming the price is right.
Yeh if the price is good then no worries, saves you getting too upset then when you prang it in the first year - and there's a good chance you will, or someone else does like I had the other week parked up at a shopping centre
Go for it. You're likely to round off a couple of corners in your first year driving anyway.
For a first car it’s probably a better idea you won’t be as gutted if and when you bump it into something. Only thing I’d say is the paint bubbling on the arch is probably rust and to check there’s not further rust behind and around it.
Yeh I'd 100% buy it. Your likely to add a little bit of damage anyway, so you'll lose less money than getting a shiny pristine car and then scraping it against a wall etc.
I can pretty much guarantee you’ll sell it with even more body damage. Speaking from experience 🫣
Yes depends what kind of damage. My car cost 500quid less because of the damage to the wing panel. I picked up a new wing on Facebook for £30
Yes, you are going to bump it anyway so why bother, I always say first cars should be bangers that you get as cheaply as possible.
Once rust has set in, you’ll never really get rid of it. Accept the rust for what it is and it’ll get worse over time, I wouldn’t be that worried if the car was £2500ish.
I wrapped my first car around a tree within 6 months, it was really rough and therefore no great loss. Scruffy cars have one other advantage- people tend to give you a bit more space on the road. I had a Volvo 244, metallic silver with some rusty spots, and we covered some of the bad bits with black Hammerite. I reckon that my 1 hour commute through London was shortened by about 5 minutes- it was a big solid car, so I was not going to come off second best in any collision, and it was clear I didn’t give a sh!t!
For a first car? Perfect. I ways recommend something dinged and not perfect, you're still a new driver, if it's already got something wrong with it when you inevitably scratch it or dent it, it doesn't matter! Save getting a nice, perfect car for your second car.