My 34 year old son is a graduate student in California and is learning to drive there. He wants to buy a Toyota Prius and I'm happy to help out. I'd prefer he bought a new one but he says the insurance for a new driver in a new car is prohibitive and suggests getting a 2008 model with 50 - 70,000 on the clock.

Is he right? He is likely to be over there for at least 4 years so I think a new model would be best all round.