I might be tempted to suggest something older but larger than a supermini. If you get used to something more "grown up" from day one you'll never feel intimidated by the notion of driving larger cars and you'll be able to get grandparents, child, shopping and bike in it all at the same time if required. Bigger generally equals safer too if you do have an occasional bollard chance encounter.

Once you've got over your probation/induction period, a year or two will make a huge difference to your confidence and skill, you might think of something like a Qashqai. Plenty of room for kit and people, very reliable and economical if you avoid the 2.0 petrol engine, and a good NCAP rating.

Good luck with it all !

Edited by Alby Back on 18/05/2013 at 22:08

Good advice BT. My wife passed her test on an old style Mini but as soon as she had, as in the following day, she was given the task of doing the branch deliveries for the chain of shops she worked for in an old RWD Transit van. She admits that it was at first daunting but that she soon got the hang of it and by force of necessity got used to throwing it about busy town centres, parking it in tight spaces on the mirrors, sliding it about in bad weather etc.

Years later, she has no fear or problems driving/parking any car.

A recent observation from a collegue who works in insurance, was older cars generally are dearer to insure than modern cars even if you only want 3rd party insurance.

Theres a lots of reasons for this approach from insurance companies

from older cars generally being less safe, thus more chance of an injury to the vehicle occupant

to a general rule that older cars are more risky as the maintenance tends to suffer as their value hits a certain level.

A case in point.

Her 30 year old daughter,living in a major city with 0 (no) no claims.

ford fiesta 51 plate - £1,420

dacia sandero brand new mid spec - £710

and it is not unique to the sandero, she had slightly more expensive quotes from a corsa, up, fabia, etc all brand new.

And yet, the fiesta is worth £500 the sandero costs £6,600.

I fully understand the logic that an old car worth £500 insured 3rd party should pose less of a risk to an insurer, but thats not how they see it.