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  • Buying Daughter a first car.

Blokes, (And Sheila's, Blokes who want to be sheilas and sus looking sheilas named Judith)

Headed down the path to decide what she (Nearly 17 yr old Daughter) wants is a slippery slope and there was much discussion on how pretty some cars were and how cool others looked for a week or so which led to many a long winded explanation as to why she shouldnt buy a convertible Astra in black with 400'000 country miles and only 12 careful owners and why a Commodore would get her disowned so she started looking at Mitsubishi's and after much cruising of Carsales.com.au a Magna or Verada became the favourite especially anything with a manual gearbox, white face instruments and mag wheels so I knew id tapped her inner hoon and the car education could begin in earnest.

From there I bumped the price up a few k and excluded a few car makes from the mix and sneakily added Volvo, ticked the P plate ok box and left her to browse and the end result was she found 850's, S70's and C70's with a strong pref towards the S70 of the late 90's and anything with a 2 tone interior that wasn't dark.

So now we have narrowed the choices down to A Volvo, A Volvo or a Volvo I'm going to pick your brains on what's a good model to choose, good platform etc in NA form that will do mainly country highway miles in either auto or manual because im a bit ignorant on the subtleties of FWD Volvo apart from S I and S 1.5 V40's and they have been interesting.

The amount to spend is flexible and she may well change her mind but colour plays a big part and your suggestions and tips are sought.

what price is she willing to spend as i have a c70 covertable we are selling 2003, gun metal gray with black roof and two tone interior. Black top dash and oak interior so if interested pm me and I can send pics.
Thanks Steve, its probably a few months away before she is ready to bite the bullet and she currently has 3 - 4k ish to spend drive away and I suggested she have 5k in the kitty to cover incidentals on top of the purchase which I suspect would be below what an MY03 ragtop would fetch.
Sorry to jump in here as a first post without introducing myself but couldn't resist as I'm sort of involved in this area and I also have a 16 yo learner.

FWIW my passion for Volvo's goes back to the mid 70s, when I spent time in my relative's 144's (a 70 and a 74), followed by my father's 75 244 (also spent part of my learner period in that). Made sure both of my daughters started out in Volvo's as well

Have a look at the How Safe Is Your Car website. For older vehicles it gives 'real world' crash results, for newer ones ANCAP/NCAP.

In the budget realms the best performer you're going to get is a Phase 2 S40/V40 - 5 stars. A Phase 1/1.5 rates as well, but the Phase 2 is ideal due to curtains and ESC. You can get the Phase 2 with a light interior.

I picked up a Phase 1 V40 from John at Voldat for my son to learn on/start out on because of the 5 star rating.

If you can stretch to the second gen S40/V50 so much the better.

There are some great 850/S70/V70/C70s out there but sadly they don't crash so well (3 stars). Seeing probationary drivers are the highest risk group on the roads, anything less than 4 stars isn't a great idea for a newbie.

Also watch the motor - LPTs are generally OK for P drivers nowadays but may require an exemption. HPTs are generally still banned.

Happy hunting!
Welcome !
Chris;65413 wroteSorry to jump in here as a first post without introducing myself but couldn't resist as I'm sort of involved in this area and I also have a 16 yo learner.

FWIW my passion for Volvo's goes back to the mid 70s, when I spent time in my relative's 144's (a 70 and a 74), followed by my father's 75 244 (also spent part of my learner period in that). Made sure both of my daughters started out in Volvo's as well

Have a look at the How Safe Is Your Car website. For older vehicles it gives 'real world' crash results, for newer ones ANCAP/NCAP.

In the budget realms the best performer you're going to get is a Phase 2 S40/V40 - 5 stars. A Phase 1/1.5 rates as well, but the Phase 2 is ideal due to curtains and ESC. You can get the Phase 2 with a light interior.

I picked up a Phase 1 V40 from John at Voldat for my son to learn on/start out on because of the 5 star rating.

If you can stretch to the second gen S40/V50 so much the better.

There are some great 850/S70/V70/C70s out there but sadly they don't crash so well (3 stars). Seeing probationary drivers are the highest risk group on the roads, anything less than 4 stars isn't a great idea for a newbie.

Also watch the motor - LPTs are generally OK for P drivers nowadays but may require an exemption. HPTs are generally still banned.

Happy hunting!
Thanks Chris,

Im trying to avoid Turbo's and yes even LPT's or id chuck her in my S1 V40t which she quite likes. (5 star rated too I noticed)

The other niggle is the safety rating system which isnt really accurate for our situation as her commute will be 2 lane B Hwy's at 100 kph sharing the road with Tipper and Dog combo's, Milk tankers and wankerfied HiLuxes, Pootrols etc so my focus is more on braking, handling and collision avoidance but the secondary consideration is the sheer amount of wildlife we dodge.

Gave my 940 wagon to my Son so im back in the 740 wagon and in the last 3 years I have hit over 20 foxes, clipped 4 wallabies and a roo or 2 and dodged a dozen or so Wombats with Cass in the car as I start teaching them fairly young on at least driver attitude and the basics of the Hendon System of car control as my thinking is more that they should rely on forwards observation, driving to the conditions and car control than the safety of curtain airbags, EST, ABS, BFD and blind luck.

My concern is that even the safest car has limits and at 100 or 110 all bets are off so id rather they avoid it than be safer if they run out of talent although both would be ideal.

Interesting site though but no rating on the 940
Get her a 240. It will be a simple car that she will grow to love. FWD Volvo's are pretty meh in N/A form and the slowness of a 240 is made up by its charm and character.
You're right that at 100 k or more all bets are off, even in a new car (much over 80 in fact according to all the major manufacturers).

I'd argue that the primary safety in an S/V40 is fine. They're no sports car but they are competent. For that matter you could always mod the suspension if you want more out of one (e.g. upgrade to T4 spec).

As for the safety gear, it's for when car control can't help any more - ran out of talent as you suggested, but also misjudged, victim of unforeseen events etc. The stuff P drivers are more prone to...

The site doesn't rate cars if there's not enough data. They revise the data every few years, and used to have the 7/9 series. Probably don't now because the original data is old and not so many left on the road. They were rated 4 stars, nowadays maybe would be rated 4 or 3, hard to say.
Slowbrick;65426 wroteGet her a 240. It will be a simple car that she will grow to love. FWD Volvo's are pretty meh in N/A form and the slowness of a 240 is made up by its charm and character.
Went down that track looking at 240's and 242's, I thought she'd have been a little kinder as she grew up in them but a very firm No was the answer.
Same with 740's although she said she would loves the turbo and would drive mine but wont own one.

Can't go wrong with a Magna. They devalue like nothing else, so you get a lot of car for the money.
Chris;65427 wroteYou're right that at 100 k or more all bets are off, even in a new car (much over 80 in fact according to all the major manufacturers).

I'd argue that the primary safety in an S/V40 is fine. They're no sports car but they are competent. For that matter you could always mod the suspension if you want more out of one (e.g. upgrade to T4 spec).

As for the safety gear, it's for when car control can't help any more - ran out of talent as you suggested, but also misjudged, victim of unforeseen events etc. The stuff P drivers are more prone to...

The site doesn't rate cars if there's not enough data. They revise the data every few years, and used to have the 7/9 series. Probably don't now because the original data is old and not so many left on the road. They were rated 4 stars, nowadays maybe would be rated 4 or 3, hard to say.
The roads really are pretty ordinary here with the South Gippsland Hwy being the worst but the Strzelecki Hwy is still challenging and its not unusual to find Cattle on the road at 5 or 6 am mid winter either.

My Son who was Volvo resistant initially but has grown to love and admire the engineering has admitted to 3 occasions in the 4 months he has been driving where the car has saved his and pedestrians lives plus the time he beached the car up an embankment and survived unscathed (Car as well).

I also collect and maintain W116 S class Mercedes which are exceedingly well designed for a 1970's saloon and they or a W126 would be my choice (I have a very nice 77 450SE here) but they are not as reliable or resilient as the Volvo's are and V8 which doesnt help although I also have a 280S W116 she could drive.

I trust her ability so far and we play Spot the hazard day or night so see who spots the danger first, Teach her to drive by the car 5 cars up not on the tail lights of the car in front and a bit more time on the paddock and she will have J turns down pat along with her power slides although since we moved I dont have the house paddock/Skid pan/Figure 8.

Make it fun and the buggers learn like crazy
jamesinc;65429 wroteCan't go wrong with a Magna. They devalue like nothing else, so you get a lot of car for the money.
yeah I noticed that, Incredible value for money and even the VRX's etc are cheap as hell.

I have a KS Verada 3.0 my Dad is/was driving for a bit and its a really nice comfy car with a fair bit of poke, Id not be upset if she stuck to her guns but the Volvo's grabbed her attention and IMO are safer.

She IS a hoon and gaining skills so who knows where it will end
Oppolock;65428 wrote
Slowbrick;65426 wroteGet her a 240. It will be a simple car that she will grow to love. FWD Volvo's are pretty meh in N/A form and the slowness of a 240 is made up by its charm and character.
but a very firm No was the answer.
Lol white families. When I was getting my first car it what was Dad picked and if I didnt like it then he said "you can always go out and buy your own if you want". The choice is made for you when your Dad is ethnic.

Man my parents got me a 1985 240GL as my first car, and I was stoked. Don't think I had much of an opinion on Volvo before that. As a teenager I had Monaro posters on my bedroom wall (I still think the Monaro was cool).
hi, interesting reading all the comments. personally I would not be looking at soft tops, given the road conditions you describe. And although I am a rear drive Volvo enthusiast, for safety I have to concede that the later the model, the safer it will be. also the bigger the better. so S60 or V70 naturally aspirated 5 cylinder with 2 wheel drive would be my target, as new as you can afford. I had to laugh about magnas ! they would be he most common car I see abandoned beside the highway.
Im a clog wog, did exactly that for the first few.
They drove mine or my spare until their attitude improved at which time they paid a token amount and owned the car (Coz if its free there is less respect) but this ones a little different as she work hard, earns well and amazingly saves like crazy without being a tightarse.

Hence a little more choice and to be perfectly honest 200 series Volvos are now way too old and stupid money for a nice one, Id rather find her a 142 or 144e if she liked the style anyway.
Nosi;65434 wrotehi, interesting reading all the comments. personally I would not be looking at soft tops, given the road conditions you describe. And although I am a rear drive Volvo enthusiast, for safety I have to concede that the later the model, the safer it will be. also the bigger the better. so S60 or V70 naturally aspirated 5 cylinder with 2 wheel drive would be my target, as new as you can afford. I had to laugh about magnas ! they would be he most common car I see abandoned beside the highway.
Around here its commodores on the side of the road, The second the temp goes over 30 lol

Either way im not letting her into an Astra although a Volvo convertible is a nice and safe car.

Initial impressions where (On her part) that the C70 looked like a Mustang or Monaro and she has a point but it may end up being a sedan like an S70 or even an 850, her preference is for a manual car surprisingly but she formed her opinion on the 1.5 twin cam Accent rocket and some of my shenanigans blipping up and down the gears (Box is tired).

its a bit hard to explain but Old School country is as close as it gets describing her attitude.
Slowbrick;65432 wroteThe choice is made for you when your Dad is ethnic.
LMAO Just remembered my first car, Tottenham auctions, Ex RAAF Valiant wagon.......
He chose, I paid.

Manual phase 2 s40 or v40. They stop and go really well and are great on the highway, most likely to find the s/v40's in manual too.
3 things I would think about (I had thought of a clever 3 R's thing.... but can now only remember 2...) in addition to what the others had said:
-Reliability
-Road holding (handling)
-R_____

That thought process came about after talking to a mate who is a mechanic bought his daughter an E46 BMW 318is. Why did he chose that? It had better safety and handling than an equivalent price Falcodore, due to IRS and airbags...

Without wanting to sound unkind, I'd also think about size of the car... there is an ulterior motive... if it's a smaller car than it is less comfy for a couple of mates to grab a lift....

Going for something that is predictable and stable in terms of handling is going to be advantageous - so not picking something like an early 911 would be a good plan in my book, especially given the inevitable mix of dirt, large animals and wet roads that catch drivers out...
There are more p80s on the road so more accidents, where the s40 etc is less common so appears safer, its physically smaller with similar age body structure but its not made by volvo sweden.

For a first car.... I'm mot not sure how many kms she will travel but a p80 is a better car to own than a s/v40..
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