Cars for kids: choosing the right car - Best buy up to £5000

Ford Fiesta 1.25 LX 3dr ('03/53-'05/05)
Price from £4200

Ask someone to name an ideal first car and the answer will probably be a Ford Fiesta.

There's a good reason for this - it's cheap, well built and there are lots to choose from.

It's also easy to drive and the 1.25-litre engine is fairly lively.

Surprisingly the Fiesta costs more to insure than most of its rivals, but it's cheap to buy and run. You'll even get a few months' warranty cover on a late-model car.

There are literally hundreds of Fiestas on the used market, so finding a good one shouldn't be a problem.

Anti-lock brakes were fitted as standard to LX models from August 2003, so look out for cars built after this date.

The only real downside from a safety point of view is the lack of stability control.

Or try a...
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 E 5dr ('02/02-'03/53)
Price from £4400

A Golf means impressive quality and reliability.

The VW is expensive to buy, and it'll cost more to run and insure than most superminis, but it'll still be worth a fair bit when you sell it.

Stability control was standard from May 2002.

Renault Modus 1.2 Authentique 5dr ('04/54-'05/55)
Price from £4500

The Modus won't be on the radar of most young drivers, but it makes a lot of sense.

A five-star NCAP crash rating means it'll protect occupants extremely well in an accident.

The 1.2 Authentique is also economical and cheap to insure.