YOUNG drivers are being encouraged to consider an affordable city car that not only boasts good looks but is also very easy to drive.
Popular motoring YouTuber Matt Richardson from Furious Driving has picked out a popular used car that teenagers can purchase on a budget.
In a video, Matt drives a Fiat 500 1.2 Lounge from 2011 and loves the small car’s brilliant style, tech, and reasonable price tag.
He said: “Things are different from when I was 17 – it’s no longer about finding a £300 car to fix yourself.
“17-year-olds these days want a bit more, like working air-con, airbags and all the good stuff that we never had.
“That costs money, except if you have one of the best-selling cars of the last decade and a half.
“This little Fiat 500 just sold for £1,500 and it’s only got 89,000 miles on it, a full service history, new timing belt, new clutch, recent tyres.
“It has everything you want in a second-hand car.”
The 500 model has been a best-seller for Fiat since its launch in 2007, selling around 175,000 units annually across Europe.
This means there are plenty available on the used car market, with older models—such as
Matt’s 2011 example—typically priced from £1,500.
Matt was particularly impressed with the motor’s retro styling, especially the interior.
He said: “The interior really is a fantastic retro fest.
“If you like mid-century styling or just things that look a bit cool, quirky and different, this is the car for you.
“The Ford Ka is probably a more sensible option, but this just looks so good.”
He praises its “fantastic ‘tea shelf’ area” while noting the dashboard “just goes on forever” and even has four cup holders.
On the road, Matt emphasises how easy the Fiat is to drive.
He said: “In terms of driving, it is a very easy car.
“The steering has a little bit of weight in the power-assistance, though we do have Fiat’s ‘City Button’ which makes things really, really light – personally, I find it alarmingly light.
“But, sitting so high up, we do have excellent visibility all around the car with that big glass area.
“It’s got a really short bonnet, so parking is easy too.
“This thing’s only 3.5 metres long and 1.6 metres wide, so finding a parking space for it is never going to be a problem.”
This comes as petrolheads were encouraged to snap up a £4,000 motor that’s “one of best value for money” hot hatches available.
And a major UK supermarket has revealed how drivers can bag extra points when parking and shopping at stores.
