So, what makes an ideal first car? Safety obviously plays an important role, as does reliability. And now fuel costs have entered the equation. And who wants sleep broken by tearful offspring, left stranded late at night because of a dodgy old car?

This brings in the wildcard that too many parents and their offspring don't consider. As cars get older, staying ahead of the maintenance will have more influence over safety and reliability than any design features when new.

The safest car when new can soon turn into a death trap if a young owner can't afford to repair or replace tyres, suspension, steering or brakes on a car that requires expensive premium parts. Fuel savings can also be quickly gobbled-up by expensive parts and servicing and the shorter service life of most small cars compared to a bigger one.

When safety and reliability are both dependent on up-to-date maintenance, especially as a car gets older, the safest and most reliable choices when new are not always the easiest or cheapest to keep that way.

The big shift in the Australian market since 2000 has caused many teenage drivers to reject reliable and easily-maintained Australian or Japanese everyday models. Instead, they insist on the latest European models or premium Japanese grey imports which often require specialist parts supplies and servicing.

Arguments for old Commodores and 'orphan' Japanese coupes can also end in tears when so many have already been butchered or badly maintained, so the Carsales Network has prepared an updated list of cars and suggestions to help you overcome any arguments of street cred over safety.

Our used car expert Joe Kenwright has selected a dozen very different vehicles that'll keep parents and kids equally happy. And safe.

Joe's outlined his general tips for choosing a first car, and he's also suggested vehicles with wide-ranging appeal -- from sensible choices and good buys to choices to avoid. The list includes examples that will help you hold up any automotive argument.

GENERAL TIPS
When choosing a first car consider the following...

If the car must be left in a campus or railway car park, inner city streets or late night workplace, avoid models popular with thieves. Don't choose a model that locks a young buyer into high maintenance costs which is why the under-$10,000 list contains few Europeans.

Build up a no-claim bonus on a car that is cheap to insure for big savings when it's time to buy a better car. This could mean choosing a car with plenty of spares in the recycling yards so you can fix a minor bingle without making an insurance claim.

If you are a parent buying a first car for a young driver, ensure that he or she has some investment in the choice, insurance and running costs so they don't drive it into the ground to prove the parental choice wrong.

A large car hitting the rear of some small hatches even at city speeds is enough to pin the rear passengers. Measure the distance between the back seat and rear bumper, then ask if it's enough to stop a large car or 4WD. For car pooling, choose a sedan, wagon or a 'long-tail' hatch with extended rear section that can also separate luggage from passengers.

By moving away from trendy or popular choices, you can often buy a much newer model for less money.

A grandparent's low mileage older car is rarely a good first car option as hard, everyday use by a young driver can generate a flood of age-related repairs. Older cars don't have modern safety features and need more regular maintenance. If a family heirloom has collector's status, cash it in with a collector and use the proceeds to buy a more suitable first car.

The automatic transmissions in most small cars will fail between 100,000-160,000km at a cost of $2000-3500. Some are not designed to be repaired at all. A clutch replacement for a small manual transmission vehicle will rarely exceed $700 and manual fuel savings compared to an old technology automatic transmission are quite significant.

Extended driver-training to allow a young driver to pass a manual driver's licence will not only produce a safer, more competent driver, it doubles the choice of used cars then adds a safety margin for driving during overseas trips when automatic vehicles are not always available.

The latest extended service intervals are too long for most cars if they are used for short trips and stop-start running, so checking out service records and strange engine noises is more critical than ever. If an engine is so sludged-up that the oil can no longer move around the engine, the entire engine may have to be scrapped.

If your new driver is a student, start your search long before the end of year exams. December, January and February are the worst times to buy when most sellers need their cars for Christmas or holidays.

If there is not a suitable car in the household for a learner driver, consider buying a car earlier so that the learner driver can build up the required hours of driving experience. Avoiding the risk of unlicensed, unsupervised driving during this period can be an important component of this strategy.

TOP FIRST CAR CHOICES
When it's time to go shopping, consider these models first...

1995-2000 Honda CXi/GLi three-door hatch
Price: $4000-10,000
Why? Honda's best-ever three-door runabout hatch works better for two-person use as rear seat room is tight and too close to the rear bumper for any serious impact protection.

Honda toughened the Civic up for this sixth-generation model then got caught when the price of the base model raced up to $25,000 in the recession. Prices had to be slashed by $4000 from 1997 with some loss of quality but sales recovered immediately which explains why there are more later models at the top end of this price range and not so many older ones at the lower end. Original owners looked after their investment better than the second or third owner so buying from the first owner is best.

Cosmetic damage to wheelcovers and painted bumpers is not always cheap to fix. Sludged-up Civic engines are notorious throw-away items if the car has done too many short trips with not enough oil changes otherwise quality and reliability are exceptional.

» Also consider: Honda Integra, Peugeot 306 Style, Nissan NX, Mazda/Eunos 30X, Ford KJ Laser Liata LXi, Toyota Corolla Sprinter.

2001-05 Holden XC Barina three-door hatch
Price: $6000-12,000
Why? Unlike the European Barina's big brother Astra, the Barina missed out on several engineering features waiting to trap used buyers with big repair bills. Unlike its Korean-built TK Barina replacement, it's a much better bet in a collision.

And there's the rub. The XC Barina was really a premium $21,000 light car that Holden had to sell at Korean prices until it could get its own cheapie Korean light car on the market. Hence this model -- and the last of the SB Barinas before it (August 1997 on) which shared the same upgraded 1.4 engine -- are among the safest, affordable light car buys in this price range, even if rear impact protection is still minimal.

The XC Barina is the European Opel Corsa by another name and because its home market expects it to be simple and reliable, that's what you get. After the paint and plastics faded on the previous model, Holden made sure it didn't happen again.

» Also consider: Mitsubishi Mirage and Suzuki Baleno (both small hatch versions of larger models hence can be more substantial than smaller rivals), Toyota Starlet, Toyota Echo, Daihatsu Charade, Hyundai Excel/Accent, Ford Festiva/Kia Rio, Mazda 121, Mazda2.

1996-2001 Mitsubishi CE Lancer GLi/GLXi two-door coupe
Price: $4000-$12,000
Why? The Lancer coupe (and its Mirage hatch equivalent) was a clever and more stylish variation of Mitsubishi's boring Lancer sedan missing two doors, with a price that placed it against less substantial light cars. The formula is even more relevant as a used car as both are more acceptable and appealing to young buyers than the typical light hatch.

Even if the base engine is only 1.5-litres and delivers good economy, no one needs to know there is a wheeny under the bonnet when a set of spoilers and alloys can suggest otherwise. The pricier GLXi with its 1.8-litre brings extra thirst but probably necessary for auto and air-conditioning.

Road noise is the only drawback but otherwise these small Mitsubishis are proving long-lived and reliable if they are serviced regularly.

» Also consider: Nissan Pulsar, Ford Laser, Honda Civic sedan, Toyota Corolla/Holden Nova, Mitsubishi Lancer sedan/wagon.

1993-2000 Subaru Impreza GX AWD sedan and five-door hatch
Price: $6000-$11,000
Why? It shares its all-wheel drive, smooth 2.0-litre engine and stronger floorpan with the larger Liberty in a smaller, more frugal package. And when ESP is not yet available in this price range, the Impreza's all-paw grip is the closest you can get to this safety level, although it does add weight and extra parts.

The Impreza hatch is more like a small wagon with extra crush zone and luggage space.

Subaru's flat four engine and unusual drivetrain layout will bring extra repair costs if the correct maintenance is skipped. Parts and service can also be costly through the factory-owned dealer chain, but Subaru specialists geared to keeping the older models on the road for drivers on a budget seem to be growing.

WRX-image makes this more basic Impreza version more palatable to younger drivers. Early versions may need premium unleaded to avoid pinging (pre-ignition).

» Also consider: Subaru Liberty, Toyota Corolla AWD wagon, Toyota RAV4.

1999-2002 Ford KN-KQ Laser/Mazda 323 sedan and five-door hatch
Price: $9000-13,000
Why? These span the upper end of this price range but are worth stretching for when Mazda returned to the original 323/Laser formula of a practical and spacious hatchback or roomy sedan with a choice of 1.6 or 1.8 drivetrains. There was even a sporty 2.0-litre version which is worth a look.

The most sought-after and therefore dearest choice in this category will always be the Toyota Corolla but Toyota wasn't the only one that stuck to a formula and refined it. The Mazda 323/Laser mechanicals stayed virtually the same from the end of 1985 which means they are still simple to work on and long-lived.

The semi-wagon styling of the hatch has not dated as quickly as others from this period and offers extra storage.

Both the Ford and Mazda versions were fully imported and differ only in detail and badging. Go for the 1.8 if air-conditioning and auto are essential whereas the basic 1.6 with manual is quite frugal for its size.

» Also consider: Nissan Pulsar, Ford Laser, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla/Holden Nova, Mitsubishi Lancer, Ford Focus, Holden TR Astra.

1997-2002 Toyota Camry 2.2
Prices: $6000-12,000
Why? The Camry is old school strong and heavy with a four-cylinder engine that won't tax its roadholding and braking capabilities. For some young drivers, they have the appeal of a cadaver but the Camry is forgiving to drive with a big boot and plenty of room.

Although its front-drive layout brings a larger turning circle than most small cars, it is guaranteed not to attract attention which might be exactly what some young drivers need. Despite their inherent reliability, none of Toyota's overhead cam engines will tolerate neglected oil or coolant changes over the longer term.

This is our 'LOW RISK' default choice.

FIRST CAR CHOICES WITH MORE SPACE
Need a little more room, than traditional small cars? Try these ones...

1997-2002 Mazda 626 sedan and five-door liftback
Price: $6000-$14,000
Why? Most medium cars of a decade ago are now smaller and less powerful than today's small cars, so why not take advantage of the bracket creep for a wide choice of quality, medium cars that are too often overlooked!

The last Mazda 626 may have been boring when new but it was the last of a long line of reliable, well-engineered 626 medium cars. It was well-sorted, offers a reasonably efficient 2.0-litre engine that doesn't die when the aircon is switched on and offers extra strength and space compared to most small cars from this era.

The liftback offers similar space and length behind the rear seat to the sedan and there is also a rare wagon version which even though it was a development of an earlier model, was no worse for it.

» Also consider: Toyota Camry/Holden Apollo, Honda Accord, Subaru Liberty, Mitsubishi Galant, Nissan Bluebird, Ford Mondeo, Holden Vectra.

2000-03 Mitsubishi TJ Magna sedan and wagon
Price: $7000-13,000
Why? Simply the most modern, most refined and potentially the safest passenger car you can buy for this money -- a position that was strengthened after Mitsubishi pulled the pin on local production.

The Magna's V6 engine can be more frugal in a cruising situation than most fours (especially with a full load of passengers and luggage onboard) so it may suit some young buyer usage patterns better than others.

Like its Toyota Camry V6/Vienta rival, there are a huge number of used examples to choose from which keeps prices honest. Because both models are engineered for extended fleet use, both are very reliable and relatively cheap to service.

Mitsubishi offered a choice of 3.0-litre and 3.5-litre engines.

» Also consider: Toyota Camry V6, Honda Accord V6, Mitsubishi Galant V6, Nissan Maxima.

2001-02 Holden VX Series II Commodore sedan
Price: $7000-12,000
Why? It took Holden four years to iron out the bugs and reverse the cost-cutting that compromised every Commodore prior to the VXII. The big advance from August 2001 was the local model's first multi-link suspension as fitted to German models since 1987, but only offered in Australia when the Monaro was on the horizon. It was therefore the first IRS Commodore where the rear suspension could be adjusted to reduce tyre wear and also the first not waiting to catch a young driver offguard during cornering or braking.

There are better and safer six-cylinder alternatives to a pre-VE Commodore as a first car (see Magna above) but the VXII, VY and VZ models are worth every cent extra over an earlier model if a young driver MUST have a Commodore.

If your young driver is switching from a low-powered front-drive model to a powerful rear-drive Commodore, make sure all concerned understand the fundamental differences in handling when the two layouts can behave the exact opposite under full power.
Also Look At: Ford Falcon, Nissan Maxima, Honda Accord V6, Toyota Vienta/Camry V6, Mitsubishi Magna/Verada.

1998-2002 Ford AU Series I-III Falcon Forte
Price: $5000-12,000
Why? As the taxi industry demonstrates repeatedly, there is nothing wrong with the AU Falcon as cheap-as-chips transport when its engine will run on LPG for almost forever, its automatic transmission is the cheapest in Australia to overhaul, parts are cheap and easily obtained and crash safety is better than its rivals.

Get over the budget interior and looks (which ironically are looking less dated these days) and the AU Falcon will quickly come into its own over long distances when running costs on a government-subsidised LPG conversion can be lower than a small car.

Its handling and ride are less reassuring than the Commodore's but at least it lets you know what's going on. Brakes were the first AU's weakest feature but they were addressed with the AUII facelift which is well worth any extra cost.

» Also consider: Holden Commodore, Nissan Maxima, Honda Accord V6, Toyota Vienta/Camry V6, Mitsubishi Magna/Verada.

1988-97 Nissan GQ Patrol/Ford Maverick four-wheel-drive wagon
Price: $6000-12,000
Why? For a young driver whose priority is to go bush, the GQ Patrol (and its Ford-badged Maverick equivalent) is a bulletproof choice thanks to high petrol prices which have placed these heavy-duty offroaders on the nose as family transport.

The rugged old diesel is the way to go for economy, but the big, otherwise thirsty petrol engine on gas can also minimise fuel costs providing the cylinder-head doesn't crack.

As for everyday commuting, look elsewhere but a young driver who is into horses and other recreational pastimes that dictate heavy towing, this can be the cheapest and most rugged entry ticket.

» Also consider: Toyota LandCruiser, Mitsubishi Pajero, Land Rover Discovery

1995-2000 Toyota Hilux
Price: $6000-12,000
Why? Young drivers will argue they need a Commodore ute for work but they don't carry much and are even more of a handful unladen than the sedan.

The Japanese one-tonners are crude and not very safe with handling and braking levels a long way short of the best passenger cars. Yet they will carry heavy loads, use minimal fuel in diesel or four-cylinder petrol form, are cheap to fix and run almost forever while holding resale value better than most.

Driven within their limits, they can teach a young driver how to handle a rear-drive vehicle and with the gentle power delivery of the four-cylinder versions, they take some provocation before they get really untidy. For carrying work and recreational equipment while not attracting attention, they have a lot going for them.

» Alternatives: Hilux's Holden Jackaroo/Ford Courier/Mazda B-series/Mitsubishi Triton/Nissan Navara equivalents. Vans which share the same mechanical layout.

TRENDY CHOICES THAT CAN HURT
Your young driver might simply HAVE to have this car, but consider the downsides

1997-2001 VT-VX Holden Commodore
Price: $4000-9000
Why? There is a code among certain young Australian male drivers. It goes something like this. Tell the parents that it is vital to have a larger car to protect them in case of a crash. In teenage speak, this means tell the folks whatever it takes so they will buy a Commodore like the rest of my mates, too many of which are used for burnouts and drifting.

The facts demand a closer examination. The VT-VX series Commodores were the heaviest and most powerful ever built up to that point, yet Holden still deleted the control links that the Germans added to the rear suspension of their much less powerful versions. These links were designed to stop the rear wheels from steering of their own accord during heavy braking and hard cornering.

While adequate for family drivers on skinny tyres and even reassuring on choppy surfaces, the Commodore's primitive suspension (it was the same as a Datsun 180B and early Triumphs) can struggle to keep its cool when age and fatter rubber are thrown into the equation. And when the rear end starts steering in another direction under cornering and braking forces, only the most skilled drivers can catch it.

If a young driver needs any further convincing, tell them that HSV had to go it alone by beefing up the suspension bushes then adding the missing control links before Holden addressed the issue later in 2001.

1988-2000 Suzuki Vitara
Price: $2000-12,000
Why? Small, economical, reliable, sturdy, well-built, trendy and cheap with a basic four-wheel-drive system, what else could a young driver need? Passenger car safety for a start.

The Vitara was a neat little package for those drivers who drove them conservatively and still is -- except the combination of a short wheelbase and high centre of gravity is not the most forgiving for a novice driver. Rear passenger safety is minimal especially when too many end up on their lid.

It's your call on whether a young driver will adjust to its limitations but these first Vitaras came from an era when there was one set of safety rules for passenger cars and another for offroaders.

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