I'm moving back soon to the UK and will need to buy a car. I had overcome a big fear of driving before moving here, which due to some bad experiences here I have got all the fear back again.

After I was involved in some very nasty accident as a passenger some years ago in the UK I got a renault espace and this helped me feel safer, then I slowly got smaller and smaller cars until before I left the UK I had a tiny little renault and felt fine.

Anyway, I'm going to have to go through the process again of confidence building and I know my insurance on a bigger car will be more e.c.t but I'm only doing it to build my confidence like I did previously, then can downgrade to something smaller.

But my question is, what to buy? There are so many jeep type cars and MPV's and many other cars out ther since I had my original renault espace. I know that the renault espace is safe, but I wondered if anyone has any other experience of other cars that they have had and used that are larger and have a good safety record.

For example I saw a Vauxhall frontera which was nearly new with very low mileage, but have no cue what they are like. I wondered if others had some suggestions for suitable vehicles. Obviously, I dont want an old banger, instead would push most of my money into something to regain my confidence, since then this would help me be able to travel e.c.t and push my life forward alot. Ón the other hand I can't be spending like 15, 000 on something. I'm looking for something about 5 yrs old with ,low mileage up to about 8000 pounds tops.

Thanks

I'm not an expert in cars AT all, (even though I LOVE Top Gear) try www.whatcar.co.uk I've always found it a good guide, with good info for the non boy racers of us. Don't forget just HOW much the cost of fuel has gone up in the UK though!