Monsieur Robert, there is an old adage that experience comes from making mistakes. A D3 is a large heavy thing which could potentially do a lot of harm in learning the hard way. Just my 2p but I would start smaller and work up.

Than I must have a great amount of experience
thanks

The other key criteria we all forgot to mention is which car is going to help him pull! And you know there's a lot of room in the back of a D3!!  Put two Rhodeasian Ridgebacks in a Range Rover and pretty soon it's their Ridge Rover.

What about a late D1 or early D2.
Cheap as chips, he'll learn how to service/repair them and it wont cost the earth to insure them.

Then he will never drive...he is a tech like his father. Two left hands being righthanded. But speaks 5 languages without blinking. drives my rally car around our "gardens" like a pro etc. but no not a tech. Although he might want to learn it someday. The idea is not bad, but I rather want him to be proud of his car and in that way takes better care.

I think what the issue with re young drivers, is that they don't have enough road sense. ( not the reality, the illusion, set by insurers) In that driving something large, when you need to make a split second decision, like an overtake, a blind bend, sensing correct cruising speed, pulling out... there are many factors, that make your first years insurance a huge expense. What you could do, is buy a cheap tiny car, and he insures that, and get his years trouble free motoring.... And you also, name him on your own policy, as a second driver... This way, he get the best of both worlds.

I think what we are saying, is there is a lot of money to be spent and wasted, getting the first years motoring, over and done with. Many a parent, has all confidence in their young driver, however, fill the car with similar aged people, and turn up the music, and the situation becomes different.
What were you like Robert?

Thanks Jbr, the last question is not a good example. At 16 I had a Ford Capri, that my father aranged for me, and never had an accident. When I bought my own first car, a 2cv for a bottle of jenever, I had no problem what so ever. In fact! I am 64 now, I am an insurers wett dream.

But you have a good point. Traffic and influence of others seems more difficult nowadays.

It's not as easy a decision as you would think it is. As a parent you think bigger is better and safer. You couldn't care less about the metalwork and only about the child.
My 2 sons are totally different. If I put my oldest in a discovery I'm sure he would tip it. He drives too quickly; not speeding as such, but too quickly. His first car was a Clio. He had a shunt, car went on fire, doors wouldn't open, had to punch out the sunroof to escape. Ended up with fingers full of glass. Don't buy him a Clio. He drives an Audi A6 estate now and we are all happy with that.
My youngest is much more sensible in a car than his big brother, but he has only been driving for 3 months. No way he could deal with a big discovery. He has a fiesta just now and only really does town driving.
As for your choice, I do feel that ultimately the bigger the car the safer he will be. Whether it should be his first car for the road I'm not so sure, but I would get him in one as soon as he has a bit of experience.

 Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

Thank you.