Need a first car....

[geeman]

Well, the time has come for me to get my first car, ive got my driving test soon, and am looking to get a car. As i have found out,being a 17 year old male, anything upward of 1.2-1.3 engine will cost 2k+ on insurance, and not looking to spend more than 1k a year on insurance. I have around £2000 at the most to spend on a car, and as far i as i know there are plenty of options available, but i had an idea, as there are plenty of much nicer cars available for around £1000, but with 3l engines, so my thought was buy something nice, put a small engine in(1l).. and bingo.. cheap insurance, or at least i hope. any thoughts..? or should i just stick with the typical cheapo small(chavy(not preferable)) hatch.

[Jimmyd]

This is going to be way uncool for a first car but a Micra makes soooo much sense. Easy peasy to tax, insure and run.

When I was 17 way back in 1989 I got my first company car, a new Escort 1.4. Within a year I'd moved upto a XR2, a 1.8 Sierra Sapphire Lx and then an Escort RS turbo. Yep I worked for a Ford dealer and did very well at!!

Oh to be young again.

J

[AshG]

best bet is a classic car or chop you winker off

[twinturbo]

Putting a small engine in a big engiend car will class it as modifed and you will be paying as much as the big engen.

Get a 1.6 CVH sierra.

TT

[bobbyh]

Putting a small engine in a big engiend car will class it as modifed and you will be paying as much as the big engen.

Get a 1.6 CVH sierra.

TT

that way you can build your roaster from it when you get bored of it.

for my 1st car i had a r reg clio 1.2 and paid £1800 to insure it

[twinturbo]

My brother in laws first car was a 1.8 LX Sierra when he was 17, his freind had a 1.3 Escort and that was more to insure.

With sierra's going up in value it will be an investment, you will learn all about them and if you spend some time on the club site will learn a whole heap more..

And if you get board of the 1.6... The plonk in a 1.8, then the twincam... Then the 2.9 12V V6 and then the 24V V6...

TT

[bobbyh]

is that what you did tt

or did yours go Then the 2.9 12V V6 and then the 24V V6 then 24v v6 twin turbo?

[twinturbo]

Well..

My 1.8GL... Was a 1.8GL.. Pinto.

I bought a 2.9 12V for it.
I bought a 2.9 12V twin turbo for it.
I bought a 2.9 12V twin turbo with 33BHP more for it.
I bought a 24V
And then another 24V...
And another 24V which got fitted..

And it's not quite on the road again yet. It's been through a similar number of wheels since it's been off the road.

[twinturbo]

So it went straight from RWD pinto to 4x4 24V.

TT

[geeman]

yay, got back from the test centre about an hour ago, and ive passed my test first time. Ive had about 15 lessons and ive passed.:D :D


TT, theres no way i can get a 1.8, or 1.6 for a first car, i haven't been able to find anything cheaper than 1100 for a 1.0 micra. hmmm.. guess ill have to stick to a small cheapo hatch.

[gingea1pom]

Geeman,

Well done on your pass, on the road to independence.

My first car was a mini, it didn't do me any harm!

Cheers Ginge

[twinturbo]

Have you actualy checked insurance on a larger saloon?

Small cars like micras with bigger engines, 1.4 etc are seen as more of a risk than a bigger car like a cavaliar or Sierra with a smallish engine 1.6 for example.

When I looked at changing from my sierra I found Escorts and ( COUGH ) Nova's to be more expensive to insure.

TT

[geeman]

Have you actualy checked insurance on a larger saloon?

Small cars like micras with bigger engines, 1.4 etc are seen as more of a risk than a bigger car like a cavaliar or Sierra with a smallish engine 1.6 for example.

When I looked at changing from my sierra I found Escorts and ( COUGH ) Nova's to be more expensive to insure.

TT

1.6 1990 sierra £1950 a year, it is cheaper than a small car with a 1.6, but still more than a small car with a small engine.

[twinturbo]

I have just run 3 comparable quotes. for a young driver.

1.6 Sierra came out at ~ £3k
1.1 Fiiesta came out at ~£2.4k

1.1 Fiesta as a female rather than a male ~£1.2K

I knew prices were silly, but this is a bit rediculouse. How do they expect people to take out insurance if the prices are so high, they are promoting the uninsured culture. And it must be having an impact on the number of people who can travel effectivly to work.

Geeman, you should start a pettition on the number 10 website. It's time a sense of realism returned to the insurance for young drivers.

TT

[twinturbo]

1.6 1990 sierra £1950 a year, it is cheaper than a small car with a 1.6, but still more than a small car with a small engine.

Did a better job than me, but I was runnign with bogus details.

TT

[geeman]

i found the insurance is more if you value it under 1k, as many insurers don't insure these cars, i now just put the value in as 1k. it really is ridiculous, and these quotes are with my dad on the policy with a 5 year ncb. well, im determined to get it as close to 1k as possible for a reasonable car.

[twinturbo]

I had to change my insurance on my second car ( back in 94 ).

Me "Hello i need to change the car on my insurance."
Ins "Sure what's the details"
Me " BLALALALAbBABAlLAL"
Ins "Gr8 , and what's it's value"
Me " Err, £0 "
Ins " Err, What ?"
Me " It's worth litteraly nothing, well put £50 as that's what it cost"
Ins " Err, it has to be more than that!"
Me " Like?"
Ins " Err, £500 is the minimum"
Me " HA, have you seen it!...." " Wll £500 it is then.. "


may have been the best or worst £50 I have ever spent on a car, but it lasted till my student loan came in 6 weeks and 1500 miles later! and then the scrap man gave me £50 for it :D ( but I had spent £50 on parts to stop it being lethal! ) . And the car I bought after that I still have 16 years later!

TT

[les g]

hi
and congratulations ......
TJ is in the same boat as you and he,s been doiing some work on insurance as well...
have you considered a small van , he,s found that they are cheaper to insure
and he thinks he may go that way to build up some NCB etc,
cheers les g

[twinturbo]

Oh, and congrats on the pass.

I remember mine quite well. With Mr Harrison, 10/12/91 2:45pm. in a blue BSM Metro. 1st time after 12 Lessons I was well chuffed as BSM was expensive back then...

TT

[AshG]

small van is best, the way the insurance see it is it has less seats so you can hurt less people in it which means a smaller payout.

call them and say you are transgender neither male or female and see what they come up with. they have to quote you and you dont have to pick a gender.

[Davey]

Hi and congrats on your pass, well done. I too passed first time and in three inches of snow too:eek: . My first car on the road was a 1969 Austin A40 MkII 1100cc that cost me £50 to buy and, as far as I can recall about £350 to insure TPF&T.

My 24 year old son's first car was a 10 year old Clio 2.4 that was worth about £400 but cost £1600 to insure TPF&T.

High insurance costs are a fact of life for new drivers I'm afraid.

D.

[twinturbo]

Hi and congrats on your pass, well done. I too passed first time and in three inches of snow too:eek: . My first car on the road was a 1969 Austin A40 MkII 1100cc that cost me £50 to buy and, as far as I can recall about £350 to insure TPF&T.

My 24 year old son's first car was a 10 year old Clio 2.4 that was worth about £400 but cost £1600 to insure TPF&T.

High insurance costs are a fact of life for new drivers I'm afraid.

D.

Not bad insurance for a 2.4 Clio!!!!!




It gets better with time.. A few months ago we tried to find something I could not insure.. All the supercar stuff ( Normal Ferraries, Lambo's , Bently, Etc. ) came in around £600 Fully comp. And I am only 35. None of the online companies listed Veron , Pigani etc... ..

TT

[twinturbo]

It's definatly got significantly worse. My brother in laws second car ( apart from one he borrowed of me for 6 months ) when he was just 21 ( it sat in my garage for 2 months till he got there ) was a BMW E30 325i sport. Insurance was £700

When we first test drove it the general conversation consisted of the words Sh..... ... Fuuu.... Bloo..hell and WOOOHOooo.... E30's aint heavy and connected to a 172BHP Straight 6 they are rapid!!!

He's had a Ibiza Cupra, Sapphire Cossy, Corrado 16V and A Volvo V40 1.8 since... ( spot the odd one out. )



I seem to pay the same more or less regardless of what I drive, I went from a 250BHP Volvo to a 125BHP sierra Shed and my insrurance did not change...

TT

[HandyAndy]

congratulations Geeman, :cool: :cool:

i remember my first & second cars with regard insurance :eek:
2nd car was a brand new Capri 2.8injection ( quite a car in its day ), i was 18 yrs old & it cost me £1800 per yr to insure it ................in 1982 :eek:

good luck with your search for your first car, be safe on the road.

cheers
andy

[aerosam]

I also remember my first and second cars, the first was an Austin maestro 1.3 city (absolute base model) and it cost £1400 to insure third party only.

After about 8 months, when the MOT ran out, I changed to an Austin Maestro 1.3L (identical mechanically just very slightly higher trim level) and the insurance went to £2000.

[twinturbo]

hell...

I aint ever paid more than £600 on insurance...

Lada Samara 1.3
Nissan Sunny 1.3
Sierra 1.8 GL( still have her )
Sierra 1.8 LX
Carlton 2.0 CDI
2.9 Sierra XR4x4
2.0 Sierra XR4x4
2.9 Converted XR4i
2.0 Sierra XR4x4
Volvo T5
2.0 Sierra Ghia
2.0 Sierra XR4x4
2.9 24V Scorpio Cosworth
2.0 GT Sierra
2.3 Galaxy...

TT

[ozzy1]

Nice idea Ash :D
Insurance here isnt so bad as we have what is termed Rego,this is basically road tax and compulsory third party insurance.It is then up to you if you wish to get extra cover although if you do you still pay the full rego costs.Its not so bad though as it covers the car so anyone driving it is insured.
As a guide i have a 3.8 litre v6 and the rego is around $400.
My comprehensive cover for anyone over age 25 to drive it is $410.
My other car is a 1.6 and the rego is $350.
Comprehensive insurance as above is $400(go figure :confused: )

[bobbyh]

hell...

I aint ever paid more than £600 on insurance...

Lada Samara 1.3
Nissan Sunny 1.3
Sierra 1.8 GL( still have her )
Sierra 1.8 LX
Carlton 2.0 CDI
2.9 Sierra XR4x4
2.0 Sierra XR4x4
2.9 Converted XR4i
2.0 Sierra XR4x4
Volvo T5
2.0 Sierra Ghia
2.0 Sierra XR4x4
2.9 24V Scorpio Cosworth
2.0 GT Sierra
2.3 Galaxy...

TT


you have a thing for the old sierra dont you.

lol

[MrFozzieBear]

I don't know if this option is still available but do Pass Plus if you can, when I did it several years ago it cost £120 (won't be that now) but saved the best part of £400 and gave the equivalent of 1 year NCB depending on who you insure with.
Also i are you just getting quote’s in TPF&F? Because it may sound mad but go with it, some insurers actually charge more for TPF&T and less for Fully Comprehensive because on there stats TPF&F is higher Risk of insurance for teens, this is what a friend of the family (17yo) who has just passed has found out.
You’re also better off getting just getting a small run around anyway for your first year just to find your feet to get your first year NCB (2 years if you did Pass Plus) and changing the second year for something a lot quicker the year will fly by.
But most of all when you get your car sorted Enjoy it.:)

[twinturbo]

you have a thing for the old sierra dont you.

lol



13 Sierras to date. :)

http://twin-turbo.blogspot.com/



TT

[geeman]

i've just tried getting insurance quotes using my old address in plymouth, as opposed to living in croydon at the moment, and its coming out about £500 cheaper!!!! that's just ridiculous. Im sure there would be no harm in using one of our friend addresses somewhere in the country and just ask them to forward me the mail:p :D

[twinturbo]

Apart from it being fraud, if you got found out then your insurer may withdraw the policy and you would have to declare that next time you get insurance. And insurance companies will absolutly hate you.

TT

[Blade]

Well done on your pass, Buy a mini for cheap ins and loads of fun :D
my first car was a talbot sunbeam TI and cost me £210 TPFT , I've now got an overfinch rangerover 6.3 V8 and it's only £168 fully comp and a couple of bmw's that are about the same to insure, ahh the joy's of getting old

[Johnnybizzle]

Unfortunatley patience is a virtue, when i was 17 i was after a nice car same situation as you, my advice is buy a 500 quid car and have 500 quid insurance and live with it for a year or so, save 2k and put it to the next beast

I started with a seat arosa S , 1.0l 8v monster £985.00 insurance
2 years later
Fiesta ST 2.0L 16v monster £650.00 insurance
now 23 and insurance is 500, sucks to be young

[geeman]

Unfortunatley patience is a virtue, when i was 17 i was after a nice car same situation as you, my advice is buy a 500 quid car and have 500 quid insurance and live with it for a year or so, save 2k and put it to the next beast

I started with a seat arosa S , 1.0l 8v monster £985.00 insurance
2 years later
Fiesta ST 2.0L 16v monster £650.00 insurance
now 23 and insurance is 500, sucks to be young

id be more than happy with £985, and a £50 car, but i cant find anyting short of £1500 for insurance atm, and thats for a 0.8 daewoo matiz!!!

[Bonzo]

Well done on your driving test pass Geeman :)

Insurance prices baffle me .... The money they charge for the young uns is nothing short of a dissgrace :(

I know the insurance companys harp on about the very high risk posed by young drivers but how the hell are youngsters, still in full time education, supposed to get on the first step of the driving ladder !!??

Then you see the jobless chavs in their Scoobys, Evos & other assorted hot hatches .... One can only guess where they get the money to buy & insure those :mad:

Now here's something you won't hear me say often & it will probably touch a raw nerve with some folk !!??

Personally I think my premium is too low whilst youngsters have to pay so, so, much

My Daily driver is £147 fully comp, protected no claims.

My Transit tipper was £127 TPF&F Commercial policy, Own goods carriage , 1 Named driver + full cover when in use with his roofing business.

Is it cos I am a doddery old fart :o

[Josh]

geeman - get your parents to take the insurance out and put yourself down as a named driver. Thats what I did with my 1.0 Rover Metro, total insurance cost was just over £600. Just keep your head down on the roads and don't drive like an idiot! Although technically you are only suposed to use the car a small fraction of it total useage as a named driver the police/insurance company won't find out if you keep your nose clean. I've almost got 3 years no claims so I'll be able to afford my own insurance soon!

Also when I left for University we had a deal with the insurance company that if we declared the car off the road for a cirtain month (ie sitting on the drive or in the garage) then I only had to pay 25% of full price for that month. Might be worth looking into.

Josh

[geeman]

geeman - get your parents to take the insurance out and put yourself down as a named driver. Thats what I did with my 1.0 Rover Metro, total insurance cost was just over £600. Just keep your head down on the roads and don't drive like an idiot! Although technically you are only suposed to use the car a small fraction of it total useage as a named driver the police/insurance company won't find out if you keep your nose clean. I've almost got 3 years no claims so I'll be able to afford my own insurance soon!

Also when I left for University we had a deal with the insurance company that if we declared the car off the road for a cirtain month (ie sitting on the drive or in the garage) then I only had to pay 25% of full price for that month. Might be worth looking into.

Josh


Thats what ive been doing for most of the Quotes. My dads got a 6 year NCB, and even with him as the main driver and my mum on it, i cant find anything less than £1500. What company did you insure your metro with?

[Tatey]

The only issue with putting your parents as the policy holder is that its insurance fraud called fronting, and if you crash and the insurance company do some digging and decide that your are actually the named driver then they wont pay out and will inform the police that your insurance is invalid. Saying that it would be quite hard for them to tell if you live at home with your parents, as how can they prove how often you or your parents drive the car.

Have you tried Tesco? I was insured with them for my first year, it cost me £1200 fully comp, however that was with my mum as the policy holder, I've now got my own fully comp policy with them which is costing me just under £1000 a year as Tesco allow named drivers to earn NCD's. Thats getting insured on a 1.7Di Vauxhall Corsa.

[twinturbo]

Not wishing to pry... But do you have a girlfreind you can put on as a named driver. When I was 21ish, even with my future wife as a female named driver made my insurance a little bit cheaper.

Try it out and see, may be cheaper to get a Thi bride than pay full whack insurance :D

TT

[twinturbo]

Theres a little "Owners" box in practical classics, with a guy who's got an XJ40 Jag ( or the daimler equiv ) who's 16... He's done a quote based on being 17 and it came back at £2.5k.. Seems good for the luxury...

TT

[geeman]

Theres a little "Owners" box in practical classics, with a guy who's got an XJ40 Jag ( or the daimler equiv ) who's 16... He's done a quote based on being 17 and it came back at £2.5k.. Seems good for the luxury...

TT

Oh yeah, i gto my first car about 2 weeks ago, forgot to mention it on here. The car is a 57 reg polo,but the real bargin is the insurance, as i managed to get it for £480 from a quote from go compare with aa(dad as main driver(5 years ncb), me as second driver, and a friend of ours as 3rd to lower the price further), ive got a feeling it was a glitch, as once i took the quote to the aa website, and tried to change it in any way(even name) it went up to £17.5k!!!, so i just bought the insurance asap, then went and bought the car.

[Josh]

Great stuff Geeman!! Have you passed your test yet, I can't remember if you told me allready? I must pop round sometime to see your build, you can take me out for a spin in your new car too :p

Josh

[geeman]

Great stuff Geeman!! Have you passed your test yet, I can't remember if you told me allready? I must pop round sometime to see your build, you can take me out for a spin in your new car too :p

Josh

yeh, passed on 31st march, ive already been out 4/5 lunchtimes at school last week and in my free periods with a full car every time...:D

[gingea1pom]

Oh I remember the days, lunch time at collage mini full of blokes cruising around Harrow.

[Davey]

A word of caution where insurance is concerned. If the insurance is in your Dad's name (or he is the named main driver) but you are the real main driver then you have taken out the insurance fraudulently. Should you be unfortunate enough to have an accident, or just get stopped for a spot check, and it gets found out you will find yourself in a very unpleasant place.

The police can stop you for just about anything, many years ago they stopped my older brother late at night having followed him for 5 miles, all of which he had driven perfectly. They stopped him because he hadn't missed an indication, hadn't broken any speed limits, had stopped at stop signs etc on the basis that no one drives that perfectly therefore they reasoned he had either stolen the car or was pissed, neither was the case.

D.

[twinturbo]

I got stopped once for being 370 miles from the cars registered address.


TT

[MightyMouth]

Gonna honk my own horn so to speak, my first car was a 1965 Mustang GT Fastback with the 289 Hi-Po engine. It couldn't turn a corner to get out of its own way but it was fast. It looked just like this one.

http://barristv.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/1965_Mustang_GT_01.jpg

[Headshot]

[engage jealousy mode] :mad:


My first car was a Morris Marina GT coupe, which I got when I was 16, dropped an MGB GT engine and box in, vroooooom

Passed test 5 days after 17th birthday (12 lessons in a "crash" course) went home, jumped in the GT, Rolled it 6 hours later :(

:D

Haven't really got much better since :p

[MightyMouth]

I bought the Mustang at an auction when I was 15 for $600, I spent the whole summer of '82 washing dishes for a Vietnamese guy called Sang Van Lee at his restaurant Lee's Cuisine to save the money for it then spent the next year and another $600 or so fixing it up. My dad owned a scrap yard so I got parts cheap. I passed my test on my 16th birthday.

The Engine blew a couple months later and I couldn't find another Hi-Po to replace it so I put a 170ci straight 6 in it and sold it for $1500.