1st Car for the kids
Discussion
ChocolateFrog said:
20 years ago the answer was always something a bit oddball, usually with a decent sized engine.
Volvo saloons were way cheaper to insure than a 1l supermini for example.
It used to be anything that young people didn't bin on a regular basis no idea if that still holds true.
It was that or do what quite a lot of my mates did and buy a new Saxo VTR to get the 2 years free insurance, which was worth upto about £3k back then on a £9k car.
Yeah I remember the 90’s. Thing is now who knows what he wants to do, 2 years A levels then maybe Uni or work.Volvo saloons were way cheaper to insure than a 1l supermini for example.
It used to be anything that young people didn't bin on a regular basis no idea if that still holds true.
It was that or do what quite a lot of my mates did and buy a new Saxo VTR to get the 2 years free insurance, which was worth upto about £3k back then on a £9k car.
1st car I got a quote for was a MG Maestro about £700 at 17.
Edited by Downward on Wednesday 24th August 20:24
DT1975 said:
Downward said:
Ok
Not sure what Insurance is like ? Is it best to put the Parent as Main Driver and Child as named whilst learning ?
It was about £800 for our daughter in a C1 a few years back mind....its cheaper when they're learning. If they pass it then goes into orbit. You want to register it in the nippers name, them as main driver and as said have you and mum as named drivers. If you don't and put yourself as main driver they'll see straight through it (its called fronting).Not sure what Insurance is like ? Is it best to put the Parent as Main Driver and Child as named whilst learning ?
ZX10R NIN said:
Downward said:
Ok
Dunno if this sounds right ?
Manual
Hatchback
£1500 ?
Not sure what Insurance is like ? Is it best to put the Parent as Main Driver and Child as named whilst learning ?
Have your child as the main driver, with you & you wife as named drivers. Dunno if this sounds right ?
Manual
Hatchback
£1500 ?
Not sure what Insurance is like ? Is it best to put the Parent as Main Driver and Child as named whilst learning ?
Cars that aren't so popular are sometimes cheaper than the regular options, take a look at these & see what the numbers come out like.
Vauxhall Astra 1.4:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208078...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110208...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206086...
Alfa Mito Veloce:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208239...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208138...
Kia Rio Strike:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208229...
Ceed Strike:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208208...
VW Beetle:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207157...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208118...
Renault Clio Campus
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208188...
Toyota Yaris 1.0 VVT-i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208239...
Suzuki Swift 1.3 GL
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208098...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208188...
Toyota Yaris 1.0 VVT-i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208239...
Suzuki Swift 1.3 GL
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208098...
Canon_Fodder said:
Bloody hell it looks like its been attacked with a rounders bat :-)They're good little cars mind.
I went through this a couple of years ago with first son and now 2nd son passed his test about 6 months ago.
Insurance seems to be totally random but after much research (many different cars into many insurance web sites) the following worked well for me and the boys.
First car was an 07 Honda Civic 1.8. It was bigger than normal starter car, much better equipped, seemed more 'solid' and normal Honda reliability. With Madness Jnr as main driver with Me and Mrs M on as named drivers is was £902 a year after he has passed his test with a black box policy. Black box policy had no restrictions but scored each journey on speed, smoothness and when it was done. Chucking the car around at 0200 on Sat morning gets bad score. Every 3 months got money back if car driven well. Civic cost me £2000 and was much better state than so many starter cars I'd seen. Kept for a year before Uni and then sold for £2000 to local old couple.
Current car split between both of them is an Alfa Mito 1.4 (90bhp). Youngest son prefers the look of it and its fun to drive. Its insured in eldest sons name with 2 years NCB now and youngest son as named driver and the insurance is £692 a year and not on a black box which remarkably was more expensive even with the same insurance company. Alfa decided to introduce them to the realities of most cars by needing a new drivers side window regulator but other than that has been great.
Insurance seems to be totally random but after much research (many different cars into many insurance web sites) the following worked well for me and the boys.
First car was an 07 Honda Civic 1.8. It was bigger than normal starter car, much better equipped, seemed more 'solid' and normal Honda reliability. With Madness Jnr as main driver with Me and Mrs M on as named drivers is was £902 a year after he has passed his test with a black box policy. Black box policy had no restrictions but scored each journey on speed, smoothness and when it was done. Chucking the car around at 0200 on Sat morning gets bad score. Every 3 months got money back if car driven well. Civic cost me £2000 and was much better state than so many starter cars I'd seen. Kept for a year before Uni and then sold for £2000 to local old couple.
Current car split between both of them is an Alfa Mito 1.4 (90bhp). Youngest son prefers the look of it and its fun to drive. Its insured in eldest sons name with 2 years NCB now and youngest son as named driver and the insurance is £692 a year and not on a black box which remarkably was more expensive even with the same insurance company. Alfa decided to introduce them to the realities of most cars by needing a new drivers side window regulator but other than that has been great.
I wanted to get a 90hp mito for daughter, being an alfa fan. Thought it would be cheaper than usual stuff due to left field reasons, but didn’t turn out to be the case.
Cheapest quote was on vw up. Lots of the usual cars were similar within £150/year. Black box saves approx 30% it seems. She liked fiesta best so got one of those (1.25 petrol). Others shortlisted were Suzuki swift 1.2 and Kia Rio 1.2/1.4.
Cheapest quote was on vw up. Lots of the usual cars were similar within £150/year. Black box saves approx 30% it seems. She liked fiesta best so got one of those (1.25 petrol). Others shortlisted were Suzuki swift 1.2 and Kia Rio 1.2/1.4.
I have 4 daughters. The search always starts with them being interested in a Fiat 500 but..........
First daughter, I got a Mini R52 convertible from salvage (Copart).
New door and a bit of DIY panel work and we had this. Cost about £1000 all in including two new tyres.
I got it on the road a full year before she was 17 and used it quite a bit. Added her to my insurance. With the pandemic and all, she didn't get passed here test until she was nearly finished with school and nowadays she is at Uni most of the time so I still own it and use it along with my other cars, so it is still legitimately on my insurance with her as a named driver, just using it during the holidays. Has been very successful. Had about 90k on it and now has about 108k, I've had to replace a driveshaft and boots on the other side, and the front pads & discs.
Second daughter will be 17 soon. Last year I bought this for myself to use for a year and then she will use it. Copart again. Cat N for hail damage. 49,000 miles and two lady owners, lovely condition apart from the damage and still being on the original cambelt at the time. £1600, cost about £2k by the time I'd done the belts and put a set of lowering springs on as one coil was broken.
I was going to have a go at repairing the roof and look for a new bonnet, but so far I haven't bothered. It's been a great car, I did 10k in it in the first 4 months or so before the weather warmed up and I switched to mainly driving one of my classics. Powertrain much better than the Mini as it is a 135hp Multi-air turbo, but the leccy power steering is lifeless. A Mini with the same power would be more fun to drive. Still, happy with it.
I'm already thinking about the third daughter - she is just coming up on 15, so based on my normal practice I'll be looking for something in about a year, but I'm already hunting around and thinking about a Renaultsport Twingo.
The 4th daughter is only 7. I guess she'll be driving an electric........
First daughter, I got a Mini R52 convertible from salvage (Copart).
New door and a bit of DIY panel work and we had this. Cost about £1000 all in including two new tyres.
I got it on the road a full year before she was 17 and used it quite a bit. Added her to my insurance. With the pandemic and all, she didn't get passed here test until she was nearly finished with school and nowadays she is at Uni most of the time so I still own it and use it along with my other cars, so it is still legitimately on my insurance with her as a named driver, just using it during the holidays. Has been very successful. Had about 90k on it and now has about 108k, I've had to replace a driveshaft and boots on the other side, and the front pads & discs.
Second daughter will be 17 soon. Last year I bought this for myself to use for a year and then she will use it. Copart again. Cat N for hail damage. 49,000 miles and two lady owners, lovely condition apart from the damage and still being on the original cambelt at the time. £1600, cost about £2k by the time I'd done the belts and put a set of lowering springs on as one coil was broken.
I was going to have a go at repairing the roof and look for a new bonnet, but so far I haven't bothered. It's been a great car, I did 10k in it in the first 4 months or so before the weather warmed up and I switched to mainly driving one of my classics. Powertrain much better than the Mini as it is a 135hp Multi-air turbo, but the leccy power steering is lifeless. A Mini with the same power would be more fun to drive. Still, happy with it.
I'm already thinking about the third daughter - she is just coming up on 15, so based on my normal practice I'll be looking for something in about a year, but I'm already hunting around and thinking about a Renaultsport Twingo.
The 4th daughter is only 7. I guess she'll be driving an electric........
Edited by fightingtorque on Wednesday 31st August 23:41
Then it occurred to me, I should add this.......
My Dad had an Audi A6 Avant, 2.7 Twin turbo manual that became surplus to his requirements, long story. I ran it for a couple of years, put the 18" wheels on and Bilstein suspension. It became surplus to me when I got the Mini, so I passed it on to a mate of mine.
And he lent it to his 19 year old son, and now it looks like this.......
My Dad had an Audi A6 Avant, 2.7 Twin turbo manual that became surplus to his requirements, long story. I ran it for a couple of years, put the 18" wheels on and Bilstein suspension. It became surplus to me when I got the Mini, so I passed it on to a mate of mine.
And he lent it to his 19 year old son, and now it looks like this.......
Edited by fightingtorque on Wednesday 31st August 23:39
fightingtorque said:
Then it occurred to me, I should add this.......
My Dad had an Audi A6 Avant, 2.7 Twin turbo manual that became surplus to his requirements, long story. I ran it for a couple of years, put the 18" wheels on and Bilstein suspension. It became surplus to me when I got the Mini, so I passed it on to a mate of mine.
And he lent it to his 19 year old son, and now it looks like this.......
You could buy it back for your 15 year old !My Dad had an Audi A6 Avant, 2.7 Twin turbo manual that became surplus to his requirements, long story. I ran it for a couple of years, put the 18" wheels on and Bilstein suspension. It became surplus to me when I got the Mini, so I passed it on to a mate of mine.
And he lent it to his 19 year old son, and now it looks like this.......
Edited by fightingtorque on Wednesday 31st August 23:39
Most people think of the smallest car they can for first car, but the risk is the one behind the wheel not really the car. As long as it's not a performance car it will make a difference of a hundred quid on a £3k insurance policy, so just get the best car you can.
I wouldn't be putting my child in an aygo c1 or any of those tiny city cars because I've seen plenty in the scrap yards completely mangled. Get as new as possible and a reasonable size imo.
I wouldn't be putting my child in an aygo c1 or any of those tiny city cars because I've seen plenty in the scrap yards completely mangled. Get as new as possible and a reasonable size imo.
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