Kit Car, First Car

Kit Car, First Car

Author
Discussion

HudsonJD

Original Poster:

2 posts

95 months

Wednesday 18th May 2016
quotequote all
Hey guys, I just turned 21 and wanted to drive all my life, in fact I live on a large private property area and have been driving on it all my life, but I have not got round to passing me test because I have no motivation because when I try to get a quote, I usually get around the £10,000 mark.

Yesterday my granddad brought home an old convertible MG and I fell in love, went for a quote and got £7000

It is so irritating, so I did some searching and found that kit cars are apparently a lot cheaper to insure, but most of the threads I found were from around 2011, so my question is it still the case? Also yesterday I started searching for a kit car but having issues finding any on the low price, I am not exactly wealthy, but looking for a car that I can use everyday no more the £3000.

Seen quite a few of the Cobras for sale with the under body of a Z3. They are way out of my price range but still love them, so I would also love a little convertible that I can use every day smile

Thank you for reading.

Josh

AndrewEH1

4,917 posts

153 months

Wednesday 18th May 2016
quotequote all
What the hell are you trying to insure?

Firstly pass your driving test. Doesn't matter whether you can get a car straight away or not, there's no point thinking about driving without actually passing first.

HudsonJD

Original Poster:

2 posts

95 months

Wednesday 18th May 2016
quotequote all
I have no motivation, I know I should, and I know insurance goes down the longer you have had your licsence.

Cars I have tried range from
1L Corsa
1.2L Astra
and too many others to list

AndrewEH1

4,917 posts

153 months

Wednesday 18th May 2016
quotequote all
I can't believe you are getting quotes as high as £10,000 for those types of cars!

But as I've said, no point in thinking about cars until you get your licence!

battered

4,088 posts

147 months

Wednesday 18th May 2016
quotequote all
Get a licence. Then when you do buy a car you can say you have had a licence for X years rather than none.

You can get a lot of fun in the kit world for £3k. It will break down but you'll learn a lot about cars. Bear in mind that a 500kg convertible sports car with that well known high performance engine the Ford Zetec will be a very quick car indeed. Anyone can repair the thing when it breaks down (again) and/or you inevitably, sooner or later, put it into a hedge.

greenamex2

509 posts

255 months

Wednesday 18th May 2016
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AndrewEH1 said:
I can't believe you are getting quotes as high as £10,000 for those types of cars!
I can!

Unfortunately you have done it the wrong way...if you had got your license at 17/18 but then not bothered with a car your insurance would now be much cheaper.

Given that you haven't....kit car insurance does tend to be pretty cheap compared to the equivalent production car...but not cheap in general.

Might be worth checking out insurance on vans.


However until you have a license, forget it.

Equus

16,852 posts

101 months

Wednesday 18th May 2016
quotequote all

Yes, kit cars are usually very cheap to insure, relative to their performance. Almost as cheap as old MG's (and no, I'm not being facetious: both are very cheap, but classic car policies are usually a bit cheaper than kit car policies).

The problem you will have with either is that to get the benefit of a specialist policy, you usually need:
  • To have another 'primary' car insured in your name.
  • To have at least a year (sometimes two year's) experience with a full licence.
  • Usually to be over 25 years of age, for the best policies (though some set the threshold at 21).
  • To accept a limited mileage allowance on the policy.
Without being able to tick the boxes on most, if not all, of the above, it'll cost you just as much as a 'normal' car.

Oldandslow

2,405 posts

206 months

Wednesday 18th May 2016
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10k? 7k? Seriously? Where do you live?

We've got a 20 year old and 17 year old insured for less than £1500 on a 1.2 Corsa.

AdamIndy

1,661 posts

104 months

Wednesday 18th May 2016
quotequote all
To be honest, I don't think insurers would be happy with you driving a kit car as your first car. I wouldn't imagine it would be cheap to insure.

I'm 33 with 7 years NCD tied up on my other car. My 1.7 MK Indy costs £175 Fully comp with Adrian flux.

My Mazda 3 cost about £400 f/c.

I can't work it out either!

Yazza54

18,502 posts

181 months

Thursday 19th May 2016
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Those quotes are ridiculous, known plenty of first time drivers with insurance between £1500-2500

I had a GTM Libra 1.8 VVC K series at 19, from memory it was about 700 quid a year, my new one is considerably less now I'm 26, not using any NCD on it with it just being a toy but it's a second car, whereas back then the libra was an only car. Your age isn't so bad but lack of NCD won't help... but I'm sure you could insure a Quantum, GTM ROSSA or something along those lines.

vertuas

9 posts

127 months

Friday 20th May 2016
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A guy that used to work with me had a similar issue, quote for small where ridiculous. The reason is that the Corsas and Saxos of this world are attracting young, boy racer types who show off to their mate and have accidents. These cars then become "high risk"

He got around the issue by buying a Volvo 850 T5 Estate. No pretty but was quicker than the smaller cars but half the price on insurance as boy racers where not wrecking them.

It make no sense but thats the way the market forces go.

battered

4,088 posts

147 months

Friday 20th May 2016
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I've heard of this too. Lies damned lies and statistics. I suspect that specialist cars attract drivers who take a bit more pride in what they do and the way they treat their pride and joy, hence the lower claim rates. I certainly had this with a Caterham, insured it for loose change. The MX5 I now have is twice the price to insure, a tenth of the value and half the performance, go figure.

alfaspecial

1,125 posts

140 months

Friday 20th May 2016
quotequote all
Another aspect with kit cars (and even classic cars) having low-ish insurance premiums is that should 'we' have a minor -and one not involving a third party - accident we would repair the damage without recourse to an insurance claim.


Back to the O/P. Honestly the only thing to do is get your licence. The more 'experience' you have the soon er the better.
And (whilst I wouldn't say it is a factor in your case) the question must be asked: What is your motivation to get a kit-car? Is it because you want to build/buy something individual? Or merely that you see kit car ownership a a route to affordable insurance.

Us kit car / specials owners know that 'our cars' are never going to be reliable/ hassle free motoring.

Stuey007

4 posts

95 months

Friday 20th May 2016
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I spoke with Westfield about insurance. They are cheap because nobody will nick them as it sticks out lick a giraffe at a polar bears only golf club! Plus the mileage is low. You wouldn't wanna have one of these as your everyday car. Yer back will be in bits. First priority tho. Get yer licence!

robcollingridge

609 posts

283 months

Friday 20th May 2016
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Those quotes are silly! I insured my 17-yr old daughter for a 1.2 Ford Ka whilst learning to drive and it was £630 for the first year. This included a £300 reduction for using a Drive Xpert device, which tracks how you drive, when and where.

She passed last month and the 2nd year premium was just £405 (with 1 year NCD). This is with a limited mileage policy, which also reduces premiums by quite a lot.

I started at the usual places to get quotes, moneysupermarket, etc.

Rob

PaulKemp

979 posts

145 months

Friday 20th May 2016
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Yoof of today.....
My daughter the same 26 next month just getting round to doing the test
I got mine when 17, it was the freedom we all wanted, insurance wasn't cheap then and we couldn't afford to get them serviced so we did it ourselves, brakes, clutches, engines and gearbox, if it broke you and your mates fixed it. 4 different cars by 21 when I got a Spitfire.
Come on Yoof of today get off the sofa and do something