YEEEHAAA!!! I JUST PASSED MY TEST!NEED A HELPING HAND HERE!

[ringworm]

Hey all, apologies for sounding like an uneducated gimp here (hey I'm excited! Iust passed first time!) but I need a bit of a helping hand.

Obviously I wanna get a car asap an get out there and just drive! I don't have much money and cannot get finance, I'm only on part time hours too so earning around a grand a month just now so my budget is very tight! Also being a 25 year old and just passing my test the insurance companies are a joke, they wanted 2 grand of me per month for a 318ci BMW worth 800 bucks!!! So I'm screwed and will have to settle for a 1.0 litre micra or something equally as pathetic! Being a bit of an enthusiast in motorsport I want something cheap to buy and insure and also something with a decent engine etc so I can build on strong foundations and have a worthwhile little cruiser, I'm not a daft boy racer and don't want to be so don't get the wrong idea here.

So yeah if anyone can be bothered to give me a bit of guidance at this low low level of car culture I'd be very grateful as I reckon ill take an age to come to a decision.


Many thanks guys,


Craig

[Kieranv]

Congratulations! Now it's really time to learn how to drive.

I vote that you get the micra and bring it to as many runs and meets as possible.

Edited by Kieranv on Friday 14th September 16:33

[6C4GTS]

Yip old ster of a Mk1 MX5, popular with yoofs and the underpaid.

[S2Mike]

There has been many threads on this, check out a search for "Insuring First car"
Alternatively, being a mature young driver, do classic cars appeal???
If so you should be able to insure some quite fit motors with a specialist insurer, like Footman James ( other companies do offer similar benefits)
How about a Ford Capri, Triumph Spitfire, MGB, or practically anything more than 25 years old.

[ringworm]

Thanks for the Congrats mate.

Yeah I guess ill have to settle for a cheapo runabout to build up a Ncd.

Since I'm so 'underpaid' though, is it worth the monthly expense at all?

[ringworm]

S2Mike said:

There has been many threads on this, check out a search for "Insuring First car"
Alternatively, being a mature young driver, do classic cars appeal???
If so you should be able to insure some quite fit motors with a specialist insurer, like Footman James ( other companies do offer similar benefits)
How about a Ford Capri, Triumph Spitfire, MGB, or practically anything more than 25 years old.

Yeah classic cars would certainly appeal, although the cost of running them scares me. Ill check out the thread though.

Many thanks

[TOM4S]

Whahoo for you, I remember that feeling!!

When I was first insuring - contrary to common "knowledge" - it was the case that small cars often weren't the cheapest to insure as they are often crashed by new drivers!

For cheapness of purchase I'd recommend looking at older Lagunas, Mondeos etc, do some quotes on the 2.0 8valves, 16v prob too expensive. Also maybe check out the 1.7 Pumas, not the coolest car around and your girlfriend may think you've switched teams but actually surprisingly fun to drive. My mates little brother just got one as his first car (17yo) and insurance was pretty reasonable...

Good luck and take it easy, 1 year of NCB will make all the difference!

[ringworm]

TOM4S said:

Whahoo for you, I remember that feeling!!

When I was first insuring - contrary to common "knowledge" - it was the case that small cars often weren't the cheapest to insure as they are often crashed by new drivers!

For cheapness of purchase I'd recommend looking at older Lagunas, Mondeos etc, do some quotes on the 2.0 8valves, 16v prob too expensive. Also maybe check out the 1.7 Pumas, not the coolest car around and your girlfriend may think you've switched teams but actually surprisingly fun to drive. My mates little brother just got one as his first car (17yo) and insurance was pretty reasonable...

Good luck and take it easy, 1 year of NCB will make all the difference!

Wow great advice my friend! And yeah I can't get down from the ceiling yet!

I had a look through auto trader and seen a few pumas for very cheap, shame I couldn't have RS version, but they seem okay, ill just show off my chunky watch, shave my head and snarl when driving.

I had no idea that was insurance companies thinking or I would have spent the time checking quotes on old saloons instead, all this information is amazing as i guess lots of people here have surely been in the same boat (or car)

[ringworm]

This?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[S2Mike]

Worth trying a 1.4 Focus about 12 years old, rare choice for yoofs, and not many crashed in comparison with Saxo Corsa etc, may be good for you.

[TOM4S]

ringworm said:

This?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Yellow is the fastest colour...

And as above check out some Focus.

Lol a friend of mine bought an old XJ6 when we were 18, I don't think the insurance company knew what to think, was pretty cool but used to cost a fortune in ATF and fuel! ...and we broke it pretty quick jamming the auto box from neutral to drive trying to wheel spin

Just keep quoting on everything, something will come up cheap in the end. I'm getting good quotes from Admiral atm, but direct line have traditionally been cheap for me too.

[ringworm]

Insurance for this...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Is £1160 a year.

For the puma it was £2550!!!!

[ringworm]

[quote=TOM4S]


Yellow is the fastest colour...

And as above check out some Focus.

Lol a friend of mine bought an old XJ6 when we were 18, I don't think the insurance company knew what to think, was pretty cool but used to cost a fortune in ATF and fuel! ...and we broke it pretty quick jamming the auto box from neutral to drive trying to wheel spin

Just keep quoting on everything, something will come up cheap in the end. I'm getting good quotes from Admiral atm, but direct line have traditionally been cheap for me too. [/qu


Hahahah that's what old jags are for!

So I could actually get a better quote calling direct instead of comparison sites?

A focus would be ideal, a mate of mine had a zetec then 2 st170's so I know they are great reliable cars.

[S2Mike]

What about a kitcar, they attract low premiums??
Again specialist insurers not Compare the Meerkat or whatever.
Footman James or Adrian Flux. etc

[ringworm]

This bad boy for £1770!!!!! Eh????? Justified how???


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[ringworm]

A kit car would be awesome S2!! Ill check that avenue and also spend the time calling around instead of meerkat pish.

So flux and footman best for specialist insurance then?

[AmiableChimp]

ringworm said:

Since I'm so 'underpaid' though, is it worth the monthly expense at all?

It's ALWAYS worth it mate - driving your own car on the open road is one of the best feelings in the world!

[ringworm]

S2Mike said:

Worth trying a 1.4 Focus about 12 years old, rare choice for yoofs, and not many crashed in comparison with Saxo Corsa etc, may be good for you.

Yeah at £1100 for the year on this is manageable......

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[S2Mike]

ringworm said:

A kit car would be awesome S2!! Ill check that avenue and also spend the time calling around instead of meerkat pish.

So flux and footman best for specialist insurance then?

.
Well for me it is, and others on here, there are others though. Lancaster I think are quite competitive.
Footman James with my TVR , fully comp, limited mileage 5000miles £138 pa, ( Old Fart Alert ) only draw back is with classic insurance you dont earn NCD, so it will only get cheaper by you getting older, which works for me.

[ringworm]

AmiableChimp said:

It's ALWAYS worth it mate - driving your own car on the open road is one of the best feelings in the world!

To be honest mate, this is my feeling too!

Already arranged to rent a vauxhall insignia for the weekend with enterprise when I get my photocard through.

Not cheap but I can't wait to get out there.