Is it a good idea?
Discussion
im just about to turn 17 and would like the facelift post 07 mini and for obvious insurance reasons it would have to be the mini one, is this a good idea to get one as a first car, will the insurance be very expensive? im looking to spend around £9000 tops and i am going to dick lovetts in swindon to look at a couple to get some idea of what i would like. i just need to know whether the insurance companies will thrash me?
Thanks!
Josh
Thanks!
Josh
Insurance is not something you can predict really, I suspect it'll be high for you whatever the car, but you could potentially be surprised when you do some quotes and look at the difference between something underpowered and something slightly quicker. It can often only be a couple of hundred, which isn't all that much when you're already well into four figures.
However I would say it's potentially a shame to have a MINI as your first car, I doubt you'd appreciate the handling and ride as much if that was your initial benchmark.
However I would say it's potentially a shame to have a MINI as your first car, I doubt you'd appreciate the handling and ride as much if that was your initial benchmark.
Try and haggle hard to get the price down, then use any excess you save on the car from the 9k to put towards the insurance. May even explain to the saleperson that you are worried about insurance and see what they can do.
Also, perhaps look towards putting yourself down as an addition driver with one of your parents as the main driver, depending on how much you will use the car. Its not recommended if you will be driving it 99% of the time though
Good luck
Also, perhaps look towards putting yourself down as an addition driver with one of your parents as the main driver, depending on how much you will use the car. Its not recommended if you will be driving it 99% of the time though
Good luck
Colin_147 said:
Also, perhaps look towards putting yourself down as an addition driver with one of your parents as the main driver, depending on how much you will use the car. Its not recommended if you will be driving it 99% of the time though
Good luck
Under no circumstances would i recommend doing this if the car will be your car and driven by you. It is called fronting and is entirely illegal.Good luck
I refer you to this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Yes you may get an insurance ceritificate with your name on, but you will not be legally insured as you will have lied to the insurance company as to who is the main driver. They will void your policy, and you will be given the 'cactus to the asshole' treatment.
JJCW said:
Colin_147 said:
Also, perhaps look towards putting yourself down as an addition driver with one of your parents as the main driver, depending on how much you will use the car. Its not recommended if you will be driving it 99% of the time though
Good luck
Under no circumstances would i recommend doing this if the car will be your car and driven by you. It is called fronting and is entirely illegal.Good luck
I refer you to this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Yes you may get an insurance ceritificate with your name on, but you will not be legally insured as you will have lied to the insurance company as to who is the main driver. They will void your policy, and you will be given the 'cactus to the asshole' treatment.
But what might help is if you have a second named driver on the policy who might occasionally user your car, someone older with experience, this can bring it down a bit.
Rakey said:
But what might help is if you have a second named driver on the policy who might occasionally user your car, someone older with experience, this can bring it down a bit.
Indeed, when i was on my previous policy adding my mum as a named driver brought my premium down a fair bit.I think my first years insurance for my 92k reg escort was £1200, down form £2k by doing a pass plus. This was back in 2001 and the car only cost me £1200! lol
My 07 MINI Cooper cost me now, about £300 a year FC, I wouldnt dream of paying £3k to insure it tho! They have got you by the short and curlies for the next couple of years... but it gets better! If you can afford it, go for it... but I would have a banger to get those couple of years experience under your belt. :-)
My 07 MINI Cooper cost me now, about £300 a year FC, I wouldnt dream of paying £3k to insure it tho! They have got you by the short and curlies for the next couple of years... but it gets better! If you can afford it, go for it... but I would have a banger to get those couple of years experience under your belt. :-)
Alfa_75_Steve said:
Just one thought.... how the hell does a 16 year old find themselves with £9k + a couple of grand for insurance for their first car?
I went to a pretty upmarket school, but even there, the 6th form car park was filled with cheap bangers.
Parents chap.I went to a pretty upmarket school, but even there, the 6th form car park was filled with cheap bangers.
I have sold 3 cars this month (two of them brand new the other on a 58 plate) to people as first cars. So all around £15k. Daddy puts it on his amex, happy days for them.
okgo said:
Alfa_75_Steve said:
Just one thought.... how the hell does a 16 year old find themselves with £9k + a couple of grand for insurance for their first car?
I went to a pretty upmarket school, but even there, the 6th form car park was filled with cheap bangers.
Parents chap.I went to a pretty upmarket school, but even there, the 6th form car park was filled with cheap bangers.
I have sold 3 cars this month (two of them brand new the other on a 58 plate) to people as first cars. So all around £15k. Daddy puts it on his amex, happy days for them.
As I say, I went to a very good (private) school (no, my parents weren't loaded - I was on a scholarship for poor people....) - the newest car any of my peer group had was a 5 year old Metro - most were handed down 2nd 'shopping' cars.
These days, even families with a very moderate income appear to be buying their kids expensive cars.
Alfa_75_Steve said:
okgo said:
Alfa_75_Steve said:
Just one thought.... how the hell does a 16 year old find themselves with £9k + a couple of grand for insurance for their first car?
I went to a pretty upmarket school, but even there, the 6th form car park was filled with cheap bangers.
Parents chap.I went to a pretty upmarket school, but even there, the 6th form car park was filled with cheap bangers.
I have sold 3 cars this month (two of them brand new the other on a 58 plate) to people as first cars. So all around £15k. Daddy puts it on his amex, happy days for them.
As I say, I went to a very good (private) school (no, my parents weren't loaded - I was on a scholarship for poor people....) - the newest car any of my peer group had was a 5 year old Metro - most were handed down 2nd 'shopping' cars.
These days, even families with a very moderate income appear to be buying their kids expensive cars.
okgo said:
Alfa_75_Steve said:
okgo said:
Alfa_75_Steve said:
Just one thought.... how the hell does a 16 year old find themselves with £9k + a couple of grand for insurance for their first car?
I went to a pretty upmarket school, but even there, the 6th form car park was filled with cheap bangers.
Parents chap.I went to a pretty upmarket school, but even there, the 6th form car park was filled with cheap bangers.
I have sold 3 cars this month (two of them brand new the other on a 58 plate) to people as first cars. So all around £15k. Daddy puts it on his amex, happy days for them.
As I say, I went to a very good (private) school (no, my parents weren't loaded - I was on a scholarship for poor people....) - the newest car any of my peer group had was a 5 year old Metro - most were handed down 2nd 'shopping' cars.
These days, even families with a very moderate income appear to be buying their kids expensive cars.
tter when i was 17! 
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