Cool cars for teenagers!
Discussion
I have read several threads recently about young drivers looking for their first car or parents looking to find a "cool" first car for their teenage children. I was shocked to see people getting shot down in flames for suggesting cars like the Fiat Panda 100HP and Skoda Fabia vRS (both cars that I would have loved to have owned as my first car).
When I was in 6th form (about 15 years ago), there was far less choice. A Fiesta/Metro was the default choice, people who were into cars and driving would have a small Peugeot (usually a 205), the young farmers would drive Series III Land Rovers or Defenders and there were the snobs for whom nothing but a VW Golf would do (no matter how old and decrepit)! There were a few interesting exceptions, a mk2 Escort, a classic VW Beetle and a Renault 5 GT Turbo being particularly noteworthy (not sure how he managed to insure that one)! I didn't own a car myself but had the use of my mum's red Fiat Cinquecento Sporting (which I later inherited), which I thought was quite cool and different at the time. I accept that most teenagers (especially boys) would like a hot hatch and there is always going to be a bit of a chasm between what you want and what you can afford. My first love was a Peugeot 205 GTi, which I finally had the means to insure at the age of 22 and it didn't disappoint but the Cinq was as excellent stop-gap for me and almost as much fun to be honest!
Now I accept that a normal Fiat Panda or Skoda Fabia is not a cool car (although I like both) but the 100HP and vRS are different propositions. The 100HP being the modern equivalent to my Cinquecento Sporting really (although twice more power but not twice as much weight) and a more manly alternative to a Fiat 500 (which is a cool car for a girl). Likewise, the appeal of the vRS is that it looks fairly non-descript but not offensive and is actually quite quick as well as being reasonable to insure and economical (an ideal set of qualities for a 17-19 year old I would have said). I also admire Skodas for offering the halo of VW quality for much less money and in many cases being better to drive than their German and Spanish cousins.
How either of these interesting but different alternatives can be less cool than the bland default choices of a 1.2 Corsa/Fiesta/Clio/Saxo is beyond me. Even the Citroen C1/Peugeot 107 which was quite a funky design when it came out looks a bit bland now due to its ubiquity and having driven several over long distances during a brief spell working as a Peugeot delivery driver, I would conclude that their appeal is limited to short distances.
So, am I completely out of touch and what constitutes a "cool" car for a teenager which is both affordable to buy, run and insure?
When I was in 6th form (about 15 years ago), there was far less choice. A Fiesta/Metro was the default choice, people who were into cars and driving would have a small Peugeot (usually a 205), the young farmers would drive Series III Land Rovers or Defenders and there were the snobs for whom nothing but a VW Golf would do (no matter how old and decrepit)! There were a few interesting exceptions, a mk2 Escort, a classic VW Beetle and a Renault 5 GT Turbo being particularly noteworthy (not sure how he managed to insure that one)! I didn't own a car myself but had the use of my mum's red Fiat Cinquecento Sporting (which I later inherited), which I thought was quite cool and different at the time. I accept that most teenagers (especially boys) would like a hot hatch and there is always going to be a bit of a chasm between what you want and what you can afford. My first love was a Peugeot 205 GTi, which I finally had the means to insure at the age of 22 and it didn't disappoint but the Cinq was as excellent stop-gap for me and almost as much fun to be honest!
Now I accept that a normal Fiat Panda or Skoda Fabia is not a cool car (although I like both) but the 100HP and vRS are different propositions. The 100HP being the modern equivalent to my Cinquecento Sporting really (although twice more power but not twice as much weight) and a more manly alternative to a Fiat 500 (which is a cool car for a girl). Likewise, the appeal of the vRS is that it looks fairly non-descript but not offensive and is actually quite quick as well as being reasonable to insure and economical (an ideal set of qualities for a 17-19 year old I would have said). I also admire Skodas for offering the halo of VW quality for much less money and in many cases being better to drive than their German and Spanish cousins.
How either of these interesting but different alternatives can be less cool than the bland default choices of a 1.2 Corsa/Fiesta/Clio/Saxo is beyond me. Even the Citroen C1/Peugeot 107 which was quite a funky design when it came out looks a bit bland now due to its ubiquity and having driven several over long distances during a brief spell working as a Peugeot delivery driver, I would conclude that their appeal is limited to short distances.
So, am I completely out of touch and what constitutes a "cool" car for a teenager which is both affordable to buy, run and insure?
One of my friends has a classic Mini, that seems to go down well with everyone, including the teachers with "I used to have one of those..." stories.
Unfortunately, the rest of the 6th formers all drive Clios, Corsas, Fiestas etc. Mine's one of the better-specced cars of the whole 6th form, quite proud of the little s
tbox really 
Unfortunately, the rest of the 6th formers all drive Clios, Corsas, Fiestas etc. Mine's one of the better-specced cars of the whole 6th form, quite proud of the little s
tbox really Cool is irrelevant, its whether they can insure it, the poxiest 1.0 box is three or four grand to insure, quotes for anything vaguely more interesting is massively expensive, My first car in 88 was my dads old 1969 MK1 Capri 1600 GT-XLR which was pretty cool and insured for £300 odd quid, inflation since then would put this at say £650/700 which is not vast amount but they wouldnt insure you now on a RWD classic with 90 bhp for that kind of money, anything is possible but it would be perhaps five grand.
I think the insurance companies got sick of kids causing massive claims and them paying out, so they stuck it up and then stuck it up some more to make some money, then they kind of got in cahoots and stuck it up some more, then all the stupid whiplash claims and claims management companies got involved, plus most of Bradford crashing into each other to make claims so they stuck it up some more and its all become a cluster f*ck, it should cost three or four grand to insure a youngster on a 1.0 car.
Basically it should be the number of kids driving and the amount of premiums should be enough to cover their crashes and then some profit for the insurers as they aren't charities but now its profit for loan car companies, claims management companies, two grand in whiplash for every occupant, referral fees, kickbacks etc etc. I think the real value of insurance is perhaps £1200 for your average young driver, three times what an adult is paying as they are three times more likely to crash, not four grand, that is bloody daft.
I wish people would realise that their whiplash thing is the reason why they pay so much for insurance, the minute you claim for a non existent injury you become part of the problem and have no right to complain about the cost, pay for your insurance with your claim money, and young drivers, stop driving like tools and crashing all the bloody time !
I think the insurance companies got sick of kids causing massive claims and them paying out, so they stuck it up and then stuck it up some more to make some money, then they kind of got in cahoots and stuck it up some more, then all the stupid whiplash claims and claims management companies got involved, plus most of Bradford crashing into each other to make claims so they stuck it up some more and its all become a cluster f*ck, it should cost three or four grand to insure a youngster on a 1.0 car.
Basically it should be the number of kids driving and the amount of premiums should be enough to cover their crashes and then some profit for the insurers as they aren't charities but now its profit for loan car companies, claims management companies, two grand in whiplash for every occupant, referral fees, kickbacks etc etc. I think the real value of insurance is perhaps £1200 for your average young driver, three times what an adult is paying as they are three times more likely to crash, not four grand, that is bloody daft.
I wish people would realise that their whiplash thing is the reason why they pay so much for insurance, the minute you claim for a non existent injury you become part of the problem and have no right to complain about the cost, pay for your insurance with your claim money, and young drivers, stop driving like tools and crashing all the bloody time !
veevee said:
He said cheap to buy run and insure!
Classic mini is a good shout. I knew Panda 100hp would be mentioned but it looks like a granny-mobile. Not sure a teenager would want to drive round in one.
Classic Mini is a good shout, but I disagree that the Panda 100hp looks like a 'granny-mobile', and as a teenager I'd like to drive around in one Classic mini is a good shout. I knew Panda 100hp would be mentioned but it looks like a granny-mobile. Not sure a teenager would want to drive round in one.
.http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2042...
And:
http://thumbsnap.com/sc/DuLhH2N8.jpg
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqUOKiME31cufW6YBOIYK...
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqUOKiME31cufW6YBOIYK...
etc.
Insurance is still out of reach for many though, even though the cars may be affordable.
Think the problem with insurance, unlike a car is that is has no residual value, five grands worth of car is worth £4500 a year later, perhaps a little less, insurance if its five grand is five grand gone.
I got quotes for my eldest and it was four grand, that would pay for taxi's everywhere he needed to go for a year, there is just not four grands worth of value in being able to drive for most kids, will be just those who have no choice and those with lots of money.
I got quotes for my eldest and it was four grand, that would pay for taxi's everywhere he needed to go for a year, there is just not four grands worth of value in being able to drive for most kids, will be just those who have no choice and those with lots of money.
PH lurker said:
Classic Mini is a good shout, but I disagree that the Panda 100hp looks like a 'granny-mobile', and as a teenager I'd like to drive around in one .
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2042...
And:
http://thumbsnap.com/sc/DuLhH2N8.jpg
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqUOKiME31cufW6YBOIYK...
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqUOKiME31cufW6YBOIYK...
etc.
Insurance is still out of reach for many though, even though the cars may be affordable.
I thought you were going to post some pics of a Panda looking cool, but apart from possibly the grey one cornering, they all look very granny-ish. Would not have been seen dead in one as a teenager, everyone would think you'd borrowed your nans car..http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2042...
And:
http://thumbsnap.com/sc/DuLhH2N8.jpg
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqUOKiME31cufW6YBOIYK...
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqUOKiME31cufW6YBOIYK...
etc.
Insurance is still out of reach for many though, even though the cars may be affordable.
veevee said:
PH lurker said:
Classic Mini is a good shout, but I disagree that the Panda 100hp looks like a 'granny-mobile', and as a teenager I'd like to drive around in one .
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2042...
And:
http://thumbsnap.com/sc/DuLhH2N8.jpg
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqUOKiME31cufW6YBOIYK...
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqUOKiME31cufW6YBOIYK...
etc.
Insurance is still out of reach for many though, even though the cars may be affordable.
I thought you were going to post some pics of a Panda looking cool, but apart from possibly the grey one cornering, they all look very granny-ish. Would not have been seen dead in one as a teenager, everyone would think you'd borrowed your nans car..http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2042...
And:
http://thumbsnap.com/sc/DuLhH2N8.jpg
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqUOKiME31cufW6YBOIYK...
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqUOKiME31cufW6YBOIYK...
etc.
Insurance is still out of reach for many though, even though the cars may be affordable.
Oh and to fuel the 100HP fire
Being on 2 wheels, driven by a bearded, powerfully built, sunglasses wearing, south african makes it cool
Grodecki said:
I'm 20 now but at 17, I had a Classic Mini Cooper, went down well with everyone. Insurance on a classic policy was £650 a year, but some of that was made up for in the money that went into it when things went wrong, which they inevitably did.
what company is that through? im 18 and my parents are having trouble paying for the 1.2 clio I'm a named driver on, an extra 1.5k to add me to the policy. A classic mini would be the dream, no idea where to start on insurance though, any help?
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