What first car: with a twist

[firsttimebuyer]

Good morning PHers!

I am a new member of this website, but I've been following it for a while now.

Now I understand that the topic of "which first car should I buy" has been done to death, but having looked at them all, I wanted something to be a little more tailored to me specifically.

I would like my first car to give me an opportunity to further enhance my driving abilities: as a result I have zeroed in on the idea of a classic. I've seen a couple of people say that there is no longer any such thing as classic insurance for 17 year olds, which I consider to be a crying shame! I want to be able to learn how to drive without aids and to do a little home maintenance as well.

As you all know, the real killer for a 17 year old is the insurance. Therefore, my question is this: which car fits the bill for the above scenario? Other than the obvious MG Midget, Triumph Spitfire, classic Mini and the Morris Minor, what other suggestions can you offer me?

Many thanks in advance

[curly72]

Triumph Herald
Ford Capri/Cortina/Fiesta/Escort
Morris Marina

[JackP1]

If you can get classic insurance you've done very very well.

If you can get a quote under 5k, you've done very very well.

[nagsheadwarrior]

From what I've read there is still a fighting chance with 1 or 2 insurers of getting a classic policy at the o.ps age but the choice of car is limited pretty much to a Moggie Minor or not much else, one of the writers for I think possibly classics monthly was in this position and that was the choice he was left with.

Either way surely a moggie would be perfect, very easy maintenance,have to be driven properley but not too difficult and plenty of availability of cars and parts plus a bit more leftfield than an original Mini.

[DubZeus]

Polo Mk1-3, Golf mk1 & 2, Vauxhall Nova

[Willy Nilly]

There is a young(ish) lad around here that was knocking around in an Austin A40 (I think). He seems to have traded it in for an Austin Cambridge. Not sure on the practicalities of running such a car though. They all look slightly ropey to me when given more than a quick glance

[arollingstone]

JackP1 said:

If you can get classic insurance you've done very very well.

If you can get a quote under 5k, you've done very very well.

i know insurance is bad but surely not thhhhhaaat bad?

my first car was an alfa 147, only cost me £2300 fully comp. and on my own policy too

firsttimebuyer said:

As you all know, the real killer for a 17 year old is the insurance. Therefore, my question is this: which car fits the bill for the above scenario? Other than the obvious MG Midget, Triumph Spitfire, classic Mini and the Morris Minor, what other suggestions can you offer me?

Many thanks in advance

avoid a mini i'd say, as insurance WILL be high. midget/sprite = good spitfire = good
whats your budget?

Edited by arollingstone on Sunday 23 September 16:44

[UberMeister]

Just get a Rover Mini and get a quote with confused.com and opt for the cheapest.

It will drive/feel like a classic and will be cheap(ish) to insure.

[firsttimebuyer]

Thanks for all the replies guys

Budget wise, I have about £2500 for the car and my parents say they will pay for insurance if it is reasonable.

nagsheadwarrior, do you have any names for me re. companies that still offer classic insurance for 17 year olds?

If it helps, I live in London, in an F rated postcode

[LuS1fer]

Classics don't really enhance your driving skills - poor brakes, lots of chassis flex, very little power, usually poor steering and a constant battle to maintain in top order.

[Greengecko]

firsttimebuyer said:

Thanks for all the replies guys

Budget wise, I have about £2500 for the car and my parents say they will pay for insurance if it is reasonable.

nagsheadwarrior, do you have any names for me re. companies that still offer classic insurance for 17 year olds?

If it helps, I live in London, in an F rated postcode

Fully restored perfect classic mini - £2,500
Insurance (1st year at 17 and just passed test) - £1,785

I know you mentioned classic mini was pretty obvious classic car, but that should be within your budget. That was how my younger brother went a year or so ago (decided to spend more and get a decent car with a lower insurance premium).

[Willy Nilly]

firsttimebuyer said:

Thanks for all the replies guys

Budget wise, I have about £2500 for the car and my parents say they will pay for insurance if it is reasonable.

nagsheadwarrior, do you have any names for me re. companies that still offer classic insurance for 17 year olds?

If it helps, I live in London, in an F rated postcode

There is plenty of choice of cars for £1000. So, spend a grand on any of countless cars, then if ma and pa are going to contribute to insurance, put as much as you can afford in too, say £1000, then keep the 500 as a slush fund for the inevitable repairs.

[Geekman]

firsttimebuyer said:

Thanks for all the replies guys

Budget wise, I have about £2500 for the car and my parents say they will pay for insurance if it is reasonable.

nagsheadwarrior, do you have any names for me re. companies that still offer classic insurance for 17 year olds?

If it helps, I live in London, in an F rated postcode

Without wanting to crush your hopes, I just don't think it's practical for someone in your situation to get a classic. You'll end up paying vastly over the odds to insure a car which is likely to require constant maintenance and won't be as comfortable or practical as something more modern. I was in your position last year (and had the same postcode situation), and although I didn't go down the classic route, I wasn't stuck with the stereotypical corsa/matiz.
I found cars such as the volvo 850, mazda 3, vauxhall vectra and VW passat easily insurable, provided you pick one of the smaller engined variants. None of those cars would get much respect on these forums, but as a first car they'll be loads better than what everyone else your age has. I ended up with a 2005 vauxhall astra 1.4 and although it was far from exciting, you could still learn a lot about driving, for example, if you wanted to push it to it's limits, you had to keep the speed up through corners and hills which, in a low powered car, is a lot more difficult than you'd think. Everyone thought it was really cool because it looked modern and had a decent stereo, and many thought I must have paid £10k for it!
A year on, I've now sold the astra, have bought a 2.0 Mazda 3 sport, and am in a position where I could insure a classic as a second car if I wanted. I would encourage you to do something similar: get a non-classic car for a year, learn a bit about driving, and if you don't put it in a ditch, get a classic next year when it's a lot more affordable, and maybe even possible to run alongside a more modern car. Whatever your first car is, no matter how awful it is, you'll enjoy driving it.
Good luck!

[firsttimebuyer]

Geekman said:

firsttimebuyer said:

Thanks for all the replies guys

Budget wise, I have about £2500 for the car and my parents say they will pay for insurance if it is reasonable.

nagsheadwarrior, do you have any names for me re. companies that still offer classic insurance for 17 year olds?

If it helps, I live in London, in an F rated postcode

Without wanting to crush your hopes, I just don't think it's practical for someone in your situation to get a classic. You'll end up paying vastly over the odds to insure a car which is likely to require constant maintenance and won't be as comfortable or practical as something more modern. I was in your position last year (and had the same postcode situation), and although I didn't go down the classic route, I wasn't stuck with the stereotypical corsa/matiz.
I found cars such as the volvo 850, mazda 3, vauxhall vectra and VW passat easily insurable, provided you pick one of the smaller engined variants. None of those cars would get much respect on these forums, but as a first car they'll be loads better than what everyone else your age has. I ended up with a 2005 vauxhall astra 1.4 and although it was far from exciting, you could still learn a lot about driving, for example, if you wanted to push it to it's limits, you had to keep the speed up through corners and hills which, in a low powered car, is a lot more difficult than you'd think. Everyone thought it was really cool because it looked modern and had a decent stereo, and many thought I must have paid £10k for it!
A year on, I've now sold the astra, have bought a 2.0 Mazda 3 sport, and am in a position where I could insure a classic as a second car if I wanted. I would encourage you to do something similar: get a non-classic car for a year, learn a bit about driving, and if you don't put it in a ditch, get a classic next year when it's a lot more affordable, and maybe even possible to run alongside a more modern car. Whatever your first car is, no matter how awful it is, you'll enjoy driving it.
Good luck!

Thanks Geekman. I wonder if you could confirm a couple of things for me:

1. Were you also 17? (it is implied but not expressly stated :P)
2. Could you post an example of a suitable vw passat please?
3. Who were you insured with?

Thanks in advance, and for your helpful comments everyone

[Geekman]

firsttimebuyer said:

Thanks Geekman. I wonder if you could confirm a couple of things for me:

1. Were you also 17? (it is implied but not expressly stated :P)
2. Could you post an example of a suitable vw passat please?
3. Who were you insured with?

Thanks in advance, and for your helpful comments everyone

1. Yes, I passed very soon after my 17th birthday
2. Something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-Volkswagen-Passat-1... or if you have a lower budget, the previous gen model
3. I ended up going with a company called i-kube, who are a "black box" insurance company. They differ from the others as, rather than penalising you for "spirited" driving, they simply reflect it in your renewal next year, and, of course as you wouldn't renew, it isn't a problem. The catch is that you can't drive between 11pm and 5am, not a major problem for me, but perhaps it would be for some?
Anyway, with hindsight, I would have been able to get a non black box policy from admiral for around £2000, so it doesn't really matter if the black box isn't what you want. The key with all the companies I've tried is to add two middle aged women with no convictions or accidents (for example, your mum and your aunt) as named drivers, it made several thousands difference to my premium. Fully comp also worked out cheaper for me than TPFT, and declaring 5000 miles a year appears to be the sweet spot for a cheap premium (obviously don't do this if you're planning on doing more than 5000 per year). Basically, play with all the settings on the price comparison sites, and see what works out cheaper for you. As long as you're not telling them lies, you'll be fine.

[MG CHRIS]

Have a look over on the quantum kit car club they have insurance schemes with footman james for youngster believe it to be around £1400 for a 17 year old. I had one when i was 18 still have it insurance was £800 im just one grade below your on post code risks.

ETA mine is for sale at the right price.

Edited by MG CHRIS on Sunday 23 September 18:17

[PH lurker]

Another 17 year old here whose post code results in not yet having a car.

Not sure on all the prices but other classics include the Austin A35, Austin A40, Morris Oxford, Riley 1.5 and Wolsely version, MG 1100, Land Rover Series 3, MG B GT, Marina (as said, but a very very good one for your budget?), MG Metro 1300, MK 1 Fiesta, Rover 214, Hillman Imp, Hillman Avenger, Chevette, Kitten. Can probably think of other vaguely suitable cars if required.

Besides the usual Mini, Minor, Midget, Sprite, Herald etc.

[vit4]

Check late 1980's and early 1990's supermini & family hatchback-sized cars; I'm in a pretty piss poor postcode and it's by far the cheapest way to insure (Even now at 19 my mk2 Astra is about half the price my gf's mk4 Fiesta 1.25 would be to insure). Keep to base models for the cheapest quotes, that seems to make more of a difference than engine size.

[Agrispeed]

here is mine!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

although you cant get classic insurance the insurance for a classic is still much cheaper, around a 3rd the price than a modern car IIRC

[DHE]

Insurance for a 17 year old is a joke, my lad is looking into getting his first car. Bear in mind that you usually don't accrue a no claims discount on a classic policy.