Looking for a 1.4

[Jacpac5]

Hi, firstly I'm new to the forum so yeah.
I've been driving for half a year, and had 2 clios which both have not been the best to say the least (first had a head gasket blow and the second had a f***ed up clutch ) and now I'm in the market for a new car. Looking for something up to 1.4 because insurance companies like to bend me over backwards and would kinda like something I can mess around with, not looking to do serious mods and that, just something I can learn a little with. My budgets around £1.5k, don't wanna spend anymore more than 2k. I've looked at the rover 25 and honda civic but any recommendations would be great. Thanks in advance!

[Saudade]

Mazda rx8?

Toyota Yaris, Nissan Micra or Suzuki Swift is what I would be getting if you want reliable and easy to work on yourself.

[GreatGranny]

Grande Punto

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Fezza Zetec

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

207

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Corolla

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Polo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Leftfield

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[brman]

anything with a small engine that is not already knackered would be my choice. The knack is finding one that is not knackered

Seriously, make/model is irrelevant, finding one that is in good condition for not a lot of money is what counts.

[HustleRussell]

Why does this myth persist that engine capacity is a reliable indicator of insurance premiums?

OP you have zero no claims discount, keep your expectations low until you have built some up.

Also can you learn anything from your first two cars which'll help you keep your third alive for longer? Killing two cars in your first half year suggests you either aren't buying your cars well or you aren't looking after them well.

[FiringOnThree]

As above, have a look at some larger than 1.4 engines; insurance isn't only based on engine size. Quotes on a 2.0 diesel estate are cheaper for me than any 1.0 petrol hatch, for example.

[ZX10R NIN]

Grande Punto T Jet

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Sporting

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Dave.]

Find a non-rusty MK1 focus, the 1.6 is a group 6 iirc, the 2.0 a group 8....

[Saudade]

HustleRussell said:

Why does this myth persist that engine capacity is a reliable indicator of insurance premiums?

OP you have zero no claims discount, keep your expectations low until you have built some up.

Also can you learn anything from your first two cars which'll help you keep your third alive for longer? Killing two cars in your first half year suggests you either aren't buying your cars well or you aren't looking after them well.

It's not so much the insurance, it's the running cost of a bigger engined car. MPG and maintenance adds up.

Typically anything that's worth driving has a high insurance premium, so that rules out an ST or clio 182 or whatever, sure he could get a 2.0tdi or something, but for 3k? Probably ropey at best which means potential big bills, all to save a couple hundred quid on insurance.

@OP Clutch change isn't actually that expensive, have you thought about fixing the Clio?

[Jacpac5]

Saudade said:

Mazda rx8?

Toyota Yaris, Nissan Micra or Suzuki Swift is what I would be getting if you want reliable and easy to work on yourself.

Yeah if only
And I have looked at the swift, what types of things are people doing with them do you know?

[Jacpac5]

GreatGranny said:

Grande Punto

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Fezza Zetec

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

207

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Corolla

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Polo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Leftfield

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Thanks for the suggestions! Yeah I like the look of the Punto, especially t jet, seems to be a lot to play around with and do with it.

[mattman]

Mini One? Only 75bhp, but loads of mods available

[HustleRussell]

Saudade said:

HustleRussell said:

Why does this myth persist that engine capacity is a reliable indicator of insurance premiums?

OP you have zero no claims discount, keep your expectations low until you have built some up.

Also can you learn anything from your first two cars which'll help you keep your third alive for longer? Killing two cars in your first half year suggests you either aren't buying your cars well or you aren't looking after them well.

It's not so much the insurance, it's the running cost of a bigger engined car. MPG and maintenance adds up.

Engine displacement isn’t a reliable indicator of those either

[Dave.]

HustleRussell said:

Engine displacement isn’t a reliable indicator of those either

What on earth are you talking about... The 1.3 RX8 is much covetted for being cheap to run/insure/maintain...

[GreatGranny]

Jacpac5 said:

Thanks for the suggestions! Yeah I like the look of the Punto, especially t jet, seems to be a lot to play around with and do with it.

If you are looking at a few mods then it seems a decent car to start with.

Pretty cheap as well.

[Ron99]

HustleRussell said:

Why does this myth persist that engine capacity is a reliable indicator of insurance premiums?

I agree.
Insurance quotes are far more complex than just the car.
Every question an insurer asks builds up a risk profile - your address, occupation, marital/family status and much more.
I've even been told that some insurers adjust renewal quotes based on how close to the deadline the previous insurance was paid, on the basis that people who leave things to the last minute are often rushing about in their daily lives, including greater risk of having an accident as a result of always being in a hurry.

[ninjag]

I was always lead to believe when it comes to the car it was more to do with the cost of parts and repairs which could effect premiums?

[HustleRussell]

ninjag said:

I was always lead to believe when it comes to the car it was more to do with the cost of parts and repairs which could effect premiums?

It could be a very minor component. The biggest influences relate to demographics and usership statistics relating to that particular model. That's why mainstream hatchbacks with the base model petrol engine get so heavily loaded. How many teenagers have their first road traffic accident in one of those?

Conversely how often do you see a teenager tearing about in a Citroen C5 2.0 HDI?

These two cars could end up generating a similar quote for that reason.

[HustleRussell]

Dave. said:

HustleRussell said:

Engine displacement isn’t a reliable indicator of those either

What on earth are you talking about... The 1.3 RX8 is much covetted for being cheap to run/insure/maintain...

In stark contrast to the beastly 1.9SDI Skoda Fabia, reknowned for its fire-breathing performance, prodigious thirst and propensity to throw up biblical repair bills on a monthly basis

[Gibby88]

How about a Ford Puma 1.4?