Sporty convertible my 19 y/o could drive
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm still working on my Saab 9-3 convertible, but can't get my soon-to-be-19 y/o daughter insured on it. She'll soon have been driving for a year with a black box in the Skoda Fabia 1.slow I bought her (there's a thread somewhere), no accidents, no speeding etc. I'd like to have a little sort of sporty thing for us to play with together, me as main driver and her as a named one. This would be for real, not fronting.
So what am I likely to get her insured on? MX5? MR2? Midget? Performance not the issue, but small, convertible and manual are the real requirements. Under £1500 too, or under £1000 with work needed. I don't mind mechanical or service stuff, just no bodywork.
Is this even possible?
I'm still working on my Saab 9-3 convertible, but can't get my soon-to-be-19 y/o daughter insured on it. She'll soon have been driving for a year with a black box in the Skoda Fabia 1.slow I bought her (there's a thread somewhere), no accidents, no speeding etc. I'd like to have a little sort of sporty thing for us to play with together, me as main driver and her as a named one. This would be for real, not fronting.
So what am I likely to get her insured on? MX5? MR2? Midget? Performance not the issue, but small, convertible and manual are the real requirements. Under £1500 too, or under £1000 with work needed. I don't mind mechanical or service stuff, just no bodywork.
Is this even possible?
I bought a MK2.5 MX5 with the 1.8 engine at 18 and was able to insure myself as the main driver for around £1000 (TPFT), the car itself had 85k miles or so when I bought it, the previous owner had the sills repaired and it had heated leather seats for the winter 
.
It cost about a grand for the car and although the sills had been repaired the rear arches were quite corroded meaning it probably wasn't the safest car in the world. Other than the rust though they're fairly bulletproof and great fun to drive so spend a little more on one that's been properly repaired and looked after and it'll be very easy to live with
.It cost about a grand for the car and although the sills had been repaired the rear arches were quite corroded meaning it probably wasn't the safest car in the world. Other than the rust though they're fairly bulletproof and great fun to drive so spend a little more on one that's been properly repaired and looked after and it'll be very easy to live with
Actus Reus said:
Will they let a 19 year old onto a classic policy? If so Mk.1 MX5. My insurance on one of them a few years back with limited miles was £80.
Age 21 was the youngest classic insurance I could find - excepting the rumor that the morris minor club had a deal of moggies younger.OverSteery said:
Actus Reus said:
Will they let a 19 year old onto a classic policy? If so Mk.1 MX5. My insurance on one of them a few years back with limited miles was £80.
Age 21 was the youngest classic insurance I could find - excepting the rumor that the morris minor club had a deal of moggies younger.As much as I love MR2s, no way for a first car and/or inexperienced driver. The Mid Engine layout plus lack of stability control will most likely cause things to end badly the first time it gets really wet and cold. Even if it doesn't the insurance co will do him/her over as loads of folks crash them.
I'd stick to something FWD and slow. Even then the soft top will drive up the insurance premium though.
I'd stick to something FWD and slow. Even then the soft top will drive up the insurance premium though.
Thanks - this won't be her car, it will be mine (and I'm in my 50s) but I want her to be able to have occasional use of it, probably when we're together anyway. Point taken about the MR2, I'm not a MINI fan (my wife just sold her 4 year old Cooper, I didn't like the drive much), and if it's not a 2 seat convertible then I won't bother.
ZX10R NIN said:
I'd say see what the numbers are on a Tigra:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
MG TF
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
If you buy an MG or any other mid engined car, what ever you do don't skimp on the tyres...https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
MG TF
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Try Lancaster insurance, I'm on an MX5 policy with them (technically was, as I allowed it to lapse as car is SORN). My 03 plate was fine as a modern classic although they did have slight issues with my age when I first took it out, but perhaps with your daughter as named driver it would be less of an issue.
Adding to my suggestion of the Tigra
Slightly over budget - Renault Wind
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Slightly over budget - Renault Wind
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
mr_spock said:
Ah yes, MGs. Lots around here looking in good shape for well under £1K! I don't skimp on tyres, ever.
I have one. They are good cars and fairly rust proof but will probably need some protection by now. The front wishbones on my corroded so replaced with brand new (PITA as the front subframe needed dropping but at least everything is waxoiled now). Rear screens go brittle and crack but you can get the plastic replaced for about £70.DIY isn't as easy as the Mazda but then you probably won't need to replace wishbones, chassis legs etc. My brother rolled an MGF at about 60mph, slid for about 100' upside down and walked away - the screen didn't even break! They're tough little buggers.
If you can get insurance for reasonable money I'd recommend it but remember while they have a toy image they are still mid engine sports cars and can still bite if provoked hard enough.
I doubt you will get insurance on an MX-5, used to own one and the groups were always full of posts of young drivers complaining they had been quoted stupid prices for insurance, usually followed by asking how they could weld up the diff to be a drift hero so you get the idea.
Vauxhall Tigra
Peugeot 206 or 207
Ford Street Ka
Bit left field Suzuki Cappuccino?
Vauxhall Tigra
Peugeot 206 or 207
Ford Street Ka
Bit left field Suzuki Cappuccino?
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