Help an under-informed 21 year old

[tonyb1968]

r56jack said:

If you're looking at Mini cooper S' around the 10yr mark, I'd make sure you get an LCI version. Later models (from 2010) have the N18 engine, and don't suffer from the timing chain issues of the pre-LCI models.

Well.... they seem to be less likely to fail but the N18 still suffers the issues the N14 has when it comes to timing chains, just not quite as badly....

[RSTurboPaul]

Would a Fiat Panda 100hp be insurable?

I was going to suggest Clio 172/182 but I don't think the insurance people would like it.

[NickGRhodes]

Put some money aside for advanced driving lessons or even track days (with tutor).
Make sure what ever you get you can afford to put half decent tyres on. A Hot hatch with ditchfinders is far more frustrating to drive than something milder with mid-range or better tyres on.

[RSTurboPaul]

NickGRhodes said:

Put some money aside for advanced driving lessons or even track days (with tutor).
Make sure what ever you get you can afford to put half decent tyres on. A Hot hatch with ditchfinders is far more frustrating to drive than something milder with mid-range or better tyres on.

+1 to all of this.

[Herbs]

The best bit of advice I can give is sit down and spend a few hours one evening on Confused.com (or similar) and get quotes for a whole range of different cars and engine sizes as you may be amazed at what becomes available to you.

At 20, I had a left hand drive RX7 which was far cheaper to insure than Fiesta's, Nova's, 205's and was the envy of all my mates at the time (money and then some went on fuel instead!). If you can stay away from mainstream, sporty hot hatch cars that kids your age buy (and subsequently crash) you can get much more for your money.

I then had similar situations with a Supra twin turbo, Lotus Elise, SL500 and V8 Vantage which were all far cheaper than the S2000, BMW 5 Series and MX5 I had.

[Longtime Lurker]

Just wanted to add that i had a 2009 Suzuki Swift Sport and it was a fantastic car!

[ninjag]

Stick a dashcam in whatever car you get as well as some insurance companies offer a discount for this.

[nikaiyo2]

Abarth 500/595s are mega reliable, if you get a good one.

I had 3 over nearly 10 years and literally never had a single issue at all, had a mate who’s wife had one and it was always going wrong.

Have you considered a Clio 172\182 they can be picked up for peanuts?

[Pistonheader101]

ninjag said:

Stick a dashcam in whatever car you get as well as some insurance companies offer a discount for this.

And some count it as mods and invalidate your insurance

[jason61c]

And they might invalidate your insurance if you remove it because you were to blame

[ninjag]

Pistonheader101 said:

ninjag said:

Stick a dashcam in whatever car you get as well as some insurance companies offer a discount for this.

And some count it as mods and invalidate your insurance

Which ones?

[ninjag]

jason61c said:

And they might invalidate your insurance if you remove it because you were to blame

Possibly, but I'd have no sympathy for someone who does that anyway because they would also be the kind of tosser who would lie about what happened. If you cause the accident then man up and accept the responsibly.

I believe a dashcam is more beneficial than hindrance, unless you are a st driver.

[ZX10R NIN]

ninjag said:

Possibly, but I'd have no sympathy for someone who does that anyway because they would also be the kind of tosser who would lie about what happened. If you cause the accident then man up and accept the responsibly.

I believe a dashcam is more beneficial than hindrance, unless you are a st driver.

I disagree with you on that one, they can be useful but why would I put a spy in my car/bike, when I fancy some spirited driving why am I going to record it?

[ninjag]

ZX10R NIN said:

I disagree with you on that one, they can be useful but why would I put a spy in my car/bike, when I fancy some spirited driving why am I going to record it?

Not a problem unless you crash. Or don't have it declared with your insurance so long as it's not one which classes it as a mod (don't know any personally) and so long as your spirited driving/riding and subsequent crash doesn't effect anyone else then it's not a problem. Just turn it off first.

We've saved God knows how many thousands of pounds at work by having them due to dishonest third party drivers including people who have hit me and changed their story. Doesn't stop me from having fun either, I'm in control of the camera.

[ZX10R NIN]

I get it on a work vehicle you have to cover yourself from scammers, on the two car crashes I've had the fact the cars were embedded in the back of my car means liability wasn't an issue.

[ninjag]

ZX10R NIN said:

I get it on a work vehicle you have to cover yourself from scammers, on the two car crashes I've had the fact the cars were embedded in the back of my car means liability wasn't an issue.

My first bike accident in London I was hit from behind. He claimed I reversed into him lol and he had a female witness in passenger seat apparently. Thankfully as my bike had no reverse gear it was an easy win. But had I been in a car....

Just recently my previous car was hit from behind because I stopped whilst pulling out of a junction due to people crossing but the guy following behind was too busy looking the other way. He tried to claim it was a crash for cash but my camera proved that there was an elderly couple stupidity trying to beat traffic and cross the road so I had to stop.

Even if I never had to use the camera it's good to know I've got a witness and besides this thread is advise to a new 21 year old driver who will probably have high insurance premiums right?

Edited by ninjag on Saturday 27th April 00:49

[ninepoint2]

fredd97 said:

I like are Abarths (cheap to insure but unreliable?, also bit too expensive),

It's not the 1970's... they are not really unreliable, but they are cheap to repair if they do go wrong, also should be cheap to insure

[ZX10R NIN]

ninjag said:

My first bike accident in London I was hit from behind. He claimed I reversed into him lol and he had a female witness in passenger seat apparently. Thankfully as my bike had no reverse gear it was an easy win. But had I been in a car....

Just recently my previous car was hit from behind because I stopped whilst pulling out of a junction due to people crossing but the guy following behind was too busy looking the other way. He tried to claim it was a crash for cash but my camera proved that there was an elderly couple stupidity trying to beat traffic and cross the road so I had to stop.

Even if I never had to use the camera it's good to know I've got a witness and besides this thread is advise to a new 21 year old driver who will probably have high insurance premiums right?

Edited by ninjag on Saturday 27th April 00:49

It's just my personal opinion people are free to go whichever way they want but I won't be going down that road.

[ninjag]

ZX10R NIN said:

It's just my personal opinion people are free to go whichever way they want but I won't be going down that road.

That's fair, same for me - just my opinion from my own experiences, people can take it or leave it. I fear it's not going to be long before we won't even be able to do any spirited driving/riding thanks to the EU wanting to control everything in our lives.

Australia looks more and more appealing.

[sparks_E46]

Chris32345 said:

Your 21 you can forget any hope of anything sporty and fast
No luck with a st unless you want to paying stupid money for insurance

At your age your are really looking a a sub 100hp hatchback insurance wise

Not always. I had an E39 528i when I was 21, £700 insurance and whilst it was not sporty, it was fast.