Insurance for a Defender for my 17 year old!? Help!

Insurance for a Defender for my 17 year old!? Help!

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Discussion

Robbo1969

Original Poster:

167 posts

94 months

Friday 31st January 2020
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Hi all.

Yes, that time that every fathers dreads has come!

The oldest daughter is 17 soon and I don’t want any offspring of mine driving around in a 1 litre roller skate.

So, any (sensible’ish!) tips on how I go about insuring her. (As in not £5000 a year!)

I am a business owner, so the business could buy the car and possibly putting her on a fleet policy!?

Anyway, anyone with any experience or advice, I would be very grateful.

Cheers!

Hashtaggggg

1,748 posts

68 months

Friday 31st January 2020
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National Farmers Union?


Sixpackpert

4,538 posts

213 months

Friday 31st January 2020
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Robbo1969 said:
I am a business owner, so the business could buy the car and possibly putting her on a fleet policy!?
And who picks up the BIK bill?

Robbo1969

Original Poster:

167 posts

94 months

Friday 31st January 2020
quotequote all
Sixpackpert said:
Robbo1969 said:
I am a business owner, so the business could buy the car and possibly putting her on a fleet policy!?
And who picks up the BIK bill?
Mmmm? Well, she could. She is on the payroll for exhibition work! Better consult the accountant!
Cheers!

Robbo1969

Original Poster:

167 posts

94 months

Friday 31st January 2020
quotequote all
Hashtaggggg said:
National Farmers Union?
Thanks! I suppose they’re bound to know. Although, they will still want to sell me a policy that nets themselves a decent whack surely!

Sixpackpert

4,538 posts

213 months

Friday 31st January 2020
quotequote all
Robbo1969 said:
Sixpackpert said:
Robbo1969 said:
I am a business owner, so the business could buy the car and possibly putting her on a fleet policy!?
And who picks up the BIK bill?
Mmmm? Well, she could. She is on the payroll for exhibition work! Better consult the accountant!
Cheers!
When you say Defender, which type, old or new, Commercial or not?

cologne2792

2,126 posts

125 months

Friday 31st January 2020
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Gladiator are very good at unusual or special risks.

I'm not quite sure if a 17 year old would fall into that category but I've found them very good.

Robbo1969

Original Poster:

167 posts

94 months

Friday 31st January 2020
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Sixpackpert said:
When you say Defender, which type, old or new, Commercial or not?
To be honest, I want to buy a classic series Land Rover . It would also be perfect for my business, for photos and promotion, plus, I’ve always wanted one! So two or three birds with one stone.

I’ll have a look at Gladiator, thanks!

I was trying to go down a route that someone here might have already been, rather than contacting our insurance broker as usual.

At the age of 50, have I finally turned into a 100% cynical old git and don’t trust the pros anymore!?

Hashtaggggg

1,748 posts

68 months

Friday 31st January 2020
quotequote all
Robbo1969 said:
Sixpackpert said:
When you say Defender, which type, old or new, Commercial or not?
To be honest, I want to buy a classic series Land Rover . It would also be perfect for my business, for photos and promotion, plus, I’ve always wanted one! So two or three birds with one stone.

I’ll have a look at Gladiator, thanks!

I was trying to go down a route that someone here might have already been, rather than contacting our insurance broker as usual.

At the age of 50, have I finally turned into a 100% cynical old git and don’t trust the pros anymore!?
You won’t be thanked if you get a series Land Rover, with no power steering!

Robbo1969

Original Poster:

167 posts

94 months

Friday 31st January 2020
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Hashtaggggg said:
You won’t be thanked if you get a series Land Rover, with no power steering!
A very good point!

Am I delirious in hoping my daughter will put up with the lack of modern comforts and appreciate driving THE Great British Classic!?

It’s going to be a bloody Fiat UNO isn’t it!?

Oh well!

Sixpackpert

4,538 posts

213 months

Friday 31st January 2020
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Robbo1969 said:
Hashtaggggg said:
You won’t be thanked if you get a series Land Rover, with no power steering!
A very good point!

Am I delirious in hoping my daughter will put up with the lack of modern comforts and appreciate driving THE Great British Classic!?

It’s going to be a bloody Fiat UNO isn’t it!?

Oh well!
Even the late Defenders are not nice to drive to be fair. Horrible driving position, heavy clutch...marginally more reliable than a series version.

She would love a Fiat 500 Abarth...as would you!

ETA: a reality check will mean it will be a 1 litre boring hatch at 2 grand a year insurance no doubt!


Edited by Sixpackpert on Friday 31st January 22:18

InitialDave

11,856 posts

118 months

Friday 31st January 2020
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Does she want to drive the Defender? Some girls love them, but if she'd be happier with a "normal" car, it doesn't have to be right down at the Aygo size, something like a Jazz might be a good option.

alscar

3,974 posts

212 months

Sunday 2nd February 2020
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Its not so much the premium when she is learning but when shes passed her test that may hurt !
For the learning stage you might find Admiral etc surprisingly acceptable -I wont say good value - when all my kids were learning they were certainly the cheapest albeit all with Fiesta's.
Waste 30 minutes on confused / meerkats etc.
The main problem will be its not so much the Physical Damage part of the premium but the liability exposure ie if she hits a third party vehicle -thats what will drive the premium.
Good luck - cool idea !

Hard-Drive

4,076 posts

228 months

Monday 3rd February 2020
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Get her on the policy by all means, but do you really want your daughter driving a SII as her everyday car?

Not very reliable
Won't keep up with modern traffic
Utterly wearing on a long run
No PAS/ABS/decent demisters/heater/wipers/lights/stereo/handsfree/parking sensors/heated rear windows/mirrors
Face it...hopeless protection in a crash
Easily stolen
Ruinous fuel consumption
Zero rear seat safety for an SWB and hopeless turning circle for a LWB
She's 17, she will crash it, surely it's better she crashes a more disposable car than a classic

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love SII Land Rovers, but there's no way it's a particularly suitable car IMHO. In fact, years ago an ex drove my SIII for a bit...and she hated it, and things have moved on a long way in that time for even the most basic of hatchbacks.

Perhaps a 90 is a more sensible choice...still very basic but they are an absolute world away from an SII in many ways, although a lot of the above points still apply!

Just get her a normal car, and make the SII something that's occasional fun, not a hardship to be endured!

eliot

11,365 posts

253 months

Monday 3rd February 2020
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I would suggest a 1L roller skate to be far safer for the occupants than a defender.

Escy

3,907 posts

148 months

Monday 3rd February 2020
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Making her drive a Defender would be a punishment

The real skodaman

13 posts

60 months

Tuesday 18th February 2020
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Not very reliable....................she learns a little car mechanics
Won't keep up with modern traffic.............it'll do 50 ish
Utterly wearing on a long run...........disagree. Glasgow to Southampton in series three in one go, arrived with no sore back. It did take eleven hours though.
No PAS/ABS/decent demisters/heater/wipers/lights/stereo/handsfree/parking sensors/heated rear windows/mirrors.............suffer! Like we suffered.
Face it...hopeless protection in a crash.............kind of disagree. They are hopeless for impact between occupant and structure. If it isnt rusty, they are incredibly strong and don't suffer much from intrusion into the passenger compartment. Fit decent harnesses and put roll cage impact absorbant padding over metal bits near the head. (The seat belt mounting on a defender is just at the right height on me to pierce the side of my head)
Easily stolen............easily protected
Ruinous fuel consumption..........it might be sacrilege to some, but a series with a tdi conversion is less awful and a bit quicker, get one with coil conversion and the handling and braking improve. But yeah, my 2.25 petrol sIII did eleven to the gallon.
Zero rear seat safety for an SWB and hopeless turning circle for a LWB..........yup, dont like side facing seats.
She's 17, she will crash it, surely it's better she crashes a more disposable car than a classic.............she's 17, she will crash it and a nice unoriginal series hybrid isnt a classic, looks better with some panel damage and is easily repaired from major damage.

But honestly, she will either love it or hate it. Youve either passed on the Land Rover gene or not. One slightly serious note. My girlfriends driving instructor has banned her from driving the defender until she passes her test. Switchng between a Land Rover and the instructors corsa is too much variation. She would over steer and overbrake the wee car after driving the truck

eliot

11,365 posts

253 months

Wednesday 19th February 2020
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300bhp has joined the conversation...

Cravenglassford

5 posts

55 months

Sunday 23rd February 2020
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Interesting topic, I'm glad it's not a decision I have to make, my 17 year old grand daughter has just passed her test and I offered her my fully restored triumph herald, and she pulled a face, and said no thanks......so I said what about the 3.8 mk 2 jag? She said too big and too old thanks, apparently she wants a little modern car???? Kids eh.....

schmalex

13,616 posts

205 months

Sunday 23rd February 2020
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I couldn’t think of anything worse for a 17 year old to drive. I had a SIII for kicking around the village and it was bloody hard work to drive, constantly unreliable and a generally unpleasant place to be for any length of time; even more so in the winter.

I replaced it with a 2007 Panda 4x4 which is a much better all round vehicle.