£1000: Insurable, interesting/fun, won't lose money.

[twazzock]

Hello,

I'm a bit bored of my current car and I fancy a change. I will probably have about a grand going spare once I've sold it, although I'm more than happy to spend less than that. Thanks to being 19 and having no NCB insurance is pretty crap for me (currently £1400 on a diesel estate, just wonderful) so please bear this in mind.

My main want is something fun and/or interesting - my current car has been a reliable, economical and useful workhorse but now its purpose has been served and it's just a bit bland. Something leftfield would be great, particularly if it can retain its value. I shouldn't be covering too many miles so MPG isn't a great issue; nor is reliability(!) Petrol is preferred (probably small engined too, for insurance reasons). Something I can work on/service myself too would be great.

I do have a couple of things in mind: I'm keeping my eye out for a Peugeot 205 XS. £800-1000, seriously fun, shouldn't lose money, and I'd get a £200 insurance refund too. I've also spotted a Lada Riva which is seriously tempting me (yes, really). It's been modified a fair bit and looks fken in a boxy retro way. Not sure it'd quite be able to match the 205 in driving dynamics but a great heater and RWD through winter - what more could I want?

Other than that, I'm stuck for ideas. There's plenty that tempts me and just watching eBay I have to exercise great willpower not to impulse buy a lot of the cheaper stuff. That and knowing I will need gallons of vaseline to even contemplate insuring half of it.

Any thoughts? Ta.

[BadgerBill]

could you get this on classic insurance?

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C250059



BB

[twazzock]

I'd prefer to stay with my current ins co for the rest of the term so I can get a year's no claims (all being well). I had looked at Golfs before but my insurers don't like anything with 'GTi' in its name . What are the smaller-engined ones like to drive?

[ADEuk]

Puma

[twazzock]

ADEuk said:

Puma

Hadn't thought of that!

Is the 1.4 any good or is it only worth considering the 1.7? Have done an insurance quote for both but I think it'll be £££ for the 1.7-engined ones at least. I do like the sound of them but I'm slightly put of by the fact that they're based on the Mk4 Fiesta (used to drive one and reluctant to have something so similar again).

[twazzock]

I got an insurance quote back for the Puma(s) and they want an extra couple of hundred quid! That rules them out then. I did a quote on a 769cc Fiat Panda I saw that looked fun, and Admiral wanted an extra £300 whaddafaaack

[SlowStig]

http://metropower.org.uk/forum/forums/thread-view....

plenty of change to do a couple of bits to it!

[ajsphead]

Someone I know, same age as you has a 205 GLD and a Land Rover 110 V8. Seriously, insurance is OK on it, but it's a great opportunity to learn to fit LPG.

[schmalex]

V8 Landy conversion. Job done.

[300bhp/ton]

twazzock said:

Hello,

I'm a bit bored of my current car and I fancy a change. I will probably have about a grand going spare once I've sold it, although I'm more than happy to spend less than that. Thanks to being 19 and having no NCB insurance is pretty crap for me (currently £1400 on a diesel estate, just wonderful) so please bear this in mind.

My main want is something fun and/or interesting - my current car has been a reliable, economical and useful workhorse but now its purpose has been served and it's just a bit bland. Something leftfield would be great, particularly if it can retain its value. I shouldn't be covering too many miles so MPG isn't a great issue; nor is reliability(!) Petrol is preferred (probably small engined too, for insurance reasons). Something I can work on/service myself too would be great.

I do have a couple of things in mind: I'm keeping my eye out for a Peugeot 205 XS. £800-1000, seriously fun, shouldn't lose money, and I'd get a £200 insurance refund too. I've also spotted a Lada Riva which is seriously tempting me (yes, really). It's been modified a fair bit and looks fken in a boxy retro way. Not sure it'd quite be able to match the 205 in driving dynamics but a great heater and RWD through winter - what more could I want?

Other than that, I'm stuck for ideas. There's plenty that tempts me and just watching eBay I have to exercise great willpower not to impulse buy a lot of the cheaper stuff. That and knowing I will need gallons of vaseline to even contemplate insuring half of it.

Any thoughts? Ta.

Classics and kits are probably the best for insurance. But you'll need to 'phone' around for the best deal, not just use comparison websites.

Classics and kits also offer rock steady depreciation too, although at £1000 purchase price there isn't much to lose anyway.

They are also as a rule, very easy and affordable to work on.

So how about these for some ideas:

(some are over your budget, but it's to give you an idea what's about if you wanted to save a little longer )

1980 GTM Coupe (1980)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3019224.htm

Ginetta G32 1.9 (1991)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3079611.htm

Ginetta G33 (if you find one)


Quantum 2 + 2 (convertible) (1997)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2821691.htm

ROBIN HOOD SEVEN. (1984)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3189794.htm

Dutton Phaeton (1985)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3178965.htm

LANDROVER SERIES 3 (1979)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3152777.htm

Lotus Excel

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3179495.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3206257.htm

MG BGT (1980)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3195354.htm

Modified Orange Morris Minor (1963)


Porsche 924 (1983)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3138610.htm

Triumph TR7 convertible 2000cc 1981

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3040249.htm

1982/x TR7 FH coupe, with 3.5 V8 engine (1982)


______________________________

It worth knowing, many classics and kits are very adaptable to easy engine swaps or big power upgrades, e.g. V8 conversions on Land Rovers, or modern DOHC 2.0 turbo conversions on MGB's and the like. Often it'll not affect insurance much at all either.