First car, classic and cool?

[Gio G]

My son is around 1.5 years away from getting his first car. Being a petrol head getting quite excited..

He is adamant that he wants a classic, he would prefer something Italian, which limits his choice... God only knows what sort of insurance cost this will bring, as I understand it costs thousands to insure a basic eurobox with a sewing machine for an engine....

It got me thinking. If I were in his position, being conscious of price, (has to be under £3k), insurance costs, fuel costs - what would you go for?

Know of anyone that purchased a classic for their first car? Like to hear your experiences..

Thanks G

[andy-xr]

An Uno Turbo

Trouble is, mostly everything Italian and interesting rusted away years ago

Classic insurance can be a lot cheaper than normal insurance, but they sometimes have age limits and clauses that you wont earn NCD

[sandman77]

Fiat coupe or Alfa spider?

[Yamahadivvyrider]

Fiat 126

[SmartVenom]

Gio G said:

My son is around 1.5 years away from getting his first car. Being a petrol head getting quite excited..

He is adamant that he wants a classic, he would prefer something Italian, which limits his choice... God only knows what sort of insurance cost this will bring, as I understand it costs thousands to insure a basic eurobox with a sewing machine for an engine....

It got me thinking. If I were in his position, being conscious of price, (has to be under £3k), insurance costs, fuel costs - what would you go for?

Know of anyone that purchased a classic for their first car? Like to hear your experiences..

Thanks G

I tried very hard to get an Austin Healey "frogeye" sprite as my first car, but that was 20 years ago! I failed miserably. The classic insurance companies wouldn't touch a 17 year old and the mainstream companies were a nightmare. Most struggled to even find sprite's on their system. When they did the quotes were of a similar price to the car (£5Kish from memory). The car's cost c.£15K now, wouldn't be surprised if a 17 year old got quoted that for one.

Good luck with the search, but I think you might have to persuade him that a Fiat Panda is a "future classic".

[ianwayne]

My sister has worked at classic car insurance firms and the general rule is over 21 for classic cover. Often with 12 months driving experience too.

[johnoz]

andy-xr said:

An Uno Turbo

Trouble is, mostly everything Italian and interesting rusted away years ago

Classic insurance can be a lot cheaper than normal insurance, but they sometimes have age limits and clauses that you wont earn NCD

Uno Turbo! You tried to find one of those lately???

[ZOLLAR]

Stretch the budget?

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C545332



No idea on the insurance though.

[M3DGE]

How about an original mini? Definitely classic, the film gives it an Italian connection , it's cheap to buy (relatively) run and insure and very cool. I can't think of a 'real' Italian car that can tick all those boxes.

My second car was a classic, age 19 - a 69 MGB (this was in 1989). Had to wait until I was 21 to get classic insurance, until then it was just treated as a Group 6 sports car (when groups only ran to 7) so I paid a heap - £750 third party only was a lot in 89, to put it into perspective my first car was a Viva and only cost £280.

They have definite advantages over new cars. If it's a common one (like a mini or MG) the parts can often be cheaper than for a new car - join the owners club. They tend to be easier to fix (limited electrics) and whilst they may not be 100% reliable, neither is a ten year old Saxo. And of course, they tend to go down well with the ladies...

[TTwiggy]

My second car, also at 19, was also an MGB GT (a '68 model). This was 1991 and I did manage to insure it on classic insurance.

Good MGs seem quite reasonable now, and while not Italian, do have a certain style.

[mike9009]

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/car-advert/fia...

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/car-advert/fia...

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/car-advert/fia...

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/car-advert/fia...

I suspect all of them will be a challenge to insure a 17 year old on though

Mike

[Gandahar]

Problem with any classic is that it might just mean old. And unreliable.

If I was a dad today recommending a car to my son I'd steer him to something that still looks good, will impress his lady friends and also has a V6. Smallest V6 ever on a main stream production car I think, so Dad TOP TRUMPS wins.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfvga28-0Gc#t=89

[BugLebowski]

A classic italian for under £3k? On the slim chance you find something that fits that criteria, it isn't going to be something a 17 yo will want to be seen dead in!

Classic, italian, £3K. Pick two.

[velocemitch]

My daughters first car was a Morris minor, we managed to insure it through the owners club, but I believe most insurance companies had tightened up on insuring classics for kids as it was starting to get popular.

Daughter is now in an original panda and loves it, it does all that a mini would do, but with more space and a much smaller price tag. You only have to look on the Fiat forum to realise they are already cool and probably on the brink of being a bonafidi classic. 4x4 in particular, but they are twice the price.

Parts can be tricky to get though, especially if you are in a rush.

[Jabosoc]

If he can forego the Italian bit, a Triumph Dolomite 1500 or 1850 would make a great first car.

He'd also learn about fixing stuff.

[andyalan10]

Not classic as such, but there seems to be a big choice of Alfa 147s a long way under budget, definitely out of the ordinary and look very similar IMHO to much newer and dearer Alfas.

I think I would have liked one of those as a first car at 18, instead of an Austin 1100 :-)

[Gandahar]

I'm guessing at this point we need to get the young man himself on here rather than his dad so we can judge properly.



He might actually just want an old Volvo estate you can put a mattress in the back of for weekends away. Cough

[braddo]

Alfa 75?



http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C549034

I have no idea how these cars would look to today's 17 year-olds.

An early Alfa 145 perhaps?

[braddo]

Here is some Lancia craziness for £3k:



http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C371781

[10penceparalyzed]

If you can find one Fiat X 1/9