Cheap to insure, fun, second purchase RWD cars?
Discussion
Ay up everyone,
Just sitting here with my morning brew, and this thoughts just come across my mind.
For my second car, I’d love to get myself something that’s RWD in hopes to skid about in (on track, obviously
)
A lot of people I see in the drift community run BMW 316’s, 318’s and at a push a Lexus IS200. I think they’d be quite pricey though as a BMW is a BMW and an IS200 has an In-line 6 up in insurance group 30+?
I’m genuinely interested into what car you’d recommend. The cheaper the insurance, the better really. I know it will differ from a lot of things, but off perspective, I’m interested in what car you’d recommend.
I’ve though about a Mazda MX5 NB, as the NB body style is a lot more common to come by than the MK1/ NA. They also were made in a 1.6L and 1.8L, so maybe the 1.6L will return some cheapish quotes? Even though it’s a convertible?
I’ve also from a couple of friends and online heard that people below their 20s can’t get insurance on RWD cars as of age, but also because they don’t have any experience in a RWD car? To me, that doesn’t make sense because how else would you be able to legally gain experience in a RWD car if it’s not Taxed, insured and being driven in your name? Let me know if you know anything about this (this hasn’t come from my knowledge).
In all fairness, the question is about what car would you recommend to someone who’s interested in getting seat time on track every now and again while still having a car that’s cheapish insurance while being fun to drive and RWD.
I’m interested to hear what you have to say.
Just sitting here with my morning brew, and this thoughts just come across my mind.
For my second car, I’d love to get myself something that’s RWD in hopes to skid about in (on track, obviously
)A lot of people I see in the drift community run BMW 316’s, 318’s and at a push a Lexus IS200. I think they’d be quite pricey though as a BMW is a BMW and an IS200 has an In-line 6 up in insurance group 30+?
I’m genuinely interested into what car you’d recommend. The cheaper the insurance, the better really. I know it will differ from a lot of things, but off perspective, I’m interested in what car you’d recommend.
I’ve though about a Mazda MX5 NB, as the NB body style is a lot more common to come by than the MK1/ NA. They also were made in a 1.6L and 1.8L, so maybe the 1.6L will return some cheapish quotes? Even though it’s a convertible?
I’ve also from a couple of friends and online heard that people below their 20s can’t get insurance on RWD cars as of age, but also because they don’t have any experience in a RWD car? To me, that doesn’t make sense because how else would you be able to legally gain experience in a RWD car if it’s not Taxed, insured and being driven in your name? Let me know if you know anything about this (this hasn’t come from my knowledge).
In all fairness, the question is about what car would you recommend to someone who’s interested in getting seat time on track every now and again while still having a car that’s cheapish insurance while being fun to drive and RWD.
I’m interested to hear what you have to say.
You say you are in your 20's? As a previous MX-5 owner I know people under 21 seemed to have issues insuring them, probably because I used to see people who were younger buy them and first thing they would do is join an owners group and ask how to weld up the diff. if you are mid-late 20's obviously its a different matter.
I'd say look for something relatively cheap as if you are looking to try drifting you will crash it sooner or later. NB MX-5 is a good choice just check and double check then check again for rust, go for a 1.8 if you can insure it.
The BMW's are getting known now for people wanting to drift and track day them so prices are creeping up, as a regular track day participant it's getting harder to find low cost cars worth taking to a track, starting to see less Clio Sports and E36 BMW's now as people are looking into other makes and models which are better value.
I'd say look for something relatively cheap as if you are looking to try drifting you will crash it sooner or later. NB MX-5 is a good choice just check and double check then check again for rust, go for a 1.8 if you can insure it.
The BMW's are getting known now for people wanting to drift and track day them so prices are creeping up, as a regular track day participant it's getting harder to find low cost cars worth taking to a track, starting to see less Clio Sports and E36 BMW's now as people are looking into other makes and models which are better value.
MX5 NB is a good shout, but as said elsewhere they do suffer with rust on the sills, arches and chassis rails.
I've got a track prepped one that was stored outside for a while and i'm making my way round it sorting the sills. Thankfully the inner ones are fine and the slight rust on the outers is just surface stuff and not too bad. The chassis rails are starting to go on the front sections though, and that's a bigger job as it involves stripping much of the front susp stuff away. It's £320 each side to have done at a specialist.
I think if you can find a good one then they're a great car, but you'd have to be sure that it's not going to melt away in front of your eyes. If you've no garage then it might be better to look elsewhere.
Not sure on the age limit on classic insurance, but that's how mine is insured and it's peanuts.
I've got a track prepped one that was stored outside for a while and i'm making my way round it sorting the sills. Thankfully the inner ones are fine and the slight rust on the outers is just surface stuff and not too bad. The chassis rails are starting to go on the front sections though, and that's a bigger job as it involves stripping much of the front susp stuff away. It's £320 each side to have done at a specialist.
I think if you can find a good one then they're a great car, but you'd have to be sure that it's not going to melt away in front of your eyes. If you've no garage then it might be better to look elsewhere.
Not sure on the age limit on classic insurance, but that's how mine is insured and it's peanuts.
I'm 29 and got insurance quotes on my rather battered 1.6 Eunos around £250 on a classic policy, declared imported and all that stuff. I do have 10 years of clean driving behind me though so I suspect that helps a fair bit. I don't know if the NB's come under classic as of yet, I suspect they would. As mentioned above, Vauxhall Omegas are a surprisingly good car, RWD and if you're lucky enough to get an MV6 version, they're pretty brisk to boot.
Good morning again people!
Thanks for all your suggestions and support so far. I’m really grateful.
I should have pointed this out, but I haven’t even passed my driving test yet.. just testing the waters with advice so I can get myself set up as soon as possible and know what routes I might have available to me. Don’t shout at me too much and I’m sorry if I’ve mislead anyone..
better to be safe and not buy something I can’t insure or run than sorry and be stuck with something I’ll be forced to sell because I can’t insure or run it. Just interested in what people have to say and maybe what car(s) you have that are “track spec”.
Dependant on money and space, I may be able to purchase a car to make as my track car and insure it when it comes to the time of me wanting to get seat time. I’ve got crazy ideas in my head. But on paper, some actually seem to work out.
Thanks for all your suggestions and support so far. I’m really grateful.
I should have pointed this out, but I haven’t even passed my driving test yet.. just testing the waters with advice so I can get myself set up as soon as possible and know what routes I might have available to me. Don’t shout at me too much and I’m sorry if I’ve mislead anyone..
better to be safe and not buy something I can’t insure or run than sorry and be stuck with something I’ll be forced to sell because I can’t insure or run it. Just interested in what people have to say and maybe what car(s) you have that are “track spec”.Dependant on money and space, I may be able to purchase a car to make as my track car and insure it when it comes to the time of me wanting to get seat time. I’ve got crazy ideas in my head. But on paper, some actually seem to work out.
Edited by kharris04 on Tuesday 9th June 11:31
kharris04 said:
I should have pointed this out, but I haven’t even passed my driving test yet..
kharris04 said:
Dependant on money and space, I may be able to purchase a car to make as my track car and insure it when it comes to the time of me wanting to get seat time. I’ve got crazy ideas in my head. But on paper, some actually seem to work out.
Not wanting to p*ss on your chips, but if you take a car and modify it for track use, the odds on getting insurance with mods declared as a very young driver are slim to none.Yes, this "previous experience in an RWD car" is a new one on me. 
My 1st car was an RWD MK2 Cortina, followed by an RWD Fiat 125, a RWD Rover P6B 3500S, a RWD MK2 Granada Ghia, MK2 RWD Escort RS2000, RWD Capri 2.8 Injection, RWD Granada Scorpio, RWD Vauxhall Sportshatch, another RWD Capri Injection, RWD Sierra 2.0 GLSi Sapphire, RWD Mercedes 190e, RWD Mercedes C280 Sport, RWD BMW 320td, RWD BMW 123d, RWD BMW Z4 Coupe, RWD BMW 325ti, RWD E91 325i, another RWD Z4 Coupe, RWD E90 330i that goes with my RWD Z4M Coupe - how much RWD do you need?
I've had a few FWD cars, but didn't really like most of them!
My 1st car was an RWD MK2 Cortina, followed by an RWD Fiat 125, a RWD Rover P6B 3500S, a RWD MK2 Granada Ghia, MK2 RWD Escort RS2000, RWD Capri 2.8 Injection, RWD Granada Scorpio, RWD Vauxhall Sportshatch, another RWD Capri Injection, RWD Sierra 2.0 GLSi Sapphire, RWD Mercedes 190e, RWD Mercedes C280 Sport, RWD BMW 320td, RWD BMW 123d, RWD BMW Z4 Coupe, RWD BMW 325ti, RWD E91 325i, another RWD Z4 Coupe, RWD E90 330i that goes with my RWD Z4M Coupe - how much RWD do you need?
I've had a few FWD cars, but didn't really like most of them!
I was 41 when I bought my MR2 and even then had some difficulty with insurance with many companies asking for previous experience. And like Mr Tidy I had been brought up on red in the 80s and 90s which didn't count. Even the fact I'd spent 4 years as an approved driving instructor didn't help! Funny enough I never did crash that car.
Mr Tidy said:
Yes, this "previous experience in an RWD car" is a new one on me.
My 1st car was an RWD MK2 Cortina, followed by an RWD Fiat 125, a RWD Rover P6B 3500S, a RWD MK2 Granada Ghia, MK2 RWD Escort RS2000, RWD Capri 2.8 Injection, RWD Granada Scorpio, RWD Vauxhall Sportshatch, another RWD Capri Injection, RWD Sierra 2.0 GLSi Sapphire, RWD Mercedes 190e, RWD Mercedes C280 Sport, RWD BMW 320td, RWD BMW 123d, RWD BMW Z4 Coupe, RWD BMW 325ti, RWD E91 325i, another RWD Z4 Coupe, RWD E90 330i that goes with my RWD Z4M Coupe - how much RWD do you need?
I've had a few FWD cars, but didn't really like most of them!
Wow! That’s a nice set of cars you’ve owned there. That’s something I hope I could tell stories like one day My 1st car was an RWD MK2 Cortina, followed by an RWD Fiat 125, a RWD Rover P6B 3500S, a RWD MK2 Granada Ghia, MK2 RWD Escort RS2000, RWD Capri 2.8 Injection, RWD Granada Scorpio, RWD Vauxhall Sportshatch, another RWD Capri Injection, RWD Sierra 2.0 GLSi Sapphire, RWD Mercedes 190e, RWD Mercedes C280 Sport, RWD BMW 320td, RWD BMW 123d, RWD BMW Z4 Coupe, RWD BMW 325ti, RWD E91 325i, another RWD Z4 Coupe, RWD E90 330i that goes with my RWD Z4M Coupe - how much RWD do you need?
I've had a few FWD cars, but didn't really like most of them!
Petrolism said:
As a first car at a young age, you'll probably find any RWD car expensive to insure. Classic car policies rarely insure new drivers, AFIK.
I'd say a Toyota MR2 VVTi, but they'll be too expensive to insure, I suspect...
Someone else said about the MR2, they’re up in the high 20s insurance group though which is a shame I'd say a Toyota MR2 VVTi, but they'll be too expensive to insure, I suspect...
ChrisH72 said:
I was 41 when I bought my MR2 and even then had some difficulty with insurance with many companies asking for previous experience. And like Mr Tidy I had been brought up on red in the 80s and 90s which didn't count. Even the fact I'd spent 4 years as an approved driving instructor didn't help! Funny enough I never did crash that car.
Really?! Even being an approved driving instructor didn’t get you any brownie points at all? I’m not to knowledgeable on the whole RWD experience on insurance thing, just been told by some friends that they’ve had a lot of trouble trying to find cars that are RWD they can insure at all for a feasible budget.
If it gives you any hope for the future my 18yr old son has just insured a 1.8 MX5 NC for £840 no black box with 1 year NCB.
As a very first car it would be unlikely as the companies that insure anything for recently passed drivers only tend to go up to 1.6, but if you don't ask you don't get!
As a very first car it would be unlikely as the companies that insure anything for recently passed drivers only tend to go up to 1.6, but if you don't ask you don't get!
gary71 said:
If it gives you any hope for the future my 18yr old son has just insured a 1.8 MX5 NC for £840 no black box with 1 year NCB.
As a very first car it would be unlikely as the companies that insure anything for recently passed drivers only tend to go up to 1.6, but if you don't ask you don't get!
I think my son ran a quote for his/my wifes 1.6NB the other day and 18yo with 1 yr NCD is was the same , still too dear for him he will have to stick with his Panda at £540As a very first car it would be unlikely as the companies that insure anything for recently passed drivers only tend to go up to 1.6, but if you don't ask you don't get!
but back to OP its a no brainer really , if you want reliable cheap fun its MX5 but get the 1.8
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