What car?

Hobson · 8 Jul 2004, 12:35 (Ref:1030193)

I want a new car. I'm selling my old one, and have saved a bit of cash.

The guidelines:

It has to be cheap (under £750)
It has to be cheap to insure for a 18 year old. (1.6 or smaller engine size)
Preferably old enough to be unusal, but quick and look good (pre 1990?)
It has to be a saloon or hatchback.

I'm thinking Dolomite or Escort Mk2, or Mk1 Fiesta.

Any suggestions?

garcon · 8 Jul 2004, 12:59 (Ref:1030232)

Dolomites are financial blackholes - bodywork, chassis, steering rack, you name it. One that's worth having will be over 750.

You could get a nice Escort Mk2, but for cheap insurance it needs to be original, not a wallied up fake rally car.

Are there any Mk1 Fiestas left?!

If size isn't important, how about a Fiat Cinquecento Sporting? A mate had one years back - they're not great as a newish car but an older one will be cheap, and they're fairly simple when they need fixing (which they will).

Dunno if any would fall into your price range, but keep your eye out for a Peugeot 106 Rallye. 1.3 engine, pretty basic inside (i.e. electric nothing, which in a French car is probably wise), but I'd have thought cheapish to insure.

Dick Spanner · 8 Jul 2004, 14:40 (Ref:1030328)

Skoda 136 Rapid if you can find one in reasonable order. Engine in the back, ala Porsche 911, rakish coupe profile, alloy wheels, very easy to fix if it goes wrong (they are remarkably reliable reliable though, I had one a few years ago) and they really do handle well though admittedly on windy days you may wish to consider a sack of cement in the boot to hold the front end down.

Dick Spanner · 8 Jul 2004, 14:42 (Ref:1030330)

Just think, when you're trying to impress you can tell people that you drive a rare Czekoslovakian sports coupe.

SALEEN S7R · 9 Jul 2004, 02:05 (Ref:1030885)

What about a MK1 Toyota MR2? They are insurance Group 13 and are a 1.6 so are still in the lower tax bracket and with 127bhp is still a fairly potent car, for its size. 0-60 in about 7.5 and awesome handling too. Or theres the Peugoet 205 GTi 1.6 - that has 115bhp and is insurance group 12, its also a fairly nippy little car from what ive been told.

Although if u are prepared to go over that 1.6 barrier the best car I could recommend u would be a Nissan Bluebird. I had one about 3 years ago, never had a thing go wrong with it. Picked it up for £350 with only 90,000 miles on the clock with service history. It was a 1.8 GS model which only has 90bhp, but it was still fairly fast.

The car was a absoloute bargain, but go for the 1.8 ZX Turbo - it has 135bhp and is only Insurance group 10! The insurance companies really missed that one. The car is also pretty good on fuel, I think I averaged about 280 miles to a tank around town (about £40 fills the thing) and I got about 320 miles once on a motorway run. Alternativly there is the 1.8 Executive model which also has 135bhp, but is a better insurance group 9. I just preffered the turbo version as u can increase the boost.

Hobson · 9 Jul 2004, 07:27 (Ref:1031011)

Another car I'm considering is a Mk2 Golf, in a base spec trim level.

Have you got any more info/websites etc about the Bluebird?

SALEEN S7R · 9 Jul 2004, 13:51 (Ref:1031317)

Well u might find this of use. http://www.carsurvey.org/model_Nissan_Bluebird.html Theres about 115 owners reviws there of all the models, a very good site IMO. Its thanks to that website I choose my MK3 Supra, and Im glad I listened to the info there.

For specs u should find this of use too. http://www.parkers.co.uk/choosing/te...ctionmenu=true They have specs for both the Saloon and Hatchback models of the Bluebird. If u do get a Bluebird just make sure its either a Turbo model or one of the Executives. I had a 90bhp model which wasnt that fast but would do 110mph at a push, the ZX Turbo? Maybe 135mph would be my guess. The car all in all is a good solidly built car with a decent powerplant providing u get the right model. And as Ive said before its got excellent reliabilty, in my experince that is.

Dick Spanner · 9 Jul 2004, 15:48 (Ref:1031460)

I would imagine the insurance on the Bluebird, especially the ZX turbo will be fairly exhorbitant, same with the MR2 and Pug Gti. Similar lines to the Bluebird though would be an old Toyota Corolla, if you go back far enough they were even rear wheel drive.

SALEEN S7R · 9 Jul 2004, 17:39 (Ref:1031574)

Wrong, Group 10 insurance isnt that expensive, well at least not to most people, particulary for a car that has 135bhp. Follow the link to parkers Hobson and it shows u the power outputts as well as the insurance group of the indavidual models of every car.

A MR2 and Peugoet 205 1.6 GTi are a bit more expensive to insure yes, and both have less power than the Bluebird turbo. Signifcantly less with the MK1 MR2 having 127bhp and the Peugoet 205 1.6 GTi having 115bhp against the Bluebirds 135bhp.

Take a look around on parkers and u find me a car that has more power than the Bluebird that is in the same Group 10 insurance group as the Bluebird. I think u will be hard pushed to do so to be honest. Most 135bhp cars are normally around the Group 12/13 insurance mark.

Dick Spanner · 9 Jul 2004, 18:31 (Ref:1031597)

I guess it depend's on your definition of expensive. I had a 17 year old lad come and look at a 1.2 Vauxhall Nova that I sold about 3 years ago, he'd been quoted £1,200 for a years 3rd Party F&T and that is a group 2 car that I was selling for £600, I'd be genuinely interested to know what a group 10 car would be for an 18 year old.
Come to think of it, I'm interested in how much a Supra is for a 22 year old Saleen, am I right in thinking it's a group 17?

Sorry if I'm sounding like a killjoy Hobson, I just remember how little dosh I had at 18!

SALEEN S7R · 9 Jul 2004, 19:54 (Ref:1031665)

Well I dont actually drive. But my girlfriend does, shes been driving for 4 years and is 24 and has 2 years no claims bonous (not becuse shes had a accident but because she was on her nans insurance up until 2 years ago) at the moment she is paying £600 per year. Why? Because the car has a category 1 clifford alarm and immobilser. Oh and Dick Spanner before u make a smart remark she does change insurance groups until she is 25. And yes the Supra is Insurance group 17. If u shop about u can get very low quotes indeed.

Hobson, a group 10 insurance car wont cost much at all to insure, I beleive it cost my girlfriend £370 per year 3rd party fire and theft on our old Bluebird which was a category 6 or 7 insurace group if I remeber rightly. Id be suprised if the car would cost more than £500 per year at most to insure. The best thing u can do is ring around and get some quotes, and look for some quotes online too.

Anyway Ive made my feelings clear, a Bluebird is the right choice IMO, providing u can find the right model. Either the ZX Turbo or the 1.8 Executive or one of the 2.0ltr models. The insurance groups are still lots less than for say a 205 1.6 GTi. As Ive said, follow this link http://www.parkers.co.uk/choosing/te...ctionmenu=true and it gives technical detail and Insurance groups for every car. I think u will find that the Bluebird compares favourably to most competiton. Theres quite a few still on www.autotrader.co.uk Almost all within ur price range too.

Happy hunting! Oh and get some quotes for the Bluebird, ull be pleasently suprised...

Hobson · 10 Jul 2004, 12:56 (Ref:1032278)

Hi all, I'm gonna see how much I can get the insurance for the Bluebird, before deciding to get one.

BTw, before anyone asks, I'm 19, but not got a full license yet.

touringcarnut · 10 Jul 2004, 18:10 (Ref:1032566)

A bluebird would be a good choice, well built and cabale of a very high mileage! its proven how well made they were by the amount still on the road!

Dick Spanner · 12 Jul 2004, 10:12 (Ref:1033908)

Quote:

Originally posted by SALEEN S7R
Oh and Dick Spanner before u make a smart remark

Sorry? I may not share the same opinion as you regarding motor insurance costs (I do drive by the way, I've been driving and insuring my own cars in my own name for 15 year's) but that does not mean that I have in any way attacked what you've said or been sarcastic to you in any way.

But....

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SALEEN S7R
she does change insurance groups until she is 25. [/QUOTE

What does this mean exactly?

SALEEN S7R · 12 Jul 2004, 14:12 (Ref:1034213)

Well Dick, as I am sure u know most insurance companies do give u cheeper insurance when u hit 25 years of age. Dont ask me why, I dont know why, but thats what my dad and various people have told me. Also one of the companies we spoke to about insurance for the Supra (who we decided not to go with btw) said to us that they would insure us but nothing higher than Group 17 - when we asked why he simply said because of ur age, when ur 25 he said then things change and her insurance would go down fairly signifcantly.

So I hope that explains what I was talking about, at the end of this year, when she turns 25 insurance should go down signifcantly.