Advice please teenage son with £1500 to spend on a car

sassy_one

A Ford KA??

kolin_2

fwiw i got my first car at 23, it was a green renault clio 1.2 and it cost me £1300 to insure fully comp for the year. no points, no previous crashes in other cars.

Strider590

RE the insurance quotes above.....

Im pretty sure than the insurance companies rely on our blind assumption that smaller is cheaper, and then smack large premiums on small cars in the hope that we never checked... The profiteering barstewards!

boyse7en

Strider590 wrote: »

RE the insurance quotes above.....

Im pretty sure than the insurance companies rely on our blind assumption that smaller is cheaper, and then smack large premiums on small cars in the hope that we never checked... The profiteering barstewards!

I thought it was that a younger driver in a 106/Clio/Saxo is likely to be a MaxPower-reading barrie-boy ripping do-nuts outside McDonalds on a Friday night, whereas a young driver in a Lacetti/Lyana/other TopGear reasonably-priced car is likely to be driving to the library or choir practice on a Friday night.:D

Small and slower isn't necessarily safer - at 17 I had a Mini 1000, which had about 30bhp. Consequently I had to rag the a**e of it to get it up to 60mph (top speed was about 65mph) and rarely slowed for corners as it took forever to get back up to speed again (especially with four or five passengers). Overtaking something took about 10 mins of forward planning and a very long run up.
When I drove my dad's car (a Nissan Bluebird 1.8 estate) the extra power (whoa! easy there!) meant that I didn't have to drive quite so frantically.
I'd like to think that my zero-accident rate is due to innate skill, and careful driving, but in reality I was just lucky not to hit anything during the first year or do of getting my licence.

Anyway, back to the OP.

Suzuki Swift, Honda Civic, both reliable, don't know about insurance costs for a youngster

anewman

The only way to know costs of insurance for certain is to get quotes. As shown above, small and small engine does not necessarily equal cheaper insurance, especially for younger drivers. ALWAYS GET QUOTES! Check cars you think will be more expensive before deciding against buying them, your only helping add to the insurance company's profits.

bexyboo1312

I dont know why people slam the peugeots, i think the older ones tend to be better. I had a 309 (g reg) for my first car, I have had about 3 306's, diesel , td and petrol. All have been fantastic cars and are very low insurance groups. the 306 td can be "done up" to give it a bit of street cred, it is nippy as it is turbo but also economical as diesel.
Fiesta's, KA's etc are not always the best options- i found them the most expensive when looking at first cars. hope your son finds something soon!

anewman

bexyboo1312 wrote: »

I have had about 3 306's, diesel , td and petrol. All have been fantastic cars and are very low insurance groups. the 306 td can be "done up" to give it a bit of street cred, it is nippy as it is turbo but also economical as diesel.

Insurance group has little reflection on insurance cost. See post by z3phyr04 above :money:

Indout96

ripping do-nuts outside McDonalds on a Friday night

Not in a FWD car they wont be ;-)

Strider590

bexyboo1312 wrote: »

I dont know why people slam the peugeots, i think the older ones tend to be better. I had a 309 (g reg) for my first car, I have had about 3 306's, diesel , td and petrol. All have been fantastic cars and are very low insurance groups.

The 306 and the 106 were the last great Peugeots, they were well worth any hassle/problems.
I had a facelift 2litre petrol 306 XSI, brilliant little car. 145bhp and handled like it was on rails.

bexyboo1312 wrote: »

the 306 td can be "done up" to give it a bit of street cred!

And there's the reason I'd never buy one again, they've all been chaved up and thrashed to within an inch of their live's.
A gorgeous looking car ruined by whale tails, neon lights, stupid wheels and a boyracer image.