Tips for new driver (to be!)

Rossy.

tillymama wrote: »

Thanks all for your input.



It's these associated costs that need the research! I shan't be buying anything before I pass, but I do need to get an idea of the sorts of things to look out for and research. There didn't seem any point in getting a pass, and then having to start a whole heap of research before being in a position to buy a car. I'm the sort of person who needs to be doing something useful whenever I'm working towards something. So I'm busying myself revising for my theory, and researching cars and insurance.

I appreciate what you're saying about needing to try a few different cars. I may be able to go out for a drive with my BIL, but not until I'm confident I'm not going to crash his car!!



I have already arranged with my driving instructor to have a "trial" lesson before I book anything. I know I need to double check we get along, as well as have him assess where I'm at skills-wise. He's then going to look at doing me a deal on a block of lessons for both me and DH.



I think I'll be petrified no matter what the car! It seems a bit of a false economy to spend £1k on something that may not last very long if we have £3k available to spend? I do see what you're saying about having a cheaper car to begin with, but if we did have a bump repair costs will be fairly similar surely?

£3k doesn't mean it'll be uber reliable

I've seen £200 cars go on with nothing more than oil/water/fuel

You wan't it as cheap as possible as your bound to have a few knocks in it. Knocks = less value so you may pay £3k for it but after a few knocks it's worth £500

tbourner

Maintenance costs really for a £3k car you want to be saving around £50 a month, and hoping nothing 'big' happens. That should cover tyres and any MOT repairs, and I'd recommend servicing every year as well, a lot of people don't but it's a preventative thing at the end of the day.

victor2

As has already been said, expect a "mishap" and resulting damage to the vehicle when you are first let loose.
Get some experience in a cheap runaround first. With any luck, the worst you'll do is kerb the wheels a few times, so don't get one with alloy wheels and that doesn't hurt too much. Minor body scrapes probably won't be worth repairing, at worst a visit to the local body shop will sort little dinks out for a few hundred pounds.
If you do more damage, then expect an insurance write-off, so don't spend more money than you can afford to lose.
Look on something like autotrader for a small car at the right sort of price that appeals to you. Then get insurance quotes for it, assuming you have just passed. You may have to fib a bit if doing it online as I don't think they have any "what if I pass my test" scenarios. You could try phoning someone like DirectLine, but I think you might have a similar problem. A couple of quotes should give you a ball park figure though.

wba31

back to my point about a car of £1000 or less, which backs up what someone has said already about a new and old micra, my first car was a G reg micra i paid £100 for, i hit bollards and walls and posts, and in the end just scrapped the car, didnt cost me a penny, however spare wings and bumpers from scrap yards were £10, or £15 as my dad would tell me...

I then had a 307, that got scratched by a kid on a bike outside my house, cost me £50 to get it sorted by a dent guy...

I had another 307, again, a child playing outside my house somehow dented the bumper, it cost me £300 insurance excess to replace the bumber.

out your £3000 would it not be better to pay your insurance outright? save you £££ on the interest they charge? you may buy a £1000 car that lasts you 5 years, you could buy a £3000 that blows a head gasket or gets written off in 12 months, money doesnt guarentee quality.

rev_henry

wba31 wrote: »

back to my point about a car of £1000 or less, which backs up what someone has said already about a new and old micra, my first car was a G reg micra i paid £100 for, i hit bollards and walls and posts, and in the end just scrapped the car, didnt cost me a penny, however spare wings and bumpers from scrap yards were £10, or £15 as my dad would tell me...

I then had a 307, that got scratched by a kid on a bike outside my house, cost me £50 to get it sorted by a dent guy...

I had another 307, again, a child playing outside my house somehow dented the bumper, it cost me £300 insurance excess to replace the bumber.

out your £3000 would it not be better to pay your insurance outright? save you £££ on the interest they charge? you may buy a £1000 car that lasts you 5 years, you could buy a £3000 that blows a head gasket or gets written off in 12 months, money doesnt guarentee quality.

Yes, please don't pay your insurance monthly! It will cost you about 20% more! If you can't afford it all in one go then look at an interest free credit card.

Gene_Hunt_2

wba31 wrote: »

i hit bollards and walls and posts,

You should have taken some lessons and got a licence first.

optimus_primera

pressing the middle pedal helps stop wall and bollard interfaces as well ......

Gene_Hunt_2

optimus_primera wrote: »

pressing the middle pedal helps stop wall and bollard interfaces as well ......

as will turning that round thing in front of you.

optimus_primera

I also find the round thing used in conjuction the middle pedal works wonders, maybe the driving instructor missed that lesson?

Inactive

Gene_Hunt wrote: »

as will turning that round thing in front of you.

Or in the case of an Allegro, that not quite round thing..:)