Insurance for new, but older driver - advice please! :)

Dr_Mobius

I did have a look yeah (also looked at the cost of a classic 900 hehehe) and it wasn't as bad as I thought but still more than any of the 4x4s. I need a separate car though as my gf uses the 9-5 most of the day, really it would be useful to have a bit more diversity between us than two similar cars but I might look into some Subarus to see whats available for the money. The Impreza estates don't look like they've got much more room than a saloon, we did briefly consider something like that as she loves Japanese cars, also looked at the Lexus IS..300 is it, the estate which was gorgeous but didn't have as much space as we'd thought. Is she liking the Saab? since we got our first we've inspired people to buy three of their own -we're starting a little cult

BeenThroughItAll

Dr_Mobius wrote: »

I did have a look yeah (also looked at the cost of a classic 900 hehehe) and it wasn't as bad as I thought but still more than any of the 4x4s. I need a separate car though as my gf uses the 9-5 most of the day, really it would be useful to have a bit more diversity between us than two similar cars but I might look into some Subarus to see whats available for the money. The Impreza estates don't look like they've got much more room than a saloon, we did briefly consider something like that as she loves Japanese cars, also looked at the Lexus IS..300 is it, the estate which was gorgeous but didn't have as much space as we'd thought. Is she liking the Saab? since we got our first we've inspired people to buy three of their own -we're starting a little cult

Impreza wagon isn't massive as far as estates go, but it is considerably bigger than the 4-door Impreza. The loadspace was certainly able to swallow all of my toolboxes, air compressor, ramps, jacks, stands, spare parts without a problem, with one or both of the rear seat backs folded.


Wife likes the Saab, but I suspect that's mostly because of the roof, rather than it being a Saab. I've always fancied one myself and persuaded her into it after a run of stupid impractical two-seaters like MX5s/Z3/Z4.

AdrianC

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Impreza wagon isn't massive as far as estates go, but it is considerably bigger than the 4-door Impreza.

I was thinking more Forester or Legacy than Impreza when I suggested Sub.

I loved my c900s, but they're getting a bit long in the tooth for daily use these days, unless you're prepared to treat them as a long-term improvement project rather than a disposable, and for them to have the odd bit of down-time.

Richard53

Dr_Mobius wrote: »

determined not to get a Ford/Vauxhall/French car, from my experience they all feel very flimsy and made to too tight a budget.

Not having a go at you, but - what experience are you talking about, given that you are still taking lessons? I can't speak for Vauxhalls, but Fords are nothing like their mass-market, built-down-to-a-price image of 30 years ago. My wife is on her third Focus, and they have all been well-designed, well-built, reliable and nice to drive. My Mondeo is the same. I tend to go for the quirky and offbeat (several 2CVs in my history), and thought I would never own a Ford, but to be honest they are bloody good cars, and most certainly not flimsy.

Dr_Mobius

Richard53 wrote: »

Not having a go at you, but - what experience are you talking about, given that you are still taking lessons? I can't speak for Vauxhalls, but Fords are nothing like their mass-market, built-down-to-a-price image of 30 years ago. My wife is on her third Focus, and they have all been well-designed, well-built, reliable and nice to drive. My Mondeo is the same. I tend to go for the quirky and offbeat (several 2CVs in my history), and thought I would never own a Ford, but to be honest they are bloody good cars, and most certainly not flimsy.

I had a Clio for a while which I was given without much choice (Legal disclaimer: only used it for a few lessons), every French car owned by people I know seems to have lots more problems than average and my family have had several Fords/Vauxhalls over the years. They just don't fill me with confidence when closing doors/boots/bonnets, tend to sound a bit tinny and don't feel particularly solid compared to other cars. They also seem to look and sound more tired and ratty a lot quicker than Japanese (cheapest Jap cars excluded), German or Swedish cars. Although yeah, the Focus does seem to fare a little better. Every Mondeo over a few years old seems to have gaffa tape on the bumpers for some reason! There's also a bit of wanting something different too though, just don't want something I have to look past twenty identical cars in the car park to find.
All that said, I'd love a MK2 Escort or some of the older Fords/Vauxhalls (when they were worse hahaha) :rotfl:

Richard53

Dr_Mobius wrote: »

I had a Clio for a while which I was given without much choice (Legal disclaimer: only used it for a few lessons), every French car owned by people I know seems to have lots more problems than average and my family have had several Fords/Vauxhalls over the years. They just don't fill me with confidence when closing doors/boots/bonnets, tend to sound a bit tinny and don't feel particularly solid compared to other cars. They also seem to look and sound more tired and ratty a lot quicker than Japanese (cheapest Jap cars excluded), German or Swedish cars. Although yeah, the Focus does seem to fare a little better. Every Mondeo over a few years old seems to have gaffa tape on the bumpers for some reason! There's also a bit of wanting something different too though, just don't want something I have to look past twenty identical cars in the car park to find.
All that said, I'd love a MK2 Escort or some of the older Fords/Vauxhalls (when they were worse hahaha) :rotfl:

My experience of French cars is very mixed. I've had several 2CV/Dyanes (quirky, brilliant, frustrating), a Renault 5 (good car, lightweight but flimsy), a Renault 18 (workhorse with starship mileage, never let me down), a Citroen Visa (owned from new, worst car I ever had), and a Citroen BX (excellent car in every way except top speed). So I wouldn't recommend anything on that basis.

My wife has had a few Vauxhalls (Cavalier and Vectra) and I liked them, although I know they aren't popular. Fords and Vauxhalls of a certain vintage were certainly tinny and cheap, but modern Fords are a very different proposition. I find them well-built, good to drive, and so far very reliable (there's always tomorrow, I suppose). Mondeos probably have gaffer tape on the bumpers because they are used by people more concerned with doing stuff than polishing and waxing. Mine is 8 years old now and still looks good, but I have taken the decision that dents and scrapes from now on will be something I live with.

As you already know, the Mk2 Escort is from the period when Fords were tinny, cheap etc etc, so that is not a valid argument!

I totally understand your desire to have something a bit different, though. My next car purchase will probably be a British classic - if my life reaches a stage where I don't need the comfort, speed, economy and reliability of the Mondy. Hang on, what am I saying?

Dr_Mobius

It's totally not a valid arguement, it's one of those cars where that goes out the window Have to fight the urge to consider too many old cars, started looking at Spitfires and had to check myself!

I'd go for a Vauxhall over a Ford out of the two probably, we had a few old ones (Vivas, and my cousin had a Victor V8 custom car/pickup thing that was ridiculous). Our guitarist had two Mondeos that both had bits come off at motorway speed, and GFs parents had one that gave them endless grief, from decades-long Ford-loyalty they were put off and have become absolute Saab nuts (9-5 Aero, books on Saab etc).

Apparently I now have more weeks in which to do my research on all this though as the DVLA sent my license with my name spelt wrong, along with my birth certificate with the correct spelling... bunch of !!!!-hats.

Paperbird

Considering a Jimny but think the Freelander is ugly ?????
I drive a Saab soft top but don't mind being seen driving my wifes Freelander.
Apart from tyres, brake pads, wiper blades and bulbs ( Osram nightbreakers are good but don't last much more than 12 months ) the only repair the Saab has needed was new rear springs at 85000 miles ( bought when 12 months old now 7 years old ). In the 4 years we've had the Freelander ( it's a 1999 one but only does about 5000 miles a year ) it's had tyres, brake pads, wipers, rear exhaust and a VCU.
Not bad when you consider they both have the engines people tell you to avoid, the Saab a diesel with a DPF that should cause problems and a 1.8 petrol Freelander that should blow head gaskets all the time.

Dr_Mobius wrote: »

Not really. My cousin had one - he's had tons of 4x4s from a Series 3 Landy to an X-Trail and the Freelander was the shortest lived, tons of problems (although the S3 was almost always being fixed but he had that for years....) They're ugly things too, shallow though that might sound...

Richard53

Dr_Mobius wrote: »

It's totally not a valid arguement, it's one of those cars where that goes out the window Have to fight the urge to consider too many old cars, started looking at Spitfires and had to check myself!

I know how you feel. A friend (a circuit judge, no less) had an old MGB as his second car which coincidentally had my initials on its registration plate. I lusted after it for ages, and asked him to give me first refusal if he ever sold it. When he decided to get rid he let me have it for a day to inspect. It was so rusty underneath that I could poke holes in it almost anywhere. Damp cardboard would have had been stronger. I could have cried, and it took me all my self-discipline to turn it down.

On the other hand, do the words 'Heritage bodyshell' mean anything to you?

Dr_Mobius

Paperbird wrote: »

Considering a Jimny but think the Freelander is ugly ?????
I drive a Saab soft top but don't mind being seen driving my wifes Freelander.
Apart from tyres, brake pads, wiper blades and bulbs ( Osram nightbreakers are good but don't last much more than 12 months ) the only repair the Saab has needed was new rear springs at 85000 miles ( bought when 12 months old now 7 years old ). In the 4 years we've had the Freelander ( it's a 1999 one but only does about 5000 miles a year ) it's had tyres, brake pads, wipers, rear exhaust and a VCU.
Not bad when you consider they both have the engines people tell you to avoid, the Saab a diesel with a DPF that should cause problems and a 1.8 petrol Freelander that should blow head gaskets all the time.

You got off lucky, a friend got a diesel 9-3 and it was spewing black smoke and ended up costing another £800 within a fortnight - they're actually Alfa engines I think, is that right?

...and yeah a Jimny looks a bit silly but enough of the right sort of silly.

As for the old British classics, heritage parts or not I shouldn't really be going down that path I don't think - our old Prelude used to make the dog hurl enough as it was!