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I'm looking for a smallish used car for my wife (& daughter when she passes her test). Emphasis on safety, reliability, cheap bodywork repair costs, low insurance group (for new drivers), but with some street cred. I'd appreciate suggestions on models I should consider. Would it be a good idea to include my daughter on my insurance policy?
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Paul
Cheap bodywork repairs eh? There's confidence! There's actually no such thing, unless you don't mind everyone knowing they've been done, which rather defeats the object at resale time.
Two years ago we were faced with getting our 17 year old daughter mobile. Faced with laughter when we enquired about adding her to the Vectra SRi or the Saab 900, I checked insurance Groups, sold the Saab and bought a '96 Corsa 1.2, as I had much the same view on the car required as you.
Having the youngster as the main driver on a policy pushes up the premium a bit compared to them being a subsidiary driver, but just be prepared to do lots of ringing round, and getting some thoroughly stupid quotes. Whatever, it won't be cheap!
Don't believe the places who offer to get the best quote because 'they check all the companies on a database'. Also I've had very different quotes from the same insurer, depending on who gave the quote! We're now with Norwich Union Direct, and having an 18 yo on the policy still costs us plenty, despite us having years of NCD. There have been othr threads on this, but from memory NU direct and Tesco came out well. You'll no doubt get the other good deals with other postings soon!
Regards
John
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John
Didn't lend/sell her the Minor, then?
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Darcy
Certainly Not! The Minor is officially my wife's car - handed down in the family. Too much toil, grazed knuckles and investment in that for a learner. Besides you wouldn't believe how much our classic car insurance would rise if an under 21 driver is added. Besides when you're new to drivingthere's plenty worry about on the roads without dealing with a choke and non-synchro first gear.
Cheers
John
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As far as the car is concerned ,escort ,fiesta corsa smallest engine possible and as new as you can afford .One car not many people like and can be had for a song is the fiat cinquochento(25)very economical easy to drive and park.
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...although I wouldn't want to be in a Cinquecento that crashed into something or had something crash into it!
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I think that applies to a lot of small cars,the prime example would be a smart hit by a large 4x4 ,but there are thousands of people drive these cars without any problem.
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Any small Peugeot has street cred, so my 12-year old son tells me. Get a 5 door for her to take her mates out and they can share the diesel costs. Yes it should be a diesel for economy and long life.
Personal favourite, Peugeot 306, or for less street cred a Citroen ZX with correspondingly lower buy price.
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What about a classic ? I've just renewed my insurance on my landcrab, cost ?
£113 fully comp, and because the car is over 30 yrs old i know have an unlimited milage allowance ! oh, and i get free recovery too.
okay it's a landcrab but i love it, there are lots of classics around with street cred, just be prepared to get your hands dirty now and again.
Rgds,
Ash.
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Ash,
You've mentioned it before - but what's a landcrab ?
Mark.
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I think Ashley means a Austin 1800 or a derivative circa 1966,I could be wrong.
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Spot on young Andy !
I am the proud co-owner ( me and brother share the running costs ) of a 1971 Wolseley 18/85 S Mk2. It is tax free and does 34mpg on a run, seats five comfortably and turns heads wherever it goes. I paid a pittance for it and i intend on keeping it until it returns to it's natural state.
If you would like a piccie or two to familiarise yourselves with the marque then please visit the Landcrab Owners Club International website at www.landcrab.net
Ash.
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Visited the site, brought back som e memories
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My first ever motorbike accident involved entering one of those through the driver's window and out via the windscreen when it pulled out in front of me on a rainy day.
It hurt. However, since his head was between my helmet and my chosen route out of the car, it hurt him more.
I had a Maxi, does that get me any credibility ?
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First overseas family holiday (if you don't count the Isle of Wight) involved taking Morris 1800 TPH 264M to France with family of six and Sprite Musketeer caravan in tow. This would have been about '82/'83. French bloke on pitch next to us at the caravan park was amazed that we'd managed to get there and that we thought we'd get back in one piece, which we did, via Belgium, thanks to the French fishing fleet blockading Calais.
We got a Volvo shortly afterwards 'cos it the 1800 was never the same again.
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I'm in the same position - passed his test yesterday.....got wind of an M reg AX 1.0 at £1500, 70k (apparently they're one of the cheapest to insure but haven't started ringing round) - haven't started checking book prices yet either. What do you reckon? Again, not sure how safe when the inevitable prang comes - and no way is he going to be the main driver. (Just fancied a full set of Citroens.)
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congratulations , nothing wrong with a AX
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Why spend £1500 on a Citroen when you can get one for a little more than peanuts. Daughter's first car is a £250 57K-miler Visa. Insurance at Tesco £437. More street cred attaches to the sound system than the car so a bit of layout there could avoid the blush factor. She does get embarrassed though when the very occasional Visa owner flashes headlights.
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I agree - a Citroen Visa or even an AX represent excellent v-f-m motoring.
Personally, from experience, I wouldn't touch a 306 - electrical problems and cooling problems are just the start of your troubles. I could go on.
A well looked after Mini would be a fair bet - anybody can work on them and spares are plentiful.
Us Lacey Brothers were brought up with a Mini of some description as a first car. The 850, BNC 363T was the best of the bunch - did it ever go or what? Also returned 50MPG when tuned correctly. We named the car 'Bloody Naughty Car' after the number plate!
I remember trying to make the car run on Diesel - lots of smoke and misfires followed! Oh well, you live and learn!
I can now spot a petrol car that has inadvertantly filled with diesel a mile off now!
Rgds
David
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Would readers like Ashely who have information to update the Clubs Directory please e-mail it to webmaster@honestjohn.co.uk
If you don't, the clubs directory stays out of date and you miss a few chances of recruiting new members.
HJ
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I drove my Parts Manager's future wife to her wedding in a white Landcrab 12 months ago. It was actually quite a nice car to drive.
One thing that WILL stick in my mind is that the battery was quite low on charge at the time. We got to the venue on time, no problems.
But when it came to leave for the the reception venue after the ceremony, things were different.
Battery = DEAD!
A bit of quick thinking by D Lacey enlisted the help of 3 burly lads to give the 'crab a quick shove in the foward direction whilst no-one was looking to bump the motor into life.
Thankfully it purred into life whilst the family photos were being taken.
No-one ever noticed, not even my Parts Manager!
Funny, the things you remember, isn't it?
David
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if you want reliablity go for a VW polo, or a nissan micra, toyota corolla, honda civic. something cheap a skoda, lada, FSO, yugo, polski, trabant, fiat uno, or a fiat 127 (which strangely is what my sister is selling for £200)
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