How to buy one's first vehicle - Page 3

Mondo · 23-01-2007, 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by killerkebab

So with £1k in mind, what sort of cars should I be looking at?

Ford KA, Fiesta, VW Polo, nothing with an engine bigger than 1.4 if you want to save money on insurance.

killerkebab · 23-01-2007, 22:54

Is it engine or insurance group I should worry about? As a first time driver who will pass in a few weeks (with divine intervention, of course

), I thought I had to limit myself to groups 1/2 - yet I've seen Ford Fiesta 1.25/1.3 in group 6 or 7! I am unsure what to do...

Darrin · 24-01-2007, 00:50

From what I have noticed, it's not so much the engine size as the insurance group. I seem to remember someone saying that a 2.0L Volvo Estate was cheaper to insure than either a Polo or Fiesta.

Not sure on the truth of that as I live over here, so take that with a MAJOR pinch of salt.

As for a first car, speaking of Volvo Estates.... Bulletproof, reliable, comfy ride, last forever, and reasonably easy to drive. I'm sure you'll get the "RWD+newbie driver = death" people disagreeing with me, but I've never seen a problem with learning on RWD. I did it, so did my brother, his wife, my wife, etc. But that's up to you.

kaiowas · 24-01-2007, 12:00

Even insurance group is pretty meaningless on older cars. The thing that kills your insurance is the cars reputation. Essentially, if a car is popular with young drivers then a higher proportion of them will be involved in accidents and premiums for them are higher. The knock on effect is that fiestas and corsas will cost you a lot to insure but something that is primarily driven by boring old farts probably won't. The other thing to consider is that simply insuring ANY car as a young driver costs a fortune however insuring something a little bit better doesn't cost a great deal more than insuring a bottom of the range gutless wonder.

23-01-2007, 22:54	#22
killerkebab Vodka Martini Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bristol/Reading Posts: 656	Is it engine or insurance group I should worry about? As a first time driver who will pass in a few weeks (with divine intervention, of course ), I thought I had to limit myself to groups 1/2 - yet I've seen Ford Fiesta 1.25/1.3 in group 6 or 7! I am unsure what to do... __________________

24-01-2007, 00:50	#23
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	From what I have noticed, it's not so much the engine size as the insurance group. I seem to remember someone saying that a 2.0L Volvo Estate was cheaper to insure than either a Polo or Fiesta. Not sure on the truth of that as I live over here, so take that with a MAJOR pinch of salt. As for a first car, speaking of Volvo Estates.... Bulletproof, reliable, comfy ride, last forever, and reasonably easy to drive. I'm sure you'll get the "RWD+newbie driver = death" people disagreeing with me, but I've never seen a problem with learning on RWD. I did it, so did my brother, his wife, my wife, etc. But that's up to you. __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern".

24-01-2007, 12:00	#24
kaiowas The Stig Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fightertown USA Posts: 1,458	Even insurance group is pretty meaningless on older cars. The thing that kills your insurance is the cars reputation. Essentially, if a car is popular with young drivers then a higher proportion of them will be involved in accidents and premiums for them are higher. The knock on effect is that fiestas and corsas will cost you a lot to insure but something that is primarily driven by boring old farts probably won't. The other thing to consider is that simply insuring ANY car as a young driver costs a fortune however insuring something a little bit better doesn't cost a great deal more than insuring a bottom of the range gutless wonder. __________________ Anal Fish Porn