Paul Y
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,948
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Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen,
Once again I am calling on the experience and knowledge of RR to advise me on a possible future purchase.
The back ground.
My youngest son has informed me that he wants to buy a car to learn the basics of ‘spannering’ on and use as his first car (he is currently 15).
Criteria is that it must be RWD and erm…that is about it.
So, my question is… how are older cars viewed by insurance companies for first time drivers, especially if there are modifications?
We have both been inspired by the Standard threads, and did look at the details for the car currently in the’ for sale’ section in addition to Seth’s Hunter.
The view would be to update the braking system, use a modern engine and gearbox (1275 out of a Fiesta possibly) and look at adjusting the center of gravity to something more pleasing to the eye.
Now, being a grey beard I have never had to worry about modifying a car and the impact on insurance but the boy wonder will.
This being the case, could I ask that those who have experience share their findings?
Many thanks,
P. :-D
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tenman
Part of things
m00000000000
Posts: 899
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Volvo 340 may not be too bad, or maybe a Skoda Rapid or Estelle... ANYTHING modified at all and be prepared to call around a LOT of insurance companies, certainly won't even be able to consider using comparison websites...
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RWD Fanatic...
2003 BMW 320d Wagon (getting old and boring)
1996 Mini Kensington (SWMBO's)
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Triumph Herald? They're like a giant Meccano set. Plenty of bolt-on mods from other models in the Triumph range.
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1953 Minor (Long term project)
PT Cruiser
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Triumph Herald? They're like a giant Meccano set. Plenty of bolt-on mods from other models in the Triumph range. Yup, I have a Herald & Toledo, plus I am 18 y/o. I haven't modified either of them yet, but the Toledo will be getting modified after bodywork and paint, not dramatic changes just lowering, wheels, exhaust etc... Whilst insurance for younger drivers will never be cheap, the benefits of a classic car at this age are immense. Compare the £1-1'500 price range for my cars (17/18 y/o), to those I was receiving for my old '03 Fiesta, of £3k+. Whilst I imagine no-one will insure a 17 y/o if he/she has a Zetec/Red-top engined pocket rocket, I find classic insurers to be more leniant towards mods such as wheels, exhaust etc.. If you were to go with a Triumph, of which I would highly recommend, as owning two of them has taught me a LOT, make sure you go for 1300cc or less, and join either Club Triumph or the TSSC. This way, getting a good insurance quote (Peter James appears to be the best IMHO) will be a doddle, especially when everyone else is forking out 2/3 times the price for bland-mobiles! |
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Kieran
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,092
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Chevette?
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The Ashby Jackson fleet:-
1979 Mini Clubman 1.8 K series
1978 Skoda 110r Project 130RS K-oupe
1978 Austin Allegro 1500 SDL Estate
1984 BMW K100 Sidecar outfit
1999 Yamaha FZS 1000 Fazer
1991 Kawasaki ZXR400 race bike
2002 Kawasaki ZX9r race bike
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I like the sound of this. Great to hear of kids learning some mechanical skills. My spannering education (at 23 years old though) was a 1980 Escort 1.6.....4-door of course. I guess even the more-door Escorts might have value now. Whatever car you choose, I'd say keep the spannering cheap by working with what you've got and understanding it, then start improving. But hey, I never followed that advice myself  A certain young chap on here might pop up to recommend some Reliant models  |
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Mk1 Cavalier, my cousins friend has one and its less to insure than a 1.2 Corsa that he has.
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Some days you just need to take a grinder to an inanimate object, just to make your day a tiny bit better!!
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Copey
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,845
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got my 2.0 capri when i was 18, was cheaper to insure than a 1.3 Fiesta, though was totally stock, if i had modded it woulda gone up quite a bit
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1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire GLSi with 2.0 Zetec
1985 Ford Capri 3.0 (was a 2.0 Laser originally)
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skoze
Part of things
Posts: 382
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As said, be ready to call around, and call around over the course of the build.
I had several companies happy to insure me on the S1 when I was 17, finally go it on the road at the age of 19 with all mods declared (including engine swap) and i was left with only Adrian Flux willing to cover me...
It's certainly do-able though!
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Paul Y
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,948
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Gentlemen,
Many thanks for the reply's it has given us both hope that 'something' is do'able.
Would be interested to hear from the less senior members and their current findings.
Have now added Triumph to the possible list.
I keep going back to when I was 17 and was driving a Jowett Javelin my 56 Chevy (complete with 327 and power glide) and mk2 escort van. All for the princely sum of £25 per year. Feel really sorry for enthusiasts today, and myself because I have realised what an old codger I am....
P.
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oakesy
Part of things
Posts: 305 
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Scimitar SS1.
Cheap, light, RWD, so ugly they're cool, most have CVHs so cheap to insure for new drivers and they're very good to drive
I've just turned 16, but spend a long time running different cars through comparison websites. Most small engined classics are about the same, whether it's a Minor, Beetle, SS1 etc
Mods are a definite no no unless you don't mind spending several thousands. Most insurance companies won't even insure a car with Goodridge stainless brake hoses
Not totally relevant, but its suprisingly cheap for all Scimitars - I run quotes through for my 160bhp 3 litre V6 Scimitar GTE and my 2.6 straight six Coupe and they're still cheaper to insure than most moderns like corsas, fiestas etc
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Last Edit: Dec 4, 2013 7:39:27 GMT by oakesy
'66 Scimitar Coupe Straight Six in no Paint
'74 Scimitar GTE in Yellow
'71 Jaguar XJ6 in Blue
'76 Scimitar GTE
'87 Scimitar Turbo
Previous- '87 Scimitar SS1 Turbo, '75 Triumph Toledo, '86 VW Scirocco, '93 Scimitar Sabre, '85 Scimitar SS1, '76 Scimitar GTE, '71 Scimitar GTE
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adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,869
Club RR Member Number: 58
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MGB GT? I got mine at 20 and the insurance was getting on for half the cost of insurance for a 56 plate 1.2 fiat punto, plus they're simple as anything to do lots of spannering on not the fastest but can hustle along at a decent lick |
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skoze
Part of things
Posts: 382
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I'm only 20 now, so i'd like to think my advice is pretty current haha!
Landy with the tdi engine swap was £1900 as my first car (still cheaper than my mate's 1.1 Micra!), now insured on my 3.0S Capri for 900 quid fully comp at 20.
Pinto engined Capri's gotta be worth looking at?
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tenman
Part of things
m00000000000
Posts: 899
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thats bloody good for a 3.0 at your age ... I didn't get anything really hot performance and modded wise until I was about 25... and then I was paying £600 a year fully comp for a 200SX with a list of mods a sheet of A4 long  ... I got fairly bent over at 21 for a standard R5GTT though, IIRC that was way over a grand 3rd party only, over 15 years ago  |
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RWD Fanatic...
2003 BMW 320d Wagon (getting old and boring)
1996 Mini Kensington (SWMBO's)
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niwid
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,743
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Whatever classic you buy, the best piece of advice I can give is to phone Brentacre insurance before anyone else. I couldn't find anyone who would insure me for a reasonable price on my lowered and mildly modified MK2 Polo until I phoned them. They are so flexible, and really know what they are talking about, and on their modified policy, I still accrued NCB
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Hi there, I'm 18 years old and soon will be getting round to insuring my 1200 1965 triumph herald, if you get a classic make sure you insure it on classic insurance as most modern policy will massively undervalue the car. also I'm soon to be modding mine (lowering, bigger carbs and such) and my quotes are all coming to about £170 even when i have said the car is modded , if you don't go outrageous and put in a rover v8 or something then it should be fine
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Doesn't the classic have to be a 2nd car.?I think most classic insurers ask for 21 or mainly 25 for minimum age.
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Doesn't the classic have to be a 2nd car.?I think most classic insurers ask for 21 or mainly 25 for minimum age. Some of the bigger names to specify minimum age requirements and so on, but once you begin talking to specialist companies, then you'll find there is actually quite a wide selection of insurers for classic cars, particularly popular models like Triumph, MG or Mini. |
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tenman
Part of things
m00000000000
Posts: 899
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and yeah, not even worth touching comparison websites, you are deffo best just googling insurance companies and ringing them all up one by one...
joining owners clubs is a great help, a lot of insurance companies have a presence on message boards and will offer discounts to members...
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Last Edit: Dec 4, 2013 15:40:55 GMT by tenman
RWD Fanatic...
2003 BMW 320d Wagon (getting old and boring)
1996 Mini Kensington (SWMBO's)
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I had a bit of trouble with FJ last year , I declared my mods (wheels , lowered - that's honestly it) they greed to insure me for a very good price, and then they rung a month later and cancelled the policy. so I switched to Adrian flux who gave me (19 then but 20 now) a very good quote to cover it all fully comp, any modifications allowed as long as it wasn't performance related- (I'm not bothered about speed ..yet) and I earn a separate NCB on this policy. the guys were really helpful, and so far- touch wood- it seems to be a winner. the other insurance companies want you to be either 21 or 25 minimum  but try Adrian flux give them a call may be of help expect 4 figures if you are 18, but shouldn't be something silly like 4k ! more like -1/1.5k hope that helps |
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... I got fairly bent over at 21 for a standard R5GTT though, IIRC that was way over a grand 3rd party only, over 15 years ago 
but try Adrian flux give them a call may be of help expect 4 figures if you are 18, but shouldn't be something silly like 4k ! more like -1/1.5k