First car = classic car?

[Beck]

Turning 18 in June and looking to ask the parents to get me a classic car for my birthday, I should have also passed my test by then. Currently looking at a Fiat 500L or a 1L Mini. Checked out insurance for the 500cc Fiat but the cheapest I could get is 1.7k, I expect the mini to be more expensive. Any ideas for a good first car which isn't so common? E.g not a fiesta/corsa/saxo

[Malt_Vinegar]

That was my first car

Insured it for 1.3k third party when i first passed

[Beck]

Friend has a 1L mini and his mum has a 1.3L Cooper sport which was the actual demonstration car Rover used so it's unique. I would really like a mini but insurance would be so much. It feels faster at 35 than a 206 at 70.

[XTR]

Shop around for insurance....

[unrealrocks]

Mini's are brilliant. Try to get a Mk4 as there still the classic kind of Mini although without the horrible injection engine so you can still easily work on them (and actually understand whats under the bonnet, LOL).

A friend of mine started with a Mini and he only paid around £800 when he was 17. Now he pays more though as he's added a few bits, and lost a few others

[XTR]

Also worth considering... if you get a classic... you can get classic insurance.... with limited miles.

http://www.footmanjames.co.uk

[[GSV]Trig]

My 1st car was a 1.6LD Mk2 Cav
Think I was paying about £600 TPFT on it lol

[Zak33]

and old car as afirst car is one of the finest ideas....ever

you learn respect, AND yu learn to drive in a more controlled manner. Old cars areoften hard to drive, heavy, cumbersome, clumsy....

and yet classy

I vote Mini OR 2CV

[Zak33]

Any ideas for a good first car which isn't so common? E.g not a fiesta/corsa/saxo

tht is music to my ears

Morris Traveller or Morris Minor, Triumph Herald, 2CV, Renault 4, Beetle... god what a cool list....Fiat 500 as you said.

[IainB]

tht is music to my ears

Morris Traveller or Morris Minor, Triumph Herald, 2CV, Renault 4, Beetle... god what a cool list....Fiat 500 as you said.

But make sure whatever you go for - is in the best condition that either your parents or indeed yourself, can afford.
Its all well and good picking up a cheapie classic (unless you strike on the veritable classic gold - the 1 owner, always garaged, meticulously serviced, owners just died cheapie) but they are usually cheap for a reason i.e. they WILL need LOTS of work.
Buy the best you can afford - allowing you to actually enjoy the car (along with a bit of basic maintenance), instead of finding out its a rust ridden rust box, needing £1000's of work.
Also – make sure you can get the spares for your chosen – a healthy owners club would also be a bonus

[Jiff Lemon]

Renault 4...... **sigh**

Picked one up for £100, with 80k miles on it. Ran it for 5 years, had 239k miles on the clock when I got rid. never missed a beat and never let me down.

Personally I think everyone should have to drive an old car for the first couple of years - teaches you a lot of respect and the importance of maintainence.

[Zak33]

/\ hear hear

[streetster]

i dont want to be pissing on anyones fire or anything.. but how safe are 'classic' cars compared to newer corsa/saxo/clio/106 type cars? If you'll only just have passed your test (assuming you pass first time) you wont have a great deal of experience and would it not be safer to crash in a 'modern' car rather than a classic? if you crashed at all...

[Nox]

so drive a classic - will teach you to be more careful

Nox

[Beck]

i dont want to be pissing on anyones fire or anything.. but how safe are 'classic' cars compared to newer corsa/saxo/clio/106 type cars? If you'll only just have passed your test (assuming you pass first time) you wont have a great deal of experience and would it not be safer to crash in a 'modern' car rather than a classic? if you crashed at all...

It's more pre-emptive safety than if you have a crash, you don't/can't go as fast as you can with a newer car. If I had a mini i wouldn't ever go over 50. Also because of this I wouldn't go on motorways and also I enjoy driving in the backroads.
A "friend" at school has already totalled 2 saxos in the 3 months he has passed his test. I refuse to go in a car with him, his parents insurance must have taken a large hit.

[rob3]

Mini's are the way. I've got a 1979 Mk4 , 1L , Pay £800 ish insureance on it. Thats with Alloys, disks up front (standard on mk4 is drums), Monaco S buckets, performace single box exhuast and LCB style exhaust manifold. Twin 1 1/4" SU's soon to go on. And a moddified 998 cooper cylinder head (1275 size valves, brum brum ) Goes rather well.