If you had the chance to buy this car, would you?

[Zip]

It's got nothing to do with not being stupid, meh, I doubt you'll listen anyway.

Can you please say what you intended to mean?

Edit: I know what speed can do to a car and i know a lot of people that have had a powerful first car and wrote it off. Im not stupid enough to drive fast anywhere where there are any bends, bad conditions, other cars, or even trees close to the road.
When i do speed i dont go past of what i can handle and if i feel any instability at all i dont keep pushing it

 

[The_Dark_Side]

If you're not a complete and utter moron behind the wheel,

this is the get-out clause in your post.
when it comes to driving,the UK is way ahead of America/Canada when it comes to young drivers acting like retards.it's another by-product of the culture differences between our countries so i have to agree with Fox on this one.

 

[NickXX]

Young, inexperienced drivers driving powerful RWD cars without mishap is the exception rather than the rule. If insurers stick whacking great big premiums on these sorts of cars for young people, then it is pretty clear that they are a significant liability.

It is irresponsible saying "you'll be fine, I drove a 400bhp monster at 17, my dad did, and my dad's dad did and we've never had any problems" because your circumstances won't be the same as they are here. I'm not saying all young, inexperienced drivers have driven inappropriately, but a hell of a lot do. So to err on the side of caution, which is probably sensible on a internet forum when you don't know much about the subject, it's far safer to tarnish all with the same brush.

If you gave 10 new drivers a 325i each, I would put GOOD money on at least one of those cars being written off within a month.

 

[Zip]

this is the get-out clause in your post.
when it comes to driving,the UK is way ahead of America/Canada when it comes to young drivers acting like retards.it's another by-product of the culture differences between our countries so i have to agree with Fox on this one.

I dont know if you knew or not but im from Australia not the UK

 

[The_Dark_Side]

I dont know if you knew or not but im from Australia not the UK

i know matey,however mickey_d is from Canada (or America i forget) and i was addressing his point about younger drivers being perfectly safe enough to be given high powered RWD cars...hence the reason i quoted HIS post in my reply

 

[The_Dark_Side]

If you gave 10 new drivers a 325i each, I would put GOOD money on at least one of those cars being written off within a month.

to extend your prediction i'd have a guess and state that IMHO 3 of those 10 cars would've been written off in the year,and 9 or all 10 would've been involved in some for of accident which the driver was responsible for.

 

[Zip]

to extend your prediction i'd have a guess and state that IMHO 3 of those 10 cars would've been written off in the year,and 9 or all 10 would've been involved in some for of accident which the driver was responsible for.

And i would be that 1 driver that wont be responsible for having accident
Tbh im not stupid enough ot hot headed enough to throw 8 grand into a ditch

 

[The_Dark_Side]

And i would be that 1 driver that wont be responsible for having accident

don't get me wrong mate,i don't know you from the garden wall and it's perfectly possible you have a v.good attitude on the road.
what i am saying is that at your age group and level of experience,the majority of drivers are not ready for powerful RWD cars.

Tbh im not stupid enough ot hot headed enough to throw 8 grand into a ditch

this may come as a surprise but the drivers that DO throw their cars into ditches and the like almost certainly thought they'd get round said corner.
they hardly plan to trash their prized vehicle.
their limited knowledge and experience told them they were not going too fast to attempt whatever manoevure they were going for....physics, on the other hand, thought otherwise and promptly spat them of the road.

 

[Zip]

don't get me wrong mate,i don't know you from the garden wall and it's perfectly possible you have a v.good attitude on the road.
what i am saying is that at your age group and level of experience,the majority of drivers are not ready for powerful RWD cars.

this may come as a surprise but the drivers that DO throw their cars into ditches and the like almost certainly thought they'd get round said corner.
they hardly plan to trash their prized vehicle.
their limited knowledge and experience told them they were not going too fast to attempt whatever manoevure they were going for....physics, on the other hand, thought otherwise and promptly spat them of the road.

Im a quiet guy by nature.
Ive driving some RWDs before even if they wernt very powerful and have already learnt my lesson not to corner like you can in FWD.(long driveway incident. Back end slipped out and when i went to correct i got a face full of sun had me driving and bouncing across a paddock)
Im also planning on taking an advanced driving course in the near future because it does 2 things, 1)improves my driving skills. 2)it reduces insurance premiums

 

[The_Dark_Side]

Im a quiet guy by nature.
Ive driving some RWDs before even if they wernt very powerful and have already learnt my lesson not to corner like you can in FWD.(long driveway incident. Back end slipped out and when i went to correct i got a face full of sun had me driving and bouncing across a paddock)
Im also planning on taking an advanced driving course in the near future because it does 2 things, 1)improves my driving skills. 2)it reduces insurance premiums

if your attitude is indeed as you describe,then it's a shame more younger drivers don't share it.

 

[Puzzled]

Is it quite common then to have a powerful 1st car in Austrailia?
I saw a programme about New Zealand where a load of young lads had big powerful jap cars, and would spend all night doing burnouts til the police moved them on.

Now the Burnouts were stupid, but I'd love to get something with a bit power at my age (18). But insurance in the UK is crippling.

If your insurance works out quite cheap, then you obviously don't have the same problem with young drivers that we do. Or you just don't get ripped off.

Either way if you can afford it, and promise to drive like a good boy then go for it. Just get the car checked out first.

 

[Zip]

Is it quite common then to have a powerful 1st car in Austrailia?
I saw a programme about New Zealand where a load of young lads had big powerful jap cars, and would spend all night doing burnouts til the police moved them on.

Now the Burnouts were stupid, but I'd love to get something with a bit power at my age (18). But insurance in the UK is crippling.

If your insurance works out quite cheap, then you obviously don't have the same problem with young drivers that we do. Or you just don't get ripped off.

Either way if you can afford it, and promise to drive like a good boy then go for it. Just get the car checked out first.

People are always getting V6s or V8s as there first car down here.
Holdens and Fords come at a dime a dozen(Ive always wanted to use that saying )
I found some insurance prices earlier on for it and posted them in this thread. I didn't think they are too bad myself.
The burn outs you mentioned are starting to get cracked down on and cars are getting impounded but it serves them right imo.
If/When i look at it and i do like it i would get it checked
And i promise ill drive like a good boy if i get it

Is mileage much of a factor with this?

 

[The_Dark_Side]

Is it quite common then to have a powerful 1st car in Austrailia?

there is a 12 year old land rover driver in south africa.
when the local law enforcement tried to stop this it was pointed out that the nearest neighbour is 500 miles away so, short of the odd antelope, who exactly is he going to hit

i'd imagine that given the size of oz,vee engines are many times more common there and less of a novelty.

 

[Zip]

there is a 12 year old land rover driver in south africa.
when the local law enforcement tried to stop this it was pointed out that the nearest neighbour is 500 miles away so, short of the odd antelope, who exactly is he going to hit

i'd imagine that given the size of oz,vee engines are many times more common there and less of a novelty.

In NSW they have restrictions. If the car has a turbo then they have to wait until they are older they have some other restrictions but not sure what but im not from there

Edit: I think the reason the have so many Vee engines is because our touring car championship is V8s. Also because Australias 2 main car manufactures pump them out and live by them because australian cars went the way of american cars and went for a lot of horsepower.

 

[EddScott]

Just as a story regarding age and fast cars etc etc........

I read about a guy who had a RWD Saph Cosworth and it was his pride and joy. His misses who was in her 30s and driving since 18 had to use the cossie for some reason. She drove normally and carefully knowing the car she was in. Came off a roundabout, accelerated as normal, turbo came in and spun her round into a lamp post and wrote the car off.

Age to a large extent as no bearing on the car that you drive. Its more likely for a young lad to destroy a high performance vehicle through stupidity or showing off etc but its not unlikely for someone with lots of driving experience to get into a performance car and destroy it at the first opportunity.

The only time I've really showed off to other people was when I crashed my GTIR into a hedge Not hard but a lesson learned there.

If you keep a cool head and are careful it shouldn't be a problem. If your easily excited, or attempt to punch above your ability you'll get burned.

Happens to us all.

Take a bow Mr Ramble!! soz guys

 

[The_Dark_Side]

Just as a story regarding age and fast cars etc etc........

I read about a guy who had a RWD Saph Cosworth and it was his pride and joy. His misses who was in her 30s and driving since 18 had to use the cossie for some reason. She drove normally and carefully knowing the car she was in. Came off a roundabout, accelerated as normal, turbo came in and spun her round into a lamp post and wrote the car off.

Age to a large extent as no bearing on the car that you drive. Its more likely for a young lad to destroy a high performance vehicle through stupidity or showing off etc but its not unlikely for someone with lots of driving experience to get into a performance car and destroy it at the first opportunity.

without going down the sexist route,having a license for 12 years doesn't mean she's experienced.they cover fewer miles than men on average for starters.my dad has been driving for decades and he's terrible but he's not interested in driving at all except for a method of getting A to B.
the point is a 30 year old may have experience,they may not it all depends on how much they've driven and how interested in driving they are,whereas an 18 yr old cannot have lots of experience as the law only allows them to have passed a test one year previously.
that's the reason age comes into the argument,not purely for the numbers game,but because they can only have passed recently so by definition are inexperienced.
so just as i said younger drivers with little experience should not be allowed powerful RWD cars,in the same breath i'd follow it up with older drivers could without doubt NOT handle the same car with absolute safety purely down to their age.

 

[EddScott]

Yeah, I did think there would be the male/female question when I posted the reply tbh.

My mother has driven all her life and some of things she does is a tad worrying.

As for the issue of RWD cars, I've never driven a powerful RWD car so I hold my hand up and admit I'd be very concerned with turning it round through inexperience.

Theres always exceptions to the rules though. I guy I know said his 72 year old father bought a brand new Subaru STI early last year. I know it sounds like bull but I'm sure it wasn't.

I think the way things work in this country are about right with regard to the ability for youngsters getting hold of performance cars. I think the mention above regarding the culture and attitude of some young drivers in this country is quite a good observation compared to other countries.

 

[Scania]

FWIW, I have a friend with wealthy parents, who, on passing his test @ 21 was given a 1990 Sierra Sapphire Cosworth,not only that, he subsequently had it modded to in excess of 350BHP. Incidentally it was the 2wd model, not the 4x4. He now has a "Prodrive" Subaru of some description, and to my knowledge (he'd have let on, I'm sure) ,he's never had a bump in 16 years driving.

A far better driving record than I have thats for sure!

 

[tb2000]

How old is it?

Got to be close to 15 years + . Together with the fact that its been to the moon and back. In UK terms its done 156,000 miles

I would say in this country you'd struggle to get over £1000 for it which is AUS$2,358.

Also if beemers cost a fortune to buy in Aus then parts are going to cost too.

I would've said 156,000 miles for a car that's 15 years old is about average really. My dad just got rid of a Xantia TD L reg that was on 178,000 miles and that's only 12 years old. A customer of ours at work has an 2004 van and he's done over 144,000 miles! We've just done the second cambelt (or third if you count the original) on it - and it's 2 years old!

as long as the cars been looked after properly (serviced regular, etc) then I wouldn't see a problem with that mileage.

 

[tb2000]

FWIW, I have a friend with wealthy parents, who, on passing his test @ 21 was given a 1990 Sierra Sapphire Cosworth,not only that, he subsequently had it modded to in excess of 350BHP. Incidentally it was the 2wd model, not the 4x4. He now has a "Prodrive" Subaru of some description, and to my knowledge (he'd have let on, I'm sure) ,he's never had a bump in 16 years driving.

A far better driving record than I have thats for sure!

That Cossie must've been brand new as well!