Low insurance bracket, cars ???

Colin_da_Killer · 6 Jul 2006 at 00:31

Hi all,

First post in the motor section for me. It's a post for a friend though not for myself, I got my practical test booked for the 25th of this month (fingers crossed).

He is looking to buy his first car, and obviously wants as low insurance as possible whilst still maintaining a pick up a good car. He prefarably wants driver airbags and is insistant on having ABS and power-steering

His budget is £1300, no higher really.

Suggestiosn and tips/comments etc are very welcomed

Thx.

ajgoodfellow · 6 Jul 2006 at 00:42

MK3 Rover 200 - http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WW...urce=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH

Colin_da_Killer · 6 Jul 2006 at 00:44

ajgoodfellow said:
MK3 Rover 200 - http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WW...urce=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH

Engines are a bit big though aren't they? Won't insurance cost a small fortune? :confused:

ajgoodfellow · 6 Jul 2006 at 00:47

Colin_da_Killer said:
Engines are a bit big though aren't they? Won't insurance cost a small fortune?

You can get them with a 1.1 engine

I'd get a few insurance quotes and see what they come up with - try a 1.1, 1.4 and a 1.6 for example and see what the difference is

CaneyJ · 6 Jul 2006 at 01:01

A fiat seicento sporting is only group 3 and on a 1.1 engine will be a damm sight faster (snigger) than a rover 200 barge with the same capacity engine.
I say a seicento because, while being more girley, it does come with an airbag and abs but I would still go for a cinquecento every time for back to basics motoring and they can come in at group 1.
A bigger option is a punto 55 but like the rover will be dog slow but is also only group 3.

ajgoodfellow · 6 Jul 2006 at 01:06

I wouldn't call the 200 a barge, but I can see where the comment comes from when compared to a Cinquecento/Seicento

The Cinquecento is such a small, light car that it's surprisingly fast and fun with the 1.1. I personally prefer it to the later Seicento

triggerthat · 6 Jul 2006 at 01:13

I was in the situation were I passed my test and was looking for a car in the low insurance bracket. I looked at the puntos, Cinquecento/Seicento, micras, 106s, saxos etc. I decided to go in particular the 1.4 RT Clio which has enough power (0-60 in around 10 seconds) and isn't at all bad on the insurance (New models are I. group 4) whereas the older ones are 5. I got my 96 1.4 RT clio for £700 FSH with 86K on the clock. It has air-bags, PAS but lacks ABS.

Gilly · 6 Jul 2006 at 01:35

Insurance groupings and engine sizes aren't the be-all and end-all.

The Corsa is in the lowest insurance bracket IIRC, and the Fiesta 1.25 16v is group 7.

They came out about the same cost for me.

oweneades · 6 Jul 2006 at 07:58

Gilly said:
Insurance groupings and engine sizes aren't the be-all and end-all.

The Corsa is in the lowest insurance bracket IIRC, and the Fiesta 1.25 16v is group 7.

They came out about the same cost for me.

IG 6 on the 1.25 zetec according to parkers (old shape) and group 3-4 on the new one (that doesn't make sense).

Anyway a little renault clio 1.2 / 1.4 rt would be a good bet for a decent little car. As would the micra. I would avoid the corsa if you can as the corsa B wasn't that good tbh.

Oakesy2001uk · 6 Jul 2006 at 10:38

groups mean very little, get quotes and go from there! My RS Turbo cost me £150 a year more than my 1.3CDTI IG 3 cost me, and I'm 20!! and thats with very nearly 200bhp declared.

triggerthat · 6 Jul 2006 at 12:21

oweneades said:
IG 6 on the 1.25 zetec according to parkers (old shape) and group 3-4 on the new one (that doesn't make sense).

Newer cars = safer

triggerthat · 6 Jul 2006 at 12:23

delete. Double post.

Kappa · 6 Jul 2006 at 12:30

triggerthat said:
Newer cars = safer

and also slow as pie

Oakesy2001uk · 6 Jul 2006 at 15:47

newer cars = heavyer = slower for same power

50/50 · 6 Jul 2006 at 18:13

Get a Ford Fiesta 1.25 or a micra(or anything else japanese)
Stay the hell away from french cars and rovers in this price range.

Jonners · 6 Jul 2006 at 18:29

Oakesy2001uk said:
newer cars = heavyer = slower for same power

Depends on what you get I suppose.

Cyanide · 6 Jul 2006 at 18:36

Oakesy2001uk said:
groups mean very little, get quotes and go from there! My RS Turbo cost me £150 a year more than my 1.3CDTI IG 3 cost me, and I'm 20!! and thats with very nearly 200bhp declared.

Very true, it's costing me less to insure a IG9 Hyundai Coupe than it is for my mate to insure his Fiesta :eek:

[TW]Fox · 6 Jul 2006 at 18:37

Cyanide said:
Very true, it's costing me less to insure a IG9 Hyundai Coupe than it is for my mate to insure his Fiesta

But hardly a fair comparison as I'm sure you could insure his Fiesta for less than you pay for your 2 door Hyundai.

Cyanide · 6 Jul 2006 at 18:40

[TW]Fox said:
But hardly a fair comparison as I'm sure you could insure his Fiesta for less than you pay for your 2 door Hyundai.

He's a year older than me, had his licence the same length of time and same NCB (ie, 0 years on both counts)

I tried it myself and found that most places wanted more to insure the Fiesta.

Groups don't mean everything

[TW]Fox · 6 Jul 2006 at 18:46

Cyanide said:
He's a year older than me, had his licence the same length of time and same NCB (ie, 0 years on both counts)

I tried it myself and found that most places wanted more to insure the Fiesta.

Groups don't mean everything

I disagree and I'm happy to prove it if you give me the various details

Whilst certain cars in certain groups can cost more or less to insure than others, it ISNT a blanket thing, groupings ARE a very good indication of how much its going to cost and 1.1 Fiestas are cheaper to insure than Group 9 plastic sports coupe things.