Profpointy
Legendary Member
this talk of 3rd party insurance sets my imagination running riot trying to envisage a horrific trumpet accident
Buying a cheap car
- Thread starter Julia9054
- Start date
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this talk of 3rd party insurance sets my imagination running riot trying to envisage a horrific trumpet accident
DCLane
Found in the Yorkshire hills ...
- Location
- Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
Sometimes small isn't cheap, partly because if it's the type of car a young driver has then the premiums are a bit higher.
Whilst a Fiat Panda 1.1 was the cheapest to insure locally for my 17yo the next was a Peugeot Tepee petrol. Which is what I bought; it's a slow 1.6 petrol but cheap to run and cheap insurance. Oh, and it'll fit 3 bikes in easily
Whilst a Fiat Panda 1.1 was the cheapest to insure locally for my 17yo the next was a Peugeot Tepee petrol. Which is what I bought; it's a slow 1.6 petrol but cheap to run and cheap insurance. Oh, and it'll fit 3 bikes in easily
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Sometimes small isn't cheap, partly because if it's the type of car a young driver has then the premiums are a bit higher.
Whilst a Fiat Panda 1.1 was the cheapest to insure locally for my 17yo the next was a Peugeot Tepee petrol. Which is what I bought; it's a slow 1.6 petrol but cheap to run and cheap insurance. Oh, and it'll fit 3 bikes in easily
My nearly 18 year old wouldn't be seen dead in one. Shame, as it would be great for bikes.
Levo-Lon
Guru
Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
How about a Smart Car. You can pick 10 year old ones up for £2,000 or less and they're very strong structurally when involved in high speed collisions.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
While I admire your pluck Mr Accy, they're not a good buy used. I got lucky and shopped around for a while and found one with only 40k miles that had just had a full engine rebuild at a Mercedes dealer. The owner had clearly had enough, and were cutting their losses. I spent 2 and a half hours going over it, pulling up carpers, pulling off panels, jacking it in the air, checking steering and bushes for play, even compression testing it before I was happy. Having got a good one they require specialist TLC to keep them going - not a problem for me doing it myself, trained as I am by my Dad as a vehicle (wheeled and winged) engineer from about age 4, but for most folk that means either a Smart specialist (not many about) or Mercedes dealers (loads about, but very expensive). So, while I love them I would warn people off them as a used buy unless they're really, really, utterly sure what they're getting into. They do get maligned for safety, but in 2004 when mine was made NCAP tested 15 SUV's in the same year - the Smart recorded better rollover protection than 14 of them, and a higher score overall as standard than all 15 (although spec'd with optional extra safety systems some of the SUV's scored higher), so don't be put off on that score over another car of a similar age. No, it's generally caring for them that requires attention and undermines them as a sensible used buy.
The later Mercedes type W451 model from late 2007 to 2014 is mechanically more conventional and uses a Mitsubishi motor, so is a more affordable proposition as any halfway decent cro-magnon man or woman with a spanner can care for them . Avoid the MHD at all costs - I can not stress enough how strenuously the MHD should not be considered. The turbo versions are OK, but why buy into extra complexity and expense? Avoid the diesel, it's the same diesel as the previous generation but with the added (un)benefit of a DPF and they're nasty, very prone to problems. If you're on a budget, do most of your journeys solo, want minimal running costs, and the ability to park in the slightest hint of a gap then the 1.0 non-MHD W451 is the one.
The current generation W454 is great, but still expensive new, costing from 15 to 29k! Used prices are reasonable though, but still not exactly in budget car territory.
Of course, many youngsters will turn their nose up at them. However, for young men at least there is a major upside to Smart car ownership - it gets female attention wherever it goes, particularly mine being the cabriolet. I don't think I've visited a petrol station yet without some young filly coming over and chatting about the car. Now, I'm a happily married near-50 but a canny 18 year old male, denim shirt slashed open to the waist, medallion shining brightly, will capitalise on the female attention. "You like my little Smart car, eh? Fancy coming for a spin?", and then winking playfully at them.
The later Mercedes type W451 model from late 2007 to 2014 is mechanically more conventional and uses a Mitsubishi motor, so is a more affordable proposition as any halfway decent cro-magnon man or woman with a spanner can care for them . Avoid the MHD at all costs - I can not stress enough how strenuously the MHD should not be considered. The turbo versions are OK, but why buy into extra complexity and expense? Avoid the diesel, it's the same diesel as the previous generation but with the added (un)benefit of a DPF and they're nasty, very prone to problems. If you're on a budget, do most of your journeys solo, want minimal running costs, and the ability to park in the slightest hint of a gap then the 1.0 non-MHD W451 is the one.
The current generation W454 is great, but still expensive new, costing from 15 to 29k! Used prices are reasonable though, but still not exactly in budget car territory.
Of course, many youngsters will turn their nose up at them. However, for young men at least there is a major upside to Smart car ownership - it gets female attention wherever it goes, particularly mine being the cabriolet. I don't think I've visited a petrol station yet without some young filly coming over and chatting about the car. Now, I'm a happily married near-50 but a canny 18 year old male, denim shirt slashed open to the waist, medallion shining brightly, will capitalise on the female attention. "You like my little Smart car, eh? Fancy coming for a spin?", and then winking playfully at them.
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biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
Electric_Andy
Heavy Metal Fan
- Location
- Plymouth
You probably already know this but small doesn't always mean cheap to insure. Vehicle insurance is based on some very odd algorithms, so you may find that a 2.0L rover is cheaper to insure than a clio because fewer rovers are crashed. Like when I declared a bike chain for my motorbike, it actually pushed the premium up, so was cheaper to insure stating I used no security.
Cletus Van Damme
Previously known as Cheesney Hawks
- Location
- Out in the sticks...
I'd be bothered about rust on an old car. Even if its galvanised, poor accident repairs can cause corrosion. I don't believe car manufacturers want cars to last forever. I'd personally go for a Japanese or Korean car. I had a Mitsubishi Colt, great little car, with a seriously dull image. Just as reliable as a Toyota though, for less cash.
Crankarm
Guru
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
Insurers don't like any drivers let alone young ones or new ones.
Crankarm
Guru
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
No don't get a FIAT! It will either dissolve before your eyes or be dead when you turn the key as the electrics are awful. I know I had one for a few years well almost 10 years. It ended up costing a fortune to run and I do my own servicing and repairs! F I A T = Fix It Again Tomorrow.
Crankarm
Guru
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
With a premium as high as that it would be cycling for me and train if I had to go long distance. Maybe get him a Bob Yak to tow his instrument(s)?
Any Fiat from the early 1990s onwards won't rust and mechanically they were always pretty durable.
D
Deleted member 26715
Guest
People say that but we've had at least 6 of them maybe even 8 & never had a problem with any of them other than the usual tyres, brakes, exhaust like any car
