I’m hoping to get some advice on what care my girlfriend and I should be looking at. She’s a new driver (just about 1 year since passing her test), and I’m yet to get my license. However I’ve been driving for about 13 years (American), just haven’t gotten my car license yet. Motorcycle has been fine up until now. I’m planning on taking my test whenever necessary, so I’m not horribly fussed about that. However, I’m hoping to get some opinions on what kind of car we should be looking at in regards to insurance pricing. We live in Clapham, if that helps to estimate insurance costs.
I was thinking that a mini cooper would be a good start. something around 2004-2007, so it wouldn’t be new. I have no experience with these cars, so it would be new to me for all things maintenance (good? bad?). Any advice on this, and which companies to shop first would be extremely helpful.
You can get insurance quotes by plugging your details into one of the comparison sites and just change the car. Make sure you tick/untick whatever box it is that gives your details to the cheapest company or you’ll be taking 20 calls a day from them.
^^Yes that’s the best way to proceed. Do you have any old relatives that live in the UK? If so add them as named drivers to the policy and the quote will come down. My Aunt and Uncle are insured on my car and they’ve never even been in it, however, adding them saved a few hundred pounds. As a new driver some companies like Norwich Union have the option to install a black box in the car that monitors how you drive. Having one of those fitted reduces the premium also but you have to drive sensibly. As a first car a Mini Cooper wont’ be the cheapest to run or insure. If you just want to save money, something small, old and Japanese like an old Civic is a good option. Or buy something from an auction that has been written off for cosmetic damage.
I do wonder if they will take my previous license into account or count me as a new driver. I’d assume that that is going to have a huge impact on my coverage
By the way, also tell us what the car will be for. Town, motorway trips, commuting, leisure… Given that you;re in Clapham, I suspect town driving mainly.
No point buying a 1L car if you are doing 40miles a day one way on a motorway…
But for Clapham / london, a Toyota IQ or Smart car can be the best thing. Park anywhere, fit anywhere and spacious for two people. Just maybe no luggage…
I have a friend who has driven it to Wales a few times (the IQ) and she loved it
That website with insurance groups would be great if you could search for the cars… or am I just being blind?
The first edition minis (R50-R52) have a really heavy clutch. They aren’t the easiest things to learn on but are fun to drive and the steering feedback is brilliant. If you go for a convertible, I don’t think you can take your test in it and it’s also got blind spots the size of buses (not exaggerating).
They are fairly reliable though… The exhaust tends to rust so check for that. It can be a bit rattly and plasticky inside but maybe that’s part of the ‘charm’. In London due to the nice smooth roads we have, suspension bushes and steering components tend to go too.
In terms of insurance, I didn’t think it was that bad. My gf was paying about £600 with Aviva in her first year of driving (then had an accident so now is paying about £1k). We’re in Balham. Go with an insurance company that will honour your US driving history. You may need to ring around to get that level of detail.
Shaun, thanks for the thoughts. I’ve had more performance oriented cars in the past, so I really can’t see myself wanting to go with something really bland, the mini seems like the perfect balance for me in terms of being both fun and practical. I was putting in the details for my girlfriends driving license and it seemed that the cheapest I could get was £1200 per year, which seems extortionate, even with a 1 year no claims bonus
When I lived in London, I paid around £500 a year to insure an 8 year old Peugeot 207 (that was 2014). I’d had a UK license for 15+ years at that point but 0 years no claims bonus because I hadn’t bothered owning a car while living in town.
I don’t think there is a car in existence that could make driving in south London fun.
When I lived in London, I paid around £500 a year to insure an 8 year old Peugeot 207 (that was 2014). I'd had a UK license for 15+ years at that point but 0 years no claims bonus because I hadn't bothered owning a car while living in town. I don't think there is a car in existence that could make driving in south London fun.
monkimark
Having owned a mini, there is a know problem with the clutch. Look into it.
Think mine was a 52 reg. I had two clutches is under 8 months and so did some else I know that owed one too.
For those of you that will say I am heavy footed, never ever had to replace a clutch in any car I’ve owned. Also the insurance was about £500 with 10+ Years no claims
Even with looking at a fiat 500 (supposedly one of the cheapest cars to insure), the lowest cost option for me has been about 900 pounds a year, 1200 for the mini. This seems absolutely ludicrous!
