Mk 1 for my son
Discussion
hey...my petrol head son (15) is thinking of saving up for an MX5 for when he passes his test (yes I know it is 2 years away) the question is.....if he got a mark 1, and insured it through a classic car insurance scheme would it be affordable?......has any other young person ever bought one and been able to afford the insurance?
cheers (at least he has great taste!)
cheers (at least he has great taste!)
Ive had a Mk 1 for 10years and they are cheap as chips to run and repair! even a secondhand replacement engine was only £120
My son had one when he was 18 insured through direct line not too bad check classic policies though as some wont do new drivers and you don't normally get no claims which is crucial to build up!
My son had one when he was 18 insured through direct line not too bad check classic policies though as some wont do new drivers and you don't normally get no claims which is crucial to build up!
Edited by mad4amanda on Friday 20th May 21:32
Classic insurance can be very cheap indeed. I pay about £100 a year for my 91 eunos. But I am getting on a bit now!
Parts are cheap and plentiful so as long as your son is prepared to work on the car himself should be cheap enough to run. Rust is the real enemy as already said but welding is not that expensive actually. It's good paint that costs!
There is a massive scene for modding (mostly badly) and drifting though so beware! Not sure if that's your sons sort of thing or not but money is very easily spent and insurance also suffers!
Parts are cheap and plentiful so as long as your son is prepared to work on the car himself should be cheap enough to run. Rust is the real enemy as already said but welding is not that expensive actually. It's good paint that costs!
There is a massive scene for modding (mostly badly) and drifting though so beware! Not sure if that's your sons sort of thing or not but money is very easily spent and insurance also suffers!
As other's have said insurance companies have cottoned on to youngsters using classic insurance as a cheap way to insure their first car so are putting restrictions in place. Also not sure how the burgeoning MX5 modding and drifting scene is affecting insurance groups. No doubt the insurance will be his biggest cost though. These guys are good for young drivers with sporty cars http://www.greenlightinsurance.co.uk/
Don't think an MX-5 is particurly a bad idea for a youngster provided 1) it's suspension geometry is right, 2) it's got decent tyres and 3) they've had some proper driving tution as oppose to being taught how to pass the driving test.
BTW do you know that he's old enough to compete in Production Car Autotest's? It's a great way to cheaply learn car control and practise driving off road. Unfortunately he can't use an MX5 as he can only use a 'touring car' i.e. has a solid roof, until he gains his road driving license. But if you/he is prepared to shell out a few hundred quid on a cheap run about (micra's, arosa's and fiestas are all popular) entry fees range from £15-50 plus a bit of petrol. It's just about the cheapest motorsport available in the UK.
Don't think an MX-5 is particurly a bad idea for a youngster provided 1) it's suspension geometry is right, 2) it's got decent tyres and 3) they've had some proper driving tution as oppose to being taught how to pass the driving test.
BTW do you know that he's old enough to compete in Production Car Autotest's? It's a great way to cheaply learn car control and practise driving off road. Unfortunately he can't use an MX5 as he can only use a 'touring car' i.e. has a solid roof, until he gains his road driving license. But if you/he is prepared to shell out a few hundred quid on a cheap run about (micra's, arosa's and fiestas are all popular) entry fees range from £15-50 plus a bit of petrol. It's just about the cheapest motorsport available in the UK.
Thanks for the replies.....it is tempting to go for it.....I know some of them can be a massive drain on the pocket, but what a "first car!"
buying one and spending a couple of years doing it up, and learning the value of his car might make him not want to bend it!
He will be getting very very well trained to drive.....by me! (driving instructor last 13 years...fleet trainer...rospa/iam etc...... so that part of it does not concern me......I have seen some can get very good deals on insurance and just wondered if any PH here knew of a good deal for 17 year olds on insurance...... most of my customers are paying 4 figure sums on 1.0 lire micra's et..... so he might as well spend similar or less and have a decent car to drive
cheers
buying one and spending a couple of years doing it up, and learning the value of his car might make him not want to bend it!
He will be getting very very well trained to drive.....by me! (driving instructor last 13 years...fleet trainer...rospa/iam etc...... so that part of it does not concern me......I have seen some can get very good deals on insurance and just wondered if any PH here knew of a good deal for 17 year olds on insurance...... most of my customers are paying 4 figure sums on 1.0 lire micra's et..... so he might as well spend similar or less and have a decent car to drive
cheers
I bought my modified RS when my son was 13. We went all over Europe in the car and I said it would be his one-day. When he passed his test the only insurance quote I could get was £13k for a year and no company was offering classic insurance for anyone under 21. So, he continued using my wife's car when he needed a car, then when he turned 20, I was able to add him as a second driver for around £600 per year for the both of us. On his 21st birthday last year, I gave him the car and he insured it in his name for £650 for 10 months with Elephant. My 17yr old Daughter is a petrolhead as well, and wants me to get an Elise... although is now leaning towards an R-Ltd MX5 (if anyone knows of a decent was available, please let me know).
I hope this helps
I hope this helps
MG CHRIS said:
You or your son will really struggle to get any sort of affordable insurance on a mx5 with a new driver in a rwd sports car 3k plus is what you be looking at.
At 19 year old 4 years ago cost me 1.1k on a 1.6 import.
They either saw you coming or you live in part of the world that is usually on fire/on bricks, I know of 2 people who ran MX5's as their first cars and paid little over £1k, I paid £800 fully comp an a 53 plate celicaAt 19 year old 4 years ago cost me 1.1k on a 1.6 import.
DannyScene said:
MG CHRIS said:
You or your son will really struggle to get any sort of affordable insurance on a mx5 with a new driver in a rwd sports car 3k plus is what you be looking at.
At 19 year old 4 years ago cost me 1.1k on a 1.6 import.
They either saw you coming or you live in part of the world that is usually on fire/on bricks, I know of 2 people who ran MX5's as their first cars and paid little over £1k, I paid £800 fully comp an a 53 plate celicaAt 19 year old 4 years ago cost me 1.1k on a 1.6 import.
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