Fun cars with low Insurance?

[warcalf]

I've been recently looking to get a roadster, but insurance companies seem intent on weeing all over my parade. Despite me having a completely clean license and no claims after 3 years of driving and being 22.

As a contingency plan, anyone know of any fun cars that aren't OTT on performance?

As to provide a benchmark, I'm currently driving a BMW 318i M Sport (E46). Which I hold in very high regard as being incredibly fun! So, is there anything as fun with slightly more power?

[MKnight702]

IMO if you want a cheap to run fun car then something like a Westfield would be perfect.

My second car after the Spitfire (at the age of 22) was a Westfield, it cost peanuts to insure, I did all the servicing and when I sold it I got back what I paid. What more could you ask for? Oh and if you think a 318 is fun to drive you have a whole new level to get used to.

[warcalf]

MKnight702 said:

IMO if you want a cheap to run fun car then something like a Westfield would be perfect.

My second car after the Spitfire (at the age of 22) was a Westfield, it cost peanuts to insure, I did all the servicing and when I sold it I got back what I paid. What more could you ask for? Oh and if you think a 318 is fun to drive you have a whole new level to get used to.

Look at the cost of Westfields... Not really doable for most 22 year olds. Also, not really what you want for a day to day car.

By roadater I mean along the lines of a Z4 or Boxster...

And I don't need it pointing out that there are a mass of unexplored, funner and more powerful cars to be drove than mine. That's why I'm getting an upgrade.

But for what my car is, you'd find it hard to come across a 4 door saloon with similar spec that's better.

[podgeorge]

If you're not one to mind about badges, my 182 was hilariously fun and reasonable on insurance at 22. I paid around £350 for the year albeit with 4 years no claims.

I find trying specialist insurers such as Sky or Adrian Flux being very beneficial especially as they often give you 10-15% discount for being member of a car club.

Hope that helps!

[kiethton]

Try a 335i

Had a 335i M-Sport at 21 and was paying £800 a year, can't see the E93 being much more expensive though - not quite a roadster but is convertible?

[warcalf]

podgeorge said:

If you're not one to mind about badges, my 182 was hilariously fun and reasonable on insurance at 22. I paid around £350 for the year albeit with 4 years no claims.

I find trying specialist insurers such as Sky or Adrian Flux being very beneficial especially as they often give you 10-15% discount for being member of a car club.

Hope that helps!

The insurance advice could well prove useful!

As for the Renault suggestion, I had a Dynamique as my first car! Was the 182 sound mechanically? I lived in worry of mine going wrong, with it being French...

[warcalf]

kiethton said:

Try a 335i

Had a 335i M-Sport at 21 and was paying £800 a year, can't see the E9t3 being much more expensive though - not quite a roadster but is convertible?

That's probably worth a shout, I had been considering a 325i M Sport. Doesn't need to be a convertible, just thought it'd be nice to have one for summer

[MKnight702]

warcalf said:

Look at the cost of Westfields... Not really doable for most 22 year olds. Also, not really what you want for a day to day car.

And yet I purchased my Westfield at 24 and ran it as my only car, covering over 38,000 miles in 3 years. This included a trip to Luxembourg camping, several trips up to Scotland and everyday commuting to work as the Westfield was my only car. If you are prepared to do it the car won't stop you.

[warcalf]

MKnight702 said:

And yet I purchased my Westfield at 24 and ran it as my only car, covering over 38,000 miles in 3 years. This included a trip to Luxembourg camping, several trips up to Scotland and everyday commuting to work as the Westfield was my only car. If you are prepared to do it the car won't stop you.

I think you'll find there's probably a significant enough wage gap between people of 21, going on 22 and 24 year olds...

I'd also confidently guess you bought your Westfield around a similar time my Dad had a Caterham, when cars weren't as expensive.

[DoubleD]

The wage that you are on is more about the job that you do rather than the difference between being 22 and 24.

Also were cars cheaper years ago? Id be suprised if they were.

[warcalf]

DoubleD said:

The wage that you are on is more about the job that you do rather than the difference between being 22 and 24.

Also were cars cheaper years ago? Id be suprised if they were.

Well I work in Mechanical Engineering... So what I do is considered as quite a good job for someone my age.

Well, I'd assume so. Although most the difference is probably inflation.

[DoubleD]

warcalf said:

DoubleD said:

The wage that you are on is more about the job that you do rather than the difference between being 22 and 24.

Also were cars cheaper years ago? Id be suprised if they were.

Well I work in Mechanical Engineering... So what I do is considered as quite a good job for someone my age.

Well, I'd assume so. Although most the difference is probably inflation.

Sounds lovely. But your wage is still linked to your job, so you might earn more than a 24 year old or they might earn more than you. 3 years isnt always going to make a difference.

[podgeorge]

warcalf said:

The insurance advice could well prove useful!

As for the Renault suggestion, I had a Dynamique as my first car! Was the 182 sound mechanically? I lived in worry of mine going wrong, with it being French...

Sound mechanically.. yes. Other things.. perhaps. Beyond the normal service items in 3 years mine has had a new alternator, rear dampers, washer pumps, injectors, O2 sensor and heater matrix resistor.

I enjoy working on cars and all of the above were relatively easy and simple fixes bar the injectors which took some more advanced trouble shooting of a misfire. This stuff is pretty common on all 1*2's but beyond that the engine and gearbox have always been faultless and very strong.

I'd recommend having a test drive - if you can find one with these common things replaced then you could be onto a winner!

[caelite]

Fun in a special kind of way: mk1 fabia VRS. I had one when I was 19/20 and it was very reasonable to insure when compared to other hot hatches. Engine is out of a van but was actually hilarious to drive in the relatively lightweight chassis body, torque mountain never failed to brake traction when the turbo spooled, front weight bias meant you could hang the arse end out coming into corners, little puffs of smoke when you booted it never got old either.

For me it was far cheaper to insure than a clio 182 or any other Hothatch I was looking at at the time for that matter.

I eventually mapped mine and put a rear ARB on (two very common mods on these). Could easily give my mates EP3 CTR a run for its money from a rolling start.