Defender for a learner?
Discussion
NDT said:
Does anyone think there's any realistic chance of insuring a learner on a Defender 90?
I need to buy another car for my daughter to learn on anyway, so it may as well be something with a bit of character...
Yes a Defender will be a good car to learn the basics, but my concern would be crash safety. Yes, they are constructed using two metal girders and a third one as a bumper on the back, but the side protection is terrible and whilst you are a learner, pulling out with looking properly could be a thing and I would feel pretty bad if my kid was sat there with bruised ribs and broken arm because someone had driven into a car with 1960s levels of side protection. I'm not even going to start on what happens when you roll one. I need to buy another car for my daughter to learn on anyway, so it may as well be something with a bit of character...
For what its worth, I learned to drive in a 87 Mini which has similar characteristics, but my views have changed since becoming a Dad.
Insurance will be cheap, but that is neither here nor there in my opinion.
I tried to get my 17 year old daughter insured on my Range Rover Classic but the classic policy wouldn't even consider it. To be honest, I wouldn't want her driving it as they get used to modern cars and the RR absolutely isn't modern. Steering, brakes, handling etc are all very old school - not too different to a Defender. However, if this is all they learn in then maybe that'll be the benchmark?
As another poster says, I'd be more concerned about crash safety. My youngest has just walked away from horrible crash which saw her over 100' down a steep ravine having hit trees on the way down before being halted half way down by another tree. The MINI she was in did a superb job at protecting her and although a total write off it made me realise how important safety is. They simply don't know what they are doing at that age. She was out when it got foggy and she missed a junction then a turn at the top of a hill and went straight over the top. She had to be pulled up the slope by a rope and the recovery team had to be winched down to the car.
Don't want to be a scaremonger as I've had loads of Land Rovers, from the age of 17 but I'd go as modern and safe as I could until they've learned some skills. The Emergency SOS system in the car was triggered and called my daughter in the car and the emergency services. Possibly the best bit of kit on the whole car.
Havig said that a Defender without all the blingy tat is a wonderful thing......
As another poster says, I'd be more concerned about crash safety. My youngest has just walked away from horrible crash which saw her over 100' down a steep ravine having hit trees on the way down before being halted half way down by another tree. The MINI she was in did a superb job at protecting her and although a total write off it made me realise how important safety is. They simply don't know what they are doing at that age. She was out when it got foggy and she missed a junction then a turn at the top of a hill and went straight over the top. She had to be pulled up the slope by a rope and the recovery team had to be winched down to the car.
Don't want to be a scaremonger as I've had loads of Land Rovers, from the age of 17 but I'd go as modern and safe as I could until they've learned some skills. The Emergency SOS system in the car was triggered and called my daughter in the car and the emergency services. Possibly the best bit of kit on the whole car.
Havig said that a Defender without all the blingy tat is a wonderful thing......
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