Firstly - well done & congratulations!
Try to avoid anyting that attracts police attention - they seem to prey on new drivers, largely needlessly in my opinion. WHoudl pay more attention to the older folks who claim to know it all.
My Dad is one such person - driving for fifty years, but badly.
I get left alone by the police at age 37 and insurance is not an issue but boy did they load it up when I was your age.
If you can stand the dull image, how about Toyota Corolla 1.4i. Cheap to insure, never break and go very nicely indeed.
You might even score something of a result with a decent turbo-diesel. Early ones are noisy and slow but the French HDi's and dCi's are good. As are the VW TDi's. Anything with high pressure injection and electronic control can be modified via the ECU when you get a year or two claim free driving. The gains are silly. My Peugeot HDi is the 2.2 litre 16 valve lump, and it dishes up 192bhp and 330lbft torque after a simple ECU remap (no other Modifications).
The problem with diesels is that the servicing is quite prescriptive and it's not something you can do readily on a DIY basis.
Insurers are catching on that diesels aren't slow any more, but quite often will offer a better premium anyway. 'TIl you bend it, anyway. But let's hope that won't occur!
Dismiss any non-turbo diesel immediately, no matter what the engine size. They're outmoded, slow and loud.
Happy hunting! |