Lowest insurance group rated car

ba_barabus

My g/f is going to do her test soon and I'd like to surprise her with a car. It's going to be a case of it's the thought that counts as it will be a cheap first car.

I was thinking along the lines of a sub 1000€ Micra, Accent, Corolla or Ka.

Any others and what is the cheapest car regards insurance.

She has no NCB and will be on a UK licence. She travels to the UK a lot so it's not possible to share my car.

Reliable, cheap to run and cheap to insure are the key points

kona

Does she have a English address?! Be much cheaper to buy a English car and pay their tax and insurance.

ba_barabus

kona wrote: »

Does she have a English address?! Be much cheaper to buy a English car and pay their tax and insurance.

She will be moving over here in the not too distant future.

Bigus

Apart from ringing a broker put various cars into the online quote engines to see differences , but there can be anomalies where certain 1.4 s are as cheap as 1.0s giving you more purchasing options, so try a broker like first Ireland .

ba_barabus

Bigus wrote: »

Apart from ringing a broker put various cars into the online quote engines to see differences , but there can be anomalies where certain 1.4 s are as cheap as 1.0s giving you more purchasing options, so try a broker like first Ireland .

I had spotted that. Corolla was expensive for some reason.

I made use of that flaw years ago when i got an Avensis and paid the same as a friend in a Corsa

kona

ba_barabus wrote: »

She will be moving over here in the not too distant future.

Depending on the time frame I'd get on the English system for as long as I could. She will get ridden over here from every angle, and it's only going to get more expensive!

ba_barabus

kona wrote: »

Depending on the time frame I'd get on the English system for as long as I could. She will get ridden over here from every angle, and it's only going to get more expensive!

I don't think it will suit.

I am in contact with a broker over there but the quotes are more expensive than expected. It would also suit me for other reasons to use an Irish car.

kona

ba_barabus wrote: »

I don't think it will suit.

I am in contact with a broker over there but the quotes are more expensive than expected. It would also suit me for other reasons to use an Irish car.

Well what ever suits thats the main thing! I'd be going with a micra in your case, cheap and stupidly reliable.

The accent is as reliable as anything jap and not quite as sh1t as a micra.

johndaman66

ba_barabus wrote: »

I made use of that flaw years ago when i got an Avensis and paid the same as a friend in a Corsa

I don't quite follow your reasoning there. You yourself might have being a lower insurance risk than your friend due to age, ncb built up, address, occupation and other factors besides. The car is only one part of the equation

Plus you can get a Corsa with an engine the same size as Avensis smallest engine. In fact I think it may even be possible to get a Corsa with an engine larger than the smallest capacity Avensis

ba_barabus

johndaman66 wrote: »

I don't quite follow your reasoning there. You yourself might have being a lower insurance risk than your friend due to age, ncb built up, address, occupation and other factors besides. The car is only one part of the equation

Plus you can get a Corsa with an engine the same size as Avensis smallest engine. In fact I think it may even be possible to get a Corsa with an engine larger than the smallest capacity Avensis

He lived next door.

the Corsa was a 97 1.0L and mine was a 99 1.6l Avensis.

We were best mates and still are. Everything was the same as far as it could be.

@RJ: I'm drawn to the Accent due to it's size. had one after I crashed the Avensis oddly enough and turned my nose up at it. I've grown up a bit now and was sorry in hindsight I didn't get it.

johndaman66

ba_barabus wrote: »

He lived next door.

the Corsa was a 97 1.0L and mine was a 99 1.6l Avensis.

We were best mates and still are. Everything was the same as far as it could be.

Ok fair enough. Assuming ye were the same age, same driving experience, same occupation, held same license for the same number of years and same penalty points (if ye had any) you would seem to have being doing better than your friend.

Its just I see people often make assumptions about motor insurance premiums without taking into account all the factors that influnce them.

ba_barabus

johndaman66 wrote: »

Its just I see people often make assumptions about motor insurance premiums without taking into account all the factors that influnce them.

I'm just asking about insurance ratings for small cars for my g/f.

I'm not discussing me or my friends details from nearly 8 years ago. I'm very familiar with how insurance ratings are drawn up and i'm not just making an off the wall statement for effect.

I just want to keep it on topic to find out any other cars to consider before I call the broker tomorrow morning so no offence meant if I'm cutting you off quickly John.

Cungi

Have a look at this OP. I know its UK insurance groups but i think Irish insurers take cues from this

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/insurance/car-insurance-groups/

Corsa does seem to be one of the lowest.

johndaman66

As another poster mentioned smaller engined car need not necessairly mean a lower insurance premium. I recently changed my car and was checking out premiums for myself on different models before I changed. Oddly a 1.6 Avensis saloon was a few quid cheaper to insure than a 1.4 litre Golf or Corolla hatchback.

That was with the company I was with though. It could well be different with the next company. There was onl a few quid in it but my insurance is low at this stage anyway. I'm sure if it was higher the difference would have being more considerable if you follow what I'm trying to say.

I started driving a 1.9 flat diesel Renault Megavan (ball of junk but thats story for another thread). At the time it was considerably cheaper for me to insure that than a 1.0 litre Polo or Micra with 5 seats. That was only with certain insurance companies though, others wouldn't quote me on it for social, domestic and pleasure usage. I was able to tax it comercially which was cosiderably cheaper than taxing it privately based on engine capacity.

Things have changed since though and and I believe you need to produce a VAT number now to tax a van or car derived van comercially. In any event your girlfriend might not be keen on the idea of driving a van or may need the 5 seater car for carrying kiddies etc...just throwing the idea out to you

ba_barabus

johndaman66 wrote: »

may need the 5 seater car for carrying kiddies etc...just throwing the idea out to you

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

I ****ING HOPE NOT :D

I'll look into the van idea. My first car was actually an Opel Combo and I found it great as I had no option but to use my mirrors. Don't know how happy she would be about that though.

ba_barabus

Still keeping an eye out for cars.

I'm currently in Aberdeen for the week and have spotted a few 2002-2005 Clio 1.5DCI's about.

Does anyone know anything about how good/bad to drive and live with they are?

I did have the pleasure of a 2004 Clio before which made my life miserable but I strongly suspect that wasn't the cars fault but that of previous owners.

JohnBoy26

RoverJames wrote: »

The accent is as reliable as anything jap and not quite as sh1t as a micra.

One of these would be a good choice. They aren't as good as the japanese equivelant of the time, but they can be bought for very little money and are reliable.

Just aim for a clean example with low mileage as some high mileage examlpes can burn oil.

Francie Barrett

johndaman66 wrote: »

I started driving a 1.9 flat diesel Renault Megavan (ball of junk but thats story for another thread).

You can get a similar kind of engine in a VW Golf/Polo, the 1.9 litre SDI. It will be slow as hell, but cheaper to insure than the likes of a 1.0 litre Yaris.