Quote from JTbo :

When after 1998 Focus I test drove 360 it felt finally like a car and not like some weird thing on wheels.

I've got a 2004 Focus now, you calling my car crap ? :mad:

Quote from JTbo :

It is just on illusion that soft suspension would not have grip, it has more than stiff.

Yeah, granted, but when i drive a car i like to go forwards and not up and down

Quote from JTbo :

Bloody hell, on track day I have cornered same pace as LanEvo IV

I believe you, but then again, you are a complete loony

Quote from JTbo :

it is only psychological false illusion you are having now, certainly feeling if it is RWD or not has nothing to do with suspension stiffness

Back in 2000/2001 i test drove a Maserati Biturbo and a BMW 325i, then jumped in Jo's Vov, and erm....it was, erm.....not the same it just seemed so floppy and lifeless, and gave no real push out of corners, it was, if i'm being honest, a bit of a come down. Ok it was fun when the roads got icy, but in the UK they're like that for about 2 days a year if we're lucky.

Quote from JTbo :

Best first car that any coming car head can get for such low price, it is wolf in sheep clothes when in proper condition.

Actually over here they're not as cheap as you might think. Owners tend to keep them forever, and as you know, if looked after they will run for ever and ever, so there's not that many good ones for sale.

Quote from JTbo :

My insurance is 500€/year without any bonuses

Yeah, but you're in your 50's or something , Jaks only 18

Quote from Jakg :

Tell me your taking the piss. A Dodge Charger?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Those cars are great but i CANNOT afford to insure them. Thats the reason why people end up with slow ugly cars as their first cars...

I was doing a 3rd Party Quote with £500 voluntary excess, atm my bike is insured 3rd Party, Fire & Theft (Was only £20 more) with a huuuuuge excess.

Comprehensive is cheaper then 3rd party, so put Comprehensive down. Also say that you are only using it for social use what will bring it down a bit more, and if you are using something like gocompare.com to see what insurance company is cheaper, put in where it asks for how much miles you will do over a year put around 2k, everyone knows you will do more but you are saving some money.

Mazz, I call your car crap when compared to 360, but then again it is priorities and preferences, you know saying, one man's crap is other man's gold
I hate FWD from bottom of my heart, I guess no one has noticed? Well for me Focus, even it grips quite well on corners and gives impression of well handling machine, is something I could easily drive too fast without understanding it and it could cause big accident as feedback from grip level and what car is doing seem to be rather limited, as in all modern cars. How they say it in english, car feels bigger on road than it is, also loses lot of information in process.

Haven't drive 360 for almost year now, I get enough driving with 240 now, maybe next summer I laid down bit of rubber again. Anyway one bad point it has, it is tad noisy on highway speeds.
240 is quite a ship, it has similar bad points as there is with Focus, but it is very comfy, very very comfy on bad roads and still I know better when I'm too close to limit for public roads

I know that in UK 300 series Volvos sell very cheap, there is one 1.7 340 in ebay uk now for £200 and it is really good condition, driven really small amount and I guess with 340 one gets lot cheaper insurance, but with 1.7 still almost same performance on normal road driving.

But it is always about personal preferences, best is to test many different cars to get bit of perspective, testing even something that is outside of common scope can give very satisfying results

Btw, I was going to get Ford Cortina GT (don't know what that was in UK), but somehow Volvo did beat it after test drive and I did not even liked Volvo back then

Quote from sam93 :

Comprehensive is cheaper then 3rd party, so put Comprehensive down. Also say that you are only using it for social use what will bring it down a bit more, and if you are using something like gocompare.com to see what insurance company is cheaper, put in where it asks for how much miles you will do over a year put around 2k, everyone knows you will do more but you are saving some money.

WTF. Fully Comp isn't cheaper you doughnut.
I think you'll find 10k is the minimum you can out down for annual mileage. Sorry to sound harsh, but until I own a car and try to insure it yourself, I would keep shtum.

Quote from The General Lee :

WTF. Fully Comp isn't cheaper you doughnut.
I think you'll find 10k is the minimum you can out down for annual mileage. Sorry to sound harsh, but until I own a car and try to insure it yourself, I would keep shtum.

Go on gocompare.co.uk, I was looking at insurance for a corsa b 1.4 SRI fully comp, kept in a garage, 2k miles a yr, social use and it came to £1,150 that was with a bodykit aswell I think. Just go on gocompare.com and have a look on there, I have priced a few cars up on there to see what I should get, I know I am not even 17 yet but I am pricing it up because at the end of this year I may be buying a corsa sri so I can get it ready for when I am 17, just going to keep the car on the drive, I am 15 in february so at the end of the year it will give me a year and a few months to get it running nicely.

So I will not shut up as I have been looking and have just said what I put down on gocompare and it worked out cheaper and plus I would rather be fully comp then third party.

TBH, I highly doubt that with a Plymouth postcode, SRI Vauxhall and bodykit that it will come back at £1000. But, if you say so.

Which company was the quote with and what did you put down as a job.

Quote from The General Lee :

TBH, I highly doubt that with a Plymouth postcode, SRI Vauxhall and bodykit that it will come back at £1000. But, if you say so.

Which company was the quote with and what did you put down as a job.

No job, full time student, I just had a look at my quotes, £1,150 for a SRI and no aftermarket alloys and no full bodykit and it was £1,780 for a SRI with aftermarket alloys and a full bodykit with a minor engine performance part.

I got my cheapest quotes from:
Performance Direct
And a young driver with modified cars insurance company what is advertised on either maxpower or fast car site cant remember what one.

And what are you trying to say about Plymouth, their are a few cars in plymouth what are modified, one of the biggest selection of modified cars is alan jeffreys collection, if a car gets broken into in plymouth they just take the stereo and thats it. People class Plymouth as a bad area but it isn't.

LOL!

Confused.com said Quinn Direct quoted me £1400. - That was my cheapest.

GoCompare(everywhere else).com said Quinn Direct quoted me @ £2,500. With my cheapest being eCar @ £2,400.

Quote from sam93 :

People class Plymouth as a bad area but it isn't.

"People" being insurance companies I am guessing?

ok, well that is what I have got results of, I am not bothered what others think, I will pay my insurance and this is about jakg not me so I think we should get back to his question.

I think you are being a little too quick to judge me mate. I'm not having a go. If you did that quote for a Corsa SRI in Plymouth then it won't take much guessing to what your first car can be. Thats a good quote. Insurance is a funny thing, hence why my mate is paying £1900 on an "L" Reg 1.2 Fiesta, yet I pay £1400 on a L plate 1.6 BMW.

Sorry if you mis-understood me.

My current quote for my 1991 H Reg 1.2 Nova is £980'ish, now the reason is behind that is because im doing it under my bothers name and putting me down as a named driver. Not a particually good idea i know but id rarther pay £980 then pay almost double that just for me

Quote from The General Lee :

I think you are being a little too quick to judge me mate. I'm not having a go. If you did that quote for a Corsa SRI in Plymouth then it won't take much guessing to what your first car can be. Thats a good quote. Insurance is a funny thing, hence why my mate is paying £1900 on an "L" Reg 1.2 Fiesta, yet I pay £1400 on a L plate 1.6 BMW.

Sorry if you mis-understood me.

Ok, no probs, just have to find the right insurance company, my dad was thinking of putting me on his motor traders but he doesnt want his to be high with having a young driver on it. I was thinking of getting a bm for my first car but cant be bothered, plus if you do that right things to a corsa they can be little rockets. Dont want a nice car till my 20's when I have a proper job, in IT, so I will be paid well, it is a few years for me yet though, some of the prices will proberly drop a little bit for a corsa so I should hopefully get a good quote, if it is to expensive, I know it is illegal, but just dont tell them about your bodykit, if you drive properly you shouldn't damage it, unlike boyracers, they have no respect for their cars and others.

UPDATE:

My newest cheap quote is...

£1041.97



I understand Sam, mate I was gonna go on my dads trade insurance, but I had to be over 21

Quote from sam93 :

if you drive properly you shouldn't damage it, unlike boyracers, they have no respect for their cars and others.

OK, ill keep you with me then, it seems you are the first person in the WHOLE world that can predict a crash

Quote from mcgas001 :

OK, ill keep you with me then, it seems you are the first person in the WHOLE world that can predict a crash

They say drivers under 25 have more crashes then people of 25, on your 25th b'day you must get a box of driving talent and your insurance drops, I just don't want to be, well wont be one of those people under 25 who crash, just drive properly and look where you are going and other around you and you shouldn't end up with a dent it your car. I have just seen loads of people in plymouth who are young drivers and smash there car up with in a year.

Yes i know, you can be carefull but no one in the whole world EVER can predict a crash and its right aswell. No or nothing can predict a crash. So dont say 'i wont crash bla bla bla' as its impossible.

Quote from mcgas001 :

Yes i know, you can be carefull but no one in the whole world EVER can predict a crash and its right aswell. No or nothing can predict a crash. So dont say 'i wont crash bla bla bla' as its impossible.

I know you can't predict a crash, I mean that I will try my best not to crash, didnt word it right at all.

You may not actually be the one crashing. If you are driving on a single track lane and you come face to face with another car, you may skid on mud/wet road whatever. You can be the most cautious driver in the whole world, it doesn't you won't crash.

Quote from sam93 :

I know you can't predict a crash, I mean that I will try my best not to crash.

I doubt the millions of people that crash everyday are trying to crash. Its best to stick to what most tell you because in this day and age, with so many cars on the roads and so many idiots behind the wheel, crashes are to be very much expected.

Quote from JTbo :

Mazz, I call your car crap when compared to 360, but then again it is priorities and preferences, you know saying, one man's crap is other man's gold
I hate FWD from bottom of my heart, I guess no one has noticed? ....

.....But it is always about personal preferences, best is to test many different cars to get bit of perspective, testing even something that is outside of common scope can give very satisfying results

To be honest it's a matter of necessity rather than preference these days, moneys rather tight now, so the Focus was the best of a bad bunch, and it got some good write-ups, plus it's cheap to run and actually pretty reliable. And to be perfectly honest, my "boy-racer" days are only for LFS nowadays. UK roads are just too busy and i've had more than my share of near misses (and the odd "wish i had missed" ). So handling and speed aren't at the top of my priorities anymore, although i'd prefer RWD if i could, but it's not really a possibility in real life, but in LFS i never touch the FWD's . Also, one thing i didn't mention about the Focus, mainly because you'll take the piss, but it's an Automatic :shhh:

Quote from JTbo :

Btw, I was going to get Ford Cortina GT (don't know what that was in UK), but somehow Volvo did beat it after test drive and I did not even liked Volvo back then

Wow, that's old. Cortina's were replaced by the Sierra ! Although i've got a feeling all the first 3mk's were RWD, the mk1 definitely was, and the Lotus Cortina was fantastic.
BTW, i think that claim "you didn't even like Volvo's" is a lie I reckon if they ever cut open your chest they find your heart will be "safe, but rather boxy"

Quote from The General Lee :

You may not actually be the one crashing. If you are driving on a single track lane and you come face to face with another car, you may skid on mud/wet road whatever. You can be the most cautious driver in the whole world, it doesn't you won't crash.

Yep excatly, also if you go out driving thinking 'i wont crash i will be realy carefull' then YOU are more likely to crash then the people that think different!

Quote from The General Lee :

You may not actually be the one crashing. If you are driving on a single track lane and you come face to face with another car, you may skid on mud/wet road whatever. You can be the most cautious driver in the whole world, it doesn't you won't crash.



I doubt the millions of people that crash everyday are trying to crash. Its best to stick to what most tell you because in this day and age, with so many cars on the roads and so many idiots behind the wheel, crashes are to be very much expected.

True, no way am I going to be the most careful of drivers, those people are to slow on roads and cant drive because they are to busy worrying, I know what you mean by a driver doesnt get in his car and say I will crash to day unless it is banger racing or they want to end his/hers life. Just don't want to have a crash. I will have my dad teach me before I go to do my lessons as he is a good driver and I want him to teach me before a instructor.

I have been wondering for some time now, do you think racing drivers espacially f1 drivers who are under 25, get cheaper car insurance then a normal person who isnt a racing driver under 25? I have been thinking this because they are good drivers, I know they arent on the main road and going in the same direction as one another but, they know how to race a car so they must be good drivers on the public roads, just wondering, it first came to my mind when I read a artical about what cars LH is driving what were top spec mercs and as he has to insure them what does he have to pay.

Quote from Mazz4200 :

Wow, that's old. Cortina's were replaced by the Sierra ! Although i've got a feeling all the first 3mk's were RWD, the mk1 definitely was, and the Lotus Cortina was fantastic.
BTW, i think that claim "you didn't even like Volvo's" is a lie I reckon if they ever cut open your chest they find your heart will be "safe, but rather boxy"

This Cortina well not exactly that, but similar model (We got Sierra only at 80's), not very new and it should had worked on a bit, so with my conditions only car suitable at time and available was Volvo 360 :P

Of course Cortina would been lot more cool, but then again I would spend lot more time fixing it

Wouldn't mind 240 having automatic box + turbo, but have to go now with 82hp/140nm torque and 1300kg dry weight, got good offer of how to get 300hp under bonnet (that is diesel horsies), but needs bit of planning, I need to make many overtakes on my travels so I miss a bit of that performance 360 had, around 9 seconds 0-100, it was not stock

I guess I never grow up, always needing some toys

I would of thought it would of been more as they probably think they can go fast because they do twice the limit everyday anyway.

I don't think LH has too worry about getting the money to pay for insurance. I guess he and others are on a specialist insurrance.

I highly reccommend you DONT get your dad to teach you to drive, my brother passed a few years ago and tried to help me. Trouble is im 4th lesson in and ive realised the test standards have changed a LOT now. When doing a turn in the road, did you know you have to pull up to the side of the road, stop. Look all around the car, Get the clutch biting relase the handbrake and full lock right untill you shoulder blade is level with the middle of the road then swing left. Then you have to stop (without hittting the curb) put the handbrake on, look all around select reverse, get clutch biting and move off, and so on, so fourth.... driving has changed a lot just lately..

My dad taught me the basics. I already knew them, it was just putting them into practice. But I wasn't all that amazed (although my Dad was...) that the driving test and the whole learning to drive thing has changed in the 23 years since he passed.

Best just to stick to the instructor