Luke, my son will be 17 in May and is itching to get driving. He's driven all of my vehicles and more and with lessons already pre-booked we wish him well for a quick 'first time' pass. Question is what to look for as a first car? got to be something in the low insurance group, he even wants to look at classics but what would the insurance companies say to that? I also think that your first car stays in your memory forever regardless how many may follow so in some ways it also has to be something he could have fond memories of rather than embarrasing ones and NO fortunately he doesn't want a hot hatch POS. In my day lessons were under £2 an hour, I learnt in an Austion 1100 and my first car was a Ford Anglia 105E. I'll always remember my dad taking me to pick it up and that memorable drive home. For me that was the first time I'd driven a car anywhere on my own and it felt bloody great. So, info/help/suggestions for him please and what's your first car story?
Ah I remember it well passed first time.Mind you i had been driving for 4 years prior.Didn't they have rod brakes and chain drive when you were a lad bumper?????
yup remember it well, had a mk 4 zepher, passed in the morning and drove to felixstowe in the afternoon with a grin both ways. then put the lamy in the shed till i sold it.
As i'm a lot younger than all you (?) my first car was a mk4 cortina 1.6. As for Luke, why not a 105e? or maybe a mk1 escort or a chuvvit? worth ringing the insurance companys first tho, surely it's cheaper to insure a classic than a hot hatch?
chuckypop wrote:As i'm a lot younger than all you (?) my first car was a mk4 cortina 1.6. As for Luke, why not a 105e? or maybe a mk1 escort or a chuvvit? worth ringing the insurance companys first tho, surely it's cheaper to insure a classic than a hot hatch? You're right I should have a ringaround, just seeing if someone on here might have some insurance background. Yes I too think an early Ford would be good, will have to start looking at some. We might get some some flash 'first' cars come up here, Dell bet you wish you still had the Zephr!
My first car was a triumph2.5 and the first legal one was a 1964 hillman super minx i had a light up michelin man in the back window.Whatever happened to harry moss speakers????
mk 2 escort 1.1 pop plus 2 door in beige with beige stripe 4 spot lights and a 6ft mag mount on the boot!!
My eldest is 18 and needed something that he could drive to his barracks in north yorkshire that would be practical and reliable. H went for an escort 1.8 si. Insurance in his name was £3500 in mine with him named driver £1500.
My next 2 boys have moggies and the 17 yr said the quote on the traveller was alot cheaper than any other car he tried, but hasnt told me just how much yet.
i had a lowered herald with roll cage at 18 [first car was a jag on mums insurance] adrian flux was good for that, ive been with my current company since i was 20 [15 years] although you cant collect up `no claims` bonus, my insurance has never been over 70 quid, you can have as many cars and dont have limited mileage. its called AON 01384552702
My first car was a moggy van which i converted into a pick up.first legal car a lowered mini van with a 1300 engine (1964) which my dad in a hurry to go out one night proceeded to reverse his 69 dodge charger right over the front of it ( little minis don,t react well to the arse end of a charger sat on them) .
An actual Classic insurance policy will be hard to get in your son's name, most companies require the driver to be 21 or 25. If insurance is the big issue, cheapest car I'd mention is the Morris Minor. I don't even want to talk about Fiat Pandas! Escorts are usually group 6 or above so not the cheapest, even for a 1.1.
IMHO Mk1/2 Escorts are waaaaaaay overpriced anyway (recently got offered £1k for my scruffy but MOT'd 4-door mk1!) and very nickable. 105E is a much better alternative - same price to buy but stands out in a crowd better.
If you were after something more modern nothing really springs to mind as being decent AND credible! Kadett C or Chevette maybe? OK, still not that modern.... If FWD hatches are acceptable I'd look for a 205 or 106 Rallye - cheapish insurance and a bit quirky.
I started with an HC Viva in a fetching shade of metallic brown. Great car - totally unreliable, which meant that I didn't always get from A to B, and many times didn't even leave "A". But it was all good fun!
JonnySierra wrote:An actual Classic insurance policy will be hard to get in your son's name, most companies require the driver to be 21 or 25. If insurance is the big issue, cheapest car I'd mention is the Morris Minor. I don't even want to talk about Fiat Pandas! Escorts are usually group 6 or above so not the cheapest, even for a 1.1.
IMHO Mk1/2 Escorts are waaaaaaay overpriced anyway (recently got offered £1k for my scruffy but MOT'd 4-door mk1!) and very nickable. 105E is a much better alternative - same price to buy but stands out in a crowd better.
If you were after something more modern nothing really springs to mind as being decent AND credible! Kadett C or Chevette maybe? OK, still not that modern.... If FWD hatches are acceptable I'd look for a 205 or 106 Rallye - cheapish insurance and a bit quirky.
I started with an HC Viva in a fetching shade of metallic brown. Great car - totally unreliable, which meant that I didn't always get from A to B, and many times didn't even leave "A". But it was all good fun!
Thanks for the input, not looking at a classic policy just if a 'classic' on a standard policy would be more affordable even an option,
My first motor was a Lada Niva Cossack 4x4 (the posh version with carpets!). Picked it up cheap and as it won't do more than 75mph fairly ok on the insurance. Great fun off road and mechanically simple so easy to maintain.
You just have to live with the Lada jokes...........
All joking aside, a few years ago when i was banger racing, Lada's were a favourite for some people in the 1600 class because they were made of a far thicker metal than any other car around and were bloody solid, but they were just so damn slow!
My first car was a '76 Citroen GS Club kept in a field. First road car was a beetle which found fame as Chunder bug at RTTS '89 and the "Can Look" at bug jam the same year. My second car was a hillman super minx convertible and from there it is all rather a blur. There was a 1962 Ford Consul 365 Deluxe Lowline, may fave so far, MK3 Zodiac, MK2 Escort, MK3 Capri, Mini, another beetle, Campervan, rover sdi, 2 rover p6 200tc. No wonder I never had any money......
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It's 106 miles to Chicago we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses.
Well Luke, (or should I say, I) bought his first car yesterday, a Mk1 Fiesta, 1980 bog standard 950cc model genuine 45000 miles solid and unmolested. Been standing in and out of a garage for a few years so a bit to do to get it roadworthy again but we're up for the challenge and he's well happy. Aiming for his 17th in May so should work out fine. Not sure what mods he wants yet what with the insurance costs etc. but probably some wheels and anything else of interest that turns up, so what you got to help him out?? I know it's gonna need a heap of service parts and some new door top weather seals for starters, any leads?. Won't have it home untill the end of the week so will keep you posted on the progress. Luke's working part time in a garage and attends college for 3 days a week on a mechanical engineering course so this project will be perfect for him. Pushing him to sign up on here in his own name but still a bit shy I think, reckon it's all you hairy arsed perverts on 'ere but he'll get there, He's definitely a rodder in the making just wish he'd take his eyes off my truck!
dell wrote: perhaps someone on tha m&r site can help if a few mods are gonna be done???
No need to swear! you're right but just can't bring myself to go on there, plus if you lot found out I wouldn't hear the end of it!.To be honest probably more of a resto maybe with wheels will be it for now. Are there any eary Ford/old skool boys on here? be good to talk to someone thats restored one of these.Really just need some contacts for bits that we can't find in the local parts store.
Hope he has fun with his new steed,i did one many moons ago,i put xr2 front legs on and xr2 back axle and springs,that lowered it nicely,just need some moon discs on a set of 13 or 14 steels,cheap conversion that will look cool and satin red paint.good look.
hi bumper , as far as wheels are concerned i have a set of 5 rs alloys off a jps capri i once owned in my misspent youth.i keep them in the shed for those occasions when i am owning a four stud ford .he is welcome to borrow them for as long as he owns the fiesta (if they fit ) but i must ,eventually have them back due to sentimental reasons.
bod wrote: i have a set of 5 rs alloys off a jps capri i once owned in my misspent youth.i keep them in the shed for those occasions when i am owning a four stud ford .he is welcome to borrow them for as long as he owns the fiesta (if they fit )...
They will physically go on but need spacers, plus the offset will be way out. Having said that, Slater (fellow Old Skool member) runs 7x13 Alleycats on his and it's lowered about 70mm on coilovers! Fiesta Supersport alloys look almost identical to the JPS rims but will go on properly, although they're not that easy to find.
Can't see any problems with modifying it as long as it's done TASTEFULLY. Everyone's got to start somewhere, and who the f*** can afford to shell out £1k+ on a RWD Ford THEN start modifying it at 17 years old? Find some nice wheels, hit it with the lowering stick, smooth it out a bit.... It'll stand out a mile in the sea of well-wikkid-GRP kitted-innit Corsas etc when he's at college.
I had a mk1 Fiesta for a while last summer, it was OK really! Watch out for rotten inner sills towards the rear arches - you need to cut the outers off to repair them which is a pain. Other than that they're pretty straightforward. I've got a few spares - wheel bolts, rear bumper, dizzy etc if you need anything!
you have also got to sort out the wheel nuts for them rs alloy's because they came off a car using nuts and the fiesta uses studs which may not fit the wheel very well. I know from when i was banger racing that using RWD wheels on FWD cars the studs dont fit very well to the wheel and tend to make a bit of a mess of the holes. Unless of course you can get adaptors to make them fit. I have raced a few of these fiestas in special fiesta meetings and they are a tough little car. I might have a mountney steering wheel with ford boss kicking about , i also had a pancake airfilter to fit said car which gave it a nice raspy sound, i will look it up for you if you want?
dell wrote: perhaps someone on tha m&r site can help if a few mods are gonna be done???
No need to swear! you're right but just can't bring myself to go on there, plus if you lot found out I wouldn't hear the end of it!.To be honest probably more of a resto maybe with wheels will be it for now. Are there any eary Ford/old skool boys on here? be good to talk to someone thats restored one of these.Really just need some contacts for bits that we can't find in the local parts store.
how dare you even think about going on there! and yes you wouldnt hear the end of it!!
dell wrote: perhaps someone on tha m&r site can help if a few mods are gonna be done???
No need to swear! you're right but just can't bring myself to go on there, plus if you lot found out I wouldn't hear the end of it!.To be honest probably more
how dare you even think about going on there! and yes you wouldnt hear the end of it!!
go on bumper, i double dare ya . they might even have a piece of drain pipe for you to superglue to the exhaust
chuckypop wrote: you have also got to sort out the wheel nuts for them rs alloy's because they came off a car using nuts and the fiesta uses studs which may not fit the wheel very well....
Forgot to mention that! You can get studs to do the job, in fact I might even have a few...
perhaps someone on tha m&r site can help if a few mods are gonna be done???
No need to swear! you're right but just can't bring myself to go on there, plus if you lot found out I wouldn't hear the end of it!.To be honest probably more
how dare you even think about going on there! and yes you wouldnt hear the end of it!!
go on bumper, i double dare ya . they might even have a piece of drain pipe for you to superglue to the exhaust
a young lad i know wants to join M&R and has the ideal car!
If you get stuck mate give us a call, There an`t Much I can`t find for old fords ! You will proberly get the door rubbers from a place called East Kent Trim - There number is in classic ford - retro ford mags, also another good place to speek to for parts is The Fiesta centre in Norwich or Sudbury Factors.
SOMEDAY SON ALL THIS WILL BE MINE!!
) my first car was a mk4 cortina 1.6. As for Luke, why not a 105e? or maybe a mk1 escort or a chuvvit? worth ringing the insurance companys first tho, surely it's cheaper to insure a classic than a hot hatch?
, i also had a pancake airfilter to fit said car which gave it a nice raspy sound, i will look it up for you if you want? 
