Would you insure your teen on a BMW 1 series?

[kitkatkaytie]

Just that really. My DH wants to get one and is talking about getting DS insured on it in a few months' time, if and when he passes. I don't drive. Is it too powerful for a teen? Does anyone have one?

Theres a huge range of engine sizes and performance models within 1 series range, and they’ll have different insurance group. Which model is it?

It really depends how sensible your teen is. One of the lads apt to show off with his mates? NO chance. Part of a group of other sensible kids who help out? Maybe.
It’ll be expensive, though! I assume DH is footing the bill!

What sort of 1 series a 135 or 140i is much more powerful than the crappy 116d. Either way I would have thought the cost would be much higher than most other cars like a Yaris.

It’ll cost an absolute fortune. How rich are you? We’re talking multiple thousands of pounds of premium.

If it's a new car it will cost a fortune to insure a new driver. For example, to insure DD on my 8 year old Qashqai when she passed her test was going to cost £2k

Christ no
Apart from the cost of insurance which will be astronomical
A one litre Corsa or such like for a teenager is more than enough power
My brother in law is a traffic cop and he has seen the results of inexperienced drivers in powerful cars. I'm sure I don't need to say anything further

No way, surely the insurance will cost an absolute fortune

It will be costly, and there will be insurers who refuse to cover that so you may end up paying more expensive options all round just to be able to insure him on it. Ultimately it’s a risk decision and BMWs etc naturally incur higher risk due to their driver demographic (rightly or wrongly). Add a teen to that and you’re looking at serious money.
I wouldn’t, would be the short answer to it!

Completely depends what model. Bottom of the range ones aren’t very powerful at all.

Also bear in mind the differences in handling as it’s rear wheel drive, I was contemplating getting one myself but as I’m used to fwd I decided against.

He said probably a 116 so not powerful / heavy / sporty.

I am not keen at all, though. And he wouldn't do it if I wasn't happy about it. But I know nothing about cars!

If it is that powerful, do you want your teen having newly passed their test driving it? I wouldn't. As soon as my two passed we wanted them both with their own cars and insurance that wouldn't affect ours at all.

He said probably a 116 so not powerful / heavy / sporty.

top speed is about 130mph, DS will find it fast enough as his first car.
Remember if he goes as a named driver and crashes it will impact your DH insurance.
Also it will be rear wheel drive so will handle differently in poor weather.

This is a very very bad idea! The insurance alone will be thousands of pounds. I'm sorry, but teenage boys simply cannot be trusted to drive a car with a top speed of 130mph.
He needs a Aygo or similar. Something with a 1 litre engine.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/judge-slams-parents-buying-son-22538306.amp

Teens make mistakes driving due to inexperience. I personally hit the back of a Landrover Discovery because it was wet and I didn't leave enough space in stop start traffic. I was driving a Kia Pride at the time, hardly a powerful car.

If you can afford the insurance hike when your kid makes a mistake, go for it. It might be cheaper to get a second car though.

You don’t say whether it’s a 116i or a 116d but they’re both gutless heaps of shit so I’d have no issue with a new driver using one.

Which model? If it’s a 116d, that’s not too powerful for anyone. If it’s a M140i, that’s a handful for anyone.

You can check the insurance cost before you consider buying if that's a factor. Learner insurance isn't expensive but it's very expensive if he passes. In my case I have my dd with back box insurance (as it's cheaper) but she's the only person who can drive that car.

You can check the insurance cost before you consider buying if that's a factor. Learner insurance isn't expensive but it's very expensive if he passes. In my case I have my dd with back box insurance (as it's cheaper) but she's the only person who can drive that car.

Push bike maybe?

@Shade17, why is that, just out of interest?

Because they’re seriously slow.

I took the wing mirror off my fiat 500 (naming for idea of the size ) within a month of passing and getting the car when I was younger. To echo what others have said, the insurance will be crazy!
Aside from that, depends on how confident (or over confident!) and the nature of your DS (is he likely to show off to friends and mess around etc)

Is this a stealth boast?

And no, never. Of course not. Why would you let a teenage boy drive a really fast, expensive car?

I remember reading about a teen who crashed in a BMW and the judge was v scathing of the parents decision to buy it as a first car for their teen.

I was nervous enough when my two first started driving in their Ford Fiestas.