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?

I don't know what is worse, the idea that your DH is going to get a BMW or planning to insure it for your DS.

Get the car you want for you. And a small Aygo/Vw up type for him. Once he passes, then he can start to build his own NCB on the small car.

My son had my Aygo and that cost enough to insure.

@noideabutstilltrying has a nice approach- let them have their own freedom and their own pride and joy and let them not feel nervous about using dad’s car. The part about gaining confidence in a car they’re comfortable in is a big one.
more comments from the judge in the Sherriff sentencing:

“'The reason for this death is the inexperienced driving of a powerful car by an inexperienced driver. His driving was not aggressive, he was not on a mobile phone, he was not distracted or tired.”

he was within the speed limit, a black box would have made no difference. He was 17 and showing off and didn’t have driving experience.

Our then 19 year old had a basic BMW 1 - it didn’t cost multiples of thousands to insure and he was fine, a sensible driver. If you can afford it then crack on I say

If it's the 116/118 then that's a small engine and you want them to have a bit of poke in case they get into a bad situation. Not like the hairdryers we used to have. It will be fine and new car insurance isn't too different to old car insurance. It's all based on statistics. You can't make a decision until you get a quote.

I say this as a BMW lover, just because it's a BMW doesn't mean it's a sports car. They're no where near as premium and rare as they used to be. Most cars have shit small engines today.

Be careful with black boxes if DP is driving it too. You can get telematics from other providers to monitor your son yourself and tell him off/re-educate if required. You may get money off but won't have premium affected negatively.

It's true though, I had one 120d before my 530d (which I wouldn't insure a new driver on). Even remapped that 120d wasn't great. Reliability was terrible too.

My dad insured me on his BMW as soon as a passed.

His was bigger than a 1 series, maybe a 3?

I was a sensible teen and also a girl, maybe he'd have felt differently of I was not as sensible. But his argument was that he'd rather I was driving the safest car possible.

It is true. 120s are good and a higher engine than most cars now due to people wanting low emissions but they're not going to win any races.

Most newer cars are fleet cars that have to be under a set emission. The higher engines cars are usually private use.

I had a 118i before this car and I adored the look of it and the comfort but ultimately, it was slow with a bit of poke. Exactly what I would want my daughter to drive. I had a mini with the exact same engine which was much quicker due to the weight. But still not quick.

My husband recently learnt in my old 116 the insurance wasn't bad and was cheaper than the cost of insurance plus buying him a corsa. I would add up the total cost when I learnt it was cheaper to buy and insure me a rust bucket than the insurance on my parents cars.

I would actually like DS to learn in something like a 116, A3 or golf yes they have more power but they are also capable of taking a good knock, with the drivers being more worried what parents are going to say vs the fire service cutting them from the wreckage.

I know someone who was involved in an accident in a A3 vs a fiat 500, the fiat driver spent months in hospital yet it was the A3 which flipped hit a fence post and the driver plus passenger walked away with a few bruises.

I’m more used to the idea a teen has their own car

But grew up rurally and we all had one each

In London now and slightly different but I loved that freedom and having own Mazda

Having seen the number of teenagers around here who have gone into ditches, through hedges and into trees I would definitely be very careful what type of car you insure your DS on - especially if it's a car your DH relies on using. My DS was insured to drive our Fiat Panda whilst learning and after he passed his test. That cost enough and we live in a low cost insurance area and we are old codgers with full ncb.

I've got a 140i sport (I admit I did not realise at the time that I bought it quite how sporty it was, it was second hand and a v good deal at the time as it's orange so not everyone's cup of tea!)

It is very sporty in sport mode (you can use Eco, Comfort or Sports) - and it is tempting to drive like a bit of a twat because it is fairly small and light so accelerates incredibly well and can burn off other bigger heavier prestige cars... and that's a middle age woman talking

I definitely wouldn't put that temptation in the hands of a teenage boy.
But not sure if the lower powered one would be okay (but then in a way your DH may as well buy something else...)

Fiat 500. Sorted. You want something cheap for insurance purposes.

Exactly!

Fiat 500 is a death trap that will break more than it works. Just don't!

@CorsicaDreaming they don't compare. The previous model had a 6 cylinder 3l engine. A 118 has a 3 cylinder 1.5. Literally half the engine and half the power with the same weight restrictions.

OP please listen to the people that know about cars, safety and insurance. Not people who see a badge and think "raw power" or are lucky to have the powerful car and not see it's nothing like the lower engines.

@CorsicaDreaming That last bit wasn't at you

Not a chance in hell.

Call the insurance company first and ask. If he's just passed his test, you're unlikely to get insurance for him, unless you go to a specialist company.

I don't understand this 'slow' business. A car shouldn't ever be doing more than 70 mph, surely?

@Duettino - well I've just checked and it's a 118i - so I was wrong earlier! And it's a 2015 so the older model.

But it's a lovely little car. V reliable and solid. But a bit too tempting for a teenager in Sport mode... and any teenage boy would put it in Sport mode imo...

Having said that, I learnt on my Dad's Saab Turbo. And an ex once called me a petrol head. So I'm probably not best placed to give good advice on road safety

[But in my defence I have never had an accident that was my fault]

@LetHimHaveIt if it accelerates 0-70 at the speed of light, an inexperienced driver would likely lose control. If it tootles and takes an hour, they're safer.

70 mph still equals 140mph in a head on crash...