AmberKnownAsAsh
New member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2019
- Messages
- 34
- Points
- 8
Hi all,
This is my first post. I ramble a bit (a LOT) so I apologise in advance, but I’d really value your opinion! Sorry if it’s in the wrong category.
I’m 18. Before you scoff at my madness, please read on! I’ve been offered a Fiat Coupe for a good price. I really love it. Not for the speed but the beauty of it. It drives well and looks in good order inside and out. It’s a low price so I’m a bit uncertain as to why, and I know that it definitely is not a first time buyer car. I spent over 6 hours (in one day!), researching insurance, viewed the car, and then spent another 2 hours or more researching insurance. It’s not gonna be possible for me to insure it yet... and still afford to live! But ever since I was little I was involved in classic car shows, up til my dad died in 2006. I shouldn’t let my heart rule my head, but part of this is probably to do with delayed grief. Anyway.
My mum also likes the car and we’ve got a plan: if we can store it in a garage for a few years (but take it out on mum’s insurance a few times a year - so insure it for around 1,000 miles a year annually - so it doesn’t deteriorate too much!), I’ll build up my no claims in a smaller car. This already stretches funds a bit (buying the Fiat and smaller car, as well as insurance for the small car and for me to contribute so mum can drive the Fiat) but we’re hoping it would also be a good project. It’s the first car that’s inspired me to want to pass my test and learn about cars and insurance - and to work for it! Probably because it’s the first car I’ve just randomly fallen in love with and seen as ‘my own’.
So: store in garage. I’ll try to learn how to fix it up, care for it, and will otherwise ensure it’s serviced more regularly than people normally do for cars. Each year it should go out in good weather - hopefully every month or every few months. In the meantime I try to build up my no claims. I’ll earn for it, and at the end of 2-5 years, hope to have a nice Fiat to drive casually (not too regularly if it will endanger it!) when I can afford the insurance... or otherwise I hope that the value will at least be maintained. Last thing I want to do is get this car and then lose everything I’ve spent on it. Hopefully it’ll maintain its value if I can care for it well enough? A bit of an investment if nothing else?
But ultimately I hope to learn from it (I know it’s not an easy one to start on! But I like a challenge...), have it as an investment, partake in classic car shows, and perhaps one day I’ll be able to drive it! But it still seems like too much of a luxury to buy this car... I’ll hopefully be at uni studying physics soon, I must be mad! But it’s such a tangible idea, and just about affordable. It’s the first thing that’s really motivated me to work and learn about cars more! I’ve always wanted to learn about cars but it’s seemed too daunting. This feels more attainable. But I see the MASSIVE impracticalities. I just don’t want to give up on it. I know there’s the ‘there’ll always be another’ argument but... argh!
So far I’ve noted that the rear bump stops need replacing, there’s a few small patches of rust on the inside of the wheel arches*, the fibreglass at the back at the bottom has a patch of the paint that’s crackled off, and the rods to keep the bonnet up no longer hold it up... I’m hoping to learn to replace/fix/patch up these things on my own with mentoring from the internet and some family friends who’ve renovated bikes/cars etc. Before proceeding though, we’re going to see it again and have a closer look - with a mechanic too!
Sorry for the essay. I really, really do appreciate any advice. Please be aware though - my heart is set on it. My head says it’s a bad idea, I know I’m young and have other things that I will actually *need*, but I really do love it. I’m normally very conscientious and careful with money, and tend to save up and spend it on specific, nice, practical items. But this is a bit of an anomaly.
Thanks again!
Amber
This is my first post. I ramble a bit (a LOT) so I apologise in advance, but I’d really value your opinion! Sorry if it’s in the wrong category.
I’m 18. Before you scoff at my madness, please read on! I’ve been offered a Fiat Coupe for a good price. I really love it. Not for the speed but the beauty of it. It drives well and looks in good order inside and out. It’s a low price so I’m a bit uncertain as to why, and I know that it definitely is not a first time buyer car. I spent over 6 hours (in one day!), researching insurance, viewed the car, and then spent another 2 hours or more researching insurance. It’s not gonna be possible for me to insure it yet... and still afford to live! But ever since I was little I was involved in classic car shows, up til my dad died in 2006. I shouldn’t let my heart rule my head, but part of this is probably to do with delayed grief. Anyway.
My mum also likes the car and we’ve got a plan: if we can store it in a garage for a few years (but take it out on mum’s insurance a few times a year - so insure it for around 1,000 miles a year annually - so it doesn’t deteriorate too much!), I’ll build up my no claims in a smaller car. This already stretches funds a bit (buying the Fiat and smaller car, as well as insurance for the small car and for me to contribute so mum can drive the Fiat) but we’re hoping it would also be a good project. It’s the first car that’s inspired me to want to pass my test and learn about cars and insurance - and to work for it! Probably because it’s the first car I’ve just randomly fallen in love with and seen as ‘my own’.
So: store in garage. I’ll try to learn how to fix it up, care for it, and will otherwise ensure it’s serviced more regularly than people normally do for cars. Each year it should go out in good weather - hopefully every month or every few months. In the meantime I try to build up my no claims. I’ll earn for it, and at the end of 2-5 years, hope to have a nice Fiat to drive casually (not too regularly if it will endanger it!) when I can afford the insurance... or otherwise I hope that the value will at least be maintained. Last thing I want to do is get this car and then lose everything I’ve spent on it. Hopefully it’ll maintain its value if I can care for it well enough? A bit of an investment if nothing else?
But ultimately I hope to learn from it (I know it’s not an easy one to start on! But I like a challenge...), have it as an investment, partake in classic car shows, and perhaps one day I’ll be able to drive it! But it still seems like too much of a luxury to buy this car... I’ll hopefully be at uni studying physics soon, I must be mad! But it’s such a tangible idea, and just about affordable. It’s the first thing that’s really motivated me to work and learn about cars more! I’ve always wanted to learn about cars but it’s seemed too daunting. This feels more attainable. But I see the MASSIVE impracticalities. I just don’t want to give up on it. I know there’s the ‘there’ll always be another’ argument but... argh!
So far I’ve noted that the rear bump stops need replacing, there’s a few small patches of rust on the inside of the wheel arches*, the fibreglass at the back at the bottom has a patch of the paint that’s crackled off, and the rods to keep the bonnet up no longer hold it up... I’m hoping to learn to replace/fix/patch up these things on my own with mentoring from the internet and some family friends who’ve renovated bikes/cars etc. Before proceeding though, we’re going to see it again and have a closer look - with a mechanic too!
Sorry for the essay. I really, really do appreciate any advice. Please be aware though - my heart is set on it. My head says it’s a bad idea, I know I’m young and have other things that I will actually *need*, but I really do love it. I’m normally very conscientious and careful with money, and tend to save up and spend it on specific, nice, practical items. But this is a bit of an anomaly.
Thanks again!
Amber
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