Newbie with oldie questions.

[Daz]

Hi everyone,

I'm brand spanking new to the site, but it looks like a great resource and a friendly place to be.

I'm not new to classics, I have a 1978 MGB (is that like swearing on here?) so I can tinker a little bit.

My son (who lives 40 miles away) turns 18 in September this year and wants a car for his birthday.

I think I got £20 for my eighteenth, how times have changed!

He tells me his friend has a Moggie and he has had a go and loves it, so he wants one.

I've been putting some money into a children's bond which matures in a few weeks so will have £3500 to spend.

He's been taking lessons for some time and sits his test soon, so hopefully will have a full licence before his birthday.

I'm thinking about a two door saloon, late (early 1970's) model with proper seat belts.

Anyone have an idea of what I should expect to pay for insurance?

I would have to factor this in to the purchase price, so if insurance costs me a grand, I can only spend 2.5k on the car.

Is this a realistic price for a safe / reliable car, he would use it everyday to get to college and back?

He's in Scarborough, does anyone know of a specialist in the area?

I know I've got a bit of time yet but if I find the right one I can buy it, keep it at my place and maybe do a little to it.

I'd welcome any comments or advice on how to proceed. Am I looking for the right model?

Is my price range realistic? Will this kind of cash only get me a rot box?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Daz.

[bmcecosse]

Welcome to the forum....if your son joins the MMOC he can benefit from the 'Young Driver' Insurance with Footman James - so this will be WELL worth following up - perhaps even before buying a car. I'm sure some of the lads will come on soon to tell how much they pay for insurance. I would strongly recommend buying a car from this forum - just check the seller has more than a few posts under their belt - ie they are regular users of the forum - and not just on here to sell a banger!! If you find a car you fancy - very possibly someone near you will be willing to go along with you to view the car. Ask on here - without specifying which car you are interested in , in the first instance. Remember - body condition is EVERYTHING - the mechanicals almost don't matter since they are relatively easy and inexpensive to repair. Make sure the car has a NEW MOT..and note you can look up the past MOT history of a car on DVLA website - you need the MOT garage number - and the car Reg.

[graeme262]

hi, im 20 and got my 4 door 1965 morris when i was 18. The car was standard apart from an alternator upgrade and I use it most days. I sometimes use it to travel a 12 mile round trip, about twice a week to college, but i normally prefer to ride my bike than sit in rush hour traffic! For me its perfectly reliable and does about 3500 miles per year trouble free, touch wood.

I would say that budget is reasonable as i bought mine for £2400 and it was in good condition, only small scuffs on interior, and immaculate exterior and SOLID underneath. The only work i have done to it with the 5000 miles i have covered, apart from regular servicing is replaced a trunnion and a few sticky brake cylinders.

Insurance for first year fully comp, stored in a garage with fj with MMOC membership was £1300 for unlimited miles. Second year was a lot cheaper for insurance, around £700 for exactly the same. I also recommend RAC breakdown cover as only costs me 70 pound anually.

Hope this helps

[TFM150K]

Ey up! Seeing as how I'm sat here doing nowt and its over an hour since you joined us, I'll have a stab at answering at least some of your points. I bought (£8) my first Morris Minor when I was about your lad's age and I've still got a 2-door and a van and a pension. Admitting to having a late MGB is probably looked down on in any forum so no further mention - suffice to say that a Minor will probably be cheaper to insure! Can't knock your lad's taste in transport.
So you've joined the forum, now give your lad a late Christmas pressie and pay for him to join the club (its on here somewhere how to do it and how much etc) - there are about half a dozen branches in Yorkshire and a strong Young-Members group - take advantage of them before you go looking at cars!
2-door, 4door, convertible, van, pickup, traveller. Oh dear, CHOICES! My advice? talk to your lad. It may be intended as a pressie but unless you are certain of HIS preferences, I would advise against making it a suprise one - come to think of it, if you found your way here, he probably did so last week and so now the cat is out of the bag anyway! Its personal preferences and pound notes that influence these choices but whatever you do, when it comes to starting the search in earnest, take someone with you who knows what they are looking for. The sort of budget that you are talking about could buy you a very nice, SOLID car and it could buy you a rust bucket/nightmare. Same thing goes had you been buying an MGB GT; and if you didn't know where you were looking it could be the same result. People in the local Branch will, I'm sure, be happy to give advice and/or assistance and I'm sure would be able to point you in the direction of specialists, spares suppliers etc (and away from those to avoid). There is loads of stuff on this forum in respect of where to look for trouble when buying - have a look at some of the Restoration threads and see the pictures of where the tin-worm has been found - then try to avoid it yourself!
Insurance is always an awkward thing when dealing with anyone under 25 but the club has negotiated what appear to be very good terms with their "attatched" brokers Footman James. Ask them for a quote. Then ask your MGB insurers and everyone else you can think of. Remember that you only find out how good the deal is if it comes to a claim. It can help to have an older person on the policy but only if they have a good insurance record - and don't even think about trying to pull the wool over the insurers eyes!
It is better to buy something SOLID and RELIABLE than something that has gleaming paintwork, looks pretty and is posh-rotten. but you being an MGB owner will know that! Generally speaking I think that most people would agree that mechanical problems are likely to prove less financially challenging than tinworm - especially if it is underneath 'cos remember that,unlike your MGB, a Morris Minor has no separate chassis.
PS if your lottery ticket comes up tonight, that ex-Navy Traveller looks very nice....
Good luck!

[tysonn]

I'm in Scarborough.Tell your lad I'll give him whatever help I can.
Mick

[bmcecosse]

Errr - an MGB has no separate chassis..... This car may still be for sale - and the price may hopefully be 'negotiable'.....in the direction you can afford.... http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=53603

[Daz]

Thanks for the fast responses everyone.

So a good plan is to sign him up to the club membership.

Get a quote from the club linked insurance firm - Footman James.

Then buy a nice motor off here when one comes up in my price range.

I take it to get an insurance quote I just have to call Footman James and tell them he's a club member?

Or is there a special number / website link I need to use?

PS - there's worse things in life to have other than an MG, I could have said Triumph (boo hiss).

Daz.

[qwerty165]

There is a topic here with phone numbers for Footman James
http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=49304
I hope this of some help.

[Daz]

Thanks, very helpful.

Oh and Mick thanks for the offer of help in Scarborough, I'll drop you a line if I find something nearby to have a look at.

Cheers,

Daz.

[bmcecosse]

Oihhhh!! I may have to add you to my naughty list Daz......my TR7 beats an MGB hands down in every way possible !

[don58van]

Hi Daz

Rule No 1. Don't upset Roy (bmcecosse)

Rule No 2. There is no Rule 2.



Cheers
Don

[lambrettalad]

Rule 101 TR7's rule

[Matt Tomkins]

Hi Daz,
Tell your son to join the young members' register (link below on my signature. Both the facebook group, and make sure he submits his details on the website.
He can do this before he joins the MMOC if he would like, we dont charge, and get involved with our discussions, ask advice atc from people in the same boat as him. Most of our activity happend on the facebook group.

as it so happens, i have a car for sale at the moment on your budget. http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=53278 delivery at cost would b possible.

Matt.

[dalebrignall]

tom roy morris minor parts and restorer in your part of the world

[Daz]

Ah,

I've only been on here two minutes and already upset people.

Turns out the wife is right - I could start a fight in an empty room.

Before the knife sharping starts and someone says 'are you looking at my pint', I'll stop the MGB / TR7 debate.

(Bites knuckles and hops from one foot to the other resisting the urge to make jokes)

Thanks for the pointer Matt, I'll have a look.

Daz.

[ASL642]

Hi and welcome to the Messageboard! Don't worry we don't bite - just get a bit over enthusiastic at times

If you do decide to use FootmanJames for insurance you will need to have joined the MMOC first. You will then be issued with a membership number which you need to quote to be able to get insurance through the club's Young Member's Scheme for your son. As it usually takes about 2 weeks for the membership pack to come through if you ring the MMOC office in Derby (01332 2891675) they will give you the number over the 'phone.

You can join here. http://www.mmoc.org.uk/index.php?key=Membership

[Tiny]

I'd add not to worry too much about finding a local specialist.. If your familiar with working on your MGB TR7 and alike the Moggie is childsplay...
Thousands of Local independent garages run by gentlemen of an older nature who probably did their apprenticeships on A series engines would welcome the opportunity to do your jobs at reasonable prices.
And I find there are lots of mail order websites with all the spares you could possibly require

Footman James were really good for our insurance, ring them up and explain your situation, they gave us a quote prior to joining the MMOC so that we at least had a figure in mind prior to going ahead and buying ours

[Blades]

Daz you have come to the right place for advice

As Dale say Tom Roy in Battersby are the closest supplier if you need to call in, in person, there are several other stockist on line that are also very good

Nick