So, I've had an eventful day, basically, I AM OFFICIALLY ON THE ROAD IN MY FIRST CAR!
I passed my test 2 years ago, but until you hit 21, car insurance rates are ridiculous, simply because people my age have a sterotype attached to them that we all put stupid body kits on our cars and drive them like idiots.
The story starts with this weekend, where our 2001 Kia Shuma failed the M.O.T very badly (For those outside the UK, an M.O.T is a test that a car has to go through every year to make sure it is safe for the road) So out Kia failed badly and it was cheaper to get a new car, so we scrapped it, and now we have a 2000 Rover 75, it's a superb car, it is completely flawless and has been well looked after, I was going to be added to the insurance policy as a named driver, but adding me just skyrocketed the cost beyond stupid.
So since I have the money, I decided to get my own car, firstly I found a lovely 2000 Citroen Saxo, now obviously the biggest killer for young drivers like me is car insurance, which in the UK, the law states that you must have car insurance, the Saxo is a perfect car for someone like me, small car with a small engine, so I arranged to go see it, just when i'm about to leave, the guy texts me to say it's been sold.
Then I found a 2001 Rover 25, When I called, the guy was a dealer who took it in as part-ex 60 minutes ago, it was even cheaper on insurance than the Saxo, the car was £100 more expensive but the cheaper insurance covered this, but my goodness, we arranged to meet the car in a KFC carpark. I couldn't help but feel the situation there was symbolism.
Firstly, the whole area was surrounded by armed police, then the KFC closed down for "Essential Maintenance" then the Rover turns up 45 minutes late, and well, death trap is an understatement to describe the car, I honestly would not have felt safe driving it home! It was a wreck!
So I was pissed off that 2 could have been cars had slipped away...
So I left it, then I found a 1996 Peugeot 106. The guy was a dealer who took it in as part-ex but had been using it as his personal car for 2 months, the tax had just run out but it had a fresh M.O.T. So I got the phone, I did not want to pay more than £400 for the car, and the guy said that he wouldn't take anything less than 400. So there was I think fingers crossed hoping that third time lucky would be the diamond in the rough. He drove it to my house for me, after a test drive and a good inspection, I BOUGHT IT!
The car is immaculate, even came with an awesome cd player, so the guy wanted £450 for it but I managed to get it for £400, so I'm all taxed and insured ready for the road!
But sheeesh, driving the first time in 2 years, I nearly shat myself!
Anyway, this is a picture of my car, well, it's not my car, but this is identical, even the same color!