realthing

OK, I am thinking of getting an 1980 RS Escort. I just don't see myself ever being able to afford comprehensive insurance on any car ($3800 for a $10000 beater car? - no way!) so I am in the market for a cheap but fun car to get me around, if it is possible in Australia. This really bites because the most I had to pay for insurance in NZ was $900 for my 99 prelude.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

dhess

Don't bother getting comprehensive.

For a $10000 car just get third party property and enjoy.

RedRover

Try this........

http://www.shannons.com.au/shannons/shanno.../Main/Insurance

Austblue

Thats a big gamble Dom, but I know what your getting at. The insurance on some cars these days would buy the car in two or so years.
But just b/c its a pos doesnt mean that some wanker wont pinch it for a ride home from the station.
I wouldnt take that sought of gamble on a $10K car.
Maybe look into just insuring it for theft and fire.
I have only been told about this by one person but they say it was rel. cheap.
If you're only after a beater and you're not too worried what it is then I'd work backwards and start on the internet pricing insurance on some of the cars that you're interested in and base your selection around this.

naishou

It's not too hard to do a custom immobiliser job on a car. I put one in an old car of mine that would have been too expensive to insure. No way anyone was going to steal that car in less than several hours (all the wiring was well hidden between the dash and the firewall - they wouldn't even know it was there).

As far as I can tell you can't get fire and theft insurance in NSW but if you can in Vic it might be a good option.

AusS2000

I would say that if the insurance premium is more than 10% of the cars value then forget it. Immobilisers are good, and after watching the installer fitting one to my GF's Civic I was very impressed. Lots of connections, all of them black.

Only problem is that they are not very visual and won't stop some loser breaking in and doing damage trying to start the car. I'd suggest one of the better visual deterents such as crook locks (do some research, most are crap) or wheel clamps. Just don't get in the habit of not putting them on. It's that day that your car gets stolen.

And whatever you do, don't make my mistake. My first car was a $450 1970 Toyota Corolla. No one in there right mind would steal it. I dropped in a couple of hundred dollars worth of stereo and may as well have hung a 'Steal Me' sign on it. That's definitely the quickest it ever went.