Talk me into getting a Jimny

Actually, I don't need to be talked into it. I've been to see one and it was stunningly robust - ten years old and no rust worth speaking of. However, I still have a few reservations.
Insurance... This is going to be a second car, a fun car, but I would like to put my 17 year old learner driver son on it. If I can't, for a reasonable price (I.e not too far off something more conventional) it is a no go. I would accept limited mileage. I will be the main user.
Handling... Is it a bit "unforgiving" in the wet?
Opinions welcome.
Thanks in anticipation,
Gregor

Hmmm... Well insurance wise, they can be a bit pricey if you're going through the kind of normal people like Direct Line etc but if it's an older car then somewhere like Adrian Flux should be able to help keep it down to a reasonable level.

Handeling wise, it's really not too bad. I had a Clio before my Jimny and that was one of my concerns because the Clio handled really well, but after being used to the Jimny now I find it's pretty reasonable and in the wet or ice the only reason for getting out of shape is poor driving, it just over steers rather than under steers which is easier to deal with!

Fuel can be a bit of an issue though if you're used to running a supermini. My Clio would get 500 miles to the same amount of fuel the Jimny gets 275 at best

Oh and as the Mrs. Says... "You certainly couldn't have gone down/up that in a Polo"

If its a second car then you can go for one of those second car, low mileage policies. Mine is £120 per year, fully comp at the moment. This is on a 1,000 road miles per year. I did have it at 5000 miles but never got anywhere near that, it was around £170 per year fully comp at 5000 miles per year.

However, the Jimny in not in a very low Insurance category so when you add a 17 year old on....

Martin

Good grief, quick replies! Thanks! I was with Flux for my Scamp. They won't allow me to add my son as a named driver, but will probably allow him to take out a policy with me as a named driver, though at what cost I know not... ironic if he ends up "fronting" for me, the genuine main user!
Quinn look like they will give me TPFT for £1200 when he's on a provisional. Not sure what happens if he passes his test. I see there are some young Jimny drivers on this board. Hope some can contribute to this discussion.
Fuel consumption is not an issue as I have another car.
Thanks again,
Gregor

If your not use it for going off road give Brentacer a ring 01792650933.

Try endsleigh insurance - they're student insurance brokers - they normally beat any genuine quote straight away, but always tell them you'll ring them back - ring them back a short while laters with another "genuine quote" thats slightly lower and they should beat it - ive been with them for 8 years and they always come in cheaper than anywhere else. My first car, a pug 306 1.9 was 900 quid with them 3rd party - most places wanted double that

I'm 21 and my Jimny is my 2nd car... first being a '51 Fiesta

Insurance on the Jimny is about £950-1000... thats having passed when i was 17, clean license and ncb!

This year i expect it to be £750-800

Handling wise, its slower compared to the fiesta, and rolls a little more... but slow and dodgy round corners at speed is great to put the shivvers up him!

Well chaps, I've taken the plunge and committed to buying a 03 plate car. Exceptionally well built, I reckon.
Thanks for the advice. Still open to ideas about insurance, though.
Gregor

ex_scamper wrote: Well chaps, I've taken the plunge and committed to buying a 03 plate car. Exceptionally well built, I reckon.
Thanks for the advice. Still open to ideas about insurance, though.
Gregor

I'm 23 and insurance is still a nightmare. As soon as I mentioned it had a suspension lift, normal insurance companies wouldnt touch me. Ended up going with NIG through Adrian Flux and now I pay more for the insurance on my 1.3 Jimny than I do on my 3.2 Boxster S. Do you intend on modifying the Jimny or keeping it standard?

Definitely keeping it standard. It is very much going to be a second car, so insurance would be cheap, except that I want my 17 year old son on the policy. I see from another thread that there are some 17 year olds on the board, so I'm hoping one of them will tell me how it's done!
Great forum, by the way.