well i did but no one could beat my current insurer..........

 

I am with the rest of the people who reckon you get a puddlejumper to build up your NCB.
If you go down the route of getting a parent to insure it, and you end up the main driver just so you can have the cheaper premium, remember this is called "fronting" which I am sure is now illegal.
Yes, it is shit having to pay a fortune to insure a car, but we have all been there. you have to start somewhere.
From talking to the apprentices at my work, they are paying £1400+ for their cars, one being a mk4 1.4 astra and the other being a 56 plate astra td, so my guess is that the quotes your are getting for shitters are about right.
Simple answer, if you want your insurance cheaper, build up your own NCb and pay the money, get a parent to insure it with you as a named driver, or dont drive till you are over 25.