Car insurance for an 18 yr old!

What a nightmare!! any young drivers out there that know of anything a bit more reasonable than £3000?
We are only looking to get hime a cheap old car probably no more than a 1.2l litre clio or similar I've checked out loads of companies but not getting very far without an actual car to base it on as they want all the details of the car & we don't want to get him a car until we know how much the insurance will be so have been basing it on my other son's - which is a peugot 206 1.2.
I'm delighted he passed his test on Wednesday, but never thought it would be that much. He is also doing the pass plus which some companies say they will discount up to 30%, but 30% off what I don't know!
So frustrating I ended up playing on compare the meerkat - it was more fun!!