Buying a shed & a sports car - insurance way too high!

[danyeates]

I’ve been having a few good enquires on my boat which I currently have advertised and a viewing booked for this weekend, so I’m tentatively having a look around at what cars are available. I may treat myself to a sports car over the summer. However, insurance is really starting to get me down now. I’m looking at a BMW Z4 M Roadster, insurance is £1,400 with a £3,000 excess, or £2,000 with a £600 excess. This is just a quick look on a comparison website. Are the specialist insurers going to be any different? I know there are some companies that will insure cars for use as a second car only, or should I just give up now?! It will be for evenings and weekends only. I’m 26, no points, no claims and 8 years NCB.

The other thing is trying to get a cheap banger insured for my girlfriend and I for getting us into work and carting stuff around day to day. I looked at a 1998 Audi A4 1.9 TDI, worth not much over £1,000, and that’s about £1,300 for the two of us 3rd party!! She’s had an accident and acquired 3 points in 2009 and I’d be using my NCB on the Z4M.

These costs are far too high and just completely prohibitive. What are your thoughts? Should I just give up now, or would some specialist insurers be willing to cover the Z4M Roadster much cheaper?

Also, what ideas do you have for a sub £2k diesel shed, preferably estate but a hatch would do. Must be able to take roof bars for the bikes and have a decent sized boot. Trying to get one insured a little less than the Audi would be!

Thanks,

Dan

[350Wedge]

I dont know how much it would help with somthing like a Z4 but my TVR is insured for £200 fully comp through a specialist, but then that is a classic policy rather than a 'normal' one and limited to 5000 miles.

The advantage of that is I can use my full no claims bonus on another car. I've got a 206 HDi D Turbo which costs me about £250 fully comp so my current total insurance costs are under £500 (which I'm sure will go up at renewal!!)

[danyeates]

350Wedge said:

I dont know how much it would help with somthing like a Z4 but my TVR is insured for £200 fully comp through a specialist, but then that is a classic policy rather than a 'normal' one and limited to 5000 miles.

The advantage of that is I can use my full no claims bonus on another car. I've got a 206 HDi D Turbo which costs me about £250 fully comp so my current total insurance costs are under £500 (which I'm sure will go up at renewal!!)

That is good to know. Obviously the M Roadster isn't a classic, but sounds like it probably is worth speaking to a specialist for a limited mileage policy.

[mgmrw2003]

1 of 2 options: Adrian Flux for your specialist/fast car and then comparison site for the rest

or

Admiral multi-car.

as for a reliable work snotter, there's some surprising cheap stuff (Even at my age 23). AVOID VAG - they cost to insure.

old mercs, old beemers, they're cheap to insure as long as diesel or 2 litre petrol at max.

Ford focus TDCI - insurance heaven. FIAT STILO 1400cc 6speed, insurance heaven. Had one, mate had other, at 21year old, with 6points and 1ncb it was £500

[350Wedge]

danyeates said:

That is good to know. Obviously the M Roadster isn't a classic, but sounds like it probably is worth speaking to a specialist for a limited mileage policy.

Some companies will classify certain cars as future classics, but whether something as new as a Z4M can be classified as one I dont know. Most TVR's even when new could be put on a future classic policy but with their low production numbers classic status is almost certainly assured (given time).

Is it worth looking at an older car to insure as a classic and then have a cheap diesel on a standard policy? My 51 plate 206 was £2k and its proving to be a good runabout

[The Milfman]

Speak to a few brokers, most will mirror your no-claims if both policies are with them.

By the sounds of your situation you should be looking at less than £1000 for the Z4M and mirrored your daily shouldn't be more than £500-£600.

Speak to Ben at MWA (Michael Ward Associates) - 08458720328.

Make sure you get the Z4M, fantastic car!!

[danyeates]

Thanks for all the replies. I’m trying to weigh up whether it’s worth it to be honest!! £460 a year tax, horrific fuel costs (and consumption!), expensive insurance etc. I’m selling the boat as it’s very expensive to run and I rarely have time to use it so I need to have a think whether I can justify the Z4M really. The Z4M is at the top of my list at the moment. I must admit, I used to not be so keen on BMW’s, but after having had a really enjoyable drive out in Eddie’s M5 and sitting in a few Z4’s yesterday, I have been swayed! I love them. I’m hoping it will be cheaper to run than a Tuscan, which was also on the list.

Just got into work today to hear people in the workshop stirring things up, saying they’d seen me speeding in the river on my boat at the weekend (which I hadn’t). Looking forward to selling the boat, can’t wait to get back in a sports car.

[nick1275]

That's seems stupidly high, couple of years ago I toyed with getting an m3 and quotes were coming in at £600-£700 as a main car

[danyeates]

mgmrw2003 said:

1 of 2 options: Adrian Flux for your specialist/fast car and then comparison site for the rest

or

Admiral multi-car.

as for a reliable work snotter, there's some surprising cheap stuff (Even at my age 23). AVOID VAG - they cost to insure.

old mercs, old beemers, they're cheap to insure as long as diesel or 2 litre petrol at max.

Ford focus TDCI - insurance heaven. FIAT STILO 1400cc 6speed, insurance heaven. Had one, mate had other, at 21year old, with 6points and 1ncb it was £500

Good call! £359 to insure my girlfriend and I on a Focus TDCI with Swiftcover (including my 8 years NCB)

[350Wedge]

Have a check as it may have changed, but I believe that Swift Cover will even class a windscreen replacement as an actual claim so it would affect future premiums (one reason they are so cheap!)

[danyeates]

Ok, I'll check the finer details when the time comes. It's just good to know that it's not going to cost a fortune.

I have a couple of viewings on the boat at the weekend....just as well, because I LOVE THIS!!!!

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2562130.htm





Oh yes, I can hear the straight 6 rasp now! Weekends will never be the same.....

[The Milfman]

danyeates said:

I have a couple of viewings on the boat at the weekend....just as well, because I LOVE THIS!!!!

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2562130.htm

Looks nice but IMO a little expensive for that mileage.

[mgmrw2003]

danyeates said:

Good call! £359 to insure my girlfriend and I on a Focus TDCI with Swiftcover (including my 8 years NCB)

Figured so, AVOID: VAG, jap, and anything pokey and you'll do fine. For practicallity and cheapness, ESTATE FOCUS also cheaper than hatchback as you're less likely to be a hooligan. The top spec 2litre diesels and 1800s come with leather and nice air con too.

1600 if you aint doing massive motorway miles, more A and B roads, will do you better and is absolute bargain basement motoring. Mine had 77k when purchased and 36k/11months later it owed me:

2x front discs, front pads, 1 tyre due to puncture when ended up in a curb (snow/ice - swerved to avoid car coming at me) and services at less than 40quid for parts.

BEWARE the fuel filter is a bugger to change as requires priming, my mate who's a mechanic struggled without the garage's priming tool........ definitely one worth leaving for the garage to fight with. The rest, easy as though

[danyeates]

The Milfman said:

danyeates said:

I have a couple of viewings on the boat at the weekend....just as well, because I LOVE THIS!!!!

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2562130.htm

Looks nice but IMO a little expensive for that mileage.

Yes, agree with that. It's the only red one with cream leather though!! I'm sure there will be others.

[danyeates]

mgmrw2003 said:

Figured so, AVOID: VAG, jap, and anything pokey and you'll do fine. For practicallity and cheapness, ESTATE FOCUS also cheaper than hatchback as you're less likely to be a hooligan. The top spec 2litre diesels and 1800s come with leather and nice air con too.

1600 if you aint doing massive motorway miles, more A and B roads, will do you better and is absolute bargain basement motoring. Mine had 77k when purchased and 36k/11months later it owed me:

2x front discs, front pads, 1 tyre due to puncture when ended up in a curb (snow/ice - swerved to avoid car coming at me) and services at less than 40quid for parts.

BEWARE the fuel filter is a bugger to change as requires priming, my mate who's a mechanic struggled without the garage's priming tool........ definitely one worth leaving for the garage to fight with. The rest, easy as though

Thanks. It will be used to get us to work and back (about 5 miles each way) down small twisty country roads. Also, the odd trip to Cornwall to see my girlfriends parents (200 miles each way so needs to be economical and nice enough to sit in for 4 hours at a time!)

[DC]

Dude - must be able to get a more sensible quote. I'm same age and I get my VXT and 328 Sport for circa £700 through Admiral on a Multi-car policy. Good luck on the Z4M - I've had hankerings for a Z4M Coupe - lovely cars.

[danyeates]

DC said:

Dude - must be able to get a more sensible quote. I'm same age and I get my VXT and 328 Sport for circa £700 through Admiral on a Multi-car policy. Good luck on the Z4M - I've had hankerings for a Z4M Coupe - lovely cars.

Mate, that's good to know, thanks.

How's the VXT? My dads still isn't on the road. Just sat in his garage, doing nothing. He won't put it on the road now as it's halfway through the month and he won't want to waste the tax. Maybe it will be on the road come May. Strange...

[LukeBird]

Definitely shop around, those quotes are ludicrous...
I pay <£600 for a very comprehensive policy (including 3rd party use) with a £550 excess for my MX-5 and I have one accident on my history (totally non-fault though) and 3pts for speeding last year (SP30).
For reference I'm looking at around £800 p/a for the same car with an inter-cooled supercharger (power to 210bhp) and Gaz Gold coil-overs all round.

God bless Adrian Flux!
I've just told them I want a sports exhaust on my car and a roll bar and there is no change in policy either, just an admin charge!

[danyeates]

I rang Adrian Flux today. They were over £2,000 on a Z4M!!

[nick1275]

I found flux a rip off for the mini insurance, they wanted 1800 when I'm now paying 300 for a better policy, should be less this year hopefully