Has anyone downgraded their motor due to speeding points?

[Newton472]

Not that I’m the st thankfully, but just wondering has anyone had to trade down or for less power to afford insurance after a ban?

What did you drive before? How horrible was the downgrade?

Possibly one for GG, if so mods apologies please move. Thanks.

[Johnnytheboy]

Last time I got points for speeding (in my van) was the very week that a car I'd had on order for months turned up.

A car that was some 70% more powerful than its predecessor.

I was... careful... for a while.

[Glenn63]

Not for speeding but reversed my c63 into another car who claimed and my insurance went ridiculous so sold it and bought a 2007 325d se estate if I’m being honest I actually enjoyed parts of it there’s some kind of pleasure in not giving a st, leaving it anywhere worry free, put the dogs in etc had that for 3 years and have just bought an M140i to get back enjoying driving for the thrill of driving again.

[PAUL500]

My first car was a 3 yr old ex reps A plate Cavalier SRi from my dads works, the thing was a rocket ship, the rep could have had another new one but with 9 points already on his licence from blasting around in the SRI for the last 3 years he choose a then new D plate Sierra Sapphire 1600 slug as he was terrified or loosing his licence and hence his job.

[PH_77]

PAUL500 said:

My first car was a 3 yr old ex reps A plate Cavalier SRi from my dads works, the thing was a rocket ship, the rep could have had another new one but with 9 points already on his licence from blasting around in the SRI for the last 3 years he choose a then new D plate Sierra Sapphire 1600 slug as he was terrified or loosing his licence and hence his job.

60mph in 9 seconds? Was that actually 'fast' back in the day?

[alorotom]

PH_77 said:

PAUL500 said:

My first car was a 3 yr old ex reps A plate Cavalier SRi from my dads works, the thing was a rocket ship, the rep could have had another new one but with 9 points already on his licence from blasting around in the SRI for the last 3 years he choose a then new D plate Sierra Sapphire 1600 slug as he was terrified or loosing his licence and hence his job.

60mph in 9 seconds? Was that actually 'fast' back in the day?

In ‘83ish, it would have certainly been respectable

[A.J.M]

It would have been fast when the majority of cars were 1.1, 1.3 etc.
So compared to the average car it was a step up in performance.

[Truckosaurus]

I find the more powerful the car I have the more gently I drive, as there's nothing to prove and you don't have to rag it to make progress. Whereas modestly powered cars allowed you to keep your foot in and you keep going....

Also, in a fancier/louder car you are more wary of being caught which is another aid to willpower, but in a diesel Volvo you think "I am invisible..."

[BertBert]

PH_77 said:

60mph in 9 seconds? Was that actually 'fast' back in the day?

I think it was in the low 8's and my BX16v was in the 7's. Both quick cars.

And to the topic when my BX got to the end of its 3 years, I changed to an mx5 which I drive much more sedately. I drove like a loon in the Citroen and got to 6 points. The highest I've been.

Bert

Edited by BertBert on Monday 26th April 07:38

Edited by BertBert on Monday 26th April 08:57

[thebraketester]

Ironically the only car I have been caught speeding in was my first and slowest one.

[PAUL500]

PH_77 said:

60mph in 9 seconds? Was that actually 'fast' back in the day?

The roads were a lot quieter back then and no fixed speed cameras so you could give it beans, the only problem was the boys in blue with their radar guns which could be anywhere, hence his 9 points, the pool car in my works was a 950 Fiesta so a nice light 1800 fuel injected car did stand out from the crowd at the time. I replaced the SRI with a Series 1 Rs Turbo, and then a 3dr Cosworth, each taking it to another level. No 2 ton bloaters like today.

4 up coming back from Silverstone after the 1987 British GP we set a track to home time in the Sri you could never do today.

[Gad-Westy]

thebraketester said:

Ironically the only car I have been caught speeding in was my first and slowest one.

Same for me. 55bhp polo. Was 1 week after passing my test. Don’t want to jinx it but nothing in the 23 years since. At least not in the UK. Did get a fine in France in a Renault Captur.

[p4cks]

Nope, but when I was a young and foolish 22 I was on 9 points and due to buy a VX220... then I got caught twice in two days by the same camera so was staring at a ban so it was at this point I knew my behaviour needed to change. I did some research online and thankfully didn't get any points but it was certainly a wake up call.

16 years on I've still got a clean licence!

Edited by p4cks on Monday 26th April 08:43

[andburg]

in a fashion but bikes

Got 5 points on my ZX6R, typical small cc sports bike means all the power was north of 9000 revs and 1st gear topped out at about just short of 60mph. Changed to my Harley which while much slower, has a huge amount more torque for winding on at legal speeds and breaking the national limit requires 2 gearchanges

[Byker28i]

BertBert said:

PH_77 said:

60mph in 9 seconds? Was that actually 'fast' back in the day?

I think it was in the low 8's and my BX216v was in the 7's. Both quick cars.

And to the topic when my BX got to the end of its 3 years, I changed to an mx5 which I drive much more sedately. I drove like a loon in the Citroen and got to 6 points. The highest I've been.

Bert

Edited by BertBert on Monday 26th April 07:38

XR3's were around 9 secs, XR3i was around 8.4? 2.8i capri was just under 8.
At the time I was running a lightened mini van with a 1330 engine that did it in under 7, which was great for traffic light grand prixs

[Arnie Cunningham]

Me too, so far.

Managed to get clocked at 92mph in my 1978 1098cc Mini Clubman, which with hindsight was a badge of honour to get one verified as going that fast.

thebraketester said:

Ironically the only car I have been caught speeding in was my first and slowest one.

[SWoll]

No. The car isn't the issue, your driving style and lack of self control are if you've accrued enough points for it to be a concern.

[djohnson]

Newton472 said:

Not that I’m the st thankfully, but just wondering has anyone had to trade down or for less power to afford insurance after a ban?

What did you drive before? How horrible was the downgrade?

Possibly one for GG, if so mods apologies please move. Thanks.

Back in 2014 I changed my daily driver from a 997 turbo to a diesel Range Rover. As performance downgrades go that’s quite a big one. It wasn’t that I was worried about a driving ban (I had and still have nil points) it was partly that I was paying for a quick car and 99% of the time not accessing even a fraction of its potential (other reasons also, like each time I get near a Porsche expensive bits seem to fail). Long story short it got boring and I went back to a quicker car. I have a quick car today which I don’t drive fast at all, I’ve reached the view I just like the feel of such a car and the shove for that 1% of the time you want to overtake quickly and for me that’s worth the £.

[littlebasher]

Yes, but a long time ago now

Got to 11 points, insurance companies suddenly decided that many cars were now out of reach!