Import Insurance....
Import Insurance....
Author
Discussion

pmanson

Original Poster:

13,388 posts

274 months

Thursday 14th December 2006
quotequote all
Is it really a lot more to insure an import over a UK car?

Just doing a few sums and working out if I can afford a new car (well new to me anyway!)

I quite like the look of this which is smack bang in the middle of my £2-3k budget.

I'm 24 (tommorrow), 4 years NCD (1/2 way through my 5th year) with 3 points which are 5 years old in February.

Is it going to be prohibative to insure? The car would be garaged etc.

I'd also like to modify it if I can.... probably just an exhaust and air filter.

My current car (VW Golf) is going to cost a bit to get through the MOT and the end of the month and I was wondering whether it was worth just getting shot of it before hand!

Thanks,

Phill

MrFlibbles

7,774 posts

304 months

Thursday 14th December 2006
quotequote all
This link might help a little:

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=237109&f=71&h=0

I wouldnt think a Eunos would be that much more to insure over a UK MX5 - when I spoke to my insurers as to why the FTO was costing me a fortune, but the MRT (both imports) didnt, they said it was because the FTO was import only (scarcity of parts) whereas the MRT had a "base model" in the UK.

slinky

15,704 posts

270 months

Thursday 14th December 2006
quotequote all
Phone A-Plan in Milton Keynes, they're an MX-5/Eunos specialist. I have exactly the same car (albeit 2 years older) recently picked up and competitively insured by them...

HTH,

slinky

Edited by slinky on Thursday 14th December 19:01

slinky

15,704 posts

270 months

Thursday 14th December 2006
quotequote all
Oh, by the way, if you do buy it, first thing you should do is rip off the horrible steering wheel centre, you'll spot that it's actually a nice Momo wheel

You're a bit far south for the Phoenix Fives, but have a look at www.mx5nutz.com for plenty of inspiration!

Edited by slinky on Thursday 14th December 19:00

BIG DUNC

1,919 posts

244 months

Thursday 14th December 2006
quotequote all
Also try Aon, who do a particuarly good deal if you join the club.

In the case of a Eunos ( which is pretty dam similar to a UK MX5 so there are no problems with parts supply - unless you go to a main dealer ), I think the cost is very similar to that of a UK car. The big difference is that half the companys say they won't quote as its an import.

pmanson

Original Poster:

13,388 posts

274 months

Thursday 14th December 2006
quotequote all
I want your car Slinky! Looks very nice!

slinky

15,704 posts

270 months

Thursday 14th December 2006
quotequote all
pmanson said:
I want your car Slinky! Looks very nice!


The Mazda?

If you're talking about this image



Then I'm afraid it doesn't actually look like that, photoshop hit it quite hard! (although it is lower than standard, it isn't that sump scrappingly low!)

It's a cracking car, Mine is running Tein suspension and some other bits and bobs, on a run out the other weekend a chap in a new Mk3 Sport had to work very hard to keep up with me and reckons that he could only keep up and wouldn't have been able to overhaul me..

£2k vs. £18k.. made me happy!

pmanson

Original Poster:

13,388 posts

274 months

Friday 15th December 2006
quotequote all
slinky said:
Then I'm afraid it doesn't actually look like that, photoshop hit it quite hard! (although it is lower than standard, it isn't that sump scrappingly low!)

It's a cracking car, Mine is running Tein suspension and some other bits and bobs, on a run out the other weekend a chap in a new Mk3 Sport had to work very hard to keep up with me and reckons that he could only keep up and wouldn't have been able to overhaul me..

£2k vs. £18k.. made me happy!


Yeah I realised that, I was looking at your original thread when you brought the car. Do you know who makes the front lip spoiler on yours?

I think if I get one i'd have to lower the front number plate and lip spoiler, fit a roll cage and a nice sounding exhaust.

Is there a buying guide somewhere that tells me what to look for? My understanding is that they're pretty solid cars but the roof is a weak point? In which case I should just be looking for a mechanically sound car thats been looked after with a good roof.

slinky

15,704 posts

270 months

Friday 15th December 2006
quotequote all
pmanson said:

Yeah I realised that, I was looking at your original thread when you brought the car. Do you know who makes the front lip spoiler on yours?

I think if I get one i'd have to lower the front number plate and lip spoiler, fit a roll cage and a nice sounding exhaust.

Is there a buying guide somewhere that tells me what to look for? My understanding is that they're pretty solid cars but the roof is a weak point? In which case I should just be looking for a mechanically sound car thats been looked after with a good roof.


The lip spoiler/splitter is a Mazda item and as such is quite expensive (around £180 I think).. I've moved the plate down lower now (although I need to get a slightly smaller one) and it looks a lot nicer..



I'm seriously thinking about the cage, although I don't want to do that without going to buckets/harnesses, so it's a long term plan..

The exhaust on mine is of unknown origins, but sounds bloody lovely..

I don't know of a buying guide I'm afraid.. but you are right in your assumption that they're solid cars.. There's not a great deal that goes wrong on them, make sure the drain holes have been rodded and the sills aren't rotten..

Drop me a line for further chats if you want fella..

slinky

pmanson

Original Poster:

13,388 posts

274 months

Friday 15th December 2006
quotequote all
I like this one (Shame its not for sale!):

slinky

15,704 posts

270 months

Friday 15th December 2006
quotequote all
Out of my price range, but a lovely car none-the-less..

www.cardomain.com/ride/447964

Going for about £6.8k at the mo...

Edited by slinky on Friday 15th December 14:21

slinky

15,704 posts

270 months

Friday 15th December 2006
quotequote all
Oh, by the way... Happy Birthday party

pmanson

Original Poster:

13,388 posts

274 months

Friday 15th December 2006
quotequote all
slinky said:
Oh, by the way... Happy Birthday party


Cheers mate! Can't believe how quickly this year has gone!

_Batty_

12,268 posts

271 months

Friday 15th December 2006
quotequote all
pmanson said:
slinky said:
Oh, by the way... Happy Birthday party


Cheers mate! Can't believe how quickly this year has gone!

happy birthday

pmanson

Original Poster:

13,388 posts

274 months

Friday 15th December 2006
quotequote all
slinky said:
Out of my price range,


Out of mine too!

pmanson

Original Poster:

13,388 posts

274 months

Friday 15th December 2006
quotequote all
Gazboy said:
Happy Birthday mate.


Cheers Guys!

Churchill won't quote me for a Eunos on their website, i'll try and call them tommorrow as i'm half way through my policy with them (My renewal is 1st June)

pita

111 posts

231 months

Friday 15th December 2006
quotequote all
Just had a really good deal on my MK1 RS Ltd from Adrian Flux. Also offer discount if you're a member of the OC. My broker tried for two days to place my car and no-one would touch it cos Limited Edition and an import!

pmanson

Original Poster:

13,388 posts

274 months

Monday 18th December 2006
quotequote all
Well Churchill won't cover me until i'm 25. My policy with them runs out at the end of May so i'm lose 7 months no claims (I already have 4 years protected).

I've just emailed A Plan for a quote so i'll see what they come back with.

Phill

slinky

15,704 posts

270 months

Monday 18th December 2006
quotequote all
pmanson said:
Well Churchill won't cover me until i'm 25. My policy with them runs out at the end of May so i'm lose 7 months no claims (I already have 4 years protected).

I've just emailed A Plan for a quote so i'll see what they come back with.

Phill


I've got 4 years, 27, not the greatest post code in the world (but it isn't too bad), cover came in at about £300..

pmanson

Original Poster:

13,388 posts

274 months

Monday 18th December 2006
quotequote all
slinky said:
pmanson said:
Well Churchill won't cover me until i'm 25. My policy with them runs out at the end of May so i'm lose 7 months no claims (I already have 4 years protected).

I've just emailed A Plan for a quote so i'll see what they come back with.

Phill


I've got 4 years, 27, not the greatest post code in the world (but it isn't too bad), cover came in at about £300..


Well i'll be interested to hear what they quote me.

I've got a couple of mods lined up if I do go for it so i'll need to find out much they'll cost me.

I've seen a nice white one advertised fairly locally so i'm planning to go and look at that next week (subject to the insurance being ok)