How Mad are Insurance Companies? Also should I buy a VXR8?
Discussion
Serious question here. As it stands, my 14 year old Vectra 1.8 costs £1500 a year to insure (23, 0 NCB as I stopped driving while at Uni). I've been hankering after a Monaro or VXR8 recently despite thinking there's no hope as the insurance, fuel and tax will probably cripple me. But for a laugh, I put in my details on a comparison site, and it came back with a quote of £1000. How do insurance companies justify that?
For the mileage I do, fuel economy isn't an issue; the Vectra does 17mpg on a good day (and I'm not driving like a tit), so using this man maths, should I tell the OH that we need to buy a VXR8?
For the mileage I do, fuel economy isn't an issue; the Vectra does 17mpg on a good day (and I'm not driving like a tit), so using this man maths, should I tell the OH that we need to buy a VXR8?
DanB7290 said:
Serious question here. As it stands, my 14 year old Vectra 1.8 costs £1500 a year to insure (23, 0 NCB as I stopped driving while at Uni). I've been hankering after a Monaro or VXR8 recently despite thinking there's no hope as the insurance, fuel and tax will probably cripple me. But for a laugh, I put in my details on a comparison site, and it came back with a quote of £1000. How do insurance companies justify that?
For the mileage I do, fuel economy isn't an issue; the Vectra does 17mpg on a good day (and I'm not driving like a tit), so using this man maths, should I tell the OH that we need to buy a VXR8?
A couple things.For the mileage I do, fuel economy isn't an issue; the Vectra does 17mpg on a good day (and I'm not driving like a tit), so using this man maths, should I tell the OH that we need to buy a VXR8?
A) 17mpg from a vectra must mean its broken
B) you havnt shopped around for your vectra insurance since you passed your test, have you?
Captainawesome said:
^^^^^^^ I agree.
Buy it and then drive everywhere sideways!!!
Do bear in mind that running cost for a car like a VXR8 is not limited to fuel. Tires, brakes, servicing etc will all be more expensive.
Still do it though.
Smiles per mile!!
^^^^^. This. Good old fashioned brute force, long-legged cruiser when you need it to be and ooh, that v8 rumble..... Buy it and then drive everywhere sideways!!!
Do bear in mind that running cost for a car like a VXR8 is not limited to fuel. Tires, brakes, servicing etc will all be more expensive.
Still do it though.
Smiles per mile!!
It's all just risk assessment, not many VXR8s will have been written off by young men in this country, whereas a lot of Vectras have. Therefore, the insurer is expecting a greater chance of paying out. Whether or not a Vectra is really more of a risk - and personally I think a powerful RWD car would be easier to bin, I'm sure many would agree, the you're in the high risk category for Vectra smashers, so you'll pay according. Also, if you are getting 18mpg from a 1.8 on a good day, it's f
ked.
Perhaps you should look at a VXR8, you may even make a saving on fuel. Remember that tax, tyres, brakes, suspension parts etc will all cost a bit more, but I'd have guessed they'd be fairly reasonable, at least in relation the power of the car, in comparison with what BMW's M part mark up, or the cost of AMG-specific parts for Mercedes AMG models.
Before you buy, or commit to buying, I'd definitely get a drive in one. We're talking about a big old lump of a car here, with long gears. The headline power figures must be taken into context. An agile car for taking apart a B road they are not, and they're not as fast as you might be expecting. They're not slow, but the weight and gearing hold them back, and they are big, heavy and insulated, not exactly a raw, seat of your pants ride. However, this changes once you start adding superchargers, but that is a slippery slope!
ked.Perhaps you should look at a VXR8, you may even make a saving on fuel. Remember that tax, tyres, brakes, suspension parts etc will all cost a bit more, but I'd have guessed they'd be fairly reasonable, at least in relation the power of the car, in comparison with what BMW's M part mark up, or the cost of AMG-specific parts for Mercedes AMG models.
Before you buy, or commit to buying, I'd definitely get a drive in one. We're talking about a big old lump of a car here, with long gears. The headline power figures must be taken into context. An agile car for taking apart a B road they are not, and they're not as fast as you might be expecting. They're not slow, but the weight and gearing hold them back, and they are big, heavy and insulated, not exactly a raw, seat of your pants ride. However, this changes once you start adding superchargers, but that is a slippery slope!
As a Monaro owner I can tell you to buy one immediately. They are simply brillant fun in an old school, raw kind of way. Low 20s mpg is perfectly achievable every day and repair costs are also pretty cheap, you can fix many things with a hammer. That V8 engine cries out for modification and if you spend enough you can get 800hp out of one and still use it on the road. One of our members put a twin turbo LSX in his with 1200hp!
Buy one today, preciousmetal is the man to speak to, he always has good stock. Also, pop over to the HSV forum, we are a friendly bunch.
Buy one today, preciousmetal is the man to speak to, he always has good stock. Also, pop over to the HSV forum, we are a friendly bunch.
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 12th January 10:19
Mastodon2 said:
Perhaps you should look at a VXR8, you may even make a saving on fuel. Remember that tax, tyres, brakes, suspension parts etc will all cost a bit more, but I'd have guessed they'd be fairly reasonable, at least in relation the power of the car, in comparison with what BMW's M part mark up, or the cost of AMG-specific parts for Mercedes AMG models.
I loved my VXR8, would have kept it longer were it not for a house move, but you'll be shocked at some of the parts prices. Vauxhall charge a fortune, but its not cheap through specialists either.Basic servicing is cheap if you don't need anything above that. Some of my 'suprises' were 400 for a rear wheel bearing and 3k for a new box.
Also bear in mind that specialists are rare, I used to travel down to Monkfish but its a royal PITA doing that trip!
i'm not quite sure on this idea of not many young lads will have crashed a VXR8, therefore the insurance is cheaper. by that logic, surely he would be best buying a bugatti veyron and insuring it for peanuts.
i believe Benbay001 is probably right in saying OP has never shopped around for his vectra insurance.
i believe Benbay001 is probably right in saying OP has never shopped around for his vectra insurance.
Mastodon2 said:
It's all just risk assessment, not many VXR8s will have been written off by young men in this country, whereas a lot of Vectras have. Therefore, the insurer is expecting a greater chance of paying out.!
Fantastic 'logic!' The Ford Focus must be the most expensive car in the UK to insure then, and a Bugatti Veyron the cheapest!
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