The immobiliser on Sevens - Are they Thatcham rated?
Discussion
Hello All,
I'm hoping to buy my first Seven sometime this month and have been having the usual fun with insurance companies.
I have been lucky enough to get some excellent quotes already from the likes of MSM, even without the discount offered by an immobiliser. However, they claim to be able to reduce my premium further if the car has a Thatcham Category 1 Immobiliser.
I know that many Sevens have red handle, cut-off immobiliser (I don't know its proper name) but is this Thatcham rated (1 or 2) at all?
Any views on this would be much appreciated.
Cheers, Phillip
I'm hoping to buy my first Seven sometime this month and have been having the usual fun with insurance companies.
I have been lucky enough to get some excellent quotes already from the likes of MSM, even without the discount offered by an immobiliser. However, they claim to be able to reduce my premium further if the car has a Thatcham Category 1 Immobiliser.
I know that many Sevens have red handle, cut-off immobiliser (I don't know its proper name) but is this Thatcham rated (1 or 2) at all?
Any views on this would be much appreciated.
Cheers, Phillip
Edited by ptpt on Thursday 8th February 10:28
Edited by ptpt on Thursday 8th February 10:29
I had similar fun when insuring mine. I checked with the guy that does the factory fitted security systems. Caterham systems are CAT 2. A decent insurer should recognise this. Mine didnt!
according to the security fella, a CAT 1 on a Caterham is about as much use as a motorbike-mounted ashtray...
cheers
Jaker
according to the security fella, a CAT 1 on a Caterham is about as much use as a motorbike-mounted ashtray...
cheers
Jaker
Edited by jaker on Thursday 8th February 10:28
Hi Phillip, I bought a 7 (1.4 110BHP) last year and it does not have an immobilier fitted. I got me (32) my other half (30) and my mum and dad insured on it by Adrian Flux, fully comp for £300 and thats for a car living in Newcastle Upon Tyne (which put politely is not the cheapest place in the world to get insurance) so might be worth giving them a call (08700760001 - ask for Kit Car department).
For me, they were by far the cheapest and gave a pretty good service.
For me, they were by far the cheapest and gave a pretty good service.
Great I'll give them a buzz.
MSM qouted me £410 for a 1.4 Supersport with limited mileage (7500), parked in secure parking but not garaged. Plus I'm 27 only have 3 years NCB and live in Blackheath (well Lewisham if I'm honest
). I thought that was pretty good. If the immobilser knocks of £50 I'd be chuffed. Unbeliveable really, because it looks like a Seven will be cheaper to insure than my run-about 205 Gti!
MSM qouted me £410 for a 1.4 Supersport with limited mileage (7500), parked in secure parking but not garaged. Plus I'm 27 only have 3 years NCB and live in Blackheath (well Lewisham if I'm honest
). I thought that was pretty good. If the immobilser knocks of £50 I'd be chuffed. Unbeliveable really, because it looks like a Seven will be cheaper to insure than my run-about 205 Gti! Mine's a 1996 K series and does not have an immobiliser, though I think most later cars do.
Apparently the immobiliser is located under the dash (black box), above and to the right hand side of the column (I say this though having never seen one or looked, so I might well be talking my usual amount of un-educated, ill-informed nonsense and will of course go back to my dark corner if I am)
Apparently the immobiliser is located under the dash (black box), above and to the right hand side of the column (I say this though having never seen one or looked, so I might well be talking my usual amount of un-educated, ill-informed nonsense and will of course go back to my dark corner if I am)
)masonp said:
Mine's a 1996 K series and does not have an immobiliser, though I think most later cars do.
Apparently the immobiliser is located under the dash (black box), above and to the right hand side of the column (I say this though having never seen one or looked, so I might well be talking my usual amount of un-educated, ill-informed nonsense and will of course go back to my dark corner if I am)
Apparently the immobiliser is located under the dash (black box), above and to the right hand side of the column (I say this though having never seen one or looked, so I might well be talking my usual amount of un-educated, ill-informed nonsense and will of course go back to my dark corner if I am)
Mine's a 1995 K and it has one. Little red plug wth silver stripes that goes into a hole in the dash.
No discount for a removable wheel, although it is 'taken into account' whatever this means.
In the end MSM came through with a great package and friendly service to boot. For once I don't feel like I've been ripped off.
Blimey, I need to sit down with a sweet cup of tea. I didn't sleep a wink last night as you might expect
I'll post a picture soon just as soon as I've paid for it!
Thanks for all the advice chaps
In the end MSM came through with a great package and friendly service to boot. For once I don't feel like I've been ripped off.
Blimey, I need to sit down with a sweet cup of tea. I didn't sleep a wink last night as you might expect
I'll post a picture soon just as soon as I've paid for it!
Thanks for all the advice chaps
Welcome to the madhouse, Phillip. I'd strongly suggest you join the Lotus 7 Club if you're not already a member. I bought my first Seven in October and it's well worth joining for the social life and assistance from other members. The regular monthly blat with a greasy breakfast at the end is a great way to spend a Sunday morning.
Alan
Alan
I have done some research on this subject. I bought my Caterham (1400 Classic with Rover K Series engine) in September last year. Being a K Series, it is fitted with the Rover immobiliser which is operated using a two button fob (blip or plip). This immobiliser seems to be fitted to most vehicles with the same engine, eg. Rover 25, MG ZR, Landrover Freelander etc.
I decided that the best way to establish if this immobiliser is Thatcham approved would be to get it straight from the horse's mouth so I had a look on the Thatcham website. I found that there was only one Caterham mentioned on the site and that had a Vauxhall engine. The other cars I have mentioned, however, were listed and their immobilisers were approved (Cat. 2).
I emailed Thatcham in order to get the definitive answer and they stated that Caterham had not submitted my car to them for assessment and the immobiliser was therefore not approved by them even though it was approved in other vehicles.
Therefore, unless the person at Thatcham is mistaken (which I doubt), the Rover immobiliser is not Thatcham approved when fitted to a Caterham.
The way round this is to have a Thatcham approved aftermarket immobiliser fitted to the car by Thatcham approved fitters. A shame really because the Rover immobiliser seems extremely efficient.
I decided that the best way to establish if this immobiliser is Thatcham approved would be to get it straight from the horse's mouth so I had a look on the Thatcham website. I found that there was only one Caterham mentioned on the site and that had a Vauxhall engine. The other cars I have mentioned, however, were listed and their immobilisers were approved (Cat. 2).
I emailed Thatcham in order to get the definitive answer and they stated that Caterham had not submitted my car to them for assessment and the immobiliser was therefore not approved by them even though it was approved in other vehicles.
Therefore, unless the person at Thatcham is mistaken (which I doubt), the Rover immobiliser is not Thatcham approved when fitted to a Caterham.
The way round this is to have a Thatcham approved aftermarket immobiliser fitted to the car by Thatcham approved fitters. A shame really because the Rover immobiliser seems extremely efficient.
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