Countach - Insurance and alarms recommendations please

[yellowvette]

Thinking ahead a week or so when I pick up my Countach (seems ages away ), can anyone recommend any good insurers? The company I use for my Vette - RH - seem a bit pricey and insist that a Thatcham 2 immobiliser be fitted within 30 days. I don't really want to be pressured into getting that done within a month.
That said, I do intend to fit a serious security system, and want a Thatcham 1 alarm/immobiliser. I've seen a Clifford 950, which is top of the Clifford range, for £499 including fitting at work or home, from a company on the web called Car Alarms UK Ltd (Car Alarms website) which looks tempting. Has anyone any alarm recommendations for a Countach, or used this company? I don't want someone making a mess of my dream car !

[countachman]

Hi I had a Thatch 1 fitted to mine and just insured it with IC. breakdown cover including europe plus petrol its been about £600 to get out to play for 6 months. dave

[targaman]

Mine was about the same!

[craig]

Try using either AON on a classic policy (this was about £600 for my LP400) or Michael Ward Associates who have been very good with my 6.0 and Silhouette (total £1400 for both)

Craig

[neil-f]

craig said:

Try using either AON on a classic policy (this was about £600 for my LP400) or Michael Ward Associates who have been very good with my 6.0 and Silhouette (total £1400 for both)

Craig

Unfortunatly Michael Ward may not call you back

[craig]

neil-f said:

craig said:

Try using either AON on a classic policy (this was about £600 for my LP400) or Michael Ward Associates who have been very good with my 6.0 and Silhouette (total £1400 for both)

Craig

Unfortunatly Michael Ward may not call you back

sorry to hear that - I always had someone answer the phone when I call

[TSS]

Speak to Hagerty (08700 420 220 - www.hagertyinsurance.co.uk )

£410, Fully comp. agreed value, 3K miles per year for my Countach, and very helpful too. I usually speak to Phil Dunne.

[andysv]

i'm with AON too, plus make sure your tracker is the monitored type my diablo came with tracker retrieve(not monitored)and i had no theft cover

[yellowvette]

Thanks guys.
I'll make a few calls. Hagerty looks good - £410 !! Wow, I'll be chuffed if they do that for me. My age and driving history is in my favour and my postcode is low risk too. Best quote so far was about £680 from RH. Endsleigh wanted £887 !!!! I'll try AON and a few others I've been recommended too.
I think the Clifford 950 is likely to start with. Have looked at the RAC Trackstar+ too, which is interesting, and cheaper than Tracker it seems. Would you guys recommend a Tracker type system over a good alarm?

Edited by yellowvette on Friday 27th April 19:39

[andysv]

i had both, a tracker and a cat one, a good mate is an alarm fitter and uses the cobra trak units, i may be getting one soon as the subscription is reasonably priced.

[yellowvette]

Both is my ultimate aim, but buying the car is cleaning my out quite well on it's own. So I want to get one to start with, but I don't want to scrimp on what I get, hence the top of the range Clifford. But the Tracker systems are very tempting too.

[andysv]

the car your buying should have at least a cat one alarm for the previous owners insurances??

[yellowvette]

This will sound really stupid I know, but.........I didn't check !!!! I was more bithered that the car was good and didn't think to ask about alarms etc. I'll email the dealer and ask. The previous owner basically kept it in his garage and very rarely used it. Hence why a full service and recommission was part of the deal. It's only done 1900 miles form new !

[andysv]

wow, that needs some use now. i'm guessing it's an anniversary, they were the ones that got hidden away by the speculators?

[yellowvette]

It is indeed an Anniversary. It started life as part of a museum collection, and the current owner has had it since 1994. He hasn't used it much at all, as you can tell, and documented the mileage of every journey he made. As a result it hasn't been serviced every year (Although it has been serviced periodically), but the owner states he ran it up to temperature about twice a month. It went well on the road, all gauges behaving normally, and was in top condition underneath. No perished looking rubbers or leaking calipers etc. But as I say, I insisted on a full service and thorough check/commission in the price. I'm buying from a dealer and not the private owner direct. As for use, I expect to do only around 1000 miles a year - not much I know but I'll enjoy every mile, and right now I see me owning it for ever

Edited by yellowvette on Sunday 29th April 08:39

[Jonny5]

MWA always come up trumps for me , because their approach is more bespoke it may take a day or two for them to get the best policy for you. Chris and Michael always sort me out I just call them on their mobile

I was in LA and needed insurance for a hire car, called Michael on his mobile on a Saturday late afternoon and he sorted me out. Now that's service.

[andysv]

don't be worried about covering 1k miles a year, i did 5 miles in 06 to a service and home. shamefull. i service every other year due to such low use, it's always fully checked and comes up fine.

[rubystone]

Mike, lovely car, absolutely beautiful

[yellowvette]

rubystone said:

Mike, lovely car, absolutely beautiful

Glad you like it Mark. I'll post pics on PH when I pick it up, but for anyone interested, I put some pics on the Corvette Club website (been a member there for years with my Vette). Link here : My Countach
I got a call back from www.cliffordalarm.co.uk yesterday. Apparently the Intelliguard 950 is now discontinued and the latest top line Clifford is the Avantguard 5.5. Has masses of features including Intellistart, dual proximity sensors, blackjax etc. Offers superb protection with just about everything covered. They tell me they've fitted alarms to Lambos before, including Countachs. But the price is £999 fitted . More than I wanted to spend, but I'm very tempted as I don't want anything but the best in my dream machine. That said, RAC Trackstar+ is cheaper with duration of ownership subscription. Trouble is Tracker helps recover the car, but the alarm/immobiliser stops it getting nicked in the first place. Decisions decisions
Will be calling for quotes on Tuesday and will ask which one insurance companies prefer - trackers or Thatcham Cat1 alarm/immobilisers.

[andysv]

i'd have faith in a top end tracker at the end of the day if they really want a car the scumbags will tow it, no alarm will prevent that. ultimately your broker will insist on something mine want both devices.