UK insurance and other questions from a newbie
Discussion
Am seriously tempted by a few of the C5's I've seen on Autotrader. Am currently trying to decide between coupe and cabrio, having come from a TVR Griffith. Just a couple of questions:
- seen a few comments on another thread regarding cheapish insurance quotes. Who do people recommend? Is the LHD a problem for them? Do any of the companies mirror No Claims based on the Vette as a second car?
- Has anyone tried selling a 'vette privately? Did it take long? I guess demand isn't massively high.
- do any of the later cabrio's have electric roofs? When did the HUD come in?
Hope someone can help - think I've become addicted to these awesome monsters!
Hi AllTorque,
Hope you are not AllTalk
My 2003 Z06 is insured with Hill House Hammond and it costs about £800 a year full comp. (I have full NCD).
My 1996 C4 LT4 is insured with Adrian Flux and costs about the same even though it is heavily modified.
Selling the cars privately is difficult as the demand is quite low.
No C5 convertibles have an electric roof and the HUD was available from 1999 I think was standard from 2001.
Driving LHD is no problem. I don't even think about it. The big advantage is when you go to Le Mans and you can see to overtake whereas all of the TVR and Caterham boys need a passenger to look for them!!
>> Edited by vetteheadracer on Tuesday 18th November 09:43
Hope you are not AllTalk
My 2003 Z06 is insured with Hill House Hammond and it costs about £800 a year full comp. (I have full NCD).
My 1996 C4 LT4 is insured with Adrian Flux and costs about the same even though it is heavily modified.
Selling the cars privately is difficult as the demand is quite low.
No C5 convertibles have an electric roof and the HUD was available from 1999 I think was standard from 2001.
Driving LHD is no problem. I don't even think about it. The big advantage is when you go to Le Mans and you can see to overtake whereas all of the TVR and Caterham boys need a passenger to look for them!!
>> Edited by vetteheadracer on Tuesday 18th November 09:43
Insurance is a bit higher if you're under 40 but not ridiculously so, Hill House Hammond and Adrian Flux seem to be offering the best deals at the moment. The CCCUK magazine has adverts from other brokers but they tend to specialise in the older machines. I don't know about mirroring of NCDs, you'd have to speak to them and get an individual quote. Declaring a limited mileage might help.
The HUD is a very worthwhile option and I think it will make the car much easier to sell on for when you want to buy yourself a C6 ! I think it came in for the 2000 model year vehicles - which means they started production in July 1999.
It took me no more than 3 weeks to become fully acclimatised to LHD and I now think of RHD as being odd. The only slight annoyance is having to lean forward at some angled junctions, e.g. large diameter roundabouts, in order to see if the road is clear. Normal square junctions are fine and for overtaking you learn to look down the nearside of a vehicle to see if the road is clear ahead. Easy.
The HUD is a very worthwhile option and I think it will make the car much easier to sell on for when you want to buy yourself a C6 ! I think it came in for the 2000 model year vehicles - which means they started production in July 1999.
It took me no more than 3 weeks to become fully acclimatised to LHD and I now think of RHD as being odd. The only slight annoyance is having to lean forward at some angled junctions, e.g. large diameter roundabouts, in order to see if the road is clear. Normal square junctions are fine and for overtaking you learn to look down the nearside of a vehicle to see if the road is clear ahead. Easy.
This year I am insured through Adrian Flux but the first time I insured my vette a lot of companies either wouldn't insure me or wanted lots of money because it was my first LHD car. That year Stevenage Insurance was nearly half the price.
Some of these numbers may have changed but I hope this helps
bain hogg 01384 455011
MC Edwards 08709090911
Asset Trust 01666 503224
Classic Direct 0800 501250
CIC Colchester 01206 792927
Hill House 01733 310899
stevenage Ins 01438 313251
Adrian Flux 08700 777888
Norton Ins 0121 2466060
firerbond 01223 566060
AWMarlow 01283740440
Parkinsons 01787 371071
Graham Sykes 01395 266621
Wells Brokers 01202 298789
Don't forget to join some clubs, most insurance companies offer discounts to club members.
Some of these numbers may have changed but I hope this helps
bain hogg 01384 455011
MC Edwards 08709090911
Asset Trust 01666 503224
Classic Direct 0800 501250
CIC Colchester 01206 792927
Hill House 01733 310899
stevenage Ins 01438 313251
Adrian Flux 08700 777888
Norton Ins 0121 2466060
firerbond 01223 566060
AWMarlow 01283740440
Parkinsons 01787 371071
Graham Sykes 01395 266621
Wells Brokers 01202 298789
Don't forget to join some clubs, most insurance companies offer discounts to club members.
Oh yeah I should have said. The first year I paid about £550 with Stevenage that was with no experiance with a LHD and 5000 miles max and no NCB (all on company car) all other quotes were over £1K
The following year they were well expensive as that was an introductory offer. They also do not add a year no claims on that policy, although Adrian Flux counted it for me anyway and this year I pay £913.50 for a 7500 mile policy (raised from about £550 because my wife is under 30)
The following year they were well expensive as that was an introductory offer. They also do not add a year no claims on that policy, although Adrian Flux counted it for me anyway and this year I pay £913.50 for a 7500 mile policy (raised from about £550 because my wife is under 30)
Yank insurance is dirt cheap next to what you'll be used to. I used to have a Corvette C4 and now have a Camaro Z28 with the same LS1 engine as the Corvette. I've never paid more than £500 fully comp. Last insurance was with Hill House unlimited mileage but now I've modified my car, I'm with Adrian Flux who are still under £500 even with all the mods but that's a 7500 mile pa policy.
Most of these specialist American car policies insist on LHD. In fact a RHD conversion will cost you more.
Incidentally, Adrian Flux also quoted my gf who is 24 for my car and for a stock 320bhp 1999 Trans Am WS6. Both quotes were around £650 on a 7500 mile policy.
You think that's cheap, man , wait until you get to the parts. Oil filters under a tenner, plugs under £20 and you can import stuff to modify these cars until the cows come home and all for less than the price of a TVR engine rebuild. LOL.
Most of these specialist American car policies insist on LHD. In fact a RHD conversion will cost you more.
Incidentally, Adrian Flux also quoted my gf who is 24 for my car and for a stock 320bhp 1999 Trans Am WS6. Both quotes were around £650 on a 7500 mile policy.
You think that's cheap, man , wait until you get to the parts. Oil filters under a tenner, plugs under £20 and you can import stuff to modify these cars until the cows come home and all for less than the price of a TVR engine rebuild. LOL.
Main thing with a Vette is likely to be long term reliability so overall running costs should be favorable compared to a low volume UK specialist car. (To see the perils just look at "What Do You Do When You've Had Enough" on the General gassing forum.) It often seems to work out that the best way to maintain the value and saleability of a car is to keep it absolutely bog standard.
It'll be tight in the garage but our C5 does go. Takes a bit of confidence going through the door as there is only a couple of cm clearance on the mirrors, and so long as your walls aren’t right against the door (i.e. the garage opens out a bit once your in), you don’t have a generous waistline or a bad back you should be fine. The electric seats easy eject helps a lot. A bit of padding on the wall is a good idea also to protect the paintwork when you open the door. I guess it really depends on if you have a large or small “average” garage though. I suggest you have a spotter to help you in the first few times though as with ours it really looks like you are just driving into the door frame.
As for insurance, take a look at admiral or elephant, you can get a quote online for a stock Euro corvette and they have been pretty reasonable for us.
Ps O/T anyone on here in the black Zr1 at j4a M3 this morning
As for insurance, take a look at admiral or elephant, you can get a quote online for a stock Euro corvette and they have been pretty reasonable for us.
Ps O/T anyone on here in the black Zr1 at j4a M3 this morning
Persimmon garages are bigger than most other builders if you're thinking of moving house!
With a Euro spec Corvette, you get fold-back mirrors. I get my Z28 in by dropping the window, pulling the driver's mirror flat and driving in. Leaving the window down allows more room to get out and I have a polystyrene tile on the wall where the door opens and a brick cemented to the floor at the front of the car so I don't hit the wall.
With a Euro spec Corvette, you get fold-back mirrors. I get my Z28 in by dropping the window, pulling the driver's mirror flat and driving in. Leaving the window down allows more room to get out and I have a polystyrene tile on the wall where the door opens and a brick cemented to the floor at the front of the car so I don't hit the wall.
As for selling C5's, it is probably as easy to sell as any other car in that price category. Fact is that most cars over a certain price don't fly off the forecourt anyway, 2 seater sports cars have a limited market and you'll find a dichotomy between people who desperately want a C5 and people who believe Clarkson and wouldn't give it house room.
Also, people think the 5.7 must be a fuel guzzling petrol swiller which it most certainly is not. I wouldn't say it's difficult to sell a C5 but price, as always, is a factor. The price of a C5 hasn't sunk for well over a year. At one stage, you saw them for 17k, now it's 20k. I saw a 51 reg one for £26k and it was snapped up and I believe reappeared on a dealer's forecourt for over 30k. The advent of the C6 will probably deflate prices somewhat. Corvette owners would like to think their cars are deflation-proof but they have to take some of the depreciation sooner or later.
Also, people think the 5.7 must be a fuel guzzling petrol swiller which it most certainly is not. I wouldn't say it's difficult to sell a C5 but price, as always, is a factor. The price of a C5 hasn't sunk for well over a year. At one stage, you saw them for 17k, now it's 20k. I saw a 51 reg one for £26k and it was snapped up and I believe reappeared on a dealer's forecourt for over 30k. The advent of the C6 will probably deflate prices somewhat. Corvette owners would like to think their cars are deflation-proof but they have to take some of the depreciation sooner or later.
LuS1fer said:
As for selling C5's, it is probably as easy to sell as any other car in that price category. Fact is that most cars over a certain price don't fly off the forecourt anyway, 2 seater sports cars have a limited market and you'll find a dichotomy between people who desperately want a C5 and people who believe Clarkson and wouldn't give it house room.
Also, people think the 5.7 must be a fuel guzzling petrol swiller which it most certainly is not. I wouldn't say it's difficult to sell a C5 but price, as always, is a factor. The price of a C5 hasn't sunk for well over a year. At one stage, you saw them for 17k, now it's 20k. I saw a 51 reg one for £26k and it was snapped up and I believe reappeared on a dealer's forecourt for over 30k. The advent of the C6 will probably deflate prices somewhat. Corvette owners would like to think their cars are deflation-proof but they have to take some of the depreciation sooner or later.
30K!? I thought all Vettes were in the £50k mark? Ah well, looks like I've got to check claremont etc. Or am I getting mistaken - the Z06 only being £50k? At £30k, it is beyond me why people even drive Evos and WRX STis.
I'd say a rough price guide for private sales would be:
1997 - 1998 costs 19 - 22k
1999 - 2000 costs 22 - 28k
2001 - 28k up
Claremont's cars seem to me to be a little expensive and higher than a private sale and often higher mileage. But then traders usually are as they have to account for a trade-in.
A new C5 is, in theory, about 36k but with options, probably more around 40k. The Z06 seems to be about 52k. I've seen only one low mileage Z06 for 48k.
Of course, right now there's a 500bhp supercharged Mustang Cobra on Auto Trader for £30k....
1997 - 1998 costs 19 - 22k
1999 - 2000 costs 22 - 28k
2001 - 28k up
Claremont's cars seem to me to be a little expensive and higher than a private sale and often higher mileage. But then traders usually are as they have to account for a trade-in.
A new C5 is, in theory, about 36k but with options, probably more around 40k. The Z06 seems to be about 52k. I've seen only one low mileage Z06 for 48k.
Of course, right now there's a 500bhp supercharged Mustang Cobra on Auto Trader for £30k....
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