More insurance oddities.

As they say about women, some things are unfathomable.

So, what have you bought, then?

There are several things happening:

If you're a 'new customer', they give you a rate depending on how much they want your business (usually low, but sometiems high if they don't really want you)

If you put in your details into a comparison site and they match an existing customer they may generate a deal tailored to you (eg take into account your history with them, or decide they'd rather not have you again). If they don't match, they'll give you the standard deal. It's handy to try with similar but incorrect details to see what the standard deal looks like.

If you go direct, they may think you're a captive customer and give you a higher quote than going via a comparison site where they know they'll show up poorly if they do that.

Renewal quotes are frequently laughably high, but more seemed to have cottoned onto the fact that people are shopping around more so they can't get away with it so much. They may take into account that you've searched through a comparison site.

If you call them up, you can haggle.

Some deals aren't on comparison sites - even at insurers who do appear.

If you have a vehicle that doesn't fit the tickboxes very well (eg modifications, imports) or a driving history likewise, they may decide you're more risky online and give you a high playing-safe quote. If you call them, they might be able to fill in more information (eg they handled a previous claim and know what it cost them).

If you click through a comparison site / cashback / affiliate link, that will affect the price too - either a discount or more likely to adjust for the kickback they have to pay.

The general insurance market goes up and down, so you can get different quotes over time (that's why it isn't useful to compare your renewal with last year's quote - only with recent quotes).

Theo

Boxster. And before you start, I'm too old for a mid life crisis. ;-)

I'm saying nothing, as I have one on my drive, too.

Shame on you both. Ditch them immediately and go out and buy a 911. It's what you *really* want after all. ;-)

Tim

air cooled turbo, of course, similar noise to a screaming trail of dustbin lids from the back end, lovely.

I won't have one as i couldn't fit in it thats why the Lotus had to go:(...

Ditch 'em, thats what my cousin does with them;!...

Don't be silly. The Boxster has the engine in the correct place if you must have it at the back.

The 911 is a triumph of engineering over stupidity. ;-)

What did surprise with the Boxster is just how cheap and nasty the minor controls feel - indicator stalk, window switches etc are after the E39 BMW.

Indeed! Water cooling is just a fad that'll never catch on. ;-)

Tim

Of course. That's what makes it so desirable. ;-)

Tim

Have you seen the price of air-cooled Porsches these days? - You can buy a house for the price of a road worthy Turbo.

and they will hold and improve their value if looked after

Hmmm. I think there's a bubble that will burst, like it did in the early

and a few years on they bounce back, my ferrari was worth about 15k 5 years ago, it is now at least double that, according to independent valuations.

They're very odd, classic car valuations. Mine is a Rover SD1 - and a couple have sold for very high prices at a proper auction recently. But others seem to change hands at what I'd call normal prices. Ebay is no real guide as so many simply don't pay up after winning an auction there. So it almost seems that some get caught up with auction fever - and pay far more than the going price.

I've got a slight problem with it. Bound to be something on a used car.

Accelerate gently, and it sometimes appears to cut out. Doesn't stall, just ceases to accelerate. Like you'd taken your foot of the pedal, when you haven't. The natural reaction is to push harder - but you don't always want it to take off like a scalded cat. ;-) Difficult to be definitive about when it is most likely to happen - but seems to be mostly after a hot re-start. But not straight away. I'm guessing a possible problem with the drive by wire throttle. But not found anything by Googling.

Other thing that surprised after the BMW is just how low geared it is. Certainly gives it good acceleration - but I'd really prefer more restful cruising. ;-) MPG is good though - got 31.4 MPG over a day of very mixed driving and about 200 miles.

Mmm, large saloon vs sports car, who would have guessed which gave more restful cruising :-)