Volvo owners club insurance scheme via chris knott insurance

[ChrisKnottIns]

Originally Posted by Steve940estate

For example, In the case of a Volvo 940. All models in the range are the same in regard brakes and most suspension components. One originally fitted with a non turbo 2.3 engine and then changed for a turbo one with the same capacity. What you now have in essence is a car that Volvo produced.
Why does it then cost more to insure than a 940 turbo that left the factory as such ?
Admittedly if any conversions of this sort are carried out if done badly could be dangerous. Cars originally fitted with a 1 litre engine then suddenly being a 2.0 litre turbo but haven't had brakes and suspension upgraded to suit.

What I am suggesting is that with a bit more specific product knowledge you could help out more. This lack of understanding is the biggest problem with insurance companies.

While I am here perhaps you could explain why roll cages are such a bad thing. Ok drives of Saxos might think they will make their cars faster but for someone who wants to drive a competition car to and from an event it makes things very difficult and expensive. The last thing they would want to do is smash a car up on the way to an event so they are hardly likely to be driving like a fool.

Perhaps there is a job going for someone who can work with yourselves and the club to make it possible to insure all club vehicles properly ?

Hope you don't mind answering a few questions, it's not often you can actually speak to insurance people without sitting on a phone for hours at great expense.

It doesn't help and it's a rubbish answer but the truth is that even though we can see the sense in your argument, our hands are often tied by the insurance companies themselves with regard to what they will and will not accept. There's also the issue of safety following amateur modification. We all remember the case of the guy who flipped his landrover into a river, killing four of his children because it was incompetently modified. Provision of an engineer's report (which we do require) will certainly help us assess whether an engine swap keeps the car 'standard' enough and knowing it has been professionally done also helps.

[ChrisKnottIns]

Originally Posted by Steve940estate

For example, In the case of a Volvo 940. All models in the range are the same in regard brakes and most suspension components. One originally fitted with a non turbo 2.3 engine and then changed for a turbo one with the same capacity. What you now have in essence is a car that Volvo produced.
Why does it then cost more to insure than a 940 turbo that left the factory as such ?
Admittedly if any conversions of this sort are carried out if done badly could be dangerous. Cars originally fitted with a 1 litre engine then suddenly being a 2.0 litre turbo but haven't had brakes and suspension upgraded to suit.

What I am suggesting is that with a bit more specific product knowledge you could help out more. This lack of understanding is the biggest problem with insurance companies.

While I am here perhaps you could explain why roll cages are such a bad thing. Ok drives of Saxos might think they will make their cars faster but for someone who wants to drive a competition car to and from an event it makes things very difficult and expensive. The last thing they would want to do is smash a car up on the way to an event so they are hardly likely to be driving like a fool.

Perhaps there is a job going for someone who can work with yourselves and the club to make it possible to insure all club vehicles properly ?

Hope you don't mind answering a few questions, it's not often you can actually speak to insurance people without sitting on a phone for hours at great expense.

In the competition car scenario, we do have a new, different policy specifically designed for the road risk element of taking a dedicated competition car to and from an event. To qualify you'd need to be the holder of an RAC/MSA competition licence but in this scenario a roll-cage would be expected and cover can be offered. It's roll-cages in standard road-going cars that are a no-no.

[Steve940estate]

Ok thats a fair comment.
In that case if an engineers report was supplied stating the vehicle was modified form standard and it was as good if not better than it was when new, you could make it as cheap to insure as one that rolled off the production line built to the same spec.

The only problem I see is that many cars are repaired by owners and not very good garages and are often in far worse condition than they should be in and possibly be unsafe. I don't know the details about the Land Rover but it's a bit unfair to tar everyone with a modified car with the same brush. It depends on what has been done. The modified Volvo I used as an example might accelerate slightly quicker than a non turbo one and maybe have a higher top speed (everyone can only do 70mph anyway) but it isn't any different otherwise to a production built turbo.

Perhaps you could find another company to deal with that if given the right information could help more members of the club. Cost isn't always the problem, level of service, flexability and quality of the product go a long way to compensate for that.

I've just read your answer about roll cages. Thinking about it a lot of cars would be trailered to the track so wouldn't be so much of a problem. The only other case might be where people use cars for track days. I don't think cages are mandatory for some of these but some are. I understand about the licence though.

[ChrisKnottIns]

Originally Posted by Steve940estate

Ok thats a fair comment.
In that case if an engineers report was supplied stating the vehicle was modified form standard and it was as good if not better than it was when new, you could make it as cheap to insure as one that rolled off the production line built to the same spec.

The only problem I see is that many cars are repaired by owners and not very good garages and are often in far worse condition than they should be in and possibly be unsafe.

I'm not sure it would be the same premium for both but the report will certainly help narrow the gap and convince underwriters of the level of expertise of the modifier.

[Steve940estate]

Ok thanks for your time.
I will be looking at getting the insurance renued on my car soon and hope if I do try yourselves you will be able to offer me a fair quote. I will let people on here know how it goes, thanks.

[tc]

Just took out a policy today, better than the idiots at flux but not cheaper by enough, certainly wasn't impressed at the quote going up by 30quid just because I was a little out on how much my current policy was.

[minesa240x3]

La La LaLa La LA La La La La La La La ,,,,,,,,,,,,,

HELLO,HELLO,HELLO do I not exhist??????
I happen to be a customer of yours.Even if you tell me to get lost at least thats something.
A bit like the experience we had when trying to get our insurance in the first place! Next to zero.

You continue to be nameless?Maybe you don't want to get to friendly?You don't need ADMIN TO CHANGE YOUR USER NAME as you can put your name at the start of a post or indeed at the end.

I shall watch this space with great interest as I don't think anything has changed,just someone new with the gift of telling people what MAY be possible.For all we know it's still TIM being selective with who he talks too,and who he ignores as he used to.

From the member who doesn't mind people knowing who I am BRIAN.

[jiwilson]

I'm a newbie here - but a regular to other forums.

I apologise if my comment is a little off topic.....

This thread gives me some cause for concern about the Club itself.

The very basic question of how an organisation, despite clear concern by the membership, becomes the Club's preferred insurer has not been answered. The lack of an answer leads one to assume (rightly or wrongly) thats something underhand is going on. Is some money changing hands somewhere?

Secondly, why has it taken so long for a username to be changed??? Has this forum got any admin people watching it? Any moderators??

My overall impression is a Club with knowlegable, constructive, active members being let down by totally incompetent admin.

I assume the Club has an AGM at which officers are elected and other admin is agreed. Let's look forward to a lively debate at the next AGM!

get a grip

Ian

[Chris_C]

As one of the admins...

You'll note there has been no request in the "Forum Name Change" thread, the one area dedicated to such things since CK posted (Jul 6th) http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showth...=56731&page=24

I don't know who has been contacted about the matter, but without knowing what the user wants to change the name too, my hands are tied. As Brian has mentioned, there is little in way of a contact name. I'm also surprised to see his posts have gone unanswered. A post in the "Forum Name Change" thread will be dealt with quickly.

I must admit, I am disappointed that a broker feels they can just not bother with one area of the car world. A 50bhp limit on power is very little without taking into account other aspects of the car, especially when claiming on car enthusiast sites to want to be competitive, this is where this activity is most likely to happen! Surely this points to not using the correct underwriters? My insurance was renewed this week on my engine swapped 340. Yet again, with a specialist who understands my car, I can talk to without ever feeling that they don't understand and on top, as a bonus, is cheaper for me and with more cover than I pay for my 1.4 slushbox Corsa.

Until other companies can offer this level of service why will I change?

[foggyjames]

To answer another of your points, Ian, CK have been the club insurer for a long time, while these current complaints are comparatively recent. However, I personally feel that there is a very large question mark regarding whether or not they should continue in that role. I have four cars insured at present, and none of them are with CK. I used to be a regular customer, but they are simply uncompetitive for me now. In other words, I think it is only right that, given the number of complaints about CK (and I have several of my own), their position is reviewed.

In addition, the 50bhp limit (no doubt imposed by the underwriter, to be fair) is plain stupid. By all means have a limit, but an unqualified 50bhp limit shows an utter lack of comprehension of the subject at hand. I could elaborate, but it's not my job!

I'm not sure whether or not commission is paid to the club, but I am quite certain that that would not be a factor in deciding whether or not they should be the club insurer.

cheers

James