Polestar on a XC60 T5

[Ringthane]

I had polestar added while I was trying to get my Volvo ID issue sorted, two weeks ago, and LV class it as an engine remap and charged me an extra £110 upon renewal.

My dealer got a fair bit of cash out of me that day. £699 for the Polestar and £199 to have my brake and accelerator changed to the R Design ones.

Don’t tell Mrs R though...

[bobby2000]

Originally Posted by Ringthane

I had polestar added while I was trying to get my Volvo ID issue sorted, two weeks ago, and LV class it as an engine remap and charged me an extra £110 upon renewal.

My dealer got a fair bit of cash out of me that day. £699 for the Polestar and £199 to have my brake and accelerator changed to the R Design ones.

Don’t tell Mrs R though...

£110 That's nearly half my yearly premium.

[volvocat]

Ridiculous.
With that much of a hike, surely it’s got to be worth haggling - or finding a new insurer?
I was originally quoted an increase of £70, immediately reduced to £40 when I complained.
When trading up to a newer model (again with P* obviously!), it was actually slightly cheaper - all esure.
Don’t just accept it...

[simonjedrake]

Again, what a ridiculous premium.
I am also with LV and pay approx an extra £24/annum for a Polestar upgrade.
LV view Polestar in a different manner from the majority of performances upgrade chips/tweaks available because Polster is a Volvo OEM product.
How did you describe Polestar to LV? Perhaps you overdid the additional performance gains........??
Polstar does not turn our motors into a rocketship by any stretch of imagination!

[volvocat]

Originally Posted by simonjedrake

... Polster is a Volvo OEM product.
How did you describe Polestar to LV? Perhaps you overdid the additional performance gains........??
Polstar does not turn our motors into a rocketship by any stretch of imagination!

Good point - always refer to it as ‘optimisation’ (which is exactly what it is, of course) to improve engine and gearbox efficiency, or similar and stress it’s a genuine Volvo option/accessory.
Never say anything like ‘performance upgrade’ - just sets the red lights flashing if they’re already a bit twitchy about such things.

[Crockers]

When I called my insurer (NFU) they asked me was the car the 250 or the 258 bhp version. So obviously they're aware.

[Ringthane]

When I called LV to inform them, the call handler had to refer to her “Technical Department” who classified it as an ECU “chip” performance upgrade.

I thought it was a bit steep but I do live in one of the most expensive postcodes for insurance in the country, so thought it was par for the course.

Now that I have had your feedback, I will go back to them and query it.

For reference, my annual premium went from £840 to £950, for myself and my wife, with one claim in the last five years.

[simonjedrake]

Originally Posted by Ringthane

For reference, my annual premium went from £840 to £950, for myself and my wife, with one claim in the last five years.

I think you really need to shop around and get LV to then match, as even taking into account your high premium location it still seems pretty high at £840 base.
For reference my LV annual premium is now c£260 on below XC60 T5 based on:
Policy for self & wife (both retired) - £250 excess - no accidents - max NCD - garaged - 10,000 miles.
Try NFU for a comparion?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by oscillator

I ordered mine with my new car, but it wasn't installed for 2 weeks after delivery as there was an upgrade pending. The most noticible change is in dynamic mode, where the transmission shifts are faster and seem better timed. In all modes you get a bit more grunt mid range for overtaking, and it all happens quicker. I was told by the dealer that in eco mode on motorways a Polestar car gives better mpg than a non- Polestar car, all other things being equal. Also you get a bit more power going to the rear wheels when cornering hard (cannot really fathom why you'd buy a SUV in the first place if you want to corner hard, but hey ho).
I paid £695 - very difficult to say whether its worth it. It would be interesting to hear from a dealer as to whether Polestar has any effect on resale or trade in value.


XC60 T5 Inscription MY19 Mussel Blue, Blonde, Xenium, Keyless, Polestar

SUV = SPORT Utility Vehicle

[oscillator]

With regard to the insurance debate, if you order Polestar as part of the specification for a new car, it is merely an option on the Volvo website in the same way of adding say the winter pack or bigger wheels.

On that basis there seems to be no reason to proactively tell insurers unless they ask. If its ordered post delivery/registration of the car then that is a different matter.