Z4 worth the high insurance?
- Thread starter tyers
- Start date
JohnV said:
It's just someone trying to be funny, most of the sites on comparison engines are just brokers anyway, the only people to actually offer their own insurance are the underwriters, virtually none of which offer insurance directly. The only brokers you can ring to get a better deal are those that dont opt in to comparisons sites which are few and far between, usually specialist or classic insurers who sometimes cover normal cars, certainly doesn't mean they'll be cheaper. High Street brokers nearly always operate under a larger company name and offer the same services as ringing the main company and a lot simply browse comparison sites for you behind the counter.
I'm having real trouble reinsuring my 3.0 Z4 for what I consider a reasonable price, paid £860 comp last year and this year it's coming in at about the same (98% of quotes though are over £1000). 28 yrs old, 8 years no claims, clean history and licence and apparently a category C postcode area. That postcode list is so wrong and out of date though, it's nothing but a very vague generalisation which you could make yourself (a farm in Cornwall is cheaper than an apartment block in Brixton). My postcode seems to be horrendous despite being C, my girlfriend has a Walsall postcode which is D* and to insure it there is instead £300 cheaper, a friend lives by Clifton and it's again £300 cheaper at his address.
So far the cheapest companies for me are Direct Line and A-plan.
im 21 with 1 years no claims with elephant. my quote was 1050
put a parent as your second driver will drop it by hundreds ( took 800 off mine)
pay it off in one go can half it (80% extra for pay monthly with elephant)
get a new quote every week and save them. prices can fluctuate by a few hundred
put a parent as your second driver will drop it by hundreds ( took 800 off mine)
pay it off in one go can half it (80% extra for pay monthly with elephant)
get a new quote every week and save them. prices can fluctuate by a few hundred
Though I don't think that's the full story being single (not married not alone) makes a big difference toMike
If I was in your position I wouldn't be keen to spend 2k on insurance.
It is a fair few quid.
It is a very nice car but...
it is only a car.
That insurance money could be a winter in Australia, mountain biking the Appalachian trail, climbing Makalu, whatever you like. Within a few years you will have knocked up a few interesting jaunts, and the insurance will have been halved.
My insurance is £300 and it doesn't stop me doing other stuff, if it was more I would be driving something in insurance group 2.
If I was in your position I wouldn't be keen to spend 2k on insurance.
It is a fair few quid.
It is a very nice car but...
it is only a car.
That insurance money could be a winter in Australia, mountain biking the Appalachian trail, climbing Makalu, whatever you like. Within a few years you will have knocked up a few interesting jaunts, and the insurance will have been halved.
My insurance is £300 and it doesn't stop me doing other stuff, if it was more I would be driving something in insurance group 2.
doofus4000
Active member
Cars to a lot of people on this forum are more than just a mode of transportation tho!!
the Zed is often an absolute joy to own.
but would I spend thousands? no.
Is it worth a lot extra? no.
As someone who hasn't owned a car less than insurance group 18 in the last 20 years I do understand the the pleasure of fast saloons too. Still if the premiums had cost me dear I am pretty sure that I would have had a string of focuses or whatever it is that costs peanuts to insure nowadays.
When all is said and done a fast car doesn't push your personal limits. There are much more cost effective ways to take your life beyond the humdrum.
but would I spend thousands? no.
Is it worth a lot extra? no.
As someone who hasn't owned a car less than insurance group 18 in the last 20 years I do understand the the pleasure of fast saloons too. Still if the premiums had cost me dear I am pretty sure that I would have had a string of focuses or whatever it is that costs peanuts to insure nowadays.
When all is said and done a fast car doesn't push your personal limits. There are much more cost effective ways to take your life beyond the humdrum.
lacroupade
Veteran
Finisterre said:
I'd agree. Much as I'd love a balls-out really fast car, running costs and insurance (I'm an A risk muhahaha!) pointed me straight at the 2.0 and I've never regretted it. Enough power to play silly buggers when you want to (I think its more of a challenge to get the best out of a smaller motor personally), but economical enough on all fronts to be a trouble free ride for the last five and a half years. I think £2k on insurance is just looney.
Having said that, its alleged that insurance costs may come down a bit over the next year or two after some unsubstantiated rises.
GIven that prices are in the toilet right now, maybe one option might be to look at costs for a 2.0 and run it for a year to see how you like it, then the cost to upgrade to a bigger engine shouldn't be so much...?
£1100 for a <25y/o is worth it anyday to me. As long as its an M, if its a 2.5 its not worth it. Maybe for a 3.0.
In my opinion life is worth living for the now not for the later and if you can afford it, and it wont put you in trouble then go for it. Thing you have to realise is that you wont get your money back and it will cost more than your joe average car to run and service. Going from a Fiesta to a Zd is a fair jump in terms of cost and quality. Worth it to me anyway, but then I did buy a lesser car first and worked my way up.
I didn't want to be middle aged and only just buying my first car of my dreams. You never know whats round the corner, and from how my dad is I know for sure he would have enjoyed the cars hes owned more earlier in life than he does now so that was my inspiration. Plus I am in a fortunate position to do so.
In my opinion life is worth living for the now not for the later and if you can afford it, and it wont put you in trouble then go for it. Thing you have to realise is that you wont get your money back and it will cost more than your joe average car to run and service. Going from a Fiesta to a Zd is a fair jump in terms of cost and quality. Worth it to me anyway, but then I did buy a lesser car first and worked my way up.
I didn't want to be middle aged and only just buying my first car of my dreams. You never know whats round the corner, and from how my dad is I know for sure he would have enjoyed the cars hes owned more earlier in life than he does now so that was my inspiration. Plus I am in a fortunate position to do so.
I've owned 3.0 and now an M but also had a 2-litre for a couple of weeks when someone ran into the side of my old car.
I can see both sides to this debate - the 2-litre was well equipped, with M wheel, sports seats and 18" wheels etc and felt very nice and solid. In 80% of situations it would satisfy most peoples needs and on a sunny day with the roof down it was great. If it is purely the aesthetics of a Roadster that you are interested in then it is the perfect model.
But, and this is a big but to ME, some of us buy fast cars not only because of aesthetics but because we want to feel the rush of adrenalin a very fast accelerating and great handling car provides and in the case of the M, the noise that accompanies this. If anyone says "ah but in these days of congested roads you can't use the performance" I'd say total BS. I use it regularly.
I don't do many miles in my M these days (40 a week average) but when I use it I take it on 30-40 mile runs out on good driving roads and I have a right blast and I love it. It is to me one of lifes pleasures. I just could not get that feeling in a 2-litre and I am speaking from plenty of experience of driving one.
I'm fortunate that my disposable income allows me to stomach the running costs. I have a nice house and I'm divorced with no children so I have choices that others perhaps don't. May as well enjoy life.
So - a 2-litre is a good bet for many but understand please that for some of us, paying the extra for the 3.0/M is also very worth it indeed.
I can see both sides to this debate - the 2-litre was well equipped, with M wheel, sports seats and 18" wheels etc and felt very nice and solid. In 80% of situations it would satisfy most peoples needs and on a sunny day with the roof down it was great. If it is purely the aesthetics of a Roadster that you are interested in then it is the perfect model.
But, and this is a big but to ME, some of us buy fast cars not only because of aesthetics but because we want to feel the rush of adrenalin a very fast accelerating and great handling car provides and in the case of the M, the noise that accompanies this. If anyone says "ah but in these days of congested roads you can't use the performance" I'd say total BS. I use it regularly.
I don't do many miles in my M these days (40 a week average) but when I use it I take it on 30-40 mile runs out on good driving roads and I have a right blast and I love it. It is to me one of lifes pleasures. I just could not get that feeling in a 2-litre and I am speaking from plenty of experience of driving one.
I'm fortunate that my disposable income allows me to stomach the running costs. I have a nice house and I'm divorced with no children so I have choices that others perhaps don't. May as well enjoy life.
So - a 2-litre is a good bet for many but understand please that for some of us, paying the extra for the 3.0/M is also very worth it indeed.
indeed the rush is good.
And on country lanes even the 2 can frighten me into a blue funk.
But I get the impression the OP is going to be a little stretched financially.
And in that case I don't think it is worth it.
And on country lanes even the 2 can frighten me into a blue funk.
But I get the impression the OP is going to be a little stretched financially.
And in that case I don't think it is worth it.
For me, I just liked the idea of a convertible. I also need acceleration which is why I wasn't going to get one under 3litre. I've had it for a year, driven it with the roof off maybe 20 times at a push (it's England). The handling is awesome and it's fairly quick to accelerate but by no means anything incredible. It's also got it's problems though, such as obscene tyre costs, things have a habit of falling off (springs, headlight washer covers, brake lights) For me I find it really hard to justify paying even £1000 for insurance, I was paying that on a Ford Escort when I was 19, it came down ever since, to go back up is daft. I was paying £250 comp on a 5.7 V8 only a year ago and I think that may well be what I do again, American insurance seems to have stayed fairly stable so if I can get the acceleration for peanuts insurance wise then it's worthwhile and a yank V8 sounds a hell of a lot better than my Z4 even with the noise generator slightly altered. Even a Ford Fiesta is coming in at £700 for me and it's all down to my area.
I've always had big diesel saloons (BMWs/Volvos) but even they seem to have shot up in insurance costs.
I've always had big diesel saloons (BMWs/Volvos) but even they seem to have shot up in insurance costs.