Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

The car insurance industry is fucked at the moment, add into that all the financial uncertainty they are increasing prices and reducing the amount they pay out on claims.

We’ve paid between £320 -£350 for a regular and classic car on admiral multicast for years now. I always manage to get the quote down by calling them. But this year was £600. They don’t even offer a classic car policy anymore.

will factor in AA inspection

Cant help from a car choice perspective but I thoroughly recommend these inspections to anyone looking to buy from a private seller (even one you know/trust). Saved me thousands in stopping me buying a LEMON audi estate once. Definitely worth the couple hundred quid for the inspection

If you like a roomster would a Berlingo not suffice?

On the insurance ^^ ours has gone up £180, no claims or accidents just a rinsing.

last year £600ish

this year £1,600ish

I had something comparable, It wasn't as much of an increase as this but it was way beyond the usual 'bump it by £100 to see if he notices' thing they tried. I called Admiral and the best they'd do was decrease by £50.

Having been with them for eight years and never claimed, I moved insurers and the price became reasonable again, though still noticably more expensive than it was a couple of years ago.
Because I'm petty, I also moved my wife's car and my annual travel insurance. I'll also be moving our home and contents insurance when it comes for renewal in the New Year.

Nope, this is what it's like now.

It's basically to pay all the car hire companies who have got rich because the supply chain for parts to make repairs has been fucked.

enjoy!

Jeez - what a shit show.

so it's trawl the comparison sites for the least bad deal.

still can't quite get my head round a £1k increase for two middle aged drivers with full NCB.

@PhilDAS looked at Dacia Jogger, love it! Bit pricey though than what I'd like to spend (£10k) .. whats Dacia?!

whats Dacia?!

Romanian sub-brand of Renault

Anyone ever tried a battery blanket? My new £12 cap has worked a treat in stopping the windows frosting up but after 4 weeks of not driving the battery is flat from the cold. Not an issue for me to open the bonnet each time i want to use the car in this weather.

https://www.conrad.com/en/p/proplus-battery-thermal-cover-hgvs-suvs-van-bus-cars-camper-vans-aluminium-batteries-88-92-ah-2339710.html#productTechData

My new £12 cap

Do you have a link?

It's one of those things with a billion options.

I still am inclined to think that insurers try it on at renewal time to see if you will notice or CBA to change. I went from lightly modified Abarth 595 to Toyota iQ and the annual renewal premium (through Adrian Flux) was more on the latter than on the former. Phone operator wasn't interested at all, shopped around for 10 mins on comparison site, got reasonable premium.

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-accessories/car-covers-tarpaulins/halfords-car-cap---small-428518.html

Think mine might be a medium but i had a discount that got it down to £12. Surprised people aren't using them more in this weather.

Last year I used my old ripped motorcycle cover. Absolute game changer especially for early breakfast club starts.

I was wondering what is in those aerosols. I have a can with no gas left that I made a hole in and have been sprinkling that on the windscreen ahead of time and it works well enough. Just thinking if I could buy the liquid cheaper and spray from a manual bottle.

They can be very expensive here, I had my heart set on one as a runabout.

Aux drive belt just shredded when I started the berlingo. It owes us nothing but is becoming a money pit. The Passat owner has sorted tyre & getting garage quote on the other mot fail issue so looks like that's a better option albeit a bit of a gamble still.

Seized alternator, seized tensioner or just old belt.

Oh so....do like a Berlingo.

Old belt I reckon, maybe tensioner too though

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Edges damaged means I'd like to check the out of alignment pulleys. Checking to see if a water, power steering or air con pump that has play.

Does the engine have a rubber mounted main pulley that is failing?

It's niche - 97 in UK and 9 in this colour. It's a Volvo estate. It's been fettled with by Polestar before they went all electric. And it has a supercharger and a turbo.

V60 polestar? Mine has similar distribution numbers to what you've said

I haven't looked closer tbh, it's a 3 spanners job in the Haynes manual starting with wheel chocks and jacking up the front which is well beyond my skill set or patience. I think the spares/repairs ad will just say byob or trailer / towbar.

No worries

Yah, 2016 so sans electric powered rear axle. This one is engine powered exclusively. I recall some time ago you had some bodywork issues - concrete dust? Is the newer Polestar Engineered T8 what you ended up with?

I expect to be officially relieved of my vehicle tomorrow. I don’t plan to hang about this time, 2 weeks self imposed limit to find a new car.

Yeah, an S90 was covered in concrete, the insurance covered an upgrade to the V60 twin engine T8 thing

Honda jazz?