Sundance

Yes! Yes! Hi Pete, if I understand your post correctly you are contemplating buying, or have committed to buy, a car with existing fault codes of which the source/suspected problem has not been corrected. That's an immediate NO-NO for me, my advice is do not proceed (more especially if it's on sale from a 'trade seller' as they should know better!).

Good news Andy. Age shall not weary them nor the age condemn. Belt & water pump ought not to be overlooked mind, and plugs too for that matter. My thoughts have recently turned to plugs (89k), not a job for the faint hearted I gather.

Hi Ian, if I were you I'd be looking to sell the car with the 18" set fitted - more appropriate than the smaller wheels in my book - and offer the 17" winter set as an optional extra. Then, as Colin suggests, it's not the best time of year to sell a winter set of tyres anyway so if they're not wanted you can keep them and hopefully get a decent/better price in the Autumn. Good Luck.

I'm not at all convinced that underwriters any longer recognise the financial consequences that used to differentiate between 'fault' and 'no fault' claims. It seems to be more a question of finding any reason to load your premium ... even if there isn't one!! It's got to the point where we might need to seriously consider joining such lawlessness and settle claims (where financially viable) without notifying insurers on the off chance that maintaining a 'clean sheet' might at some stage be of self benefit. That said I'm not holding my breath!

Forgive me for commenting Alan, no offence intended, but it never ceases to amaze me how anyone can prudently afford to buy a new car given the immediate depreciation the moment it's driven off the forecourt 🤔 . Unless of course there's some kind of tax dodge or corporate involvement, then I might understand. As for selling to WBAC, it's not difficult to beat their prices which must allow for a significant profit margin at auction, namely that of their owners, BCA 😋 .

Just one of the many contrasts between Fife and Cheshire. 😉

I renewed in early February. Last year I paid £432 underwritten by 1st Central. This year I sought online comparison quotes 25-30 days before renewal date, such a prior period is suggested in order to achieve a level of competitiveness as premiums quoted inexplicably rise nearer to actual renewal date. I think it's called profiteering. I also contacted Companies who do not quote on comparison sites. Many Companies I researched quoted significantly high levels of compulsory excess, some as high as £1220 whereas my policy holds to £350. The highest premium I was quoted was £1,550 with Direct Line (£500 excess) closely followed by LV at £1,087 (£700 excess). I ended up staying with 1st Central who quoted £650 (£350 excess, 14 years NCB, protected). Insurance premiums seem to have become very arbitrary, the cause behind such apparent randomness is concerning.

That isn't going to happen Andy, you'll have to PM him otherwise he won't respond.

Or here's a link to a solution of last resort. The comments might be of equal interest to you ...

Hi John. Your 400h, and mine, is of an age when issues will occur and clearly you've been very unlucky - or perhaps I've been lucky! Probably both. Such a pity that you've drawn the short straw as I know you've had many problems with it. I can understand your view but try not to tar the whole brand with that brush because Lexus as a marque is head and shoulders above so many others. Good luck with your next car, whatever you choose.

Hey Ifti ... The usual thread hijacking going on above I see, same old suspects, some just love talking among themselves 😆 . Back on topic, every car has its price so there must be a good reason it's not selling 🤔 . The used market's not great mind, on the slide some might say, but keep trying eh? Is it on AutoTrader? I don't see it on the 'Cars for Sale' Forum!?! No details. Makes me wonder, do you really want it sold? 😃

Best you keep your spellchecker disabled Malc! 😉

Hi DellBoy, I think if you search for other thread titles containing 'insurance' you'll find lots of others have noticed and we're all in the same boat. All but the very odd exception to the rule means that we can expect hikes of 50% this year and, as in your case, maybe more. Always worth spending time on all the comparisons sites and then wait for Dan from Adrian Flux to pop his head over the parapet touting business - not that he's all that competitive either given what others have posted!

Sadly you're unlikely to receive any response to specific questions from Dan as he appears to only chime in when there's the possibility of business to be had, although clearly in this case it has rebounded on him. I've asked for his professional comments on market trends on another thread but reply came there none. One would have thought he might benefit from explaining his position but evidently he does not consider that to be profitable.

Ahah, that's sounds more like it, thanks for the clarity 👌.

It's quite possible that people are reading far more into premium increases than is necessary or indeed fact-based. I certainly can't imagine those involved in mundane economic underwriting having the wherewithal to take a so-called political trend into account when making their calculations. 😄 We have an under-staffed and under-funded Police force who appear to rely almost entirely on cctv, dashcams or private cameras these days and whilst they are taking hours if not days to be located, rewound, viewed and interpreted the stolen vehicles have already left Felixstowe in a container! 🤷‍♂️

That's not strictly true Andrew. You might mean that LV are no longer insuring your RX. They quoted on my RX, albeit a Gen2 400h, but it would have been a 150% premium increase over last year so therefore not for me. Even my old bus was subject to a 50% premium increase when I renewed with my existing insurer this very week. No other quotes, of which I researched many but with no outright refusals, came close enough on the same terms. As you correctly mention, significant hikes in compulsory excesses did tend to dominate my findings and do seem to have become very popular with underwriters ... perhaps for all RX models 🤔.

Why ever not? I agree with Al, no business is going to pursue loss leaders if the loss gets out of hand or too large to recover. Insurers are not obliged to insure you or your items if it's not considered profitable. It's not greed, it's basic economics. Ultimately the manufacturers will suffer if their product is considered not fit for purpose (ie. too easy to steal) so it's down to them to make cars more secure rather than the insurer agreeing to make a loss.

I assume that you meant to type quiet. Bosch are almost certainly the best. They may also be the most expensive. But if you buy cheap you buy twice!

I know Malc, isn't it comforting to talk to a real human being, I wholeheartedly agree, I had a nice chat with them too. Chris Knott Insurance have positioned themselves over 30+ years as traditional brokers for which I give them huge credit, mainly that they still exist in the current market, but sadly it doesn't make them competitive in an age when money talks far more than it ever did. 😐

Yes Phil, they are a Broker, but don't expect them to pull up trees for you simply because of that. BTW ... are you on commission Malc?

Wealth ... 😂! As in the eye of the beholder you must mean! 🤣 And yes, Chris Knott came back with a best of £798, funnily enough through LV, nearly £300 less than LV's online quote. Oh how I hate the vagaries of insurance quotes. 🙄

Have you tried googling "hybrid battery specialists in Surrey"? ... BTW - Forum comment suggests that most leaks are courtesy of the sun roof ... assuming you have one of course! Hope this helps.