Insurance for NA turbo

captaincabinets · Postby **captaincabinets** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 3:06 pm

Hi all

Looking at purchasing a modified NA turbo for daily driving / weekend use. I've looked at productreview regarding Shannons and Just Car and both seem to have a fair share of unhappy customers (2.3 and 2.4 out of 5 each). I will contact both of them for quotes, as well as Famous Insurance.

Any tips, tricks, or suggestions from the MX5 experts?

Thanks in advance

smy0003 · Postby **smy0003** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 3:18 pm

Which state?

Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk

captaincabinets · Postby **captaincabinets** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 3:30 pm

Sorry, this is in SA

So far I have full comp quotes all three. Famous and Shannons. ~$500 p/a for the former and ~$900 p/a for the latter.

Just Car quoted me ~$550 p/a but are only offering an agreed value $2000 less than the other two.

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 3:59 pm

I would give Shannon's 5 out of 5 as a product review! You can't make your judgement on the responses of 58 people of which 30 have been negative. It would appear that it is just negative people getting a load off their chest(s).

Had a look at other insurance companies on that site and they are all about the same. So Shannon's score make it just as good as the others!

Be wary of these sort of sites, just like Can Star ratings, it is not what it appears http://www.canstar.com.au/about-canstar/

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 4:15 pm

Product review sites are normally filled with review from people who are annoyed and stupid.

When buying my washing machine I read a few, one review was along the lines of "dont buy this washing machine it broke after the first use: my 8 year old son was jumping on the lid and this flimsy washing machine broke, when I told them how it broke they refused to replace it for free, zero stars"

People annoyed with a product will always be louder and tell more people than those happy with a product.

Anyway, i'd say Shannons as well, even when i've had to make claims they've been fine to deal with.
Regarding the turbo, make sure you confirm with them if it's ok, while many will say a turbo is all good there is still the "must be roadworthy" part that it may not meet.

captaincabinets · Postby **captaincabinets** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 4:21 pm

Thank you for the replies Kansei and Magpie.

Definitely agree there are some vocal angry people out there. Might give Famous a call to confirm turbo as I only have an online quote.

I will say that the Shannons rep on the phone was much, much more friendly and helpful than Just Car. Maybe luck of the draw, but Just Car also refused to email me a quote, where the other two did it right away. I get the feeling Just Car is trying to be young and hip but are actually a bit behind.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 4:32 pm

My understanding is that Justcar specialises in high risk vehicles.
So heavily modified cars, young drivers, drivers with bad records, etc, etc.

Shannons specialise in similar vehicles, but also classic cars, and are also far more selective in their drivers (ie: I think they refuse those under 21, or at least add a substantial amount to the quote)

Worth noting that i'm pretty sure Justcar, Shannons, and AAMI are all owned by Suncorp anyway, and are in essence branches of the same tree, hence they can be somewhat specialised.

Not familiar with Famous so cant comment.

Budget Direct wouldn't even give me a quote for the daily, said it was "too risky".........
it's a 2002 MG ZT sedan.... not exactly a risky, fast, car.

legume · Postby **legume** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 5:16 pm

Dawes is another one. My brother had that and said they were ok. The only reason he didnt reinsure with them was that Shannons offered multi policies for his dailies.

I have Youi with my Legnum VR4. Seem alright. Probably could of got a little cheaper if I looked around, but their service was great. Plus comes with free roadside assist. They will allow modifications if legal.

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 5:59 pm

captaincabinets wrote:I get the feeling Just Car is trying to be young and hip but are actually a bit behind.

Oxymoron?

captaincabinets · Postby **captaincabinets** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 6:08 pm

project.r.racing wrote:
captaincabinets wrote:I get the feeling Just Car is trying to be young and hip but are actually a bit behind.
Oxymoron?

How so?

rossint · Postby **rossint** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 6:49 pm

I'm with Shannon's, not had any trouble with them but my only claim was to get my windscreen replaced that had two small cracks. One phone call and the windscreen guy came to my place the next day. They have CAMS and limited use discounts.
What did Shannon's say about the turbo? I'm turboing mine soon and haven't had that conversation with them yet.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 7:31 pm

recently we had a thread recently on Insurance specifically asking about Famous. One of the guys spending was an insider i.e. worked in the industry. He was not all that complimentary about Shannons and you would have to take some notice of someone with real experience across a wide spectrum.Read the comments on the forum. It certainly persuaded me to consider Famous though I am not making any recommendations. It does not hold much water to suggest ignoring unhappy users posting information and naturally people will complain rather than give compliments.

There are probably no "tricks". You have to disclose all mods unless one wants to take the risk of getting caught out and then blacklisted i.e. by virtue of the questions that any insurer now asks.If a claim is rejected it can be an ongoing stain.

Many people don't buy certain cars because they cost too much to insure. A modified i.e. turbo NA may fit that description. Its probably a car worth $10,000 and may cost the same to insure as a car worth say $30,000. Some people don't care but it's a cost one pays yearly. IF the car has not been purchased weigh up the cost of ownership.

randyMX5 ImBack · Postby **randyMX5 ImBack** » Tue Mar 01, 2016 2:05 pm

I have my turbo NA insured with shannons and have been for over 20+ years granted it is now currently insured as 'layed up' and has been since 2008.

purchased the NA in 1992, turbo'ed since 1995. As far as Shannons were concerned it was in the process of being 'engineered'. During this time I had one claim which was hassle free (taxi reversed into my parked car). Car has not been on the road since 2008. I will get it engineered oneday. Soon maybe

PeterB · Postby **PeterB** » Tue Mar 01, 2016 4:11 pm

I have had a NA6 turbo insured with Shannons and have had other modified MX5s with them. As an older driver with good history and a long term car club member their rates were good.

However they were explicit that all modifications had to be listed and the car engineered and fully road legal, otherwise the policy was void. They allowed a reasonable period of insurance whilst the turbo was installed and engineered, provided I declared the mods as I went and I had a plan to engineer it.

I know of claims being rejected for undeclared modifications (not MX5s).

My one claim was for a written off XR6, other driver at fault, and they were very prompt in payment and buy back price was reasonable. The car was dríven by my teenage son so I expected a hassle, but it was trouble free.