Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Proz on 11 December 2009, 15:05:46
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Ok im about to possibly buy some 18" or 19" snowflakes and thought id give my insurance people ( the AA ) a call just to tell them ..... they say it will take 2-3 days for them to decide wether they can continue to insure me with those alloys as they are not the standard size ..... wtf ???? :-/
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they standard fit on the Vectra VXR, so not sure why they should be so arsey about it!
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thats poor i would have thought they would say thats ok but it will cost ya more money
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Yeah it kinda caught me by suprise as well .... i told her they were genuine Vx and not some cheap aftermarket stuff but still said it would take a few days to decide .... its because mine are 16"s at the moment and the new ones would be bigger :-/
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thats poor i would have thought they would say thats ok but it will cost ya more money
To begin with all she said was fine if they have locking wheel nuts ... then she asked what was on mine at the moment and the size of the new ones . :'(
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Ok im about to possibly buy some 18" or 19" snowflakes and thought id give my insurance people ( the AA ) a call just to tell them ..... they say it will take 2-3 days for them to decide wether they can continue to insure me with those alloys as they are not the standard size ..... wtf ???? :-/
Copied from a post in genral discussion about insurance
I used to pay £285 on a 2002 3.2 elite with declared stainless exhaust, now pay £571 with exhaust and 19" wheels.. A big price to pay, but if I crash (touch wood) I'm totally covered with a pay out, didn't fancy taking the risk not declaring the moods!!!! It's also a like for like wheel replacement, and there nearly £3,000 from vauxhall new.
Comments by Kingcosy i think :y
Pretty certain hes running 19" Snowflakes as well
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Remember how insurance companies work .. it is all based on "risk" ... and by putting 19" wheels on you are increasing the risk... in their eyes... in 3 ways.
1) You have just declared yourself as part of the "chav" culture in their eyes .. you are now seen as a "boy racer" and are more likely to have an accident.
2) You have just made your car "pretty" and therefore a target for those malcontents who like damaging other peoples property, the chances of being keyed, for example, have risen.
3) Your car is now worth more to a thief, he can stell the car .. which is traceable, but remove the wheels and sell them as they are not.... so the risk of theft has increased.
Therefore they must decide, on the basis of risk, if they think it worth the "gamble" to insure you, and if so .. what "bet" (premium) they wish you to place.
You have your opinions and the ability to change company on your side .... they have masses of data and a clever computer system on theirs .. :)
It really is quite simple at the base level .... its a bet .. you bet you'll get damaged and need a repair .. they bet you won't and keep the premium.. :)
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Remember how insurance companies work .. it is all based on "risk" ... and by putting 19" wheels on you are increasing the risk... in their eyes... in 3 ways.
1) You have just declared yourself as part of the "chav" culture in their eyes .. you are now seen as a "boy racer" and are more likely to have an accident.
2) You have just made your car "pretty" and therefore a target for those malcontents who like damaging other peoples property, the chances of being keyed, for example, have risen.
3) Your car is now worth more to a thief, he can stell the car .. which is traceable, but remove the wheels and sell them as they are not.... so the risk of theft has increased.
Therefore they must decide, on the basis of risk, if they think it worth the "gamble" to insure you, and if so .. what "bet" (premium) they wish you to place.
You have your opinions and the ability to change company on your side .... they have masses of data and a clever computer system on theirs .. :)
It really is quite simple at the base level .... its a bet .. you bet you'll get damaged and need a repair .. they bet you won't and keep the premium.. :)
;D ;D a boy racer in his 40's ;D ;D :D
I do understand were your coming from though :y
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so not sure why they should be so arsey about it!
It's called "Construction & Use".
The manufacturer invested £1,000,000's designing the car to work in the environment it was intended for, there are very few (by comparison) members of Joe Public who actually know what they are doing when they start making modifications to the running gear.
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Proz - Just be careful, make sure its like for like replacement if they say yes, as when you upgrade alloys and declare it, most insurance companies will only replace orignal standard alloys (ie 16" VX one's for yourself). So make sure you request like for like and its on your insurance documents. You will also need to declare spacers(if fitted) as its a seperate modification.
Also the 19" snowflakes were never fitted to a VXR, they were fitted to late vectra SRI's as an upgrade, 18" were the VXR version.... :y
Davethedive, spot on with the snowflakes too bud!!!
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Give Adrian Flux a call when it comes around to renewal. I can do pretty much whatever i want to my car & no effects to premium as long as i inform them of changes. I had the same problem when i wanted to put my 18's on with most companies. I've added a Irmscher Grille, 18's & a boot lip spoiler with no extra cost :y
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Give Adrian Flux a call when it comes around to renewal. I can do pretty much whatever i want to my car & no effects to premium as long as i inform them of changes. I had the same problem when i wanted to put my 18's on with most companies. I've added a Irmscher Grille, 18's & a boot lip spoiler with no extra cost :y
Thanks ...i will do :y
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i beleive the irmscher kit was available factory fit, and snow flakes are vx anyway, so no excuse for refusing to insure you. Sounds like some jobsworth has focused too much on the wheel size to me, and assumed the over all size will increase by the same amount.
Basically means she needs to speak to the underrighters, as she has not clue what she's talking about. Had very similar when declaring my lpg, she didnt know, so default answer is "no, but i'll check" it seems.
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Ok im about to possibly buy some 18" or 19" snowflakes and thought id give my insurance people ( the AA ) a call just to tell them ..... they say it will take 2-3 days for them to decide wether they can continue to insure me with those alloys as they are not the standard size ..... wtf ???? :-/
Dont tell em anything mate,i never have in the past and never will.they have enough money out of us motorists.In 1997 when i wrapped my car round a lampost,wall etc ::),they still paid me out,and the car was modded with alloys,lowered k&n filter etc.
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Your speedo would be well out
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
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Your speedo would be well out
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
With 225/40/18 speedo says 60mph actual would be 58.5 ..thats not to bad
With 235/40/18 speedo says 60mph and actual would be 59.2mph :y
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Your speedo would be well out
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
Most speedometers are out anyway. I trust my satnav more than the speedo :)
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Your speedo would be well out
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
Most speedometers are out anyway. I trust my satnav more than the speedo :)
Yes so do i .... :y
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I have had some experience with this. You are correct that they will only replace with a standard wheel unless you have a modified vehicle policy from someone like Performance direct. If they had to replace two 19" wheels on your car at Vauxhall prices, your car would almost certainly be classed as a write off, if you needed 4 it would unbelievably be a cat c,as you would undoubtable need tyres as well. Having dealt a fair bit with alloy wheels and tyres, I would also advise you that I have yet to get in a set of 19s that haven't in some way had buckles in. BMW rims are bar far and away the worst. If you need your speedo readjusting, then the one and only Speedy cables is the only place to go. www.speedycables.com
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I have had some experience with this. You are correct that they will only replace with a standard wheel unless you have a modified vehicle policy from someone like Performance direct. If they had to replace two 19" wheels on your car at Vauxhall prices, your car would almost certainly be classed as a write off, if you needed 4 it would unbelievably be a cat c,as you would undoubtable need tyres as well. Having dealt a fair bit with alloy wheels and tyres, I would also advise you that I have yet to get in a set of 19s that haven't in some way had buckles in. BMW rims are bar far and away the worst. If you need your speedo readjusting, then the one and only Speedy cables is the only place to go. www.speedycables.com
Im leaning towards the 18" ones because i do belive the 19" as you say would be easily bent :y
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I have had some experience with this. You are correct that they will only replace with a standard wheel unless you have a modified vehicle policy from someone like Performance direct. If they had to replace two 19" wheels on your car at Vauxhall prices, your car would almost certainly be classed as a write off, if you needed 4 it would unbelievably be a cat c,as you would undoubtable need tyres as well. Having dealt a fair bit with alloy wheels and tyres, I would also advise you that I have yet to get in a set of 19s that haven't in some way had buckles in. BMW rims are bar far and away the worst. If you need your speedo readjusting, then the one and only Speedy cables is the only place to go. www.speedycables.com
Im leaning towards the 18" ones because i do belive the 19" as you say would be easily bent :y
I run 18's on my DTi. I've had no problems at all, i am very carefull though, i avoid most holes & the like :y
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You can run 225/40/19 on the 19" snowflakes to help the protection for the alloy. :y :y :y
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Well i have just had the insurance on the phone and if i put anything other than the standard 16" alloys on they will have to cancel the policy and start a new one because its a modification ..... i suppose thats what i get for being to honest and telling them ... should have just stuck them on :-/
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Well i have just had the insurance on the phone and if i put anything other than the standard 16" alloys on they will have to cancel the policy and start a new one because its a modification ..... i suppose thats what i get for being to honest and telling them ... should have just stuck them on :-/
As said earlier in the thread proz,dont tell the effers >:(
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Your speedo would be well out
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
Most speedometers are out anyway. I trust my satnav more than the speedo :)
Satnavs always read under due to the way they calculate position based on a grid with you traversing the shortest distance across it (which in reality, you never do) :y
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Your speedo would be well out
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
Most speedometers are out anyway. I trust my satnav more than the speedo :)
Satnavs always read under due to the way they calculate position based on a grid with you traversing the shortest distance across it (which in reality, you never do) :y
Makes me wonder how they can sometimes fine folk for doing a few miles over when there's nothing to drive to the correct speed by :-/