C43 - Just bought, servicing and insurance Qs

[Gridlock]

Hi all

Just bought a C43 (this one, in fact) and have the usual questions about what I should look for, get checked etc as well as the best place to get insurance.

I'm replacing the rear discs and pads Monday due to a slight lip, I've read through the forums here and I guess I should ask for an ATF fluid + filter change too? It's already had a gearbox explosion though so the new one fitted has less than 3K miles on it.

No pictures yet but she's very clean other than rust on all 4 arches (!) None of it is serious but I've been told to visit a main dealer and see if I can't get a warranty claim on the galvanised body - has anyone with a 4th owner 10 year old C43 had success with this?

I wish I had parktronic - other than the rear blind this seems to be the only option missing - so has anyone fitted an 'invisible' reversing sensor system, or have any recommendations as to which to get?

Will update once I've got some pics but I'm very, very happy with it so far.

I'm 29 with no NCB (it's in use on my little toy, a supercharged VR6 Mk2 Golf Gti ) and have found the best quote is just under 1K from Admiral. Even HIC who've always done me proud with my VW and Audis couldn't beat it. Anyone? I have a tracker.

Love the blue colour, love the wheels, love the interior, very very happy with my first Merc (under £5 grand for a £52 grand car!)

 

[Myros]

congrats, nice little runaround

depending on what you do for a living, and whether you can qualify as a civil servant, or former one, or teacher or nurse, Liverpool Victoria usually come out quite well.

 

[Gridlock]

I'm an e-commerce manager

Mate's an AA patrol man, younger than me, 0 NCB, Jag XJR, no tracker - 700 quid.

The thing that annoys me is they're not treating me any differently to someone who's got 0 NCB through claiming when it's their own stupid rules that means I can't just say I have 3y worth because they're in use elsewhere. Surely the whole point of NCB is that it's universal?

 

[Mark A]

Have you tried asking Admiral for a multi-car quote and move your GTI over to admiral also ??

 

[mikestrivens]

Hi Gridlock
I had the same argument with my Zurich Insurance Company when I bought my W140. I had 15 years NCB on the W124 and I wanted the same on the other car as I am only ever going to drive one at a time. In the end they agreed to mirror the insurance NCB and charged me £300 for the W140. I am a 52 year old lecturer. I believe Admiral do multi car policies and this is something I shall look at when I next renew - see message above.

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
Welcome to the forum,
When I bought my C43 it was as a second car, and I had the same problem the NCB only valid for one vehicle, I stopped the current insurance and got a new policy for the C43 (as this was the most expensive to insure of the two cars) and the new insurance company said I could have 50% discount off of a the second car as I would be the only driver, that was direct line, the following year the 50% discount was meant to finish but I managed to get it for another year by applying on line for it.
I now have max NCB on one car and 2 years on the other.
I have never understood why you cannot insure more than one car on a policy.
Enjoy your C43, as they are superb machines, and having owned mine now for over 2 years I have come to the conclusion that I will never sell it, it will be my weekend toy.

 

[bigasotonuk]

Have you tried asking Admiral for a multi-car quote and move your GTI over to admiral also ??

I tried admiral for a multi car quote, and the price was more expensive than it was to insure the two cars with 2 separate policies (only 1 having NCB applied to it).
Insurance companies do change like the wind in my experience, the one which is most expensive this year will be the cheapest next, well this is what I have found.
Keep us posted as mine is up for renewal in the next month or so, good luck.

 

[Gridlock]

Multicar would be miraculous if cheaper, as the Golf is running about 320bhp and all mods are declared most insurers won't touch it.

Might have to work the phones tonight, see what I can do. Comparison sites are ok for indicative but I guess you can't beat a bit of plaintive negotiation.

A relative works for LV, have asked them if there's anything they can do..

 

[Mark A]

Unfortunately what is best insurance wise for you may not be best for me & VV.

I was with direct line with my Jag, and when I added the CLK430 to the fold I was told that they couldn't even quote me as both cars required a minimum of 2yrs no-claims bonus and I didn't have any for a 2nd car. They suggested putting my wife as main driver on one, and they would mirror her NCB for the ML.

 

[Gridlock]

DL asked me to leave too... Despite being a household with 1 contents policy and 1 motor policy already (my flatmate).

So what happens when I start a second policy? I have 2 NCB tracks running? Can I combine them?

****** insurers, give them a license to print money and they still screw you over...

 

[bigasotonuk]

No you can,t combine them as far as i,m aware, have you tried Adrian S Flux as they were always quite good as far as modified cars go, i may try them myself, when its time.

 

[Quickbrit]

I'll second Adrian Flux - they've always treated my right, they cut me a good deal on my current clunker and they were the only one who would insure me on a U.S. licence.

If you mention that you belong to this forum, I'm pretty sure you'll get an additional discount.

MikeE

No you can,t combine them as far as i,m aware, have you tried Adrian S Flux as they were always quite good as far as modified cars go, i may try them myself, when its time.

 

[Gridlock]

I'll give Flux a call tomorrow but I've been with HIC for 5 years, currently have 2 policies with them and they're owned by Flux, so my mileage may vary

 

[Gridlock]

Ooh, one more question - where's my cupholders?!

I have them in the back but not the front, is there a way to switch one of the storage bins/trays to contain cupholders?

Small thing but was disappointed to find out there weren't any..

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Ooh, one more question - where's my cupholders?! I have them in the back but not the front,

This is a design feature - introduced when it was realised that chauffeur's slurping might waken senior management in the back seat. Also discourages drinking and driving.

 

[television]

And the last place that you need a cup holder is over the gearshift, just spill a few drops and it gets very expensive

 

[MBDevotee]

Ask to "mirror" the NCB - explain that obviously you can only drive one car at a time.

Some companies will some companies won't....

I'm with Admiral for the CLK and they were MUCH cheaper. Basically I'm lucky I have 2 Full NCB's, I have often had 2 cars over the years, and with some wheeling dealing have managed to build up 2 full NCB's - all you have to do is to remember that if you are ever with only one car, you need to alternate the policies to keep both NCB's up and running (I think if you don't insure a car using it for 2 years they miraculously "forget" your NCB and you have to start all over again !)

Con artists the lot of em

 

[car2tref]

Hi all

Just bought a C43 (this one, in fact) and have the usual questions about what I should look for, get checked etc as well as the best place to get insurance.

I'm replacing the rear discs and pads Monday due to a slight lip, I've read through the forums here and I guess I should ask for an ATF fluid + filter change too? It's already had a gearbox explosion though so the new one fitted has less than 3K miles on it.

No pictures yet but she's very clean other than rust on all 4 arches (!) None of it is serious but I've been told to visit a main dealer and see if I can't get a warranty claim on the galvanised body - has anyone with a 4th owner 10 year old C43 had success with this?

I wish I had parktronic - other than the rear blind this seems to be the only option missing - so has anyone fitted an 'invisible' reversing sensor system, or have any recommendations as to which to get?

Will update once I've got some pics but I'm very, very happy with it so far.

I'm 29 with no NCB (it's in use on my little toy, a supercharged VR6 Mk2 Golf Gti ) and have found the best quote is just under 1K from Admiral. Even HIC who've always done me proud with my VW and Audis couldn't beat it. Anyone? I have a tracker.

Love the blue colour, love the wheels, love the interior, very very happy with my first Merc (under £5 grand for a £52 grand car!)

I just bought a C43 off pistonheads as well and I use swiftcover.com after using them for a modified turbo diesel Focus and I pay £150 fully comp on C43 and they were only too happy to cover both cars with my NCB, I'm 52 and have never had to claim.(touch wood) I have only used them for the past year!!

 

[Gridlock]

Loving it!

 

[bigasotonuk]

Looking nice, is the interior designo or all black?