modifications and insurance/MOT implications

[Guest]

Hi all I am a relative newbie here.
I am currently working in Florida USA and looking at the feasibility of buying another car here and shipping home to UK.
However most of the interesting cars here are heavily modified - performance wise!.
Will this be an issue in the UK or France or are there insurance companies who cater for this i.e. kit cars etc?
I am referring to heavily modified cars and not just changing exhaust/air filters etc.
here are some examples of the tempting cars

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=221063

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=220333

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=219625

Do any of you have cars which are set up for the track and street?

I know this is not strictly Carerra stuff , but I think it has more traffic than the other forums, and I did used to won an 86 Cab. [8|]


Thanks for any help
Regards
Ben

 

[Guest]

Wow, nice cars.

I have followed the development of Craig's car on Pelican and it looks like the safest bang for buck bet of the 3. However, the R-Gruppe car would be the one that pulled my heartstrings the most.

In the UK, your insurance options are limited with conventional insurers - they hate modified cars and will load your premium 2-4 times over std rates. However, I have just moved on to a classic policy with Norton (named a "Heritage policy") and provided you have another car as a daily driver and keep your car garaged they seem pretty tolerant of mods. I disclosed everything including intended stuff and got a very reasonable rate. I also live out of London - Kent - which may help somewhat. They also cover Club trackdays and include European cover etc. I have been dealing with Jason on 01212466061, and I think you could, on a no obligation basis, discuss the cars you are interested in and get a very good idea of whether you can get cover and how much. While my car is less modified than your prospects, it is broadly similar in that it has non-std torsion bars, shocks, swaybars, bushing materials, clutch/flywheel, brakes, seats/interior, exhaust, top end and engine management chip. I have tried to use all Porsche parts, were applicable, which kind of helps. Insurers seem more comfortable when you say you have upgraded to say Porsche 964 brakes than say AP Racing brakes.

I think the best bet for MOTs is to use a good shop that has a "relationship" with a tester. However, the only issue I can imagine is the emissions test. My non-cat 3.2 sails thru it (pre some modifcations) and I know my friends 3.8RSR race car managed to get thru. This is a factory race car converted to be barely road legal so its at least as wild as anything you are looking at. I also have a friend with a 2.8RS Lightweight that is MOT'd and insured for the road. So I certainly think your prospects are possibles.

There are others on this board with modified cars - 993 engine swaps, supercharged etc - who may have more colour to add.

HTH
Richard

 

[bones]

I was insured with Norton for a while never had a reason to claim but the Heritage policy covered my cars mods and offered very affordable insurance with breakdown cover. I switched to AON last year because they offered an even cheaper premium for almost identical cover. A month after taking out the policy a fool reversed into my 911 in the petrol station , the ensuing damage has been taken care of efficiently with no loss to myself.

 

[Guest]

Thanks guys I will try and call Jason next week and discuss the cars.
The cars on the Pelican Parts BBS dont hang around for long due to the trafffic- good site!.
However most of the posters are US based and so I figured I might get a better answer here!.
I may register the car in UK and use primarily in France biut as a weekend track car.
I already have my twin plugged targa registered in France, although I did not offer some of the mods for fear of complications!.
I did have it registered in UK but am trying to base myself out of S France for the future due to employment prospects.
I had a lot of problems with insuring my modified VW GTI which had supension upgrades only (H&R springs and Sport Bilstein shocks + Neuspeed anti roll bars- most of wich were installed by factory on the new R32 golf!!!) Seems crazy that an insurance co. would penilize you for making a car handle better????

I wonder how these Cateram guys and Kit car guys solve the problems?
Many thanks
Ben