Insuring an RX7 in my situation

[cib24]

Hello everyone and it is nice to meet all of you.

I am a long-time lurker of these forums as well as rx7club.com and I am finally in a position where I can purchase and afford to maintain an RX7 (yes even the inevitable rebuild fund), the car I idolized growing up. The reason I have not picked this car up earlier is because I haven\'t had the time or money to do so since I was either in university back home in California, pursuing a Masters degree in Dublin or starting out a career in London. However, I have now lived in London for just over three years, have myself settled in (even got married) with a stable job that pays very well, and I\'m looking for my first car to own in the UK that will exclusively be used on weekends.

A bit of background on me. I am 25 years old and just recently received my full UK driver\'s license since I could no longer use my California license and had to take the test out here to get the full thing. I probably should have gotten it earlier but in the past I could drive on my US license without issue and at the time I wasn\'t sure how long I would be living in the UK (until I got married that is). Anyway, for what it is worth I have had my California license since my 16th birthday and have previously owned a Ford Mustang GT and a Buick Grand National (so I have driven cars with a bit of power even if they don\'t handle like an RX7). I have also never been in an accident in either the US or UK or received a ticket for any violation. BUT, and we all know this is coming...I obviously don\'t have an official NCB driving history in the UK since I haven\'t owned a car yet over here.

Because of my lack of UK registred driving history, obviously most interesting cars that I have looked at using confused.com (I know it\'s not the best source but I have just been trying to get an idea) shows that I would have to pay through the nose for most vehicles and have a large compulsory excess attached onto them. Yet, I\'m holding onto a sliver of hope that because most RX7\'s are more than 15 years old that I could insure it on a low mileage classic car policy and explain my situation to hopefully get a lower quote.

So what would it be used for? Social purposes only on the weekend for drives around the UK countryside trying out restaurants and pubs in different towns or driving through places like Wales, the Lake District or Scottish Highlands. I would probably not even manage 3,000 miles per year since my job has me travelling a fair bit so I\'m not always around every weekend as it is. It would be insured in London which does suck for costs, but it would be stored in a secured garage that is part of a secured apartment complex with 24-hour concierge and security, video cameras and only one way in and one way out of the complex via a pass from the concierge.

I suppose the reason I am posting here is to ask from all of your experiences insuring your rotaries, which companies I should contact to explain such a situation and get the best deal, and what your opinions are of me even being insurable on an RX7 at this time?

I\'m really dreading having to drive a slow POS 1.2 something because then it won\'t even be worth driving on the weekends...

[SFW]

try Adrian Flux.....

[clive]

First up, Welcome to MRC:Thumbsup!.

Even though it is London the secure parking should help and you need to tell them that,

I  know its a pain, but because of the unusual circumstances try a few as I have the feeling quotes will differ widely for you.

Let us know how you get on as it may help others

[cib24]

Thanks for the welcome :cheers

I have tried a few companies for the RX7 but notable ones are below:

Adrian Flux - They couldn\'t quote me so they connected me through to CConnections which seemed to be a broker that then sent me through to Swinton and a company that I think is called BYZ? Anyway, Swinton wouldn\'t quote without a registration number and BYZ just rang out so I\'m still not sure if that is the actual company\'s name.

Peter Best - The lady tried to put in a special request but she couldn\'t quote me since my UK license was too new for them. It\'s a shame because I have read on this forum that you guys have a lot of good luck with them.

Admiral - ~£2,880

Keith Michaels - I explained my situation to them and they initially quoted me £2,350 but I called back today to get quotes on an MX-5 and an RX8 (I like Mazdas but realize these are in an entirely different league, i.e. not as awesome as an FD RX7). They quoted me £1,250 for the MX-5 and put it down to the fact that seniors typically drive these cars and thus the quotes are higher. The RX8 was surprisingly cheap at £995 and I was feeling pretty content with the prices received on both of these cars. However, the guy saw that I had called a week earlier about an RX7 and asked me a few more questions about it and what I would use it for. Whatever I said worked because he said the best they could do is £1,500 which is far and away the best quote I have received on the car.

So now I\'m extremely tempted to get the RX7 even if my wife thinks it is too impractical and expensive to run. I have talked to her about the MX-5 and RX8 and she prefers the RX8 due to its practicality, but in all honesty I have never really desired either of those cars, so I think that I am just going to straight up tell her that we might just need to rent a more practical car for any lengthy road trips in the future.

I hope my experience was helpful. Now it\'s time to go and find an RX7 that is worth purchasing and also to do some more research on this site in respect of the best rotary tuners in the UK, rotary engine builders, suspension specialists, etc. so that I have the resources available to restore whichever car I buy to its original glory if necessary.

[boosted]

Just a thought has wife got a driving license and uk NCB....insure in her name with you as named driver and you insure the cheaper to insure mx5 and rx8  in your name with her on your policy get the 1 st year 30% discount and swap.

[neil_jdmr]

Need2insure on a classic policy. No need for ncb

[cib24]

Thanks for the tips. I will call Need2insure today and see what they have to offer. Does anyone have any experience insuring and taxing a 1999-2001 RX7? Are they treated differently because they are not technically considered of classic age yet?

[Daston]

Some insurance companies treat the term "classic" in different ways. For example when I was looking at TVR insurance it became clear that all TVRs were deemed classic regardless of age due to future classic potential. I would not be suprised if the Fd also falls into this.

[Daston]

Oh forgot to add, try footman James and competition car insurance (they cover sport cars too)