My New G Update
Hi G heaveners
Here is an update on my importing/insuring my new G500 - new to me that is.
Importation Process
Well I got the Customs papers back just before my Xmas vacation and managed to get my cheque off in time. In fact Revenue and Customs were quite efficient and even rang me just before my Xmas break to tell me how much to send them so I did not have to wait for the Xmas mail. This meant that I could send my cheque off and when I got home on Tuesday my stamped Customs form was waiting for me. Their assessment was most reasonable.
CoC
So I now have an MOT, duty paid, insurance and am waiting only for Clive Williams at MB Milton Keynes to get me a certificate of conformity or something to show the DVLA that my new tank is compliant. Then I can go and get my UK plates plates. He has to wait for the Puch factory to open next week.
Some new bits
Visited MB Colindale yesterday to order a new key fob - I have 2 and on one the infra red does not work. £140 for a key and it apparently needs to be programmed. Better news was that a full set of over carpet mats and boot liner are available for about £60 from MB which is less than Condor sets at Halfords ! All are now on order.
Driving the tank and tyres - any thoughts ?
I drove the G still on Swiss plates to and back from the French Alps. My G has now done 55000 kms since first registration in November 1998 so it is like new apart from a few body dents. When I got it beginning December it had done 49,000 kms so I have done a year's average milage in a month and it is running beautifully.
Not even a question at Customs going in or out which was great but a surprise.
What a motor. Cruising all day at 95-100, then effortless on the snow and ice, huge load capacity - skis fit inside the load bay (wrapped up of course), supreme comfort. It gets better and better.
I got about 20mpg on the run. My G is currently on Michelin snow tyres which are grippy and comfortable. I will review if I need a summer set or not - any suggestions ? Snow tyre longevity has significanltly improived in recent years.
Insurance - usual crap from the insurers
I would be interested in anyone's views on insurance. I was in a hurry as I had little notice of when I could get the car. I insured with Direct Line who gave me about 5 different stories.
First that I could insure the car even though it was abroad, then that I could not. I insured it anyway because I could not get a straight answer from them.
They insisted the car had to be a G500 classic - I told them repeatedly this denomination doesn't exist for the G but gave up !
Then they said that they could not insure a car on Swiss plates, then that they could.
When I took out the policy I was told I needed an immobiliser category 1. I checked and was told my G had a category 2 as standard. I then got the insurance papers which said I needed a tracker as well - no mention of this on phoning and paying for the policy !! I then called Direct Line and said it had a category 2 immobiliser and was told that I did not need a tracker and this would do if th evehicle was worth under £40k.
In any event I gave full details of the vehicle and they took my money and then for the green card I needed for my last trip abroad. Cost about £1000 fully comp with 5 years no claims protected policy. Does this sound ok to you ?
Well I am sorry if all this detail is boring, but my beautiful black G has got under my skin and I wanted to share my experiences with you.
Happy 2008 to you all.
Micky
ps I found my jack by the way. Some of you may remember I asked where it was. It is under the passenger seat, just like one of you said. But when I saw it first time it looked to me just like the end of one of those electric motors that work the seats so that is what I thought it was. Thinking I had no jack I went on holiday with my 15 kilo 2 ton 4 wheel hydraulic jack in the back ! I knew I needed a break !!
Insurance - usual c*** from the insurers
...
They insisted the car had to be a G500 classic - I told them repeatedly this denomination doesn't exist for the G but gave up !
Then they said that they could not insure a car on Swiss plates, then that they could.
When I took out the policy I was told I needed an immobiliser category 1. I checked and was told my G had a category 2 as standard. I then got the insurance papers which said I needed a tracker as well - no mention of this on phoning and paying for the policy !! I then called Direct Line and said it had a category 2 immobiliser and was told that I did not need a tracker and this would do if th evehicle was worth under £40k.
In any event I gave full details of the vehicle and they took my money and then for the green card I needed for my last trip abroad. Cost about £1000 fully comp with 5 years no claims protected policy. Does this sound ok to you ?
Well I am sorry if all this detail is boring, but my beautiful black G has got under my skin and I wanted to share my experiences with you.
Congratulations on your purchase. Don't worry it's under everybody's skin here...
You can insure a car on no plates... I did. You just need the chasis number. Try Adrian Flux specialist 4x4 insurance. They were ok with the oem alarm. They will also claim to match any better rate. And the added bonus is the insurance includes off-road use.
£1,000 is probably on par though - depending on where you live. I pay a touch under that for an area considered to have high car theft. Mark pays roughly the same and he is up the road.
Though having said that I knew of a G400 owner who lived down south and was paying £350 a year....
As for the Classic. It does exist and it's a gorgeous but rare piece of machinery.
Post pics when you can. What year is it?
Perhaps we'll see you around London.
By the way I think it explains in your manual how to program the key fobs.
Try privilege they are pretty good. More than are also good (only have experience on older G though).
Can you give me the part number on the mats when you get them and what they are like.
Ta.
Insurance sounds right, mines about £1400 now, but i lost my NCB :lol:
Funny how Adrian Flux has never been able to give me a price. With Egg at the moment.
With MB Insurance and have £1,300 (but also have my dad on it and he had 9 points!). The benifit I found is that they don't limit you to mileage and the FLUX guys did.
Spider1V
Probably not relevant in london but NFU £243 fully comp including all the mods,winch and roof tent :lol:
BTW. anyone wants to park their 500 here for cheap insurance is welcome :wink:
Probably not relevant in london but NFU £243 fully comp including all the mods,winch and roof tent :lol:
BTW. anyone wants to park their 500 here for cheap insurance is welcome :wink:
:shock: !!!
Wish they had quoted me like that......... maybe try them again this year
Spider1V
Insurance sounds right, mines about £1400 now, but i lost my NCB :lol:
Funny how Adrian Flux has never been able to give me a price. With Egg at the moment.
£1400 Ouch! Flux won't insure - how strange. They are insuring me... same model, model year, and same postcode area.
Just got my insurance renewal forms through today. All the admin fees, motor recovery etc pushes it just about £1000. That includes european recovery, off-road and business use.
But I have only set replacement value at less than £25k.
Want me to try and get a price for you?
dentsmithy wrote:Probably not relevant in london but NFU £243 fully comp including all the mods,winch and roof tent :lol:
BTW. anyone wants to park their 500 here for cheap insurance is welcome :wink:
:shock: !!!
Wish they had quoted me like that......... maybe try them again this year
Spider1V
Ya but that is on a 460! But having said that - a chap on here had a G400 insured for £350. Lived on the coast.
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Ya but that is on a 460! But having said that - a chap on here had a G400 insured for £350. Lived on the coast.
Ah the joys of a 460, but thats a different story and off topic :roll:
Good luck with the new car/tank :)
:shock: I got mine from Sureterm Direct 0845 2020230
with limited miles (3000)pa but only another £30/£40
for another 3000 miles it was only £230 this year fully comp
:roll:
When i was driving the 463 300D it didnt change
they told it wouldnt go up a lot if i stayed around 3litre
Try them and see :P
i had to send them pic,s and the wee renewal (compliments) slip that tony sends out when you renew your membership :wink:
Hate to upset anyone..following Maxwells advice I used Adrian Flux for my 460...Fully comp off road less than £200...I think @£180ish. That was with out transfering NCD. They gave me "Good Driver" discount on account of 20+ years no accidents. My first quote for the G was £1300!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not very much different to what I paid for her! Pays to shop around AND talk to the agents.
Thanks again Maxwell
Grendle
No problem. I was tipped to them and have been quite happy.
Did you remember to tell them you were a GWOA owner to get a further discount?
NFU, NFU, NFU, NFU, NFU, NFU,
Yes?
Even for the Steyr Puch, which model is that Sir?
Less than £200 this year, £165 £185? I just got the renewal
Even though they were always toooooo expensive for any other vehicle.
And I only get 24 mpg outta the ( noisy ) diesel and petrol is cheaper :( not to mention the wee difference in performance :roll:
Oh
did i mention the NFU?
Marcus
My renewal is up with sureterm, renewal is £180 pa on 3000 miles per annum on a 460 with a very low replacement value, will try Flux & NFU (have Rangie and Toyota with NFU both of these are £450 pa with 15k miles per annum as well as sundry trailers and quad etc..) and will let you all know which is cheapest quote.. although the risk of stolen 4x4's in the shires must be a lot higher than the cities it is interesting to see the reduced rates must be compensated for with a much the lower accident risk.
Well NFU at £235 for fuly comp versus £185 for sure term on TPFT and no annual milage limit, looks there are the one for me... :D
"Did you remember to tell them you were a GWOA owner to get a further discount?"
Yep no problems with that.
insurance is a expensive game but its worth ringing around i was insuring a sierra cosworth for less than £400 and i was 24!
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thanks again