In the early 1980s Mercedes decided its new small saloon, the 190, with its low-drag body and sophisticated multi-link rear suspension, would be the ideal base for a rally car to outfox the BDA-powered Ford Escorts and the Talbot Lotus Sunbeams that dominated rallying at the time.
Initially, buyers could choose only a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine model, with power steering, central locking and electric mirrors as standard. A year later however, a 2.0-litre diesel arrived, and a sporty 2.3-litre 16-valve flagship was announced in 1985.
The six-cylinder versions arrived in 1987, with the 2.6-litre 190E and 2.5-litre 16-valve arriving in 1988 when the range was slightly facelifted. Finally, a 144mph Evolution variant was imported in 1990. Mr W has his own Mercedes 190 E insured with AIB insurance on a classic car policy.
A classic car policy means that Mr W gets the benefits of agreed value on his car, salvage retention, choice of repairer and legal cover expenses. Mr W can rest easy knowing that his car will be taken care of in a garage of his choice and knowing that only Mercedes approved parts will be used.
If you have a classic car that you would like to get insured on one of our classic car policies give our specialist teams a call today on 02380 268351. If you also have a classic car and have any photos you would like to share, email them to info@aib.co.uk.
Todays car of the day is Mr L’s Porsche 911 Carrera 4S.
The unmistakable silhouette of the 911 is characterised by its iconic fly line. It has barely changed since 1963, and has shaped the DNA of all Porsche models.
With its 325-horsepower 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine, the 2006 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 is capable of accelerating from a standing start to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 4.9 seconds and reaches 99 mph (160 km/h) in 11.2 seconds.
Mr L has insured his vehicle through AIB insurance on a high net worth policy. This policy includes an agreed value, salvage retention, choice of repairer and legal cover expenses.
If you also have a high net worth vehicle that you would like a bespoke quotation for, call our specialist teams on 02380 268351. If you also own a high net worth vehicle and would like to share your photos with us, email them to info@aib.co.uk.
The car of the week this week is the perfect Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe.
The Carrera was available in rear and all-wheel drive versions. It was equipped with the naturally aspirated 3.6 liter M64 engine, further developed from the 964, and combined with a new dual-flow exhaust system now incorporating two catalytic converters. In contrast with most of the other variants, production of the Carrera coupé and Cabriolet ceased with the end of 1997 model year, except for a very few produced in a shortened 1998 model year.
Mr G knows this beauty is fully covered with salvage Retention, agreed value and choice of repairer along with legal expenses cover covering any uninsured loses up to £100,000.
Thank you Mr G for sharing this perfect example of a 1996 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe. If you have a classic needing insurance cover call our specialist team on 02380 268351.
We interviewed Kirby from AIB Insurance, a motorhome, campervan and RV specialist to talk about the latest happenings in the world of insurance:
Are you seeing anything interesting with Motorhome and Camper claims?
The last 24 months have been challenging times for insurers with motorhome, RV’s and camper thefts on the increase. Take North Wales for example – police recently revealed that 30 vehicles worth over a million pounds had been stolen over the past 16 months. They believe thieves in that area were mainly targeting Fiat Ducato and Peugeot Boxer motorhomes using technology widely available on the Internet to override the manufacturer’s security measures that included the electronic immobiliser.
On a national basis though, Ford continues to be the vehicle of choice for most thieves. Our insurance partner Ageas Insurance tells me Ford manufactured motorhomes make up less than 6% of their motorhome book but the theft rate is ridiculously high. There is no pattern as to where the motorhomes are kept, how long they have been owned or the level of security measures as they’ve seen a variety of scenarios. They have had over £350,000 worth of Fords stolen last year alone which is why they took the decision to work out what model ranges/years of manufacture were affected and decline them.
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), motor theft claims have increased by 20% in 2019 and motor theft claims paid by insurers in the first quarter of this year were at their highest for any quarter since 2012 with a payment made relating to vehicle crime every eight minutes. The ABI claims that the increase is in part being driven by keyless car crime whereby hi-tech criminals are able to bypass keyless technology in as little as 20 seconds. This would certainly seem to be the case with a large number of motorhome thefts as an increasing number are being stolen when they are parked on driveways.
Has this seen the cost of insurance increase?
Historically, motorhomes have been rated on three main factors: year, engine size and value (ignoring left hand drives, imports and modified vehicles etc.). Over the last 12 months, three major motorhome insurers, Aviva, Ageas and Markerstudy have taken the unusual steps to load the premium further or even decline specific years of manufacturer, especially Ford.
Generally, motorhome and campervan insurance rates have remained stagnant apart from specific manufacturers. DIY conversions tend to cost more to insure than a coach built one.
So how can owners prevent a vehicle being stolen?
If your motorhome is stolen, having the right insurance policy in place will mean that you can at least have the peace of mind of knowing that you’ll be compensated financially for your loss. However, an insurance payout can never compensate you for the inconvenience and disruption that vehicle theft causes.
The good news is that most theft is opportunistic and thieves generally don’t like to work too hard. So, if they see a motorhome fitted with wheel locks, steering or handbrake locks or wheel clamps, it may be enough to put them off. Of course, you can go further by installing an alarm, immobiliser, a tracking device or even installing PIR lights trained on your parking space that illuminate when they sense movement.
What should people look out for when insuring a motorhome, RV or campervan?
It is vital, that you take out appropriate motorhome insurance and select a policy that will cover all your needs.
Motorhome insurance is not like car insurance, it requires specialist knowledge and as such, you should speak to a specialist motorhome insurance provider. Most specialists will provide additional European cover, additional contents cover and cover for gas cylinders, generators and awnings.
We would encourage you to purchase legal expenses as, if you find yourself in a dispute, legal fees can be expensive. Likewise, breakdown cover can be challenging as non-specialist providers may place a height, length or weight restriction on the vehicle they cover.
Another thing to mention when buying cover, is the level of windscreen glass cover that the specific policy your purchasing provides. Many insurers restrict the windscreen cover to £500-£1000 but an owner of an A-Class could be left short and should seek insurers that provide unlimited glass cover.
The motorhome market continues to grow especially relating to the sale of higher value models that cost over £100,000 and that represents a different risk for insurers if they go missing.
What is happening in the classic car world – are vehicles still going up in value?
The classic vehicle market is renowned for its stability and consistency and the VW campervan is a prime example of that. Over the past 10 years, classic vehicle values have been consistently going up, outperforming just about everything I can think of apart from vintage wine. I’d argue that classic vehicles are a better investment here too as it’s possible to use them without instantly destroying their value!
That said, at the top end of the market such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and the like, it looks as though we’re finally seeing the pace slowing and interest levels cooling.
One element of this could be uncertainty. When it comes to high value classics, it’s a global market. Investors may simply be less prepared to spend big at a time of trade wars and uncertain future trading arrangements.
The classic vehicle market is forever evolving as new cars become classics as each year passes.
What’s your favourite classic within the motorhome and campervan arena?
I love the 1967 BMC Princess – it looks bonkers. Whilst it looks like a DIY conversion, it was actually coach-built on a Vanden Plas Princess chassis but was unusually modern for it’s time enjoying power steering and an automatic transmission. Another favourite would be the VW T25 hightop campervan. Again, it looks so cool and I can imagine myself sitting in it with a hot cup of tea on a cold day looking out over the ocean.
Airsports Insurance Bureau is thrilled to announce strengthening our Eastleigh team further with the appointment of experienced insurance professional, Chris Moon.
Chris joins our busy team as one of our specialist Niche & High Net Worth Insurance Consultants adding his many years’ experience within the insurance broking industry. His previous position was at Savage and Holdsworth in Romsey where he joined after 3 successful years at Aston Scott in Alton. Prior to that he worked for over 12 years at Apex Insurance in Eastleigh (which during his tenure was purchased by Swinton Insurance).
He joins the team where he will deal with every aspect of an expanding, predominantly high net worth personal lines insurance broker, including motor, travel, home and commercial insurance.
A delighted Chris said:” This is a perfect opportunity for me to develop my career further in a fast-paced expanding broker. I’m really looking forward to getting my teeth into and growing the high net worth motor and home book.
At AIB we pride ourselves on the quality of our staff and the professional relationships we are able to build with clients and insurer partners alike. We encourage our team to reach their full potential and give them the tools and resources for a rewarding career in a satisfying but demanding environment. If you are interested in a position with us please send your CV and accompanying letter to info@www.aib-insurance.co.uk
Chris lives locally in Eastleigh with his partner of 19 years and 3 children. Most of his spare time is taken up with the family and his claim to fame is he got to meet Rodd Hull and Emu as a child!
A big thank you for the invitation from United Legal to join them at the Grand National at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool.
The day started with a beautiful sun drenched spring morning, champagne reception and food that tasted as good as it looked. It finished with the much fancied 4-1 favourite Tiger Rolls marching home becoming the first horse since Red Rum, some 45 years ago, to win back to back Grand Nationals.
Ridden by Davy Russell, Tiger Rolls was level with Magic of Light (66-1) going over the last fence, but pulled clear to repeat last year’s win.Ruby Walsh finished third on Rathvinden (8-1) with Walk in the Mill (25-1) fourth.
Not since the legendary Red Rum in 1974 had a horse successfully defended the Grand National. Red Rum added a third in 1977 to become one of the all-time greats, and now Tiger Roll has sealed his place in Aintree folklore – the question is of course, will owner Michael O’Leary allow him to defend his title in 2020?
A brilliant day was made even better when our very own Jenna backed the winner, Tiger Rolls!!
United Legal are specialist providers of Legal Expenses Insurance, meaning if you have an accident or if you want to claim, they will provide a hassle free service to reduce the risk of high legal fees if something goes wrong.
With over 25 years experience in the insurance industry, they also provide the uninsured loss recovery, credit hire and repair and third party intervention to Insurance Brokers clients in the United Kingdom.
Those of you who are keen paragliders no doubt love the thrill and excitement of taking to the air and pitting yourself against the elements in the sky. Once airborne, you are faced with many challenges but this is just one of the many attractions of the sport.
Having spent some time travelling many miles paragliding, you are then faced with the danger of having to make a safe landing. Most paragliders land without a problem but some suffer broken limbs if they mis-judge their landing perhaps due to a sudden gust of wind putting them of course and leaving them stranded in the branches of a large oak tree.
It is no doubt a great sense of relief having put two feet safely on the earth without suffering any mishap. Surely nothing untoward can then happen?
Well, this was not the case for a 35-year-old paraglider over in Australia. Apparently, the man in question had enjoyed a wonderful couple of hours paragliding. He descended and both feet safely touched the ground at the Orroral Valley Space Tracking Station near Canberra. However, even before he had had the opportunity to gather his parachute and get out of his gear he saw a kangaroo skipping hastily towards him. Having then warmly greeted the approaching kangaroo the marsupial then proceeded to attack him not once but twice by punching him.
Fortunately, he did not suffer any serious injury and hopefully the unexpected experience will not have put him off paragliding in the future although he will no doubt be on the look out for any kangaroos in the vicinity of where he next plans to land.
Fortunately, coming face to face with a kangaroo is not something that paragliders taking to the air here in the UK are likely to encounter when landing although no doubt some people have probably come down in a field of cattle and felt a little uneasy.
When you apply for a quote for car insurance, whether it is direct with the insurance company, through a broker like ourselves or via a price comparison website, you will be asked a number of questions to assess the risk you present to the insurer of making a future claim and to provide you with a quotation for the cover you require. These questions include things like your age, marital status, where you live, make and model of car, where the car will be parked overnight, how many miles a year you drive, what you will use the vehicle for, whether you have any driving convictions or claims and your employment status.
MoneySuperMarket.com has done some research into the impact employment status may have on how much you will be quoted for your motor insurance that makes for interesting reading so we thought we would share with you some of the results that is based upon data in January 2018. It just shows how important it is that you provide accurate information in this respect as far as how much you will be quoted for your cover.
If you are a housewife then the average premium was £563.04 per annum. However, if you mistakenly stated on the quotation request form that you were unemployed then you can expect to pay, on average, an extra £146.39 per annum. That is an increase of 26%.
If you are a student then the average premium was £1,327.87 per annum. However, if you stated by mistake that you were a mature student living at home then you can expect to pay, on average, an extra £92.95 per annum. That is an increase of 7%.
If you are retired then the average premium was £265.66 per annum. However, if you made an error and stated that you were unemployed then you can expect to pay, on average, an extra £98.29 per annum for your cover. That is an increase of 37%.
If you are a student then, as stated above, the average premium was £1,327.87 per annum. However, if you stated incorrectly that you were unemployed then you can expect to pay, on average, an extra £677.21 per annum. That is an extra 51% which we are sure you will agree is a huge difference.
As you can see, as stated earlier, it is vital that accurate information is provided when applying for a quotation for car insurance or indeed any form of insurance as deliberately providing false details has a number of potential implications including the insurance company refusing to pay out in the event of a claim.
If you require a quote, perhaps because your existing policy is shortly coming up for renewal or if you are a young motorist looking for cover to insure your first car, then why not get in touch with us here at AIB Insurance on 02380 268 351 and speak with an experienced member of our team who will discuss your requirements and obtain one or more competitive quotations for your perusal and consideration without any obligation. We look forward to hearing from you.
Any one who has participated in skydiving will no doubt tell you that it takes a certain amount of courage to step out of a plane at several thousand feet with only a parachute to help you to land safely on the ground. Well, a lady by the name of Dilys Price has never let that get in her way.
Dilys, an ex-college lecturer from Cardiff, is an 86 year old grandmother who took to the skies when she was 54 years of age and did a skydive for a charity and never looked back. Since then she has jumped solo from aircraft on no less than 1,139 occasions parachuting down to earth completing jumps in various locations around the world.
At the tender age of 80 she was awarded the Guinness World Record for being the world’s oldest female solo parachutist. This is no doubt an award she is tremendously proud of and one that she still holds to this day.
Her latest venture is to appear as a model for the fashion brand called Helmut Lang who asked a number of Welsh ladies to model clothing for its forthcoming autumn and winter collection. As with most things in life, she readily took on the challenge although it was probably not as daunting as when she first took to the skies to participate in skydiving.
Dilys is one of many people who have enjoyed parachuting and skydiving well into their later years whether that be flying solo or in tandem.
Here at AIB Insurance we are able to arrange suitable cover for numerous airsports so why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 to discuss your requirements with one of our friendly members of staff and obtain a no-obligation quotation from our extensive panel of insurers. We look forward to being of assistance to you.
With mortgage repayments increasing for many borrowers and the cost of filling up your car with fuel on the forecourt going up, any way that you can possibly save money in other areas has got to be welcomed. So, you may be interested to read about some fascinating research recently carried out by MoneySavingExpert.com that has revealed when it may be the best time to sort out your car insurance to get the cheapest price.
MoneySavingExpert.com looked at millions of quotes from MoneySuperMarket, Compare The Market and Confused.com who you will no doubt be aware are price comparison websites. These quotations covered the period from January 2018 to May 2018.
What the data revealed was that, if you bought your motor insurance 21 days before your policy was due to start, you are possibly going to get the cover for the cheapest price. In fact, on average, you would pay £589 per annum with this being £567 per annum less than if you bought the cover on the day you wanted the policy to commence when you would have paid an average of £1,156 per annum. We are sure that you will agree this is a significant potential saving.
So, why is this? Well, the amount you pay for your motor insurance is based upon many factors such as the make and model of car, where you live, what you do for a living, the level of cover required, the number of miles you drive each year, your age, your driving experience, your claims experience, whether you have any motoring convictions and where you park your car overnight. In addition, some insurance companies believe that you are less of a risk if you buy your cover 21 days before the policy starts as you are perceived to be more organised and are less likely to make a claim on your insurance policy than if you arranged your cover on the day the policy is due to start.
Another interesting statistic is that MoneySavingExpert.com discovered that if you bought your car insurance policy 30 days in advance of the start date then the average amount paid would be £1,120 per annum. That is only an average saving of £36 per annum when compared with buying the cover on the start date of the policy. The reason given for this was that there are not as many insurance companies providing quotes so far in advance.
So, if your motor insurance policy is coming up for renewal or you are looking for cover to insure your first car then you may wish to take the above into account as you may be able to save some money. Do bear in mind that these figures are average ones and the saving you may be able to make could be different.
Here at AIB Insurance, we have an experienced team who can obtain one or more quotes for you from our extensive panel of insurers so why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 and we will do all that we can to assist you. We look forward to hearing from you.
AIB Launch Classic Car Offering
AIB is proud to announce the launch of our non-standard per...
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