davidgh Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 I have a good acquaintance (charming gentleman) who is lucky enough to own a (Duratec/sequential) R500. He has wasted his money on two sprint/hillclimb events recently because issues with his immobiliser system ruined most of his day -- despite, I'm pleased to report, the best efforts of members of this club to rectify it for him (about which his praise is glowing). I also find out that, in order to get road insurance for what is predominantly a sprint car, he has had to fit a tracker! When is a kit-car no longer really a kit-car? Back to basics, methinks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 The insurance company I'd used for years on tin tops, before A Plan had a strict policy; anything over £40k had to have a Tracker and active subscription or you had no theft cover. What the car actually was, was irrelevant, they went solely by cost. On the R500, it's easy to see how just taken on cost, all manor of requirements would be placed on you. But do any of them really count for much on a Seven? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff oakley Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 It is the way of the motoring world. Complexity is being designed into everything to make assembly quicker and repair harder. In this case DAve is correct at £50k ish for the Caterham it is not hard to see why they demand something fitting, just a pity it did not work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SootySport Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 There's been one or two stolen recently, so high end Caterhams are having to use trackers for insurance purposes. If a similar value Westfield was stolen then I guess the insurance companies would insist some Westfields have trackers as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexander72 Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 David, was this chap at Prescott with a very nice grey/orange nose cone band catering van? Lovely car to be sure and I really felt for him that it wouldn't go! Best wishes James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidgh Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share Posted July 21, 2014 David, was this chap at Prescott with a very nice grey/orange nose cone band catering van? Lovely car to be sure and I really felt for him that it wouldn't go! Best wishes James Yes James, that was he. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTR2Turbo Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 If its the same chap we helped at Prescott I dont think it was immobiliser. We directly powered the fuel pump and it would not run. Thing is its an intank design and we couldn't fit the normal Westfield type we had. Edit to add when I say would not run - I am talking about the fuel pump not pumping at all. There may have been immobiliser wiring also going to the pump inside the tank but I didn't see it and we had most of the back of the car apart to check filter etc. Maybe there is a wireless sender fitted but I doubt it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Yes, they're in tank. Hope it's not the pump that's faulty, Caterham have had dreadful supply issues of the part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidgh Posted July 22, 2014 Author Share Posted July 22, 2014 It was running sweetly on Sunday, having had his "immobiliser fixed" -- at least, that's what he has been led to believe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexander72 Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Cheers David H - that's a lovely Caterham he has :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dibby Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 But that's the joy of kit cars, there are the £1000 Locost builds with basic parts easily sourced from scrap yards up to the full race spec, dripping in carbon with superchargers and highly stressed engines ... and everything inbetween. Trackers aren't really an issue, you can pick up a battery back up, magnetic one you can dial into with your phone for £30 on ebay and takes 10 minutes to fit. A lad at work bought one for his BMW 5-Series, young lad, mega high insurance and a £30 gadget saved him a good whack on his insurance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Interesting, my ins. company would only accept a "proper" one when I needed it for the Discovery; they had to have a copy of the installation certificate type thing, and a copy of the subscription details. (Mind you they were also circa £400 cheaper pa than the next nearest quote. So even with a few (expensive) hoops to jump through, it was worth it). Otherwise, sounds like it's worth shopping around and seeing what the different companies will accept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Algar - Competition Secretary Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Interesting topic David, not sure how happy Caterham owners would be hearing you describe their cars as Kit's And there in lies the problem, they command very big prices and are factory built, so insurance companies treat them like normal cars. Although is is interesting to see some Westies making big money these days, there is hope for us all yet PS hope the guy is finally sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTR2Turbo Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 On the subject of trackers. I have a few cars over the £40k threshold and non of them need trackers. Plenty of insurers will give you this option. I don't really want to have nice factory wiring hacked into if at all possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTR2Turbo Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Caterham will still sell you a kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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