Newbie with questions, questions and more questions!

[Pd2]

Hi folks,

 

hopefully collecting my first Westfield within the next 7-10 days, but I still have a load of questions that I hope you guys can help with. Some may sound silly.

 

Ready?

 

1. Insurance - I got a quote today with A Plan. Happy enough with there service but the company they have looked at putting me through are KGM underwriting.

Any of you guys through KGM? I see nothing but bad review and issues with them. I’m going to speak to A Plan again about this one as well.

 

2. I’m looking to pick the car up and drive it home, it’s a toybox car so it’s with them and I’m near Glasgow. How are these for distance driving on the motorway?

And potentially in the rain….. Hopefully I get some decent weather and come up a different route via the back roads.

 

3. Any estimates on distance achieved with a standard fuel tank with a 2.0 duratec? (Approx 180bhp - I know the right foot has a big impact on this.)

 

4. I’m looking to keep a small tool bag in the car, any specific tools / jack / spares that are classed as essential?

 

5. Any recommended tire pressures for road use on 205/50/15’s? (Currently Nankang NS-2R’s)

 

6. Washing routine - Basically what’s yours? 
 

7. Recommendations for breakdown cover for these cars. 
 

Hopefully you guys can assist with some of these and put my mind at ease a bit. 

I turned 40 back in February and have been wanting a 7 esq car ever since I was a teen, I feel like a kid again with excitement! Looking forward to getting out to do a bit of touring with it and hopefully attending meets and events. 
 

Regards.

 

Paul.
 

 

 

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Hi Paul, we’ll done 

 

1. I’ve got a couple of my policies with KGM. No issues so far but likewise I’ve never had to make a claim. I’d suggest getting an agreed value for the car on the policy though which involves sending photos etc when taking out the policy, this should smooth any future claims process.

 

2. Much like any other car on a long journey except you get very wet when it rains even if you have a hood. Because of the size of these cars though you will potentially be invisible to a lot of other road users as the brain doesn’t seem to register their shape in the same way as normal cars so always drive in a manner that assumes they haven’t seen you. I’d also recommend taking ear plugs for the wind noise.

 

3. Assuming a standard range tank which isn’t massive I wouldn’t risk it past 120miles or 2 hours driving on a motorway run. My 1600 Mazda would do around 150 if I was feeling brave.

 

4. Very little other than the usuals for any other car. Strong cable ties and tape will fix most things. It depends how much you want to try and fix at the roadside compared to getting it recovered by the breakdown company.

 

5. I’ll save this question for others

 

6. I washed after every run to keep mine clean using a small handheld plant sprayer with clean water and a quick wipe down with a microfibre towel.

 

7. Britannia rescue of me.

[The Grand Tour]

Hi Paul, I’ve used a-plan and had (and have) a policy with KGM. I also had the misfortune to make a claim when my old westie was written off when an (I’ll be polite) idiot took me out! Both A-plan and KGM were excellent.  No complaints at all from me. 

[Howden Insurance - Specialist Vehicle]

Hi Paul,

 

KGM, like many other specialist insurers are broker only - meaning that you cannot get insurance directly through them but via a broker like ourselves. Now when it comes to their reviews, and other broker only insurers, this is often a reflection of the service offered by a broker. Our service and reviews are outstanding whether you look at our facebook (fb.com/aplanspecialist) or trustpilot etc. But not all brokers are as fabulous as us an unfortunately these reviews do get left against the insurers by mistake sometimes just because that's the name people see when they check the docs. 

 

We have an inhouse claims team and our claims manager is Mark, who is actually fantastic and is so good at what he does, I couldn't do it! So in the event of the claim 90% of the time you'll deal with us, any issues you deal with us and we will deal with the insurers - we have access to their portals for updates for many of them and if not we will sit on hold for hours so you don't have to I'm pretty sure Mark hears hold music in his sleep.

 

7. Breakdown cover - we have a specialist breakdown cover designed around the kit owner! £44.95, includes home start, roadside assistance, onward journey, recovery and EU if you are planning that trip to Le Mans  I've used it personally, more times than I'd like to admit! This specialist product is only available to clients, so can't be bought on it's own if you don't have anything with us - our higher priced standard breakdown can be purchased by all.

 

You also have the added benefit of having access to me online - and out of hours if you do have any queries. I rely on notifications on here when I'm not on PC but I'm on facebook 7 days a week and as long as I am awake I will respond. (fb.com/carlieaplan) 

 

Carlie

[BigSkyBrad]

1. A-Plan and Adrian Flux are who the majority of us are with, and I've been with both (and both were underwritten by KGM from memory). Agreed value is free with A-Plan, £15 with AF.

 

2 and 3. If the car comes with a full hood and a heater, they make motorways/long distance a little cozier, especially this time of year. However, with the hood on it's noisier as it acts like a drum, so earplugs or noise-cancelling buds are a must, but I wear plugs with the hood off too. As for fuel range, by the time you need fuel, you're ready to un-pretzel yourself for a stretch and a bum-scratch anyway.

 

4 and 7. Whatever tools you decide to carry, have a throttle repair kit with you - I've had two cables go ping on me. Have a puncture can as well - I don't think many people carry a jack, that's what breakdown cover is for. Auto Aid sorted me with an uplift once.

 

5. I run 19psi, many swear by 18psi.

 

6. At least a sponge-bath after each run. If it's a full-on wash I do it with the hood on, so that I don't have to be so careful about getting the carpets wet.

[Howden Insurance - Specialist Vehicle]

3 minutes ago, BigSkyBrad said:

1. A-Plan and Adrian Flux are who the majority of us are with, and I've been with both (and both were underwritten by KGM from memory). Agreed value is free with A-Plan, £15 with AF.

 

Just to add a bit of info...

 

Agreed value is free with us because we agree through the insurers themselves and don't use a third party product/provider for this  because it is via the insurer it is subject to eligible criteria: it will depend on annual mileage, if it's garaged and age of vehicle also. Worth noting as you said a price, AF agreed value charge varies.

 

Carlie  

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

I’ve been through various actual insurers over the years, mainly via APlan. I’ve also had to claim, via APlan, (tin top, not kit) and the service was superb.

 

My recovery is again, via APlan, and has been used a few times in the past couple of years. Again, an excellent service.

 

Range is really difficult. Standard tanks are only around 28 litres on typical ZK and FW bodied cars. So, at a cruising pace, most will need to stop somewhere between 120 and 150 miles. HOWEVER, while the tanks are baffled internally, let them start to get too much under a third to quarter full, and you’ll see the fuel gauge dance around alarmingly on briskly taken roundabouts and sharp bends! So many of us don’t like to let them get too low. (As standard, there is no low fuel warning light either, just the gauge.)

 

Tyres, try 18/19 psi and see how you go from there. 
 

Tool wise, basic small collection of spanner’s, and/or sockets, Allen keys, pliers, cutters, screw drivers. There’s usually only a few main sizes needed for any job you could reasonably do at the roadside. Spare throttle cable, definitely. (And was one of the reasons for me needing recovery recently! My spare was in the other Westfield! Doh.)

[Pd2]

Thanks everyone, mind at rest now! Particularly regarding the insurance.

 

Thanks Carlie for the direct response from A Plan. I’ll give Gareth a call back once I get my collection date and discuss agreed valuation, breakdown will probably be through you guys too.

 

Tools, spares and ear plugs etc I’ll organise shortly. Reason I mentioned the jack is that I have toybox putting a spare on the back, I’m using the car for touring rather than track so thought that would be a good option.

 

Pressures I’ll mess about with but will start with your recommendations, I’m that used to putting 30 odd psi in a tire!

 

My first proper run (collection) will be long, wet and slow by the looks of it! 
Wanting to get a decent long run in and a few local ones before the slog down to Stoneleigh in May.

 

Brad, i still have your number (if it’s not changed), I may drop you a text when I’m home with it and arrange a wee visit, just for a run somewhere. I think there a guy called Steve (with the blue V6) local to me as well and might drop him a PM, gives me a chance to a few of you. 
 

Paul.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

28 minutes ago, Pd2 said:

I think there a guy called Steve (with the blue V6) local to me as well

A right dodgy character, that one!  

 

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

29 minutes ago, Pd2 said:

I’m that used to putting 30 odd psi in a tire!

The handling is interesting, in a Westfield, to say the least, with that much air in! But it does take a while to get your head round the much lower pressures.

[Steve (sdh2903)]

14 minutes ago, Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Secretary said:

A right dodgy character, that one!  

 

 

Yeah steer well clear. 

 

Just to get an idea if your insurance is on the money give AIB airsports a try too. https://www.aib-insurance.co.uk/

 

Breakdown I've used the a plan one and also autoaid. I've not had to use the truck of shame yet (jinxed it now) so can't comment on service but both seem to get decent reviews.

 

Just to add to the tools above I'd include a selection of fuses. It's just typical luck for a wiper motor fuse to blow ahead of a long wet drive home! That's if you have wipers?

 

Driving one of these in the wet on a motorway Is an experience! If you have a screen you'll realise that in standard guise the wipers are just ornaments and the inside of the screen gets just as wet. Take a couple of microfiber cloths with you to help clear the inside of the screen. There's plenty to improve things once you get the car home.

 

Washing wise. As above pretty much after each run as you'll invariably end up covered in cow **** or plastered in flies driving the roads these cars are for. After a polish I give mine a couple of coats of wax at the start of the season and this helps as the dirt just hoses off easier.

 

Above all just take it easy until you've got to know the car. A long journey home will be a perfect opportunity to do that. 

 

[BigSkyBrad]

1 hour ago, Pd2 said:

Brad, i still have your number (if it’s not changed), I may drop you a text when I’m home with it and arrange a wee visit, just for a run somewhere

The guy I took for a blat, had a Jag(?) to sell first? If so, glad to hear you followed through. Mine is buried in the garage at the moment, so not up for a run just yet, but come by for a cuppa and show off your car anyway. I'm sure V6-Steve (not Seasick Steve) will be up for a run out in the meantime.

 

There's the mystery run Sat 13th August also (see Events).

[BigSkyBrad]

     

Oxford cable repair kit, comes with different bits to bodge a get-home for your car, and your mate's - worth every penny of £10. So ideal was one of the ferrules in the kit for my throttle body, I run the Oxford cable and ferrule inside a Venhill outer.

[Sean Walsh]

Hi,

All sensible questions - but don’t over think it though! You’ll love the drive home - big grin all the way I expect!

 

A-Plan - can’t recommend highly enough. Great service and lovely people.

 

Recovery - I have mine through A-Plan but not used it as yet! Research at he time suggested it was good and specific to kits - so accounting for low clearance etc 

 

Ear plugs of some sort a must for a long motorway thrash.

 

Think that Dave has it spot-on for tools - essentials. Put my little kit together on his advice some while ago. Fuses always handy and pipe clips. 
 

Tyre goop and / or a small compressor are really handy to get you out of trouble.

 

It will all probably stay in the boot for ages and you’ll have a blast!

 

Enjoy!

W

 

 

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Having helped with the final viewing of cars, before the new owner disappears down the road with it, on it's (for them) maiden voyage; one thing I would suggest, even if you have an accompanying tin top, experience of open top cars etc, that many don't consider if they have no kit/sevenesque car background, is their clothing for the journey!!

 

This is particularly important if you have long motorway or dual carriageway stints. Siting at seventy for an hour or so in an open topped Westfield is nothing like doing the same in a modern MX5/BMW/Merc etc, or even an older MG/Triumph or so on.

 

It's draughty and windy at those speeds, (not unpleasant, as long as you're prepared). I found out very quickly when I started my Westfield ownership, just which jackets, coats etc were genuinely wind proof - one of the critical things to get right, and which were properly water proof.

 

Layers are key, 'cause on a nice day, at moderate pace, it can be really warm in the sun. But at 70, unless it's a baking day, the wind can really chill you.

 

Likewise, your hands can feel very exposed on a cooler day, add speed into that and gloves become a must for any length of time. Buff's (or more usually, copies!!) are great for keeping the chills off the back of your neck, too.