Insurance (uk)

[Rambo]

You will also get a discount if you are a member of Club Lotus, although I'm not sure how much

[lotusles]

You will also get a discount if you are a member of Club Lotus, although I'm not sure how much

You first have to consider the benefits of joining club lotus and the fees involved. Sadly I personally dont think they look upon the M100 as a true Lotus, well certainly Lotus dealers didn't when i worked for Lotus. It was classed as an expensive runt, and boy was it ever a warranty problem

[dapinky]

When I had the Elan and the Dolomite on the same classic policy, they only had space for one 'owners club' on the application, so I just entered the Club Lotus details and never got asked for Club Triumph details......

[Saltire]

You will also get a discount if you are a member of Club Lotus, although I'm not sure how much

I looked at that last year when I went to FJ. The discount was more or less equivalent to the CL annual membership fee, so effectively I’d have been getting however many issues of the CL magazine for free.

I decided I had enough reading matter on LEC

[clemo]

Awaiting a call back from FJ..Having spoken to them and given them an email request .
Still no reply.

[Rambo]

You will also get a discount if you are a member of Club Lotus, although I'm not sure how much

I looked at that last year when I went to FJ. The discount was more or less equivalent to the CL annual membership fee, so effectively I’d have been getting however many issues of the CL magazine for free.

I decided I had enough reading matter on LEC

Club Lotus news is produced 4 times a year and it takes about 15 mins to read from cover to cover. Great if you're into repairing a gearbox on a baby Elan or an Excel but a fairly boring read for all other things. Still, its only £25 pa and you get useful info on national events, discounts, CL trackday info., cheaper insurance etc...

Oh aye, and the worst Club tent at any of the venues I go to.

[dapinky]

I first joined Club Lotus in 1981, and have been a member ever since. At that time it was the only 'club' for the marque, and, clearly, well before the WWW or Social Media. Even back then it didn't really cater to my particular needs, and the local meet was more about me and a mate having a beer somewhere other than our usual pub.

Although I was driving a baby Elan and a Europa Special in the 80's, much of the CL 'thrust' was at the Elite/Eclat/Esprit crowd (the current models) - I suppose that is where the money always is. There were some excellent technical lectures about the 907/912 engines, but without owning one, I got no 'help'......

....however.....

Then (as now) it was always a feeling of "being a part of something", and Lotus has always seemed to represent a 'family' company, where customers are part of the team.

(obviously, I am squinting through rose-tinted glasses and need to go to Specsavers if I actually believed that!).....

I did go to the annual Track Day at Castle Combe (and still do!) - it was always fun to go past the 'old blokes' in the Elites/Eclats in a squashed black bread van.

Oh, and by belonging, it always seemed to get me a discount on the Insurance.

I have a quick flick through the magazine and read anything of interest..... as with many such publications, it is mainly adverts for companies I don't use.

Personally, I'd rather get an email version, but then the Club would lose advertising revenue I suppose.

I know how much it costs to hire Castle Combe for the day (but I don't know what CL pay for it) - and the money from selling track passes doesn't cover it.

And when you consider that "we" tend to use it as a social (as do others), and are always welcomed by CL (look at what they allowed us to get away with in 2019), I don't think that it is unreasonable to pay to belong to the club...... especially as others have said, the actual cash cost pretty much equals the insurance saving, so it becomes a matter of a fiver a year..... and it is well worth that.

[Fredjohn]

Likewise, I've been a member since 1984.
First it's about the car, then becomes about the people. Many good friends for so long.

[Rambo]

I signed up to Club Lotus about 20 years ago and they offered fixed terms which I took (I think it was £20 or £25 pa for life) Never goes up, never goes down. As Dave mentions, you feel more part of the Lotus family and so it is worth subscribing a small amount to help and promote this fantastic marque

I've always maintained, "once a Lotus fan, always a Lotus fan"

PS isn't it about time you joined the august M122 Evora club Dave

[GeoffSmith]

You will also get a discount if you are a member of Club Lotus, although I'm not sure how much

I looked at that last year when I went to FJ. The discount was more or less equivalent to the CL annual membership fee, so effectively I’d have been getting however many issues of the CL magazine for free.

Same experience here, but seeing as I'm an international member and receive the magazine by e-mail, I get an additional £11 AND save a couple of branches.

[dapinky]

Geoff,
I suppose I could use my Romanian address to get the 'international' membership and a .pdf magazine, but can't really be arsed to change the annual DD because I'm basically lazy!

Mark,
Although the Evora is a stunning car, it has one major problem for me.... it has a roof! If I could justify an 'extra' toy in the garage it would probably be far more likely to be a DB9....... but I wouldn't get the use from it.

However, following a link which was put on a FB page (which you won't have seen), I have been considering a semi-topless 1976 Chapman design.......

[Rambo]

Although the Evora is a stunning car, it has one major problem for me.... it has a roof! If I could justify an 'extra' toy in the garage it would probably be far more likely to be a DB9....... but I wouldn't get the use from it

The DB9 has a tin roof too And you can get a roadster version of the Ebola too

[Simon_P]

be far more likely to be a DB9....... but I wouldn't get the use from it.

You wouldn't like the AMOC fees either, not sure they do camping and their version of facilities for making a brew are a bit different to ours. I cant remember when I joined CL sometime in the 90s but like Rambo I pay by SO and it doesn't go up.

[dapinky]

Back on topic....

.... I hadn't received my renewal notice, so thought I'd give them a ring this morning (2 weeks before expiry).

Very helpful on the phone, and I wanted to change a couple of things (increased the Agreed value, added Angie to the policy and car is now garaged, not on the drive).

Basically, it has come down by a tenner, and with the 'extras' I have on the policy, and their 'Arrangement Fee' it came in at £158. Can't be arsed to shop around at that price, so all sorted for another year.

[lotusles]

I wonder if Colin would have seen this as a Lotus, because his main agents (and my boss) didn't.
I worked for Lotus very close to GU, so what does that tell you?

I have to say though its probably the only historic Lotus that's usable every day.

Most classic cars are worth far more than their original value, perhaps one day eh! When now deal with stolen recovered MK2 (Sporty)Escorts that are worth 3 times the average vale of an M100 puts it in perspective.

[Saltire]

A fascinating half hour just now researching insurance as I’m changing the daily driver Golf.

Prices for the new vehicle range from £170 to £1,323 a year.

It’s clear which end of the spectrum I’m most interested in, but I’m curious to know how the underwriters would account for such a difference

[lotusles]

A fascinating half hour just now researching insurance as I’m changing the daily driver Golf.

Prices for the new vehicle range from £170 to £1,323 a year.

It’s clear which end of the spectrum I’m most interested in, but I’m curious to know how the underwriters would account for such a difference

Hi Jon
More than happy to discuss how things happen so I don't get a pay rise .

But it appears to be, Risk, experience, reservres etc.
I work for a very large insurer that has to insure me to drive any car (including a Bugatti) but wont insure me personally to drive a M100.

[lotusles]

A fascinating half hour just now researching insurance as I’m changing the daily driver Golf.

Prices for the new vehicle range from £170 to £1,323 a year.

It’s clear which end of the spectrum I’m most interested in, but I’m curious to know how the underwriters would account for such a difference

Hi Jon
Its all about risk .
So if I speed on the M4 in Wiltshire (in your area) at 84 MPH I will get 3 points and a £100 fine, but in Avon that equates to 6 points and a means tested fine of £x. And if you are very clever you could work out my salary. Ant from ant and dec got fined £80k, i'm clearly in the wrong career

[Saltire]

Thanks, Les, that’s interesting

Your speeding analogy isn’t quite accurate, however. It may be that you’re offered a fixed penalty, in which case - as you say - it will be 3 points and £100. If you don’t fit the criteria for a fixed penalty - and that IS down to the local force (so Thames Valley for you and Wiltshire or Gloucestershire for me), you’ll go to court. And all magistrates (should) work to the same set of sentencing guidelines for speeding, reproduced here and in the public domain. It shouldn’t make any difference whether your court case is in Cornwall or Northumberland. NB: Scotland is different, as in so many other ways

[Rambo]

Scotland is different, as in so many other ways

Things are always different under a dictatorship