Modded.. Or Standard?

[kate205gti 4]

I've been having some thoughts about my 205 lately, i was unfortunate enough to have a shunt last month - my fault in the eyes of the insurance company (car in front stalled on a roundabout lol), so I know my insurance premium is going to go through the roof next year (was bad enough this year!)

Im also now doing a 100 mile commute most days which at 27mpg in the 205 is costing a fortune!

I dont want to get rid of the 205 - ive had it over 8 years! but I do need to make it cheaper or more economical to run :s the main problem with the insurance is that most companies wont quote on it because of the rollcage, plus other mods like coilovers, bucket seats, harnesses, etc.. meaning only Adrian Flux or HIC will touch it really, so I'm wondering if putting it back to standard would open up a lot more insurance options? and how much different the car would feel as standard?

Im also half wondering whether a 1.6 engine would be a bit more frugal? or not worth the effort! currently 1.9 on 1 .9 gearbox - any thoughts? :s

[welshpug 1,657]

depends on your commuting route, but driven well you should get mid 30's from a healthy 1.9.

 

changing it to a standard car certainly will open up more insurance companies, though it seems you'll be using one of the specialists in most cases regardless so unless it makes it significantly cheaper it may not be worth the work, would be much more comfortable though.

 

 

find a cheap diesel 106? would imagine it'd soon pay for itself doing well over double the mpg, cheaper insurance +tax ETC.

 

possible to move house/job closer?

Edited August 17, 2011 by welshpug

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Can you not put the 205 away for a bit and buy a diesel hack for the 100mile commute? As much as I like my 205's I would not want to do 100 mile a day in one.

[Batfink 201]

I never regret stopping using a 205 for a daily commute. I just now feel a bit guilty when I open my garage and see the current state of her. Even the missus has said she would hit me hard if I ever said I would sell it so it waits....

[205BigTosh 0]

 

 

find a cheap diesel 106? would imagine it'd soon pay for itself doing well over double the mpg, cheaper insurance +tax ETC.

 

 

 

 

This would be my option as above. i would keep her for the 3 years until your claim has expired, buy a cheap nasty deisel for the commute, insure 3rd party only.

 

i got quotes for my 205gti if it were standard on compare the meeeeeeeerkat, and the cheapest was 160pound im 34 full ncb driving 16 years.

 

but my 205 is modded with a 2.0 litre 16v and a magnex full system. im paying 300 with the mods with limited 5k miles.

 

 

on the other hand, i would may be tempted to find a cheap 1.6gti standard, better fuel,cheaper to run. store the other modded car away for the 3 years.

other than that you have to weigh up the costs over the year in these scenarios(spelling)

 

hope this helps you

 

martin

[Anthony 1,003]

how much different the car would feel as standard?

Given the nature and extent of the modifications on yours, it's going to be significantly different to drive as a standardish car.

 

The rollcage is the biggest insurance headache as you've said given that rules out 90% odd of companies - the engine is standard, and the brakes and suspension shouldn't prove too difficult/costly to insure with a more mainstream insurer. If you had protected no claims, a single claim shouldn't dramatically increase the premium I wouldn't have thought - certainly my insurance bizarrely went down the renewal after I had a claim

 

Worth actually seeing how much difference it will make to quotes as a standardish car though before going down that route, as when I was with HIC there was very little difference between the quotes for my (at the time standard) 1.6 GTi and the 205 Mi16 that I had - I can't remember the exact figures now, but it was less than £100 between them, which is hardly worth dismantling the car you love for (especially as sourcing the parts will cost significantly more than that)!

 

Im also half wondering whether a 1.6 engine would be a bit more frugal? or not worth the effort! currently 1.9 on 1 .9 gearbox - any thoughts? :s

In my experience, there's little real world difference in economy between a 1.6 and 1.9 - maybe 1-2mpg tops?

 

As has been said though, a healthy well-setup 1.9 8v should really be getting low-mid 30's to the gallon with the sort of usage you're doing.

 

If you want something that'll make a significant difference to fuel bills, then chances are you're looking at something powered by the devils own fuel - although clearly the cost of fuel savings needs to be offset against the additional outlay for buying, insuring, taxing and running a second car. 100 miles a day should pay for itself fairly quickly though - I know my 306 has paid for itself several times over since I bought it a couple of years back by virtue of the fact that I'm getting 50% more miles for the same moneys worth of fuel.

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

I think the main cost difference in fuel costs (assuming you use V power / SUL in momo) where you can run the 1.6 on normal 95ron ul.

 

But for the amount of work needed to change your car back to a standard version I expect you'd be better to buy a cheap (hexhamstu's 306 hdi? ) & run that for the commute / daily hack & keep momo for special occasions.

 

g