… insurance for a modified vehicle with an agreed full comprehensive insurance value of $20k is very steep for an under 25 year old driver
Yes, even stock V8 for under 25’s can cost $3k or more to insure and those policies come with an eye watering excess close to what the insurance costs
It’s simply based on risk and it’s the insurance company’s way of saying they don’t really want to insure you
It’s the same for old farts that have poor driving records trying to get insurance on V8’s, all insurance companies consider such drivers in powerful cars to be a high risk so they act accordingly.
I went to insure a modified car with Shannons, with an agreed value of $20 k in Feb last year and the premiums were $600 to $700 per year, with me being in the Northern burbs of Adelaide and not in a secured garage....
It’s unfair to compare insurance premium of 25 yo’s (of older drivers with poor driving records) with those that old farts like us can get… And try and get insurance if you’ve been convicted of fraud, especially insurance fraud… You gotta compare apples to apples…
Heck, my insurance provider even went as far as to ask me, during policy application, whether I’d owned and daily driven a vehicles with similar power to weight as the V8 commodore I wanted to insure. And that was despite them providing a reasonably policy cost and excess… just part of their filtering out of risk I guess…
vc, if you’re curious and want to find out how expensive insurance can be, just pretend to be a 23 yo and jump on the web and try to insure your ungaraged car in the norther suburbs. It’ll be an eye opener into being reamed by insurance companies…
As to the reasons behind Watdogx issue and why police asked him to start his engines, it doesn’t really matter much. If a policeman is on the beat and wants to find some defective cars, one doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to find them… For whatever reason he was pulled out of the crowd, Watdogx now has a defect to resolve which will need lots of $$ spent. He’ll need to change cams, etc… as S.A. is rather tough on such mods as you’ve highlighted.
For Watdogx, it’s just another reaming but this time by S.A. Gov. Defect vigin or not, Wadogx’s farts will now be a little less rumbling after the reaming he’ll get going over the pits..
Watdogx, for an absence of uncertainty,
in S.A. the following applies…
All vehicles manufactured on or after 1 January 1986 must comply with ADR 37, including:
- This category of vehicle may only be fitted with an engine complying with ADR 37 or later ie an engine designed to operate only on unleaded fuel), which incorporates all associated emission control components.
- Fitting an engine other than an original or optional engine requires approval from the Department for Infrastructure and Transport.
- No alterations to the engine's camshaft, inlet manifold, carburettor/fuel injectors, engine control unit or the catalytic converter are permitted.
- Airflow meters must not be disconnected.
- Modified or aftermarket plenum chambers or throttle bodies are not permitted.
- Extra or larger fuel injectors or variable fuel pressure regulators are not permitted.
- If the vehicle was originally fitted with a catalytic converter by the manufacturer, the vehicle must continue to operate with one.
And they will look at all roadworthy issues whether listed on the defect or not as indicated
in this doc… Best to be well prepared and have checked everything meets tne roadworthy requirements before inspection and take some lube with you just to make the process less painful…
