British petrol sales drop to 23 year low as prices rise and insurance doubles - Polidicks

[QUOTE=Roll_Program;40481197]The UK really doesn't want people to drive. Why the fuck do they think limiting transport is going to help the economy? Half the cost of petrol is tax, it's out of control. The UK gov just wants money fast, by creating huge taxes, instead of letting the economy flourish. It's an awful way of running things, run by an awful government (the awfulness stays the same every new election). Yes, I would leave if I could. [t]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Fuel_tax_in_OECD_countries%2C_2010..png[/t][/QUOTE] What's going on with Mexico?

[QUOTE=SuPeR_MaN;40489092]What's going on with Mexico?[/QUOTE] I would guess they subsidize their gas.

You guys are really getting raped hard on the insurance over there. I don't get it at all, it's not like by virtue of living in the UK you're more likely to get in massive crashes that cost shitloads of money. Smells like you're just getting gouged by greedy insurance companies and the government is doing absolutely nothing about it because their long term plan is to push as many people out of their cars as possible. Meanwhile, in the US, I have an '87 Chrysler with a 320hp 5.9L V8 that barely costs $500 a year for liability. Wheeeee! :dance:

[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;40489526]You guys are really getting raped hard on the insurance over there. I don't get it at all, it's not like by virtue of living in the UK you're more likely to get in massive crashes that cost shitloads of money. Smells like you're just getting gouged by greedy insurance companies and the government is doing absolutely nothing about it because their long term plan is to push as many people out of their cars as possible. Meanwhile, in the US, I have an '87 Chrysler with a 320hp 5.9L V8 that barely costs $500 a year for liability. Wheeeee! :dance:[/QUOTE] The main problem is inflation of costs. A simple car park shunt which would cause no more than £200 worth of damage to a car can end up costing insurance companies in excess of £5,000. Whilst the claimants car is in for repair they are supplied with a like for like hire car, so if they have a brand new, top spec BMW they are supplied with a similar spec car, and the rental companies like to bump up their already high prices. Then you have the garage costs of repairing the car, they like to take their time and carry out as much work as possible at the highest possible price. Overseeing all of these claims is an accident management company who like to charge the insurance companies for using them, these guys just coordinate the claim and recover money from the other insurer. Finally you have a very real chance of the claimant being able to claim £2-3K for so called whiplash, even at a 10mph crash the insurance is likely to just pay out to avoid court, and of course the no win no fee 'solicitors' claim their costs from the other side too. So there you have it, everyone is taking full advantage of this shockingly unregulated process, in the process causing premiums to skyrocket.

I would bet their standard for "minimum coverage" are a lot higher then American standards as well.

[QUOTE=Sweeney;40487850]Then tell me why the 2000 registered Vauxhall Corsa 1.0 I bought for £90 (thats not a typo, a taxed and MOT'd car for £90) was £4000 to insure as a newly passed driver, but a 1982 Ford Escort Ghia 1.4 (fairly bigger car, bigger engine, fully loaded extras, no rear seatbelts or safety features etc) was only £860? [img_thumb]http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/481815_4967258819591_1842756771_n.jpg[/img_thumb] Mine on the left. Doesnt make sense does it? Bear in mind I see plenty folk my age in both cars so it can't be "Kids write off way more corsas!"... [/quote] Classic car insurance? people look after classic cars more and drive them less

I wish we had legitimate bike lanes in Britain that spanned across wider areas. Sometimes you'll see the odd one but they are never very long. They have them in London and that but round here you have to go along the road, and the shit drivers and massive potholes at the side of the roads make it difficult.