MTR

Here is the response from Mr Peter Kinnaird, Subaru UK Managing Director, for my letter re PPP and insurance on UK cars.

see here http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=415477 for my letter to him and Dave Richards of Prodrive and his response.

It is only fair that I post Mr Kinnairds response to my letter.
I don't think he will mind me making it public.

************************************************** *******

5th April 2005
Dear Mr ****

Many Thanks for your constructive letter regarding insurance and the attitude of insurers to modified cars and the PPP.

Naturally, I was delighted to note your obvious enthusiasm for your Subaru Impreza Turbo STi and note with some interest your previous purchasing pattern, which might suggest you could be in the market again soon!

Obviously the issue you raise is familiar to us and if the solution were simple I feel sure we would have solved it by now.

In essence, in order to be recognised as a specfic model by the ABI (Association of British Insurers) we have to identify a model designation (and badge accordingly), identify a specification and list the model in our price list.

In the case of the WR1, it being a limited edition to a set specification and despite the after market fit of the PPP, we were able to satisfy the ABI criteria.

With regard to the on-going offer of PPP as an after market dealer fit option it is not possible to designate these as a specific model, given the fact that many customers also wish to specify additional after market changes which may vary from customer to customer.

We do of course, offer our own branded insurance - Subaru Insured- that obviously recognises the PPP option and will quote accordingly.

Nevertheless, I agree that some wider solution via the ABI would be desirable and we are currently looking at some tweaks in the way we market PPP to see if we can get ABI recognition.

Meantine, I know Tom Butler of Subaru Insured has responded to your comments on the website and has indicated he will be happy to provide you with a quote.

Thank you once again for your thoughtful letter.

Yours Sincerely
Peter Kinnaird
MANAGING DIRECTOR

************************************************** *******

I must say it is nice that someone in Peters position, as Sam did before him, took the trouble to respond personally.
It is also interesting to see his comment about the PPP being an aftermarket fit on the WR1, which is what I said on another thread when the WR1 was being launched.

I've no doubt they are both extremely busy people, who can probably do without letters from me, berating the anomolies within the insurance industry.

But if you don't ask, you don't get.

Lets hope he is successful with his approaches to the ABI.


Cheers
MTR

streetbeats

well done mate

MTR

I have just had a telephone call from Mike Wood at Prodrive in response to the letter I sent to Dave Richards, his boss, regarding the problems associated with trying to insure PPP specced Imprezas.
see here http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=415477

He couldn't go into great detail about what Subaru/Subaru Insured (Tom Butler at Schofields) and Prodrive were doing, except to say that they WILL be liasing with the ABI (Association of British Insurers), and attempting to ease the problems encountered when insuring the PPP specced cars.

I for one don't expect my insurance to fall in cost dramatically, but if I can at least get a selection of companies willing to quote, which currently is not easy, then that would be a start.

To be honest I wasn't expecting Dave to reply, but I felt out of courtesy I should send him a copy of my letter I was sending to Peter Kinnaird, so he was at least aware of my concerns.
He passed it on to Mike Wood to speak to me on his behalf, and as I have met Mike on a couple of occasions previously, it was a pleasantly informative and relaxed conversation, and was very much appreciated.

Thanks Mike, and please thank Dave Richards on my behalf.

I don't suppose for a minute that my letters started anything that wasn't already being looked into, but at least with the responses from Peter Kinnaird, Tom Butler (Schofields Insurance, is this classed as me advertising ) and Mike Wood from Prodrive, which have been posted publically on Scoobynet, we can at least be assured that our concerns are being taken seriously.

Cheers
MTR

MTR

This is a copy of the letter I have recieved from Dave Richards dated
26Th April (it arrived on the 28th April after I spoke to Mike Wood)

Dear ****
Thank you very much for your recent letter concerning insurance issues with your Subaru Impreza.

I understand we have a solution to this problem, and I have forwarded your enquiry to Roland Cherry, who will respond to you very shortly.

Thank you very much for taking the time and trouble to make me aware of this matter.

Yours Sincerely
David Richards
cc Roland Cherry

Cheers
MTR

MTR

The resultant outcome of this thread re 'illegal exhaust ' on a PPP specced WRX will be interesting.
http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthrea...8&page=1&pp=20

If the car was registered with the ABI as a defined specification car like the WR1, then it would not be classified as 'modified' and the whole argument with the Police would be negated.

Subaru/Prodrive are you taking note?

Cheers
MTR

MTR

An update from Mike Wood on here.
http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=415302

Cheers
MTR