Insurance Problems

[Midwest Classic]

Originally Posted by fsstnotch

In all honesty, I think I'd rather drive off the road than be decapitated by a 170-200lb deer! But that's just me.

Josh

I agree but I question if the deer was really there or if it might have been "Wild Turkey being hunted by Jack Daniels" if you get my drift.

[Roscoe]

I can tell you one thing from experience. After open tracking my Cobra a few times at very high speeds (100+) I find myself driving slower on public roads......even in my regular daily driver. It just took alot of the 'need' out.

Roscoe

[vector1]

in regards to the deer stories, i was driving down the hiway at approx. 65 mph the other night and had a fox or coyote appear suddenly inside the headlights and without thinking took a hard left then right to correct and still didn't know if i hit it. squealed tires both directions in my jetta.
my point being people do dodge animals as a reaction. i put myself in more danger dodging the animal then running it over. don't ask me why.

[Roscoe]

Why is that?

[fsstnotch]

It's just natural to tru to NOT hit stuff with your car. Especually being that most of the cobra replicas are fiberglass and can really damage pretty easily. I might go ahead and hit a fox, but if you hit something that stands tall like a deer... you are sitting so low in a cobra that you WILL be eating that animal! HOWEVER, myself, coming from a place where there have always been deer, I tend to slow down at night when I know there could be a hazard of such. You never know... it could be like you said, wild turkey chasing old Jack!

I just know that I wouldn't want my last memory to be the windshield and a 175lb deer smashing into my face at say.. 35mph! It would probably rip your head right off!

Josh

[CobraDan]

Almost forgot to reply - "how many insured Cobras does it take to make up a million dollar claim?" - answer 1. But that same answer will apply to the Yugo as well.
Well, I find it interesting you think my one payment of $300 per year for my cobra insurance would find your company able to pay off a million dollars or more in claims. Actually Hagerty was one of the cobra insurers that had one of those death claims and decided it was time to drop offering cobra insurance. At the time I was insured by Hagerty and they didn’t drop me but first doubled my price of insurance and it would have spiraled up wards until like I did find cheaper insurance from another company. As with other car collectors there are many cobra owners who also never take there cars out of the garage and only to a few car shows, but when others do its off to the local auto cross, road course, or drag strip and even if most say they don’t street race but do non of the above why do we have 600HP engines installed and always looking for more.

[fsstnotch]

Because Tim the toolman said to?

[xracerbob]

As an ex-Skip Barber instructor for 8 years, I can definitely see the benefit of the training when applied to these cars. It teaches you to think about what the car is doing and why. I can't tell you how many times I would ask a student "what happened" and the response was "the car spun". To which I smartly reply- all by itself, with out any input from you? Amazing!

It would never cease to amaze me the massive range of competency in any given class of students. The geeky nerd who we thought would be hopeless turns out to be the best at the end of the 3 days or the hotshot who started out so-so and finished no better. Driving these things (or anything for that matter) well requires some level of effort, thinking ahead and real skill.

On the deer/animal thing- I have told my wife and kids it is OK to brake to avoid hitting an animal but in the end, don't endanger yourself or someone else in the process. Just hit the stupid thing. We are doing them a favor by eliminating the slow/stupid ones. I guess it serves me right that my wife has hit 2 deer in the last 6 years.

[Midwest Classic]

Originally Posted by fsstnotch

It's just natural to tru to NOT hit stuff with your car. Especually being that most of the cobra replicas are fiberglass and can really damage pretty easily. I might go ahead and hit a fox, but if you hit something that stands tall like a deer... you are sitting so low in a cobra that you WILL be eating that animal! HOWEVER, myself, coming from a place where there have always been deer, I tend to slow down at night when I know there could be a hazard of such. You never know... it could be like you said, wild turkey chasing old Jack!

I just know that I wouldn't want my last memory to be the windshield and a 175lb deer smashing into my face at say.. 35mph! It would probably rip your head right off!

Josh

I agree with you but when the loss is originally reported to have happened in the evening and then you find out it is at 1:30 in the morning coming home from a party, you just have to think hmmmm.

IF I have to ride my bike at night I like you slow down to a speed where I can see the side roads better to avoid the possibility of a deer or to at least slow down if I see one to minimize damage.

[CobraDan]

There is a FFR owner from New York who goes by the handle of The Deer Hunter over at FFCOBRA because he did hit a deer and had to convince the insurance company to pay him directly for the repairs as he had built his car originally before the deer decided to destroy it.

[Midwest Classic]

Originally Posted by xracerbob

As an ex-Skip Barber instructor for 8 years, I can definitely see the benefit of the training when applied to these cars. It teaches you to think about what the car is doing and why. I can't tell you how many times I would ask a student "what happened" and the response was "the car spun". To which I smartly reply- all by itself, with out any input from you? Amazing!

It would never cease to amaze me the massive range of competency in any given class of students. The geeky nerd who we thought would be hopeless turns out to be the best at the end of the 3 days or the hotshot who started out so-so and finished no better. Driving these things (or anything for that matter) well requires some level of effort, thinking ahead and real skill.

On the deer/animal thing- I have told my wife and kids it is OK to brake to avoid hitting an animal but in the end, don't endanger yourself or someone else in the process. Just hit the stupid thing. We are doing them a favor by eliminating the slow/stupid ones. I guess it serves me right that my wife has hit 2 deer in the last 6 years.

Thanks for jumping in there. Did you find people taking the class to learn how to drive the performance vehicle to enjoy it or were more people inclined to want to know how they can drive fast and be safe while doing it.

I often wonder if the class tames people or just gives them brass ones.

[xracerbob]

Actually there were usually 3 groups- The people who just wanted to go for the "experience", a group that was serious about racing and was taking the first step, and the group that really wanted to be a better driver and get more enjoyment out of driving a nice street car or possibly doing some open track events. This last group was probably about half the people we saw.

For the most part, I think they came away with more respect for the machine which hopefully reduced the number of incidents you might see. We had a few also that were now convinced they were awesome drivers that could do no wrong. We had one guy at Road America leave the last day of the school and promptly total his IROC Camaro and break his legs.

We would also get letters, some times a year later thanking us because they were able to avoid an incident based on their new found skill. I think a part of that is that now the driver would actually anticipate more and actually try and avoid a crash. Many times I have seen people just freeze and drive right into a crash.

Just my observations, worth a minimum of $.02

[Midwest Classic]

Originally Posted by xracerbob

Actually there were usually 3 groups- The people who just wanted to go for the "experience", a group that was serious about racing and was taking the first step, and the group that really wanted to be a better driver and get more enjoyment out of driving a nice street car or possibly doing some open track events. This last group was probably about half the people we saw.

For the most part, I think they came away with more respect for the machine which hopefully reduced the number of incidents you might see. We had a few also that were now convinced they were awesome drivers that could do no wrong. We had one guy at Road America leave the last day of the school and promptly total his IROC Camaro and break his legs.

We would also get letters, some times a year later thanking us because they were able to avoid an incident based on their new found skill. I think a part of that is that now the driver would actually anticipate more and actually try and avoid a crash. Many times I have seen people just freeze and drive right into a crash.

Just my observations, worth a minimum of $.02

I had a friend two weeks ago that was hit while driving his two week old Harley. He said if it was not for the classes he took to safely learn how to operate the vehicle he thought he would be dead. He said he responded just with what he had been taught and it worked. His wife also made it through the collision with a truck but both are pretty banged up.

The schools should work, as long as the student wants them to. Thanks for the follow up.

[Smoking Cobra]

Well im' sure my comments won't make you happy. I certainly ( MIDWEST) understand your reason's for questioning insuring Cobra's. I'm 59, have had one ticket in 25 years going down a big hill in a SMALL rural town. IE SPEED TRAP! 100 % of the time i drive VERY defensively. I'm almost certain that if I'm in an accident it won't be my fault. And yes there are jerks out there who should not be driving these car's. Here in CT they just passed a law that every ticket a cop write's the POLICE dept, NOT the town get's $10.00. You can bet your butt that when I'm in my Black Cobra and my buddy in his RED VETTE we are targets.
As for accidents, have never had one in over 750,000 miles. I do understand your concern over the loss'es you have had. BUT living in Ct and seeing all the HUGH insurance company's building's and buying everything in site-there profits sky rocketing.
If they can raise my rate after one ticket in 25 year's then maybe they should lower my rates seeing i have driven 750,000 miles with one ticket and no accidents. THEY should pay. lol Just my 2 cents. And i do understand your point, it's jsut that we the consumer get's hit with every little thing an insurance company can throw at us.
joeg

[nevermind65]

Originally Posted by Midwest Classic

nevermind65 you missed my point. Sure there are 40-50 Cobras on sale at EBAY but how many other cars are on sale total. When we have had 10 claims in excess of $10,000 and 7 of these are Cobras, that is way too high. If numbers are correct then we should figure 70% of all claims above $10,000 will be the result of Cobras, it is pretty easy for an Insurance Company to limit their losses, like Hagerty has, by deciding not to insure these vehicles.

I didn't miss your point. My point was these cars are becoming so commonplace anymore, that having special insurance for $400/year may not be cost effective. The amount of Cobras on the road is increasing every year, so maybe it is time to change the classification from "specialty vehicle" to something that reflects it's true purpose.

How do they insure a Corvette? If damages to a Cobra is 50% of that of a Corvette, maybe it is time to adjust the premiums accordingly so those that shouldn't be driving a Cobra aren't.

As I mentioned, a quick visit to the FFCobra forum will show that there are at least 20 oor more of these cars in the process of being built. Raise your premiums so you can at least start to recover your costs.

[Midwest Classic]

Originally Posted by Smoking Cobra

Well im' sure my comments won't make you happy. I certainly ( MIDWEST) understand your reason's for questioning insuring Cobra's. I'm 59, have had one ticket in 25 years going down a big hill in a SMALL rural town. IE SPEED TRAP! 100 % of the time i drive VERY defensively. I'm almost certain that if I'm in an accident it won't be my fault. And yes there are jerks out there who should not be driving these car's. Here in CT they just passed a law that every ticket a cop write's the POLICE dept, NOT the town get's $10.00. You can bet your butt that when I'm in my Black Cobra and my buddy in his RED VETTE we are targets.
As for accidents, have never had one in over 750,000 miles. I do understand your concern over the loss'es you have had. BUT living in Ct and seeing all the HUGH insurance company's building's and buying everything in site-there profits sky rocketing.
If they can raise my rate after one ticket in 25 year's then maybe they should lower my rates seeing i have driven 750,000 miles with one ticket and no accidents. THEY should pay. lol Just my 2 cents. And i do understand your point, it's jsut that we the consumer get's hit with every little thing an insurance company can throw at us.
joeg

First off your comments don't bother me at all, I appreciate them. Keep in mind I am a consumer as well and I pay insurance premiums just like everyone else does. My Street Rod costs me the same as if I had a Cobra. You and your buddy with the Vet are not the problem with losses in the industry I think many guys have hit it, no (little) experience driving a 90" wheel base car with 500HP.

Insurance Companies are like any other business - make a profit. If they can not make a profit writing insurance on Cobras, Corvairs or Pacers for that matter then they will change their guidelines. I just hate to see the "good guy" get the raw deal for what the others have done.

[Midwest Classic]

Originally Posted by nevermind65

I didn't miss your point. My point was these cars are becoming so commonplace anymore, that having special insurance for $400/year may not be cost effective. The amount of Cobras on the road is increasing every year, so maybe it is time to change the classification from "specialty vehicle" to something that reflects it's true purpose.

How do they insure a Corvette? If damages to a Cobra is 50% of that of a Corvette, maybe it is time to adjust the premiums accordingly so those that shouldn't be driving a Cobra aren't.

As I mentioned, a quick visit to the FFCobra forum will show that there are at least 20 oor more of these cars in the process of being built. Raise your premiums so you can at least start to recover your costs.

There is an old insurance cliché that 10% of your people cause 90% of your problems and it probably works here as well. We just need to figure out who is in the 10% club. LOL

[CobraDan]

In 1970 we had some cars with the biggest HP increases ever offered by the car industry these cars and the years before are from the muscle car era and bringing big dollar today but by 1971 when the insurance industry stepped in the HP increases decreased immensely for many years. In the most resent years you can again buy what some day will go down as the new muscle car era as you can buy Corvettes, Vipers, and many other models with 500HP-600HP engines and in the next few years they will even being putting out far more HP. Why hasn’t the insurance industry done what they have in the past and now allowed the new muscle era from our car industry?

[Midwest Classic]

Originally Posted by CobraDan

In 1970 we had some cars with the biggest HP increases ever offered by the car industry these cars and the years before are from the muscle car era and bringing big dollar today but by 1971 when the insurance industry stepped in the HP increases decreased immensely for many years. In the most resent years you can again buy what some day will go down as the new muscle car era as you can buy Corvettes, Vipers, and many other models with 500HP-600HP engines and in the next few years they will even being putting out far more HP. Why hasn’t the insurance industry done what they have in the past and now allowed the new muscle era from our car industry?

Quiet, you might wake someone, good question though. I got into the insurance business in 1977 so I have only been doing this for 30 years but I do remember the muscle cars having two sets of books so to speak. One was the actual HP, and the other the reported HP to the Insurance Companies, which was always lower. Who knows maybe the guys in the Ivory towers were the owners of the 70's muscle cars and have a soft spot in their heart.

Personally I think we went from a time of big HP to the 4 cylinders and as these increased in HP they were somehow forgotten. When you look at the cars of today that have a HP rating in excess of 500HP they are not cheap.

Here is a pretty good link to that 500HP club

[Blas]

I don't see anyone offering me reduced rates because I have no accidents or tickets...