Now I'm finally getting closer to buying a car for commuting, I'm looking at insurance quotes. Now maybe I've been spoiled for a few years having the coop listed as a limited mileage classic through Glynwood, but I'm astounded at how much these quotes are for a 147 1.9 JTDm 16v.

10-15k miles a year and with mirror NCB is still working out at over a grand. I'm 36 for crying out load! I haven't paid that much since I was 24!!

I've tried Saabs with the same engine and the Aero 2.0T too and I get the same price. Cheapest I can find is just over £800. I was told that the price is related to the NCAP rating because of injury claims by passengers, which makes sense but the Saab too?!

Am I living in the past here? I thought these cars would be 300 quid!

Try Footman James.

Both my coupes are insured with them. Recently they quoted on my forthcoming purchase of a Barchetta, thought I had heard it wrong when they said £52.00 year.

According to their online system, they can't even offer me a quote...

that's a lot - my Saab is £600 a year with 20,000 miles and business use, fully comp etc.but I do have 10 years + no claims. they are not expensive to insure for the bhp on the aero.

Can you ask for details of the NCAP rating stuff so that you can challenge it?

Crazy, my Merc A class diesel on 17,000 miles pa is £170 with full NCD and SP30 (General Accident) but many other close quotes via "Compare the Market"

That is fully comp renewed last week

I'm afraid insurance is a postcode lottery & age related. Just to give you for instance, I'm under £200 for my diesel hack (turbo) & just over £200 for the Coop. Looking around for cars in your criteria I would be under £300, in my neck of the woods, garaged that is...

Postcode did make difference to me having moved recently but I think I've just worked out the killer... I've been saying that I'm self employed. Having started my own Limited Company in Feb, I thought I was. I'm still working all this out having been employed as staff PAYE all my life - it's all a bit new.

Now having done some reading through forums and finding references to the gov site, it turns out that, as a director paid PAYE, I'm actually employed.

30% off straight away

I'm paying around 300 for the Bravo with the same engine, Trappy - postcode Hemel and kept on the drive, usual social/domestic/pleasure use on 35k/year. LV.

Result, well done!