[noahe]

Well, after much prodding, the Vehicle Insurance Centre of Canada (VICC) has developed a Canadian Loss Experience Rating (CLEAR) for the MINI Cooper S.

Yikes! I was expecting my insurance to go up. This is a premium car, in a high-risk category, but I wasn't expecting my insurance to double.

I suppose it kinda makes sense. A brand new Cooper S is more than double the price of a used Pontiac Sunfire. It's also twice a quick. Probably twice as much to fix, and certainly many, many times more desireable to steal.

But it's still jarring to hear.

I was told, that since the car is a new brand, new make, new model, the CLEAR is an estimate. None have been lost due to accidents or theft yet, so it is impossible to develop one based on factual statistics... It will likely get better.

Part of the reason our rates are so high, is an accident. I may still have 6/6 stars on my licence, but unfortunately my missus is down to 4/6.

Another startling figure: Our 1995 Pontiac Sunfire SE 2-DR Coupe is a Group 4 car. The MINI Cooper S is a group 30 car. Ouch.

So, while - YES - we're still getting the car, and - YES - I'm still excited to have one of the first 'S's in Toronto, I've got to ask you all a question?

When the novelty factor wears off, and the car has a few parking lot scars, and smells like something other than 'new car scent', am I still going to love this thing twice as much as an ordinary car? 'Cause hooey-boy, that's a lot of $$$ per month difference.

P.S. Before I get a lot of advice to shop around - I did. This is the best rate available, because by sticking with the same insurance company, they have alread partially forgiven us for the accident.

[HarryHBMCC]

When I got my Cooper (not S) insured my agent asked me, "It's the base model, right?" I replied yes and she said, "GOOD!" I didn't ask what it would have been if I'd gotten an S but I gathered that it was a lot more. For reference, the '95 3-door 3-cylinder Geo Metro that my Cooper replaced was only $10/month less insurance premium.

Harry

[noahe]

Yeah, I know the little red S on the car is costing me more ways than one. More to buy, more to insure, more to run... I hope it's worth it. I'll be a little more objective when I actually have the car.

[janinax@Ottawa]

Well, I may be in for a surprise within a few days when I confirm to my insurance agent the change from a Volvo 850 to a Cooper (non-S). Actually, who cares, its HERE as ordered and with XENONS see condition below... Now if only I could decide on the trade-in option....

[noahe]

You'll be okay. The Cooper's aren't so bad. It's that little 'S' that gives the insurer's carte blanc to charge whatever they want... Or at least so it seems.

[Mini2Go]

Hummm, to me they are consistent with what they ask for other cars in the same category.

When I bought my GTI last year, my premium was $1550 CDN for the Toronto area. Since then, I moved to Ottawa and my insurance broker is asking $1350 CDN for the Cooper S, even if the S is $5000 more than my GTI.

I believe that the 10% reduction is due to the difference of the automotive park between both area (GTA has the largest one in Canada).

[Ottawa Guy]

I called my insurance agent for a quote when I ordered my S in March. I was told that it would be slightly less than I'm currently paying for my '98 Prelude.

I hope it's not going to change too much now thay have more of a handle on it.