So recently bought a play/track thing and got a quote, bearing in mind all same details - same drivers, stored in same location, same claims, replicated NCB etc.

2014 Octavia vRS TDi DSG Estate (184bhp), owned from new (£20k value (ish) now) 20k miles, includes business miles = £300

2000 BMW 318Ti Sport (140bhp), value £1k, limited to 3k miles, SDP only - £600

How does that work?

Could be down to better safety technology and cost/availability of parts. Maybe that insurer also favours drivers who need their car for work as they'll look after their licences.

As above but also was it on a multi car policy or a new standalone ploicy?

It's a new policy but the company said they could match the NCB

It's normally the lack of NCB on a second vehicle that causes it to be disproportionately more expensive than the first, but taking that out of the equation as you've done you're also seeing how much of an effect modern safety systems have on the changes and severity of an accident.

defo the modern car safety features.................

 

My new Golf has more power & cost over double my old fabia but costs way less to insure for the same postcode/garage etc..................

A second for the modern safety features. Also I'd think the BMW will be more likely to get nicked at some point too.

When I passed my test at 17 I got a 51 reg Peugeot for £700, insured it through the AA with a black box because it was the cheapest quote I could get anywhere. That cost me £4300! Only 8 months later I bought my 11 reg Fabia. Around the same power, worth £5300 more, manual gearbox not auto. That cost me £1300 to insure. Still no NCB because I'd only been driving for 8 months but the difference in insurance prices was immense.