I've been lurking on this site for a while as I have been planning to buy an Octy. Since it's not a company car, I went to my local dealer in Fareham to ask if there were any nearly new ones - I was looking for a silver 1.6 FSI auto with low mileage. Saleman fell off his chair laughing at the improbability of such a daft request, cos the apparently there aren't many around, but was able to locate some manual Ambientes. I phoned the Skoda dealer in Winchester, and as it happens one was just in with the spec I wanted, and it was an Elegance (I love the bells and whistles!) with just under 5K on the clock. I got a good p/x on my nearly 7 year old Avensis and two days ago I went to get it. It's GORGEOUS, I love it to pieces, but I'd never driven an automatic before (apart from the test drive), so I drove it cautiously home. The next time I started it up, it wouldn't move no matter what I did - until I finally realised that having my left foot on the brake (thinking it was the clutch) and the right on the accelerator might possibly be the problem...

A quick question - my dealer suggested I take up the Gap Plus insurance where for a one off payment of

Hello, welcome and glad you've got the car you were looking for

That type of insurance is generally offered because of the likely difference between the event actually happening (i.e. your car being written off in an accident) and the actuarial statistics of cars being written off as a proportion of all accidents. In other words, there's a fair chance that the insurer will get to keep more premiums than money it has to pay out.

You must decide how to spend your hard-earned, of course, so I guess the questions are how likely you think you will be in a "write-off" accident and how much you can earn in interest by keeping your pennies in the bank, whilst also assessing the risk of what you would buy with proceeds (whatever they are) in the awful event that your car is written off and given that car prices are changing all the time.

I hope that makes sense - I personally reckon that only you can decide possible likely future outcomes in your particular case. The insurance co has already laid its cards on the table in the wider sense of statistical likelihood of keeping your premium.

Just my view.

Mo

Hi and welcome:)

As with any product dealers sell the salespeople will always make commission on it, I'd have a look @ www.abi.org.uk this will explain GAP properly (i know 1st hand that most salespeople dont explain it correctly)..If you think its worth the outlay have a look @ the following sites as im sure you'll find it cheaper than the

Welcome to Briskoda, there's quite a few of us in this neck of the country so keep your eyes peeled and you might spot a Lesser Spotted Fabia or if your'e really lucky you might even catch a glimps of the even rarer Black Billed OctyII VRS!!.

After my little problem last week....... GAP insurance was the best decision I EVER made!! Do it even skoda's expensive insurance of

Hi and welcome:)

hi. and welcome 2 the site.

Thanks for all the useful info on insurance - what a helpful lot you are!

hello.

I took out the gap insurance my dealer offered when my octavia rs was written off. they were very helpful and true to their word. The paid the entire difference off.

In addition to paying up when your car is written off, GAP insurance can also make up the difference if you brand new car is stolen and not recovered. Just another thing to factor into your decision.

Personally, I WOULD buy the cover if:

a) I bought a brand new car - since the change in value is greatest in that situation;

I thought there was a chnace that my car might be knicked - i.e. desireable car for thieves (RSs, Scoobies, Audis, Mercs, BMWs) or if I lived in a dodgy area;

c) I thought I was a lousy driver

In addition to paying up when your car is written off' date=' GAP insurance can also make up the difference if you brand new car is stolen and not recovered. Just another thing to factor into your decision.

Personally, I WOULD buy the cover if:

a) I bought a brand new car - since the change in value is greatest in that situation;

I thought there was a chnace that my car might be knicked - i.e. desireable car for thieves (RSs, Scoobies, Audis, Mercs, BMWs) or if I lived in a dodgy area;

c) I thought I was a lousy driver [/quote']

All of the above apply in my case :O

Just as well I bought the GAP cover

Thanks for the advice KentStu.

1. I bought it 6 months old

2. I don't think I live in an undesirable area - as to having a desirable car, well I desired it, but it doesn't fall into the posh bracket of car you've named. I think I am one of three people on this site that doesn't have (or covet) a VRS!

3. A bad driver? Moi?

I didn't think about it being stolen, only written off, so I'll probably go for GAP - Chris FabVRS highlighted some really useful sites with cheaper insurance than I'd been quoted by the salesman.