I wanted to second Bill's opinion.  I had been with State Farm for years,
and religiously checked with other insurace providers and State Farm always
won out.

Then I received a mailer with my AM/EX statement offering insurace through
my Costco membership.  AM/EX/Costco was 30% less.

Although the savings on the '91 Syncro Westy was less...probably because it
is so cheap in the first place.  I pay $496/yr. with 100/300/100 liability
(min in CO is 25/50/25) and $1000 deductable.

It's tough enough just to get the full market value for a late model Syncro
Westy from your insurance company, let alone being re-imbursed for all the
goodies you may have added.  I just get the standard policy, save my
receipts, plan on a war just trying to get full market value, then plan on
buying the remains of the van back from the insurance company in order to
get my goodies back. Obviously if the van explodes or is
stolen....um.....well...

I have considered getting a fixed $$ policy but at $2000 or more additional
a year it could not be justified for me.  I have never filed an insurance
claim though and I am sure that I would be sick if I ever found out how much
I have paid out for insurance in the course of my life...

HTH,

Cory
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill N" <freeholder@STARBAND.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 4:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Syncro] Insurance - Replacement Value Policy?

> Check rates with American Express Auto Insurance.  For me, they beat
Geico, and every other
> carrier I checked, by about 20%.
>
> Bill
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bob Stevens" <mtbiker62@HOTMAIL.COM>
> >
> > Not my experience at all. I had a fairly extensive snowstorm accident 7
> > years ago (been with Geico over 10), causing 6K damage to a Subaru
Legacy
> > Wagon. My rates did not change upward, and in the last 3 years have gone
> > down. I'd be paying $200-300 more right now with the next best
deal-carrier.
> > Geico settled my claim promptly with no hesitation or dalay. So, I've
had
> > good experiences with them.