Quentin Willson's Motoring Column: HELP! You ask me

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Jun 5, 2005 | by Quentin Willson

QA FEW months ago my 54-plate Ford StreetKa with 3,500 miles was stolen. The insurance company have offered pounds 9,000. I have seen similar cars in the Auto Trader for between pounds 11,000 and pounds 12,000. Is their settlement figure fair? Paula Robins, email

A YOU probably don't want to hear this, but your insurance company's valuation is about right. We are now on the 05-plate, which knocks about pounds 500 off your Ka's value, and supermarkets are offering them at heavy discounts. Retail punters may be advertising nearly-new stuff at over pounds 11k, but that's because they paid too much in the first place. But never accept an insurance company's first offer. Say you want pounds 10k, hoping to settle between pounds 9,500 and pounds 10k. Better still, ask them to supply you with an equivalent StreetKa rather than cash. That should make them sit up.

Q MY wife has pounds 7k-pounds 8k to buy an A-Class Merc, but I have heard the early models had problems and are expensive to run. Is this right? Motorpoint have a 53-reg with 11,000 miles for pounds 7,599, which looks good value. David Marrow, email

AYOU'RE right. The early A-Class had suspension, air conditioning and electrical issues, and overall build quality was far from brilliant. Toppish Mercedes dealer labour rates don't help either, so the 1998-2000 models can cost a bundle to run. But your 53- plater should be much better, with fewer headaches. The 1.6 petrol and 1.9 diesel are the best sellers.