wheel arch extensions or not?

duncs · Post by **duncs** » Wed May 15, 2002 2:03 pm

so my dealer is offering wheel arch extensions and the mesh grille (upper and lower grille) for my 1.6 CC at a reasonable-ish price. think it's worth it? would appreciate any comments from those who have had it done. ta.

duncs

Claire Cook · Post by **Claire Cook** » Wed May 15, 2002 2:47 pm

Definately the Mesh Grill, but you should check with your insurers how much extra it will cost, I was quoted Â£700 MORE, hence I don't have them.

mvoong · Post by **mvoong** » Wed May 15, 2002 2:51 pm

Don't understand why they would cost extra on your insurance!!

Anyway, I would very much recommend both. The grill makes the front of the car look more aggresive while the arches help fill out the lines round the sides. I had to take my arches back off to get them resprayed (something under the paint was reacting and made the thing bubble but they beleive it was just a bad batch of paint-so they tell me) and the car just doesn't look the same at all. I was glad when they put it all back on!! If you're goint to do that you might as well look into getting all the black bits painted. I got my side strips, front and rear bumper, bonnet vents and front mud-flpas all colour coded and it makes such a huge difference!

Michael

Claire Cook · Post by **Claire Cook** » Wed May 15, 2002 2:57 pm

Trust me they do cost you extra on your Insurance so you should tell them cause if you have a claim and they see the wheel arch on there they will refuse to pay.

I also don't agree with it and I am an underwriter myself but rules are rules and they are a modification and make a huge difference.

mvoong · Post by **mvoong** » Wed May 15, 2002 3:26 pm

they only clip on and so there are no marks on the car and take less than 5 minutes to remove so if you wer involved in an accident can't you just remove them. Not that that's what I would do!

col · Post by **col** » Wed May 15, 2002 3:28 pm

Well it makes the car look better and hence more attractive to thieves. Which is why i chose a company which would allow me to mod the car and pay a small(if any) premium. But looking at the arches and the grille, they look good, but need a set of alloys with them

Claire Cook · Post by **Claire Cook** » Wed May 15, 2002 3:48 pm

Yep you are right Col, but also there is the stereotype of "boy racer", insurers tend to think wheel arch extensions the BIG wheel arches and therefore bigger wheels will be added, although the 206 arches are not suitable for this it is a modification to the wheel arch and therefore classed as the same.

Burge · Post by **Burge** » Wed May 15, 2002 9:39 pm

Duncs,

I seem to remember you have a 1.6 auto without alloys. I didn't go for the alloys either and when I went to the dealer they said that my wheels weren't big enough to do the extensions justice and would make my wheels look too small. As they are the same width (195) as the wheels on my mates gti I didn't think it would make a lot of difference. I would be interested to know anybody elses view on this as I still like the extensions although I am getting my bumpers colour coded next.

Burge

Sorry for prattling on!

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Thu May 16, 2002 12:06 am

duncs,

i have both WA's & MG and would recommend both - see owner 135.

i'm insured with Axa and didnt tell them they were on my 1st CC (tactical - they sometimes don't charge if you tell them afterwards).

when i told them they would be fitted to the replacement CC there was no additional premium. they just record them as additional options and put a note on the policy as to the cost value.

regards

derek

Claire Cook · Post by **Claire Cook** » Thu May 16, 2002 9:23 am

Derek,

Would just like to say thank you for bringing that to my attention, I am an Underwriter for Axa and I will be looking into this as Wheel Arch Extensions most certainly should be charged for.

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Thu May 16, 2002 9:43 am

Congradulations! you've just won the "jobs worth cap of the decade" :razz:

Claire Cook · Post by **Claire Cook** » Thu May 16, 2002 10:04 am

Well excuse me for doing my job.

col · Post by **col** » Thu May 16, 2002 10:12 am

You have to be carefully what you say around here, you never know whos listening!!

Anyway burge, have you got alloys on your car? The extensions are really just cosmetic but as mentioned earlier people tend to think bigger wheels. If you have 15" alloys wheels then your right and it won't do it any justice as the gap between tyre and arch is just too wide. I thinks you need 16" minimum.

denmark · Post by **denmark** » Thu May 16, 2002 12:29 pm

got any photos of the mesh grille?

denmark

Burge · Post by **Burge** » Thu May 16, 2002 1:13 pm

Claire,

Well you are only doing your job! If you must act on information you come across on this website then I suggest you keep it to yourself - there really was no need to advertise the fact that you were going to "do your job". By doing so people may now be a little less forthcoming with information if they feel there are snoopers out there.

Burge