hmm...I'd lke to know what those other reasons are? I'm not against a mid-range V-8, I just don't see the market advantange when milage and insurance are factored in. Just seems like unessesary money spent.

But hey,...what do I know.

 

I6 most likely wouldn't fit in a car. The 3v version of the 3.9L V6 would be a better choice, it will also be 270HP

 

Im very glad to hear there is hope for an intermediate v8

 

I've been posting the fact that insurence isn't based on horsepower for at least 2 years now. Anyone who supports the idea of a middle engine based on this assumption is in for a very rude awakening. You will be shocked at what cars have higher insurence rates than a LS1 Z28!

 

I can tell you for a fact that insurance rates are NOT set based upon horsepower numbers. I am an actuarial analyst part time while going to school. Actuaries are financial mathematicians who use probability models to estimate future cost, given you do not know what the outcome will be. To calculate an insurance premium on a car you look at the what are called decrements (a form of conditional probabilities). The process goes something like this:

A car comes out in 2006. It is an updated version of the same model made the year before. An insurance company will look at people who own that car before and will put them into different risk categories based on age, gender, income, and number of accidents or moving violations previously obtained. Then the numbers are analyzed. There are enough all 21-25 year old men in California making $30,000 with one acccident to make an estimation that within the next year their car is stolen, is in an accident, vandalized, etc based on that year's claims. Using that and a whole lot more math you can make an estimation of an insurance premium to bill that one person. It is why when an insurance company finds out that you had a speeding ticket during the year your rates go up. The insurance company finds out that you have a higher risk of accidents than other drivers and place you into a higher risk category. Since your probabilites are higher of an accident, you will be charged more.

So back to the point in hand:
An insurance company in 2007 will look at the three Camaro engines (V6, low V8, high V8). Since the car has never existed before, they will look at another car comparable to the 2007 Camaro in those categories and use a similar risk model. They would most likely use the V6, GT, and Cobra versions of the Mustang to get temporary probabilities. After the 2007 year is over, the data will be reanalyzed and new probabilities more representational to the 2007 Camaro will be made and the premiums will be adjusted to reflect those probabilities.

If a car has 900hp, but the driver never takes it out on the road, or only drives it in 25mph zones, you better bet that his premium will be lower than some 17 year old punk with his Mustang GT cruising the streets at 2am looking to race someone. Horsepower DOES NOT determine premiums. Statistical correlations with certain drivers make insurance premiums.

 

I don't have the data infront of me, but I would make the assumption that insurance rates on an Acura Integra are comparable to that of a 2002 Z28.

Hope my previous post made sense!

 

How much $$$ I make?? I have never been asked that question before. If I ever was asked that question I would refuse to answer.

 

It's not directly asked. But, an insurance company can look at the probability distribution of your income based on what car you drive. Given you bought a 2001 Camaro at 24 years old, the 20-80% range of your income will most likely be $X and $Y and that probability function takes upon a certain shape, etc.

I don't work in insurance. I actually work in pension consulting, but similar processes are used in both casualty insurance, life insurance, and pensions. The series of 8 exams you have to take (that takes 6-12 months to prepare for) teach you in general the same material and diverge in the end near exam 6. I'm working currently on exam 2 and 3. I don't know ALL the information about insurance, but I can tell you a good portion of how its done based on my knowledge of pension systems and management. The logic, math, and cost methods are both very similar.

I can probably answer almost all general questions on insurance, but specific ones I might struggle.

 

thanks for giving us some insight