| Yesterday's boy racers are growing up, but | | | | Swinton, who have seen a resurgence of men |
| instead of ditching their beloved Japanese imports, | | | | and women in their 20s making the most of low |
| like the ever-popular Nissan Skyline, and opting for | | | | interest rates to buy specialist cars. |
| something a little more refined, they're sticking to | | | | "We continue to see growing interest from the |
| their beloved motors. | | | | younger end of the market, where customers |
| The UK's largest high street motor insurance | | | | have high disposable incomes and credit is easily |
| broker, Swinton, is launching Swinton Specialist, a | | | | obtainable," says Swinton's Neil Ackinclose. |
| dedicated team to handle the upsurge in | | | | "Japanese Grey imports lend themselves |
| customers seeking quotes for non-standard | | | | excellently to this market, especially when prices |
| motor insurance. Swinton believe that this boom is | | | | can start for as little as £2k! |
| due to the reluctance of drivers over 30 to give | | | | "We also believe that high house prices have |
| up their modified cars. | | | | barred many twenty-somethings from getting on |
| In the last 12 months Swinton has seen a 18% | | | | the property ladder, meaning their money is |
| hike in demand for specialist, performance and | | | | freed-up to spend on nice cars. Importing is now |
| modified car insurance quotes and the new | | | | extremely popular as it offers excellent value for |
| division will handle enquiries for all modified, high | | | | stylish, individual machines." |
| performance, imported and other non-standard | | | | Swinton has also seen a steady increase in the |
| motors. | | | | number of modified and high performance cars on |
| Grey imports - cars not available in this country - | | | | their books. |
| are remaining massively popular, with exclusive | | | | Swinton Specialist searches through specialist |
| Japanese motors more desirable than ever. Far | | | | schemes from top motor insurers and offers low |
| from being a passing phase in the performance | | | | premiums to owners of modified and |
| car market, as speculated by some, following the | | | | performance cars - with great deals on modified |
| release of films such as the Fast and the Furious, | | | | cars, performance cars, grey imports, and penalty |
| their popularity has soared. | | | | pointed drivers. Value-for-money premiums are |
| The car's high specification and excellent value | | | | also available for cars with limited mileage, for |
| given the strong UK pound is coupled with the | | | | owners belong to car clubs, as well as those with |
| trend for short-term car ownership and low | | | | good security and tracking devices. |
| corrosive driving conditions in Japan - leaving them | | | | Swinton's Top-10 grey imports: |
| in prime condition for UK owners. | | | | 1. Nissan Skyline (Japan) |
| Neil Ackinclose, head of Swinton Specialist, | | | | 2. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (Japan) |
| commented: "Performance cars have never been | | | | 3. Subaru Impreza (Japan) |
| more popular in the UK and we are launching | | | | 4. Toyota Supra (Japan) |
| Swinton Specialist to provide motor insurance for | | | | 5. Mazda RX7 (Japan) |
| this growing market. The internet has become | | | | 6. Mazda MX5 Eunos (Japan) |
| THE market place for car sales, and this has | | | | 7. Honda Integra (Japan) |
| opened up the international car market to UK | | | | 8. Mitsubishi Pajero (Japan) |
| buyers." | | | | 9. Cadillac EXT (USA) |
| But it's not just yesterdays boy racers who are | | | | 10. |
| snapping-up Japanese imports according to | | | | |