The basic UK Turbo is surely going to give around 215bhp as standard which would be well above most of the other cars your mates are driving Andy, with the extra benefit of 4wd - why price yourself out of a Scooby by buying an import that albeit will have that bit of extra bhp but be much more difficult if not impossible to insure, as you're finding out. I bought my00 classic in 2005, never having driven a 'performance' car before and the additional bhp over my Scorpio was indeed very noticeable. I kept it basic for about 18mths before having it remapped. I can't really offer any further advice on your insurance, being more in your dads age-group and having been driving for years with full ncb. I still pay £500 despite all that!