Reckon this will buff out? Or does it need something stronger? T-Cut?
Sorry - trying to use some humour to help me cope with this morning's commute "mishap", where somebody pulled out of a side road 15-20yds in front of me at 35-40mph... no injuries, other party has already notified her solicitors and admitted full liability, but doesn't change the stress of potentially having had my car written off - damage is very superficial*, but just worried it might climb close to the £3k value of the car :(
* damage:
bumper plastics are a mess,
bumper bar has the end bent
front quarter panel is buckled on the leading edge
wheel arch plastics appeared fine, but might not be after the car has been backed off the truck - they had all popped loose on the front edge
the drivers' side head/fog light units are in a LOT of bits, although all still working
and probably a bonnet hinge
NOT damaged: bonnet was very slightly bent, but no kinks and looked unscratched, even the washer bottle in that corner looked fine!!
Oh no!
that looks really bad :(
Sadly, based on experience, that'll be a write off unless you put up a good fight and go for cash in lieue option.
Worth a try
My main concern is that the car remains safe to drive for you after fixes. I.e. Being sure it's not bent
Looks worse than it is - pretty sure it's not bent given the corner of the bumper bar only got a slight nudge and the washer bottle appeared fine - I was trying to steer across, but not enough time given the limited time/space. The concern is that a few body panels and spraying very quickly gets it into the £3k territory... so that is a very real risk of it being "beyond economic repair"...
Hopefully the fact that it's a late model (July 2007) will keep the value in the realms of economically viable to repair as it's a great little car and really solid motor (didn't consume a drop of oil in the 10k miles since I've owned it!)... plus new mohair hood (6months), new coilovers (2months) and brand new brakes (<1 month) mean I wouldn't want it replaced with any £3k alternative!
If they agree to repair it, I'll get it geo-checked again at WIM as SOON as it is back - £40 for the peace of mind and I was last in there a month ago, so should still be on file.
Well that is good news.
All the arguments you present are all valid and were the same kind of reasons Helen's wasn't written off (it was initially).
A few panels and a light is no biggie :)
Fingers crossed for you
I'm sorry to see this, so hope it is salvable especially after all your hard work getting to look it's best. I wish you all the best and hope it will soon be on the road again. Why don't people look properly when they pull out? Grrrhh (:< >:)
Quote from: Chilli Girl on September 5, 2018, 17:03
I'm sorry to see this, so hope it is salvable especially after all your hard work getting to look it's best. I wish you all the best and hope it will soon be on the road again. Why don't people look properly when they pull out? Grrrhh (:< >:)
I reckon she didn't look that closely on initial approach to the junction and when she pulled out the rest of the way, I was so close to her I would have been behind her A pillar.
I had dipped beams, etc on (07.30am), but she still didn't see me. Fortunately none of that is being contested, but when the car flicks across towards the taxi waiting in the other side road, you can clearly see the headlights in his dashcam footage (already sent through to me).
NB Photo's taken with the wider angle lens as I've cracked the other lens - in another mishap :( But this was her view towards my approach - I was following the road straight on and she was at the give-way sign, turning slightly right to go across into another side road - she had just nudged half way into the other lane as I was approaching, then stopped and I was at the second post when she pulled straight across in front, leaving me nowhere to go. From the angles, I assume I was directly in line with her A pillar.
That is eminently repairable.
Bumper, wing, bonnet and lights, no more than £500 for used but good parts. Probably no need to paint anything.
I reckon no more than four skilled man-hours.
Remember, this is not your insurance company's problem, it's the liability of the person who caused the damage. In law you are entitled to full restoration of your property.
Insist on it. Don't deal with her insurance company, deal with her, It's her liability. Make it clear that you will seek to recover any shortfall.
Quote from: Carolyn on September 5, 2018, 17:20
Probably no need to paint anything.
Especially not if I'm going to wrap the car in day-glow neon!!
Quote from: Carolyn on September 5, 2018, 17:20
That is eminently repairable.
Bumper, wing, bonnet and lights, no more than £500 for used but good parts. Probably no need to paint anything.
I reckon no more than four skilled man-hours.
Remember, this is not your insurance company's problem, it's the liability of the person who caused the damage. In law you are entitled to full restoration of your property.
Insist on it. Don't deal with her insurance company, deal with her, It's her liability. Make it clear that you will seek to recover any shortfall.
Might be worth getting a solicitor's letter setting out the position if it comes to it?
Quote from: lamcote on September 5, 2018, 17:28
Quote from: Carolyn on September 5, 2018, 17:20
That is eminently repairable.
Bumper, wing, bonnet and lights, no more than £500 for used but good parts. Probably no need to paint anything.
I reckon no more than four skilled man-hours.
Remember, this is not your insurance company's problem, it's the liability of the person who caused the damage. In law you are entitled to full restoration of your property.
Insist on it. Don't deal with her insurance company, deal with her, It's her liability. Make it clear that you will seek to recover any shortfall.
Might be worth getting a solicitor's letter setting out the position if it comes to it?
Is it really worth going there already? surely wait for their initial decision?
Given that it is the youngest MR2 I think I've ever seen advertised anywhere, I won't be able to find an equivalent with any amount of time / searching... and certainly not for £3k.
Quote from: BahnStormer on September 5, 2018, 17:41
Quote from: lamcote on September 5, 2018, 17:28
Quote from: Carolyn on September 5, 2018, 17:20
That is eminently repairable.
Bumper, wing, bonnet and lights, no more than £500 for used but good parts. Probably no need to paint anything.
I reckon no more than four skilled man-hours.
Remember, this is not your insurance company's problem, it's the liability of the person who caused the damage. In law you are entitled to full restoration of your property.
Insist on it. Don't deal with her insurance company, deal with her, It's her liability. Make it clear that you will seek to recover any shortfall.
Might be worth getting a solicitor's letter setting out the position if it comes to it?
Is it really worth going there already? surely wait for their initial decision?
Given that it is the youngest MR2 I think I've ever seen advertised anywhere, I won't be able to find an equivalent with any amount of time / searching... and certainly not for £3k.
As Patrick said: "IF it comes to it". Just remember that you have no contract with her insurance company. You are under no obligation to accept any offer of theirs.
I expect that your car will be repaired with no hassle. :)
:o
Sorry to see, but looks as if you are on the right track to get her back on the road.
Very sorry for you and your 2. Sorry also that T-Cut won't help. Glad to hear you have a witness and his ( her) dash cam footage. The other driver's admission, if it is maintained, must help your case. Hopefully Carolyn and others are on the right track with saying it's fixable.
So sorry to see this, glad everyone alright and liability admitted by OP but don't imagine it gives much comfort when looking at the damage. Hope everything comes good for you
Glad you and the other driver are not hurt, everything else will fix with a little time. It looks worse than it is imo. Goodluck matey!
Not good :(
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sorry to see this but surely it will all work out ok.
Quote from: BahnStormer on September 5, 2018, 17:28
Quote from: Carolyn on September 5, 2018, 17:20
Probably no need to paint anything.
Especially not if I'm going to wrap the car in day-glow neon!!
In your position I would be seriously considering a lime green, or yellow or orange wrap for sure.
I remember reading an article some years ago pointing out that these cars can be less visible to other motorists than the average car, something that will only have got worse with the rise of the SUV (not only because an oncoming SUV is SO visible i.e. the average car has got bigger, but also because all those operating SUVs - don't think many of them are "driven" as such ;) - sit that much higher which makes a small low car less obvious to them.
Was the other vehicle an SUV by any chance ?
And I'm sorry to say that lovely colour though it is , Sable is hardly the most noticeable colour, it blends too easily with UK skies and tarmac.
Suggest you ask @StuC (https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=15683) about applying to join the UCC (not sure if wraps are allowed ;D )
@K T M Rider (https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=13113)
Had a silver now have a yellow and it has made very little difference they still don't see you
Quote from: 1979scotte on September 5, 2018, 22:40
@K T M Rider (https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=13113)
Had a silver now have a yellow and it has made very little difference they still don't see you
Ah.
Day Glo Neon it is then.
With about 200 LED DRLs ?
(EDIT) Just remembered my last 2 was red and definitely got more of a sense of being noticed in that than my current blue one. However that was in 2012, when general driving standards were probably a bit higher than they are now....
Quote from: K T M Rider on September 5, 2018, 22:32
Was the other vehicle an SUV by any chance ?
And I'm sorry to say that lovely colour though it is , Sable is hardly the most noticeable colour, it blends too easily with UK skies and tarmac.
no - 1 series convertible and passenger window was down... 99% sure this was an A-pillar moment....
I have LED's in the sidelights, so the whole unit is lit, even with without the dipped beams on... and I turn them on in ANY conditions, in this instance it was grey and drizzly, so dipped beams were on too.
I might be making a call to Demontweaks for some of those under-car UV/purple lights... suddenly they're feeling less "Need for Speed" and more "need to be seen"...
Sorry to hear this but hope it is fixed to your satisfaction asap.
I would start finding adverts for the most expensive 2s for sale to argue its value.
Not good. I'm sure it's fixibe.
Quote from: Topdownman on September 6, 2018, 06:44
Sorry to hear this but hope it is fixed to your satisfaction asap.
I would start finding adverts for the most expensive 2s for sale to argue its value.
That's where it gets tricky - how much room is there for debating the value - I think I had said £3500 to the insurance, but on the forms, it looks like they've put £3000, so I thought that was the pre-agreed payout value if it was a write off... but I wouldn't even take £4000 for it given it has new brakes, suspension and a Robbins Mohair hood for starters (not to mention the Yoko's, re-trimmed steering wheel and decent headunit and speakers).
I have another (much bigger/newer) car that I don't like to use for commuting... so I've said I don't currently need a hire car, however the other car is on a much lower agreed mileage, so I have told them that I will need to get my daily driver back ASAP, otherwise I will need a hire car.
If they're talking write-offs, then what grounds do I have to insist that they put me in a hire car until another "very similar*" MR2 becomes available? I don't want a hire car or indeed any replacement - the only reason I'd even vaguely consider accepting it being written off is if they can prove the chassis is bent, but I really don't think we'd come to that: although there are quite a few bits on that front corner that are cracked, I don't think any of the damage is anything more than very superficial...
*2007 MR2 with factory aircon and heated leather seats
Your deal with your insurance company is only relevant if they are paying.
As the other party seems to have admitted liability and as you have witness evidence, and as the way the collision happened is pretty obvious, your damages are the other party's problem.
If you are not offered sufficient to cover your real terms loss, don't accept the offer. Somebody else's contract with their insurer does not include you, and it does not give them the power to write your car off because of an assumed value.
As I said, I'm sure it won't come to it, but you can recover any shortfall in County Court if you must.
A simple tally of sale prices plus the extras on your car should suffice for that.
Thanks @Carolyn (https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=22891) - I've only been in this position twice before - every time the other party has admitted full liability: one was a new car, that was repaired without fuss and the other was a motorbike that was written off (>£4k damage on a £2k bike), but I wanted rid of it by then, so was only to happy to have it Cat C'd....
Quote from: Carolyn on September 6, 2018, 07:59
A simple tally of sale prices plus the extras on your car should suffice for that.
That's my concern: I don't know if there is anything like mine out there and if I found somethign suitable, I sound like I'm taking the piss!
Even lowish mileage 2006's that are around £5k don't look appealing.... and even if I then I'd probably need £800 for an equivalent hood (parts and fitting) and the parts list to get it up to my spec is not pretty:
£200-£250 for HU+speakers
£400 Yoko's
£250 brakes and pads
£700ish coilovers
£210 steering refurb
and after all that I'd just hope I foudn another car that doesn't burn a drop of oil...
hopefully all an easy repair!!!
As with others, so sorry to see this.
As you say its the newest MR2 out there so nothing compares with it value wise. I know of a 2004 bought recently for over £5k so easy to argue your case.
Lets hope it doesnt come to that and it will be fixed easily. The problem with insurance companies is that they source the most expensive dealer parts, and then they need sprayed, which is also the expensive part. Fingers crossed for you.
Also I know, when my car was written off, they would not provide me with a courtesy car, but if it was getting repaired - they would! Hopefully different in your situation, but just to make you aware of it.
Quote from: Carolyn on September 6, 2018, 07:59
Your deal with your insurance company is only relevant if they are paying.
As the other party seems to have admitted liability and as you have witness evidence, and as the way the collision happened is pretty obvious, your damages are the other party's problem.
If you are not offered sufficient to cover your real terms loss, don't accept the offer. Somebody else's contract with their insurer does not include you, and it does not give them the power to write your car off because of an assumed value.
As I said, I'm sure it won't come to it, but you can recover any shortfall in County Court if you must.
A simple tally of sale prices plus the extras on your car should suffice for that.
That said, avoid letting your insurance company sort it out with the other parties insurance company. Between them they will probably decide to write it off and and give you 'market value' unless you have an agreed valuation policy.
Just adding my commiserations - not just a car but a labour of love.
A wise man once said to me, all cars start life in bits - fingers crossed that it does become an insurance job, damage is restricted to what you can see and that is subject to a top notch repair.
Sorry to hear what happened
This may be a little late but here is my advice from being involved in a no fault crash. If you pay the legal assistance premium on your insurance give your insurer a call. They will redirect you to an agent who will work on your behalf, organise the repair directly with you and provide hire cars etc. As they are working for you it should be possible to explain you want the car restored rather than written off etc. I found them very helpful and things moved quickly for me.
They have trouble working for you if you have dealt with the other side or accepted help from them, hence it might be a bit late.
Worth mentioning for others and the future (although no crashes would be better still)
Quote from: paulj on September 6, 2018, 19:19
Sorry to hear what happened
This may be a little late but here is my advice from being involved in a no fault crash. If you pay the legal assistance premium on your insurance give your insurer a call. They will redirect you to an agent who will work on your behalf, organise the repair directly with you and provide hire cars etc. As they are working for you it should be possible to explain you want the car restored rather than written off etc. I found them very helpful and things moved quickly for me.
They have trouble working for you if you have dealt with the other side or accepted help from them, hence it might be a bit late.
Worth mentioning for others and the future (although no crashes would be better still)
Thanks for the advice - I think I'm in the clear here: I had started all the conversations with my insurers, accepted the legal claims handler (from MY insurers), so I technically have my legal representation.
The other party's insurers contacted me a few hours later to say that their client had accepted full responsibility and offered a hire car / their in-house injury assessor.
I said that no hire car was necessary as I have another car I can use for work (although this is on a MUCH lower agreed mileage)... so if they could get my daily driver back and working ASAP that should be fine and although I felt like I'd been at rugby training without warming up, but there wasn't anything that I'd regard as "pain", so hardly worth a claim. I've not accepted any help from them and I put them in contact with my nominated solicitors, to get them to sort the car out.
I had flagged to my solicitors that it would be almost impossible to replace that with another 2007 MR2 in that spec, but I'll make an explicit statement to that effect tomorrow.
All looking hopeful, you'll have that gorgeous 2 back on the road where it belongs sooner than you think I reckon. :)
Hopefully get two brand new Toyota headlights eh [emoji4].
Bet they ain't cheap
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: ilovejapcrap on September 7, 2018, 12:50
Hopefully get two brand new Toyota headlights eh [emoji4].
Bet they ain't cheap
That's the problem - anything that "aint cheap" will make it more likely to be a write-off!! Only one headlight damaged, LHS was completely untouched, damage is diagonally across the edge of the car: from the the driver's side edge of the number plate through to the front edge of the wheel arch (also driver's side): including the edge of the bumper bar, but the bonnest was largely okay (slightly dented) and the washer fluid bottle in that corner all appeared okay.
Still hoping it doesn't, but if it comes to it - in terms of valuation:
1) at what point do I accept them saying the cost vs repair is worth calling it a write-off?
2) what would the buy-back value be as a Cat D?
3) what should the valuation be for it be (mods excludes) a Sable 2007, 65888* miles,
If it does come to it: the brakes, suspension and new hood + optional extras HAVE to make it worth keeping, even if it completely written off.
There's no 2007's at all and none of the 2006's look appealing: there's only one Sable, with no aircon/heated leather... even the TF300 on autotrader only has aircon!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=price-asc&radius=1500&postcode=rh109ad&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&make=TOYOTA&model=MR2&year-from=2006&exclude-writeoff-categories=on
*so much for 888 being lucky!!!
Still hope it won't come to that, but with patience being a virtue and all that, would likely take a good few weeks to track down the right car
- even months. Can't just go on what's in the ads today.
Anyway...you didn't look very hard ;)
This (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-mr2/283149395040?hash=item41ed04e460:g:39kAAOSwV45blB4L) looks like it might be up your street (premium ditch finders aside that is).
Insurance says "no major damage, but the parts are looking expensive: £3300 to fix, valuation is £3500, so car to be declared economically unrepairable".
Quote from: ManInDandism on September 10, 2018, 16:22
Anyway...you didn't look very hard ;)
This (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-mr2/283149395040?hash=item41ed04e460:g:39kAAOSwV45blB4L) looks like it might be up your street (premium ditch finders aside that is).
That's actually v close: at least is Sable, has aircon and heated leather - it's 1yr older, but does have lower mileage.... it's a good base to start from...
Completely ignoring that the insurance valuation = £3500... the asking price on that one: £5250.... so I'd be £1750 off the asking price.
I need a few more of those sort of quotes / adverts for insurance purposes and I'll see if I can get them to adjust the valuation.
I would simply reject their valuation and see how they respond. I would inform them of your own valuation ( keep it reasonable) and state that you will seek to recover the difference from their client.
If you don't have the heart for that battle...
Take the £3500 and keep the car. Buy the bits off Dean at Rutland MR 2 and get them bolted on.
You'll be at least £2500 up on the deal.
I HATE the whole insurance scam, so I'd give them the full treatment...
This is the engineer's report from my own insurance company.
I can see how they could get to £3500 as a valuation as you exclude big ticket maintenance items / optional extras and obviously aftermarket mods: 2007's are an almost pointless exercise, but you can get a 2006 with similar mileage, no aircon, no leather and probably in need of a new hood and proper tyres for ~£3500, even if I could get one with aircon and leather... it would probably still be in need of brakes, suspension and a new hood :(
So what is "...cash in lieu instead of a total loss payment."
Would the car still be given a "Cat" rating? I've really been a cat person and it's not about to start now... definitely more a fan of dogs.... and the right types/quantities of horses 8)
Quote from: BahnStormer on September 11, 2018, 13:42
So what is "...cash in lieu instead of a total loss payment."
Would the car still be given a "Cat" rating? I've really been a cat person and it's not about to start now... definitely more a fan of dogs.... and the right types/quantities of horses 8)
Cats are awesome - here's mine :
(http://i.imgur.com/ubpkZ0q.gif)
Look he's brightened up this thread no end already :)
Cash in Lieu sounds like a result and I would guess no Cat rating but would get your insurance co. to confirm in writing before agreeing to it.
https://www.motorclaimguru.co.uk/cash-in-lieu-settlement.html
My car is a Cat D and all this means is that your car if repaired properly has newer parts fitted than a car of the same age.
Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
@BahnStormer (https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=24604)
Not a cat person?
Quote from: 1979scotte on September 11, 2018, 21:08
@BahnStormer (https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=24604)
Not a cat person?
Oh, I love cats.... I've got some great recipes :o :P :P
Quote from: andyroo104 on September 11, 2018, 18:34
My car is a Cat D...
My two main concerns:
1) future insurance - won't some insurers refuse to cover you even for TPFT - presumably all refuse to cover you for fully comp?
2) resale value - I was looking at a fairly high end turbo setup with the idea being that a quality turbo build on one of the last ever registered MR2's would retain its resale value (better than most), maybe even become collectable in another 10-15 years... as a Cat D, it would lose that completely.
@BahnStormer (https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=24604)
Never had a problem getting insurance for a Cat C\D car.
Slightly inflated premium possibly but you can usually haggle that down.
Imho future collectable cars are be likely be those that are pristine, unmodified and with OE factory bits only.
Quote from: BahnStormer on September 11, 2018, 23:14
Quote from: 1979scotte on September 11, 2018, 21:08
@BahnStormer (https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=24604)
Not a cat person?
Oh, I love cats.... I've got some great recipes :o :P :P
Nice juicy hot dog better :)
Quote from: ManInDandism on September 12, 2018, 10:16
Imho future collectable cars are be likely be those that are pristine, unmodified and with OE factory bits only.
All original parts for mine have been retained :) Just not going to be pristine, but a Cat D versus a minor accident repair make the car look very different.
They're saying they'll do "Cash in lieu of repair"... I guess that means I need them to drop the car off somewhere that it can get repaired?
Cash in leieu is basically where they give you money and you sort it however.
We were going down that route for Helen's car, hence I bought a strut off here and was going to buy a panel off a breaker etc.
But then I took it to a garage myself and had them send through a quote to the insurance and forced their hand until they just paid out the garage.
Remember it's their insurance and they're trying to come out as cheap as possible. If you tell them you can fix it for 1k less than a garage, (and you actually can), then they'll likely offer cash in lieue.
Quote from: shnazzle on September 12, 2018, 11:04
Cash in leieu is basically where they give you money and you sort it however.
We were going down that route for Helen's car, hence I bought a strut off here and was going to buy a panel off a breaker etc.
But then I took it to a garage myself and had them send through a quote to the insurance and forced their hand until they just paid out the garage.
Remember it's their insurance and they're trying to come out as cheap as possible. If you tell them you can fix it for 1k less than a garage, (and you actually can), then they'll likely offer cash in lieue.
Quote from: shnazzle on September 5, 2018, 16:57
Well that is good news.
All the arguments you present are all valid and were the same kind of reasons Helen's wasn't written off (it was initially).
A few panels and a light is no biggie :)
Fingers crossed for you
Well it looks like they're offering the cash in lieu option - essentially the payout is capped to roughly the same as if it had been Cat D'd... but I get the car back (in current condition :() and a payout to get it fixed, but no Cat D label :D (so not worth squabbling about the slightly lower valuation/payout)
What are the next steps?
Can anybody recommend a body shop in Sussex that is MR2 friendly - I'll ask @headcase (https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=18226), but I think this involves boring plastics/panels and no turbo's, so not sure if he'd be interested?
Who pays for the retrieval from the secure yard? The lights, etc still work, but it's not really drive-able due to crumbling headlight and wheel arch liner being loose and hanging on the wheel. So I assume it will need to be towed / trucked.
Should I get it delivered to:
1) a local garage/shop? (currently near Crawley)
2) somewhere further afield (e.g. if @headcase (https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=18226) recommends somebody in Bexhill)
3) my drive at home (but then possibly have to pay for it to be towed somewhere later as I've only got limited tools and it's deep, loose gravel)...
I'll check with Dean for parts once we know what actually needs replacing.
Quote from: BahnStormer on September 12, 2018, 11:21
Quote from: shnazzle on September 12, 2018, 11:04
Cash in leieu is basically where they give you money and you sort it however.
We were going down that route for Helen's car, hence I bought a strut off here and was going to buy a panel off a breaker etc.
But then I took it to a garage myself and had them send through a quote to the insurance and forced their hand until they just paid out the garage.
Remember it's their insurance and they're trying to come out as cheap as possible. If you tell them you can fix it for 1k less than a garage, (and you actually can), then they'll likely offer cash in lieue.
Quote from: shnazzle on September 5, 2018, 16:57
Well that is good news.
All the arguments you present are all valid and were the same kind of reasons Helen's wasn't written off (it was initially).
A few panels and a light is no biggie :)
Fingers crossed for you
Well it looks like they're offering the cash in lieu option - essentially the payout is capped to the same as if it had been Cat D'd... but I get the car back (in current condition :() and a payout to get it fixed, but no Cat D label :D
What are the next steps?
Can anybody recommend a body shop in Sussex that is MR2 friendly - I'll ask @headcase (https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=18226), but I think this involves boring plastics/panels and no turbo's, so not sure if he'd be interested?
Who pays for the retrieval from the secure yard? The lights, etc still work, but it's not really drive-able due to crumbling headlight and wheel arch liner being loose and hanging on the wheel. So I assume it will need to be towed / trucked.
Should I get it delivered to:
1) a local garage/shop? (currently near Crawley)
2) somewhere further afield (e.g. if @headcase (https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=18226) recommends somebody in Bexhill)
3) my drive at home (but then possibly have to pay for it to be towed somewhere later as I've only got limited tools and it's deep, loose gravel)...
I'll check with Dean for parts once we know what actually needs replacing.
Ideally you want it to go directly to the place that it is going to be repaired. I'm about 20 miles from Crawley, but rarely having cause to go there, I have no idea about bodyshops or garages in that locality.
The premier bodyshop in my own area is probably Johnsons (https://www.checkatrade.com/JohnsonsAccidentRepairCentre/) but it is the type of place that I imagine would seek to source parts from a dealer rather than a breaker to complete a repair. That's probably another thing to factor in when making a decision.
I am sure Patrick Headcase will sort you out if it's not to far for you to go.
He is right by Bexhill station if you need to use the train .
Quote from: 1979scotte on September 12, 2018, 12:25
I am sure Patrick Headcase will sort you out if it's not to far for you to go.
He is right by Bexhill station if you need to use the train .
Yep - he's been in contact and we've talked, so I've got the details, so I know where I can get the car delivered :)
All in progress now: Recovery is booked to get the car back to Patrick today and from there we'll know what the actual repair cost is, rather than the insurance appraisal - hopefully by the end of this week / early next week.
Just as a slight aside: does anybody know how long I get to keep the courtesy car for? Does that time start after the settlement / engineer's report advising on the settlement? I'm sure I saw something about two weeks, but I wasn't sure if that was just somebody else's experience / general advice / what I've been told. I'm pretty sure it was the latter in both cases, but I need to find it in the paperwork.
On that car: When they said what I needed - I said - "just something small for commuting and hopefully not too slow"... Abarth 595 Competizione... it's absolutely mental! Every day I'm saying to myself: I wonder if you could use this as the donor car for an engine swap?!? I mean not this ACTUAL car, I'm sure Europcar want it back with the engine still in it.... but you get the idea. I've genuinely never heard such a characterful turbo-charged engine and it's got 180bhp, so not exactly hanging about.... I mean the rest of the car is sending all sorts of mixed messages: it's like driving a 1:2 scale model of a Renault Espace F1 - quad pipes, venturi rear skirt, bucket seats and decked in alcantara EVERYWHERE, but the driving position, cornering stance and arcing windscreen of an MPV. I don't know whether to love it or hate it, but I'm really looking forward to being back in a '2!!
I had a bmw m4 when someone reversed into my car. Had it for weeks as the claims company were slow doing the repair. Was all good, until the court case when the other party's insurance refused to pay for it...! I wasn't that impressed with that car either, auto, very hard to drive fast down country lanes. Ok on a motorway but where's the fun in that.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have a set of FL headlights sitting in the garage if needed.
Quote from: m1tch on September 13, 2018, 17:00
I have a set of FL headlights sitting in the garage if needed.
thanks for the offer, but unless you're wanting to split up the pair, I'll just buy a one-off from Dick Sloan / Dean.
Quote from: Smcknighty on September 13, 2018, 15:36
I had a bmw m4 [...] I wasn't that impressed with that car either, auto, very hard to drive fast down country lanes. Ok on a motorway but where's the fun in that.
Exactly!! I have driven a lot of 400bhp+ cars that can do 175mph+.... and they just seem like very expensive ways to make 120mph seem boring... I'd far rather be in an MR2 with 200bhp* doing 60mph (or less)... *but that's another project for another day >:D
Car is with Patrick now - photo evidence, et al! He's confirmed he'll have a proper look over the next few days and give an assessment early next week.
POP QUIZ hotshots: EXACTLY how long / wide is an MR2 bonnet? I think I've found one, but need to check if I can fit it in the back of the A6...
Quote from: BahnStormer on September 13, 2018, 17:10
Car is with Patrick now - photo evidence, et al! He's confirmed he'll have a proper look over the next few days and give an assessment early next week.
POP QUIZ hotshots: EXACTLY how long / wide is an MR2 bonnet? I think I've found one, but need to check if I can fit it in the back of the A6...
...would have thought you could get the whole car in the back of that - Thunderbird 2 stylee.
Quote from: ManInDandism on September 13, 2018, 18:34
Quote from: BahnStormer on September 13, 2018, 17:10
Car is with Patrick now - photo evidence, et al! He's confirmed he'll have a proper look over the next few days and give an assessment early next week.
POP QUIZ hotshots: EXACTLY how long / wide is an MR2 bonnet? I think I've found one, but need to check if I can fit it in the back of the A6...
...would have thought you could get the whole car in the back of that - Thunderbird 2 stylee.
yeah - I thought so too.... but the hard top does NOT fit!
Quote from: BahnStormer on September 14, 2018, 08:57
Quote from: ManInDandism on September 13, 2018, 18:34
Quote from: BahnStormer on September 13, 2018, 17:10
Car is with Patrick now - photo evidence, et al! He's confirmed he'll have a proper look over the next few days and give an assessment early next week.
POP QUIZ hotshots: EXACTLY how long / wide is an MR2 bonnet? I think I've found one, but need to check if I can fit it in the back of the A6...
...would have thought you could get the whole car in the back of that - Thunderbird 2 stylee.
yeah - I thought so too.... but the hard top does NOT fit!
Am working from home today...that old Friday chestnut ;) Been out and measured at roughly a 1 x 1.4 metres at widest points which would definitely fit in my E-Class.
Quote from: ManInDandism on September 14, 2018, 10:51
Quote from: BahnStormer on September 14, 2018, 08:57
Quote from: ManInDandism on September 13, 2018, 18:34
Quote from: BahnStormer on September 13, 2018, 17:10
Car is with Patrick now - photo evidence, et al! He's confirmed he'll have a proper look over the next few days and give an assessment early next week.
POP QUIZ hotshots: EXACTLY how long / wide is an MR2 bonnet? I think I've found one, but need to check if I can fit it in the back of the A6...
...would have thought you could get the whole car in the back of that - Thunderbird 2 stylee.
yeah - I thought so too.... but the hard top does NOT fit!
Am working from home today...that old Friday chestnut ;) Been out and measured at roughly a 1 x 1.4 metres at widest points which would definitely fit in my E-Class.
thanking you kindly - I'll get measuring on the A6 boot now :)
For reference, I got an mr2 bonnet laid flat in the back of my missus' '09 Auris this morning, so I'd imagine an A6 would devour one.
Quote from: J03 on September 14, 2018, 13:46
For reference, I got an mr2 bonnet laid flat in the back of my missus' '09 Auris this morning, so I'd imagine an A6 would devour one.
Thanks guys - I'm getting the impression it would all fit... and that the bonnet is the largest/"squarest" piece that needs to go in: also the bumper plastics (longer, but thinner), front driver's side wing, headlight, fog light, washer bottle and couple of other smaller bits.
Might wait to see what Dick/Dean have in their yard first as I don't think that SouthSide (Slough) have everything I need, so might as well get it all from Rutland, if I can, especially if they have all the painted bits in sable!!
There's one on eBay at the moment it's in Birmingham in sable and the bumper has the front spats on :-* iirc he wants £160
Edit:- ignore me I'm talking through my ar%e. It must of sold .....
Patrick has talked to Dick Sloan @Rutland MR2 (https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=24529) and all the parts are in stock, in Sable (where appropriate) and we'll be getting them heading towards my car first thing on Monday :)
Nice to know it's being saved
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: Carolyn on September 10, 2018, 18:43
I would simply reject their valuation and see how they respond. I would inform them of your own valuation ( keep it reasonable) and state that you will seek to recover the difference from their client.
If you don't have the heart for that battle...
Take the £3500 and keep the car. Buy the bits off Dean at Rutland MR 2 and get them bolted on.
You'll be at least £2500 up on the deal.
I HATE the whole insurance scam, so I'd give them the full treatment...
No chance of being "£2500 up", but it looks like I'll get the car properly repaired for a bit less than they're paying out - probably all even once you include the recovery cost back to Patrick and train fare to fetch it... main thing is that it's being fully repaired and not being Cat D'd... which was the end goal: seemed a shame to put that "write off" label against a car that was fairly superficially damaged and would be so hard to replace, especially with those factory extras (AC, heated leather) AND those recent extras (brakes, suspension, hood, etc)...
All-in-all a good result. Though it never happening at all would have been better.
You must have been crushed when it happened. I know I would have been.
I suppose I arrived at £2500 up by thinking in terms of what I could have done, i.e. fix it myself!
Still, very very pleased that she's on the mend. :)
Quote from: Carolyn on September 17, 2018, 09:00
All-in-all a good result. Though it never happening at all would have been better.
You must have been crushed when it happened. I know I would have been.
I suppose I arrived at £2500 up by thinking in terms of what I could have done, i.e. fix it myself!
Still, very very pleased that she's on the mend. :)
Yeah - if I'd fought the valuation up a little, accepted the Cat D (and slightly higher payout) AND been able to do all the work for myself, then it would have been ~£2500 up...
Back in the world that the non-rocketcar engineers live in :P.... I needed somebody with the experience, space and tools to do the work and as much as Patrick appears to love MR2's, his time doesn't come for free...
I'm sure I could have fought for more, but my argument is pretty much null and void if they're paying enough for the repair and not Cat'ing the car, so I'll gladly miss out on fighting with the insurance company for a few hundred extra and if it means it still gets fixed and no CatD label. Honestly, from what I've heard of Patrick, I'd far rather have him sorting it out with decent 2nd hand bits than new parts and it go to Toyota again - especially after the last trip!!
It's been a hassle and a stress for sure, but the best outcome out of an unpleasant situation.
edit: if I'm looking for a silver lining, then the courtesy car has been a hoot: I'm intrigued to know if you could port an Abarth 595 Competizione engine into an MR2..... not exactly stellar power (180bhp), but apparently tunable to ~240bhp and it is the most characterful small engine, definitely the best turbo'd engine I think I've ever heard!
Great news your 2 is getting fixed and by Patrick - result. 😀
Quote from: Chilli Girl on September 19, 2018, 14:10
Great news your 2 is getting fixed and by Patrick - result. 😀
Indeedy - he's even giving the rear subframe a thorough check and will scrub it down and treat it, so hopefully good for another 10yrs or until I need a new re-enforced subframe for a supercharged 2GR or similar >:D (I'm joking a decent turbo'd 1ZZ would be plenty for my needs!)