(R)over and out... Update

[mattblack]

As mentioned in the GOM thread...

 

 

Travelling to work on Wednesday, doing 50 on a dual carriageway (50 limit) car 3 or 4 vehicles ahead of me decides to slam on for some reason (there is an exit slip there, don't know if they suddenly decided that they wanted the exit). One van appeared to swerve round them, the other cars slithered to a stop and I didn't. . O/H was with me as she works at the same place as me now. swopped details with lady driver of the Audi A8 I hit, she was OK and didn't look like there was a lot of damage to her car. It wouldn't start as the inertia switch had tripped so I got it off the road and onto the verge/path on the starter and rang the RAC, and they told me I only had recovery for breakdowns not accidents BUT they would recover me for £85 + £2 per mile, didn't have much choice so I paid on my card. I explained to the controller that it rolled but the bumper was rubbing on the tyre... they sent a van out, driver took one look and said he couldn't recover me because he couldn't strap the wheel onto his dolly due to the bumper touching the tyre... . He called for the recover truck and then took the O/H to work, she said he was giving control some grief for sending him out. Finally got it home, driver dropped it on the road and I checked the manual to find the inertia switch is behind the centre console, reset it and away it went. I finally got to speak to someone at the insurance company yesterday as they were busy dealing with OMG FLOOD KAOS. Chap I spoke to seemed to indicate that I could claim the recovery cost back as they would have recovered me anyway. He did mention them storing the vehicle, I objected as I thought I would be charged but he said it would be covered, but I'm not sure why they would need to . I've got to wait for an assessor to come out now.

 

I've never been in this position before, any tips for dealing with them if they make a silly offer? I'm going to look on ebay, autotrader ect to get an average price for a 200 so I'm forearmed...

[Lord Sterling]

DAMNED!

 

Sorry to hear about this Matt. That looked like one lovely car, especially being an early 'R8' 200

 

I hope you can sort this out one way or another.

[Cavcraft]

Ouch, what a sad sight.

You've pretty much got it sussed. A lot of insurance companies use Autotrader so when you get time trawl through every single similar car on there and work out an average price but taking notes about the most expensive ones.

They're bound to offer you shit all for it but it used to be you could refuse the first two offers and had to accept the third.

[stuboy]

what a dam shame

[Felly Magic]

Ouch, hope you are OK. Watch out for letters from ambulance chasers from the other party. Seems to be standard practice now

[Guest]

At least your ok.

[KruJoe]

Oof that's hard to look at Barry.

As you know, I do love an R8, especially a K/L reg one with long indicators on no blingy grille.

If there's any hope of repairing it, you know who to call! Phil has the bonnet and bumper, but I think I still have headlights etc. Also willing to have a go at chopping out a front panel / inner wing section... I'm off out of the country on 4th Dec though.

 

(Phact: I broke my Suzuki Swift Saloon 4x4's indicator against the back bumper of a grey R8 just like yours in about 2000. The Rover driver was so nice, he didn't even bother about the scratch on his bumper as I'd come off a bit worse.)

 

Good luck sorting this out anyway, and I'm glad you're ok mate.

[Morgan84]

What a bloody shame,but least you are here to tell the tale

 

As for insurance,putting a exact value on a car of that age is difficult,as they vary so much;some are still decent,and others are on deaths door with intergalactic milage,and a incontinent headgasket if the 1.4 !

 

You could try saying in 2009 it was worth £2000 for scrappage,and see how they take that !

[Black_GT]

Sorry to see that, looks pretty terminal glad you're ok though

[HillmanImp]

Whoops. What a shame.

 

Wish you the best of luck with the insurance, hope they flay fair.

[mattblack]

Quick update.

 

Had 2 messages left from a company that apparently want to collect the car. I assume that allowing them to collect/store it would be a VERY BAD THING, and that they can't demand it?

 

Didn't Volksangyl (sp?) have a similar problem when he pranged his Princess?

[ashmicro]

As far as I know, it's still your car, and you can tell them to fuck off if they come to take it away. I think Cavette knows the details of this sort of thing.

[FredTransit]

dont let em take it. You dont have to. Had a wireing fire in one of the lutons. Obviosly pre toasting she was taxed and tested so we put her on the street near home. The insurace were adamant they were gonna 'store' it. To which I said no way. You are gambling with how much the storage will be against the value of the car. Once the two reach parity its not likely you will see tge car again. Even if you only want bits off it.

[Pete-M]

Don't let them take it. If you've got somewhere to store it, then that's the best place for it. Otherwise whoever has it will just charge £15 a day + vat, + recovery + vat to your insurance company. Which will hurt your premium next year....

[Morgan84]

The car remains your property until you accept a settlement,therfor you can dictate if it stays or not,although it will have to be assesed by a bodyshop,but you could take it,and collect it on your own terms. The cars a financial write off anyway,so no bodyshops going to get over excited quoting for a job they won't get

[Captain Slow]

The car remains your property until you accept a settlement,therfor you can dictate if it stays or not,although it will have to be assesed by a bodyshop,but you could take it,and collect it on your own terms. The cars a financial write off anyway,so no bodyshops going to get over excited quoting for a job they won't get

 

 

Seen worse damage repaired on 'shiteworthy cars. It depends how much he wants to keep it and what he's willing to throw at it.

 

The insurance company won't cough up, though, I don't think.

[mattblack]

Had a letter today, seems that the company are working for the other party's insurance so I'm just going to foward it to my insurance company (as they have told me to do) and let them sort it out

[AnthonyG]

Since it looks like its on your drive, I'd hang onto it until you get what you want (the right money or it back as salvage or whatever) in writing.

 

VA let his Princess go to the bodyshop but I think they were on his side and appreciated his emotional and financial investment in the car, as opposed to thinking it was just old junk, which a lot would have.

 

Assessors used to travel round and look at damaged cars, but I honestly don't know if they still do that or not.

 

Bad luck anyway, looked like a nice R8, and good ones are getting rare. Although there are quite a few old giffer-piloted ones around Cheltenham. Most have a dodgy repair around the rear arch/sill joint by now!

[mattblack]

Phoned my insurance this morning and told them the car's not going anywhere until the claim's settled... they said 'fine, we'll arrange for someone to ring you next week and book an appointment for an assessor to come out'

 

FFS! Why didn't they just bloody do that in the first place?

[Morgan84]

Why didn't they do that ?

 

Well,firstly that would be the logical thing to do,and secondly the 'approved repair center' want's to earn £25 a day plus their time looking at it to make a few quid,and then if you want to have the car back,rack up a bill.

 

Insurance company = Mind games

[ashmicro]

Insurance company = cunts

 

Fixed. No charge.

[Morgan84]

Yes,I guess that does make it about right