Computer says ........ NO!
06 January 2013, 07:43 PM
#31
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The cross member you can see there seems to be designed so there is a bend towards the radiator .... across, and back at the same angle on the other side.
I could take the whole front off - it's just a big plastic lump .... this would show the damage to the assessor ....... would that be wise, or should I leave well alone?
As I said, I can only see the airbag costs as being the swing point.
I could take the whole front off - it's just a big plastic lump .... this would show the damage to the assessor ....... would that be wise, or should I leave well alone?
As I said, I can only see the airbag costs as being the swing point.
06 January 2013, 08:08 PM
#33
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Cheers wish, thanks for your advice - I do appreciate it.
I know this may sound daft, but - would it be prudent to give it a good polish and hoover it out? My thinking is that it then indicates a cherished car (not that it isn't!).
I know this may sound daft, but - would it be prudent to give it a good polish and hoover it out? My thinking is that it then indicates a cherished car (not that it isn't!).
06 January 2013, 08:24 PM
#34
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It wont really make any difference.
Its the figures that will do the talking.
Tell the engineer that you would like to save it if possible. If the figures are close he will try his best.
Another way is get you local ARC to give you a fixed cost for repair and see if the Ins co will do a cash in lieu payment to you. You could end up making !!
Its the figures that will do the talking.
Tell the engineer that you would like to save it if possible. If the figures are close he will try his best.
Another way is get you local ARC to give you a fixed cost for repair and see if the Ins co will do a cash in lieu payment to you. You could end up making !!
07 January 2013, 12:44 PM
#35
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Those of you who follow my posts will know that my daughter had an accident in her car over the Xmas Holidays.
We were told that an assessor would come out and have a look at the damage and make a decision as to repair or write off.
She had a letter yesterday, from a Motor Salvage/Scrapyard, telling her they will pick her car up today - WHAT???????
Having spoken to the Insurance Company, they had inputted the damage (unseen) into their computer and the computer has decided that it's a write-off!!!
So, a PC decides!
This scrapyard auction damaged cars off .... they have one with much heavier damage than on my daughters car - at over £3,000!!!
So, I have requested that an assessor turn out to our property to view the car and make a decision - they have agreed.
I mean, no offer has been made or agreed to, and the car would have been stuck in a Scrapyard 40 miles away!!!! Who knows what damage may have happened to it!
Also, if it's a write-off ... and we buy it back ... how would we have collected it from the salvage yard? I'm sure they wouldn't like seeing a lightly damaged MX5 escape their mitts!
It's just not the old personal service we used to enjoy in the 60's and 70's .... everything is done via computers these days.
Anyone any experience in haggling a fair price from the Insurance Company on a total loss? As most will know, MX5's always sit above book price.
We were told that an assessor would come out and have a look at the damage and make a decision as to repair or write off.
She had a letter yesterday, from a Motor Salvage/Scrapyard, telling her they will pick her car up today - WHAT???????
Having spoken to the Insurance Company, they had inputted the damage (unseen) into their computer and the computer has decided that it's a write-off!!!
So, a PC decides!
This scrapyard auction damaged cars off .... they have one with much heavier damage than on my daughters car - at over £3,000!!!
So, I have requested that an assessor turn out to our property to view the car and make a decision - they have agreed.
I mean, no offer has been made or agreed to, and the car would have been stuck in a Scrapyard 40 miles away!!!! Who knows what damage may have happened to it!
Also, if it's a write-off ... and we buy it back ... how would we have collected it from the salvage yard? I'm sure they wouldn't like seeing a lightly damaged MX5 escape their mitts!
It's just not the old personal service we used to enjoy in the 60's and 70's .... everything is done via computers these days.
Anyone any experience in haggling a fair price from the Insurance Company on a total loss? As most will know, MX5's always sit above book price.
07 January 2013, 12:56 PM
#36
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It wont really make any difference.
Its the figures that will do the talking.
Tell the engineer that you would like to save it if possible. If the figures are close he will try his best.
Another way is get you local ARC to give you a fixed cost for repair and see if the Ins co will do a cash in lieu payment to you. You could end up making !!
Its the figures that will do the talking.
Tell the engineer that you would like to save it if possible. If the figures are close he will try his best.
Another way is get you local ARC to give you a fixed cost for repair and see if the Ins co will do a cash in lieu payment to you. You could end up making !!
They are able to sort things pretty much on the spot if both parties are willing.
Two Engineers can talk to each other quite well - if he makes a logical case for the Total Loss, then I will try to agree the price with him there and then (obviously armed with identical cars for sale on AutoTrader and maybe Pistonheads). If we can get close then the whole thing can be done and dusted speedily.
I'm looking forward to seeing what he has to say ..... my daughter wants the car repaired of course, it was a cracking car
07 January 2013, 02:39 PM
#38
Usual rules for insurance haggling - don't take their first offer, have a realistic price in your head based on an equivalent replacement and try to push their offer up to that, there is usually some wriggle room. A long MOT and a recent service are to your advantage, as the replacement may not have had these and it would then put you out of pocket by having to pay for them again. Sadly a full tank of petrol counts for nothing
I had to do this at the end of last year, fortunately since it was a non-fault accident and I'd gone through the other parties insurance rather than a claims company they were a bit more flexible and I got them to within a fiver of what I wanted for the car. Added a bit of savings too the payout, bought the Impreza. I should really thank the girl who crashed in to me...
I had to do this at the end of last year, fortunately since it was a non-fault accident and I'd gone through the other parties insurance rather than a claims company they were a bit more flexible and I got them to within a fiver of what I wanted for the car. Added a bit of savings too the payout, bought the Impreza. I should really thank the girl who crashed in to me...
07 January 2013, 03:31 PM
#39
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Pete, is this really your car that you've crashed
You know how much **** taking they'd be otherwise so the "it's the daughter's" story is rather convenient
You know how much **** taking they'd be otherwise so the "it's the daughter's" story is rather convenient
24 January 2013, 05:34 PM
#40
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Well, FINALLY - the Assessor had a look today ......... he ran through the repairs with his iPad and it totalled it all up.
The repairs are about the value of the car, pre-accident, so - write off
Now comes the offer and counter offer I suppose
The Private Plate thing is a pain as well .... just spoken to DVLA, there are loads of hoops to jump through!!!
To Transfer plate to retention we have to, get a letter of 'no interest in plate' from Insurance Company, get the Engineers write-off report, MOT, Reg Doc, £105 and send to DVLA or take to local office (15 miles away from me).
We must wait up to 4 weeks to get the replacement Documentation and only then can we let the Insurance Company take ownership ...... why, weeks ago, didn't the Insurance Company tell us to start transferring the cherished plate????
The repairs are about the value of the car, pre-accident, so - write off
Now comes the offer and counter offer I suppose
The Private Plate thing is a pain as well .... just spoken to DVLA, there are loads of hoops to jump through!!!
To Transfer plate to retention we have to, get a letter of 'no interest in plate' from Insurance Company, get the Engineers write-off report, MOT, Reg Doc, £105 and send to DVLA or take to local office (15 miles away from me).
We must wait up to 4 weeks to get the replacement Documentation and only then can we let the Insurance Company take ownership ...... why, weeks ago, didn't the Insurance Company tell us to start transferring the cherished plate????
24 January 2013, 05:37 PM
#41
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OH, yes, it was the Airbag Costs which made it uneconomical to repair!!
If I bought the car back, as salvage, and repaired it privately ... can I put it straight back on the road even though it's a Cat.D write off?
Does it have to have the Airbags replaced?
If I bought the car back, as salvage, and repaired it privately ... can I put it straight back on the road even though it's a Cat.D write off?
Does it have to have the Airbags replaced?
24 January 2013, 08:02 PM
#42
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Indeedy, they are now an MOT test item ... (SRS system) warning light on the dash lit is a failure,
Likewise your insurance will be invalid (the car is modified)
If the airbags have been deployed, its not just the airbags that have to be replaced.
The airbag ECU will need resetting, and the sensor that triggered the incident may also need renewing.
Not worth the hassle, and as experienced as you are, you dont want to be messing around with airbags if you dont know what your doing
Mart
24 January 2013, 08:10 PM
#43
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An expert like me can rig the airbag light to come on, delay for a few seconds, and then go off ..... MOT Pass.
If I really wanted to
They have suggested that the salvage figure would be around £1000 - if we want to buy it back.
The engine has to be worth £750 - hell, the buyer can hear it running as sweet as a nut.
Then interior, lights, gearbox, doors, aluminium bonnet, boot, wings, all in great condition ...... £750 for that lot?
Worth the hassle?
If I really wanted to
They have suggested that the salvage figure would be around £1000 - if we want to buy it back.
The engine has to be worth £750 - hell, the buyer can hear it running as sweet as a nut.
Then interior, lights, gearbox, doors, aluminium bonnet, boot, wings, all in great condition ...... £750 for that lot?
Worth the hassle?
24 January 2013, 09:14 PM
#46
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Quite a few Pete, but most as based on the Mk1, but worth talking to the companies.
I also understand you can use the Mk3 as a basis for a Westfield but you would need to check with them. I drove a Westfield with the Mk1 1.6 engine and it was very much a laugh. Was bright yellow though, so didn't go for it in the end.
Cheers
Ian
I also understand you can use the Mk3 as a basis for a Westfield but you would need to check with them. I drove a Westfield with the Mk1 1.6 engine and it was very much a laugh. Was bright yellow though, so didn't go for it in the end.
Cheers
Ian
24 January 2013, 09:49 PM
#48
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I was trying to help, but go ahead Pete, seems you know so much, do it all yourself,
24 January 2013, 10:25 PM
#49
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25 January 2013, 10:28 AM
#50
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We may have a buyer for the Engine then?
I don't want the Salvage Company to sell it on for £3000 and some BodyShop do it up and sell it for £6000 ..... the whole Car Insurance Write Off/Repair business is populated by parasites it seems - with the average owner paying through the nose for it all ....
I don't want the Salvage Company to sell it on for £3000 and some BodyShop do it up and sell it for £6000 ..... the whole Car Insurance Write Off/Repair business is populated by parasites it seems - with the average owner paying through the nose for it all ....
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