Can anyone fix this?
Discussion
Well, I know I've promised to post a picture of my poor Chimaera as it always seems to be broken. It's been running absolutely perfectly for two weeks, and here she is...
Only problem is on the way to work last Friday I lost the back end at 60mph. It was about 9am and I was on my usual A-road route to work and while gently accelerating in 3rd to about 60mph the back broke away very suddenly. I tried to correct it but the back off-side wheel clipped the kerb on the wrong side of the road. That sent me into a tree at 60ish mph and then I slid 30 metres down the road and came to rest hitting another tree.
I honestly thought I was dead as all that went through my head was I'm doing 60 in a TVR and I'm going to hit a tree. The roof blew off, followed by the bonnect which landed on the other side of the road and there was about 20 metres of fibre glass and engine bits everywhere. The engine was still tying to run and hissing and smoking. After I realised I wasn't dead I had to kick the door open and got out.
All I've got is a soar neck, and an absolute credit to how strong these cars really are. The engine came back 2 inches and whacked the bulk head, the fan belt was hanging off, with the chassis bent into the crank wheel. The rest of the front of the car was completey gone. Windscreen cracked, two wheels buckled, one snapped in nearly in half...
Here she is
All I can say is respect the torque. Mine was only a 4 litre and an salted, greasy roads it doesn't take much to lose it. I've had the Chim for 2 years and thought I knew it so well...
It's insured with Direct Line for "market value" and was a 97 P reg with 47k miles, 3 owners and was immaculate. The chassis was in neary new condition with garages aways commenting on how tidy it was. Also a full TVR SH from new. Any ideas as to what they might give me for it?
Thanks all...It's been a pleasure.
>> Edited by meeko on Sunday 5th February 19:56
>> Edited by meeko on Sunday 5th February 19:57
>> Edited by meeko on Sunday 5th February 19:58
>> Edited by meeko on Sunday 5th February 19:59
Only problem is on the way to work last Friday I lost the back end at 60mph. It was about 9am and I was on my usual A-road route to work and while gently accelerating in 3rd to about 60mph the back broke away very suddenly. I tried to correct it but the back off-side wheel clipped the kerb on the wrong side of the road. That sent me into a tree at 60ish mph and then I slid 30 metres down the road and came to rest hitting another tree.
I honestly thought I was dead as all that went through my head was I'm doing 60 in a TVR and I'm going to hit a tree. The roof blew off, followed by the bonnect which landed on the other side of the road and there was about 20 metres of fibre glass and engine bits everywhere. The engine was still tying to run and hissing and smoking. After I realised I wasn't dead I had to kick the door open and got out.
All I've got is a soar neck, and an absolute credit to how strong these cars really are. The engine came back 2 inches and whacked the bulk head, the fan belt was hanging off, with the chassis bent into the crank wheel. The rest of the front of the car was completey gone. Windscreen cracked, two wheels buckled, one snapped in nearly in half...
Here she is
All I can say is respect the torque. Mine was only a 4 litre and an salted, greasy roads it doesn't take much to lose it. I've had the Chim for 2 years and thought I knew it so well...
It's insured with Direct Line for "market value" and was a 97 P reg with 47k miles, 3 owners and was immaculate. The chassis was in neary new condition with garages aways commenting on how tidy it was. Also a full TVR SH from new. Any ideas as to what they might give me for it?
Thanks all...It's been a pleasure.
>> Edited by meeko on Sunday 5th February 19:56
>> Edited by meeko on Sunday 5th February 19:57
>> Edited by meeko on Sunday 5th February 19:58
>> Edited by meeko on Sunday 5th February 19:59
Yikes, sorry to see this - at least you are ok - that is the main thing.
First thing to brace yourself for is being offered cr*p money - insurance companies will try to get away with as little as possible. Reject the first offer.
Next, do your research and find the most expensive examples of similar & worse (miles/sepc/age) cars at higher prices, and send them to your insurance company. Keep arguing.
I would predict they offer you something ridiculous like 8k... Let us know how you get on.
First thing to brace yourself for is being offered cr*p money - insurance companies will try to get away with as little as possible. Reject the first offer.
Next, do your research and find the most expensive examples of similar & worse (miles/sepc/age) cars at higher prices, and send them to your insurance company. Keep arguing.
I would predict they offer you something ridiculous like 8k... Let us know how you get on.
That is heartbreaking, the car looked to be a stunning example. Glad you are ok, impacts with mature trees tend to be pretty nasty, i'm surprised how well it stood up to that. Rougly how fast do you think you were going at the moment of impact? Accidents happen so fast and can be so bizzare. Im sitting here typing with my L hand having broken my right arm skiing on monday in a stupid avoidable accident.
Wish you the best of luck sorting out a fair price and hope it wont totally spoil the tvr experience for you, though i can hardly imagine how frightening that must have been.
Best wishes, Alan
>> Edited by tahiti450 on Sunday 5th February 20:59
Same thing happened to me luckily without the damage. Exiting a roundabout 10.30 PM on a cold February evening in third, gently squeezed the throttle and the back went. Ended up with a broken rear wheel but it could have been a lot worse.
As Glyn said I hope you will soon find a replacement TVR.
Regards,
Steve.
As Glyn said I hope you will soon find a replacement TVR.
Regards,
Steve.
Yikes !
Real sorry to hear your story, although glad to hear your not hurt.
Apart bfrom the obvious damage it's pretty impressive how the cockpit has remained in tack.
I have to say that being relatively new to TVR ownership, it's pretty scary to think they can let go that easily. I like to think I'm a careful driver and pick and chose when to use the loud pedal.
Does this sort of thing happen a lot ?
Real sorry to hear your story, although glad to hear your not hurt.
Apart bfrom the obvious damage it's pretty impressive how the cockpit has remained in tack.
I have to say that being relatively new to TVR ownership, it's pretty scary to think they can let go that easily. I like to think I'm a careful driver and pick and chose when to use the loud pedal.
Does this sort of thing happen a lot ?
The thing is I'd only just squeezed the throttle, but that little acceleration caused it to break away so easily. I know it was almost bang on 60mph when I lost it. I'd just opened it up a little after a long sweeping bend, onto a long, clear straight. I've done this nearly every day for 2 years! I hit the kerb very quicky after it whipped back from me trying to correct it. That sent me straight into a tree and it must have been over 50mph impact - especialy as it then slid about 100 yards.
The thing is I've only every lost the back end under maximum throttle in 1st and 2nd, and very rarely in 3rd and yet this was under hardly any throttle. I guess it must have been black ice? At -2degrees maybe.
I'm so lucky the front took the impact nearly square on, I keep thinking what would have happened if it hit side-on. Still there we go. Thinking of saving up for a Tuscan now!
>> Edited by meeko on Sunday 5th February 23:09
The thing is I've only every lost the back end under maximum throttle in 1st and 2nd, and very rarely in 3rd and yet this was under hardly any throttle. I guess it must have been black ice? At -2degrees maybe.
I'm so lucky the front took the impact nearly square on, I keep thinking what would have happened if it hit side-on. Still there we go. Thinking of saving up for a Tuscan now!
>> Edited by meeko on Sunday 5th February 23:09
Those photo's make you stop and think. I looked at your post after I had just returned from a 40 mile blast doing what TVR's are meant to do......just glad you managed to get out ok. I hope the neck gets better as well. Mines "only" a 4.0 as well and I thought i was getting to know the car pretty well having done nearly 3,500 miles since july. A warning to us all i think....
Good luck with the insurance and i hope you manage to find as nice a car again. I too would be interestd to hear how you get on.
This all sounds so familiar. I did something very similar in a Griffith 500 (wet road, big spin, total mess but no injuries), the insurance company (footman james) were superb and paid up the full value without debate. This was just the figure that i had indicated on the premium and wasn't an 'agreed value', but just reflected the price that i'd paid for the car.
I was all ready for a battle, and had copies of adverts (trade) for similar cars ready to 'prove' what the car was worth, but these wern't needed.
I hope your insurance company play-ball and your back in a TVR as quickly as i was.
Paul
I was all ready for a battle, and had copies of adverts (trade) for similar cars ready to 'prove' what the car was worth, but these wern't needed.
I hope your insurance company play-ball and your back in a TVR as quickly as i was.
Paul
Unusual to see a road with so little kerb and trees so close.
Not the best place to have an "off" as you have discovered. Glad you're OK, which is the main thing, but I don't think there's much of the car left worth having. Unfortunately despite you car probably being in above average condition, average value is all you'll get for it I'm afraid. I hope you get everything sorted out ASAP.
>> Edited by victormeldrew on Monday 6th February 13:52
Not the best place to have an "off" as you have discovered. Glad you're OK, which is the main thing, but I don't think there's much of the car left worth having. Unfortunately despite you car probably being in above average condition, average value is all you'll get for it I'm afraid. I hope you get everything sorted out ASAP.
>> Edited by victormeldrew on Monday 6th February 13:52
Sorry to hear about your crash, I did a similar thing to a Cobra two years ago, although that was at 30mph , hit oil on a damp road and the front of the body was history.
Luckily I wasn't.
Thats the one good thing about a fibreglass car, they break and absorb the impact and you don't get trapped inside quite so easily..
The main thing is that you're OK, cars can be replaced,
Keith
Luckily I wasn't.
Thats the one good thing about a fibreglass car, they break and absorb the impact and you don't get trapped inside quite so easily..
The main thing is that you're OK, cars can be replaced,
Keith
meeko said:
Presumably I should wait until they've assessed it before I strip it of bits?
That is some accident, pleased you walked away. Testament to the strength of glassfibre and Blackpool engineering.
If there are non standard bits, leven stuff etc, then swap it back asap, factory fit bits should be left for now. Are the seats in good nick ? Can I have first shout on them if you get salvage?
Don't let the thieving barsteward insurance companies rob you blind, keep going for all you can get, and get back in a TVR real soon.
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