crashed my car properly!

crashed my car properly!

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Discussion

willd58

Original Poster:

1,559 posts

209 months

Sunday 4th February 2007
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Tbh, i don't know how i managed to do what i did, all i know is i came off a roundabout not very much in control, fish tailed, at some point 180'd, and slid into the central reservation. No one was hurt, there was no other traffic about, I am a complete idiot, please feel free, hell, please do, call me all the names under the sun. The recovery guy said it was ice, i say it was my inexperience and my speed, that whilst wasn't fast, was still obviously in hindsight, to fast for the conditions.

Pics as follows














Is it totaled, should I claim, how much is this guna cost me? I am very upset, but am not sad, in fact, all jokes my mates have made iv found funny and im quite happy in other ways that it wasn't worse. At the moment its with sure car in fishponds, got any "must take it" places i should visit to have it looked at?

yeovilmac

11,858 posts

216 months

Sunday 4th February 2007
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Not an idiot at all mate, just glad you're all right.

Where did it happen mate? Looks like the ring road east of Bristol.

Neil_Bolton

17,113 posts

265 months

Sunday 4th February 2007
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I was going to say - it looks like Longwell Green - there is one roundabout that is lethal and I take it very carefully as a result. Can you remember where it was - I'll take you out there and we'll take a look if you like?

Roundabouts in these conditions are very unpredictable, however you can never say when your luck is coming in - I made a mistake at a VMax that cost me like that - no fault apart from mine, and nobody there judged me for it - as I don't think anyone here will.

I don't know how I can help you sort out the mess, however I'm sure Silverback Mike may be able to - or at least know someone- I'll give him a call later.

heebeegeetee

28,872 posts

249 months

Sunday 4th February 2007
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Hi, not from South West but an MX5 owner.

Gutted for you.

The car is quite badly damaged, repairable I'd say but its gonna cost you. Get some quotes quickly, then consider notifying the insurance. *Don't* notify them automatically as you should.

With the quotes you have to decide if you can afford to cough up. If not then claim on your insurance, BUT, they will claw the money back from you. It'll cost you an absolute mint come next premium time. A mate of mine has a 17 year old who has been quoted £2500 to insure a £300 Metro 'cos the insurance company have had to pay out £1500 after he totalled his previous car.

The next very important thing you must do is get your alignment checked. The MX5 has adjustable suspension as you probably know. This is a complete pain in the arse in my opinion, and a cause of many crashes, and to me it sounds like the cause of yours. In the UK it is very difficult, with our wonderful rolleyes motor trade, to get the alignment done properly. It took me 3 attempts up here in Midlands, the car was transformed afterwards, and even now its supercharged it would be difficult to do what you have done - but I spun mine beforehand when just having a normal hoon. Whats more, although the car is great now, I also know that it still isn't perfect, but I'll get it done again once I've replaced the suspension (the cars on 80k miles now).

Very sad for you, its gonna hurt financially one way or the other, you just need to find the cheapest way out of it. I'd strongly advise keeping your insurance company completely out of it if you can.

Moose.

5,339 posts

242 months

Sunday 4th February 2007
quotequote all
Ouch! No judgements here, we all make mistake! Just thankfully no-one was hurt

As previously mentioned, get some quotes first. I'm assuming it's still drivable, abet not with all the wheels pointing exactly where they should be? If you can live with the cosmetic damage it might be worth getting the suspension sorted so you can at least use the car again. Then when you've got a bit more cash, fix the bodywork.

Claiming on the insurance might be your only option if money is tight though, but it will cost you when you renew next year. When I wrote my MX5 off (I oversteered into a rock-face) they did payout ok on it, but I lost £1000 on the premium (was less then 2 months into it), another £500 on the excess and then cost me £800 to insure an 1.4 Almera, as I then had no no claims bonus

Good luck sorting it!

Gezzmarrelda

802 posts

228 months

Sunday 4th February 2007
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Don't be harsh on yourself mate, the roads were feking lethal last night cause it was cold, icy and there was only just enough grit to turn it into sludge.
The primera was all over the shop last night too.
And no-one will judge you on here fella.

agent006

12,043 posts

265 months

Sunday 4th February 2007
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Slap a Nurburgring sticker on the back, then you can say it's a result of having to overtake a biker at 140 on what would've definitely been an 8min lap. Job done.

Anyone else feeling a bit guilty about giving the "how to get the back end out" advice from the curry? hehe

EX51GE R

1,400 posts

211 months

Sunday 4th February 2007
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T-CUT

bad luck.

Gezzmarrelda

802 posts

228 months

Sunday 4th February 2007
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agent006 said:

Anyone else feeling a bit guilty about giving the "how to get the back end out" advice from the curry? hehe




I'll get me bobble hatpaperbag

willd58

Original Poster:

1,559 posts

209 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
agent006 said:

Anyone else feeling a bit guilty about giving the "how to get the back end out" advice from the curry? hehe

This is what takes the piss, I wasn't even trying to drift! I had been the week before and fully understood it, this time however caught me completely by surprise, and the spin was so great even though i didn't come off the power round I went! If anything my drifting practice meant i didn't just fly straight through the central reservation front first allot quicker, and have the engine come say hi on my passenger seat.

Any idea's as to where I should take it or should I just go with my local guys who do all my work, surecar off of fishponds rd.

Edited by willd58 on Monday 5th February 01:50

splodge s4

1,519 posts

238 months

Monday 5th February 2007
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Gutted mate, so sorry to read & see the pics this morning... it was slippery yesterday morning when we were out for a blat at 9am ish... if you hit ice theres not much you can do

mechsympathy

52,920 posts

256 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
Arse. That's gutting.

I've used a bodyshop in Horfield who seem pretty good. I'll dig out the details.

dazren

22,612 posts

262 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
Ouch.

No one was hurt is the main thing, but this little experience is going to cost you a bit to get fixed. As mentioned get the geometry/suspension, tyres, wheels etc checked asap before attending to the body work.

Also a good idea to return to accident scenes and try and work out what went wrong.


As for all you trackday warriors going on about getting the ar$e out on corners you should be ashamed of yourself, somethings should be left on track. If you want to teach a youngun how to improve his/her driving concentrate on sightlines, observation and car balance before the arsing about stuff.

DAZ

Edited by dazren on Monday 5th February 13:55

splodge s4

1,519 posts

238 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
dazren said:
Ouch.

Also a good idea to return to accident scenes and try and work out what went wrong.

Edited by dazren on Monday 5th February 13:55


yes

It was one of those april showers, it rained hard then the sun came out leaving the road shiny & dazzling as i approached this bend when suddenly the mk2 MR2 i was driving swapped ends & i span 270 degrees without hitting any curbs... I couldnt believe i lost it on an ordinary bend at about 30mph. Thankfully, no one around, didnt hit anything so just went on my way (& yes I didnt apply the clutch so the engine stalled rolleyes ) The day after I went to the corner to have a look about, maybe an oil spill or something, what i noticed was 2 manhole covers, right on the line i'd taken. Didnt see them at the time as the road was shining.

Those that know Bristol it was on Whitehouse St in Bedminster, come off York rd into Whitehouse st then the road swings around to the right to follow the railway line, on that bend, have a look & you'll see what i mean.



mechsympathy

52,920 posts

256 months

Monday 5th February 2007
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Just found them: D M K Motor Body Repair Specialists. Lockleaze Rd Bristol, BS7 9RU. 0117-969 5835

GlenMH

5,214 posts

244 months

Monday 5th February 2007
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Will

Sorry to hear about this - good luck with getting it sorted out!

As Daz says, working out what went wrong will help you avoid it next time.

Glen

deva link

26,934 posts

246 months

Monday 5th February 2007
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How long have you had the car?

When pretty well all cars (apart from Leyland) were RWD every trip was an adventure in pirouettes in an Escort, Cortina or Capri.

Apologies if you've always driven RWD, but most people don't get the practice these days and are lulled into a false sense of security by FWD

willd58

Original Poster:

1,559 posts

209 months

Tuesday 6th February 2007
quotequote all
Right, heres an update, the garage is saying 2800 to put it all right, I trust this dude as my dad gives him a decent amount of business. Hes said that the inner frame is damaged and it will have to go up and be worked on, then the door they can repair, but everything else they'll wanna get new body parts, front bumper, front and rear wings, rear bumper, tail light, boot lid.

Does this sound about right, and if so, they've said that its guna cost allot less if i can get the parts from a breaker, how easy is this and should i go for it? I'm not guna be able to get another car like an MX5 if I claim on my insurance and I don't wanna go back to driving a shopping trolley if i can avoid it, this seems like the only way. Thoughts?

Thanks guys.

GlenMH

5,214 posts

244 months

Tuesday 6th February 2007
quotequote all
willd58 said:
Right, heres an update, the garage is saying 2800 to put it all right, I trust this dude as my dad gives him a decent amount of business. Hes said that the inner frame is damaged and it will have to go up and be worked on, then the door they can repair, but everything else they'll wanna get new body parts, front bumper, front and rear wings, rear bumper, tail light, boot lid.

Does this sound about right, and if so, they've said that its guna cost allot less if i can get the parts from a breaker, how easy is this and should i go for it? I'm not guna be able to get another car like an MX5 if I claim on my insurance and I don't wanna go back to driving a shopping trolley if i can avoid it, this seems like the only way. Thoughts?

Thanks guys.

I agree with the sentiments about the shopping trolly!
There must be MX5s at breakers but you might need to do some ringing round after a search on the interweb thingy.

Personally, I would go for it as you will find out all kinds of cheap places to get bits to keep it running in the future,

Glen

Gezzmarrelda

802 posts

228 months

Tuesday 6th February 2007
quotequote all
dazren said:

As for all you trackday warriors going on about getting the ar$e out on corners you should be ashamed of yourself, somethings should be left on track. If you want to teach a youngun how to improve his/her driving concentrate on sightlines, observation and car balance before the arsing about stuff.
DAZ

You're right, sorrypaperbag