Damage estimate from a little bump this morning!

[330J]

Hi all,

I am looking for a bit of help from anyone in the bodyshop business regarding a bump I've had this morning.

Basically I've clipped a car going past me resulting in the damage shown in the picture below.

Basically, the car is a Golf 4Motion only worth about £1700 max and I'd like to know whether it is a borderline write-off or not. The bumper wouldnt push back in and it looked like the fixing bracket was pulled away from where it is fixed to the body.

Thanks in advance.

[kambites]

If you go through the insurance, I'm pretty sure they'll write that off. New bumpers aren't cheap.

[The Moose]

£1,293.71

[Busso GTA]

Same car and rough value as the wife's she was involved in a collision with similar damage to the bumper but it was still affixed to the body in her case they were going to write it off so I would imagine they will .

[slinky]

The wing is creased too, headlight brackets are probably toast..
Parts, Paint and Labour will almost undoubtedly write that off from an insurance perspective.

[TeaNoSugar]

If you go through insurance i bet they'll write it off. We had these as company cars about 10 years ago. One of ours got involved in a bump like yours, but with far less damage. The front light cluster cost something ridiculous (from memory I think over £500 from VW). The new bumpers were around £400 I think (although it was 10 years ago), then there was fitting and painting. I think the cost of the repair (cheapest quote) was £1150 or so.

Try a scrap yard

[330J]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I feared as much!

Unfortunately I'm going to have to go through the Insurance as the other car needs a new wing and possibly two doors. His was on 03 Civic so he may be in the same boat as me.

[Krikkit]

330J said:

Thanks for the replies everyone, I feared as much!

Unfortunately I'm going to have to go through the Insurance as the other car needs a new wing and possibly two doors. His was on 03 Civic so he may be in the same boat as me.

Claim, buy the car back, repair from scrapyard. Unless you fancy a change of course!

[lufbramatt]

You don't have to claim for damage to your own vehicle though, Had the same thing which required a new wing, bonnet, bumper on my car. Got the parts required second hand for £60, fixed it myself as would have been instant write-off time. Other driver's car was repaired through insurance.

[330J]

The buy back option had crossed my mind, what kind of value would they place on it?

2001 reg with 134k on the clock.

[Krikkit]

£1000 maybe? If you can do the above, I'd go for that (i.e. part repairs yourself to save hassle)

[Dr Interceptor]

Claim and buy yours back... It will write yours off, and it will be a Cat C/D, but if its a good car, its worth repairing.

[Kell]

I'm not sure I would 'not claim' for damage on yours.

As you're going to make a claim anyway, the amount of the claim doesn't really affect your premiums so much as the amount of claims you make.

Far better to get a pay out from the insurance company, buy back your old car and repair it to your own satisfaction.

[330J]

Today's damage aside it is in exceptional condition so I'll look in to the buy back/not claiming option.

[rallycross]

if you buy it back it wont cost much for the salvage probably £500-£700 taken off your payout.
repair will be 2nd hand bumper, minor repair to wing, paint and blend in, £300 from a small bodyshop plus cost of 2nd hand bumper, clips etc.

[330J]

Car picked up on Tuesday, still waiting for a call from the assesor - Is this a normal timeframe?

[tbc]

a friend had a similar thing and got it all done for £500

This was a mk6/7 Polo though

[Matt_N]

330J said:

Car picked up on Tuesday, still waiting for a call from the assesor - Is this a normal timeframe?

I fear you've made a mistake here.

If the ins company deem your car uneconomical to repair they'll write it off.

Having just gone through this with my ATR I would've cancelled the claim for your damages and just sorted it out yourself.

[jdw1234]

Mate, this is now "Rat Look".

Cover it in stickers, lower it, stretch tyres on that are too small for the wheels and you will be the coolest kid on the block!!

[Spangles]

330J said:

Car picked up on Tuesday, still waiting for a call from the assesor - Is this a normal timeframe?

They haven't stripped it of all usable parts yet, give them a chance.