Surprise, car write off, crap settlement figure!

[Podie]

Good result, but you're far from out of the woods.

Document everything and raise a complaint. Express how stressful, inconvenient and obstructive this whole process has been. Give dates and times where applicable.

Sadly, the next stage is making sure the work is completed to a satisfactory (in your eyes, not theirs!) standard. When the car is presented - check everything. Some firends of mine have had some real horror stories, with missing bolts, clips, overspray...

[deltashad]

Just a warning to those of you who think about owning an Elise.

Thats now three months since the accident. Just received an email from Lotus. It will be another 3 to 4 months before thecar can be repaired due to lack of parts.

10-11 weeks until the clam will be ready. In all I'm looking at 6 to 7 months from the start to the end repair.

[Simond S]

cant you get a second hand clam?

[Devil2575]

It's stories like this that make you realise why Lotus struggle. If this was a BMW you'd have the bits inside of a week.

It might not be as exciting to drive, but at least you'd be able to drive it.

I hope it's sported as soon as possible.

[deltashad]

Simond S said:

cant you get a second hand clam?

I'm just off the phone to the coachworks, they say that if I sign a disclaimer they can fit a second hand clam.
They dont recommend a reproduction one. I wouldn't want one anyway.

Right off to search everywhere.....

[Engineer1]

Devil2575 said:

It's stories like this that make you realise why Lotus struggle. If this was a BMW you'd have the bits inside of a week.

It might not be as exciting to drive, but at least you'd be able to drive it.

I hope it's sported as soon as possible.

I wouldn't be so sure, manufacturers can have shortages of parts normally though this happens very early in the vehicle's life while the suppliers are rushed off their feet supplying parts into the OEM, or in the case of Japanese origin vehicles components are being sea freighted in before an in country supplier is sourced.

[M3DGE]

Monty Python said:

I'm beginning to wonder whether this "back to invoice" insurance is worth having - £200 for 4 years and they pay the difference between what the insurance pays out and the price you bought the car at.

If you can buy the cover for £200 I'd say it is definitely worthwhile - and you can buy at this price on t'interweb. It's a cariation on GAP insurance. If you buy the same cover from s dealer you'll pay from £350-£700 depending on the marque; commission averages 70% and can go higher. Dealers buy the cover 'net' and car retail at whatever they feel they can get away with. Incidentally, the FCA just announced that the market is so uncompetitive and policies so overpriced that the sale of a car and GAP are going to be separated.
But as I said, at £200 it's worthwhile, especially for a new car.

[Rakoosh]

Interesting take (assumption/conjecture at its best).

My old neighbour had his M5 bumper nicked. He went to his BMW dealer and had to wait for just under 2 months for it to be replaced.

Devil2575 said:

It's stories like this that make you realise why Lotus struggle. If this was a BMW you'd have the bits inside of a week.

[AC43]

FWIW the assessor looking at my car last year told me he took a valuation midway between what a dealer would ask for any given car and whet a private punter would ask.

Seemed a sensible approach.

[deltashad]

Thought I would update the thread. I received the car back from the coachwork company (recommended by Lotus) a week ago.
That was about 10 months in the garage.
I was on a schedule to collect the car and drive it to Romania where I work.
Previously there was bubbling on the doors, which I had asked to be repaired when the car was sprayed, this has not been done, two of the wheels were damaged. They are still damaged. There are a few small scratches that weren't there before, I asked for an upgrade radiator and new resistor pack for my heater, this could have been done but they left it too late and in the end I just said put the car together and give it back to me. The roof/hood has mildew and jet wash marks on it. Vibrations through the steering wheel (not nice on the autobahn).

So, I had a time limit and the car is far from what I expected. Especially after the amount of time its been in the yard, in a corner, ignored. The car is in Romania now after a great road trip. I'll get all the work needing done here, it will be cheap and I can trust the Romanians to do a decent job.

So, I went for what I thought was the sensible option, did not write the car off and fought to keep it, Took it out of the insurance companies recommended repairer to Lotus recommended shop, negating my rights to a rental car. Stupid, stupid decision, I've wasted a lot of money visiting the uk to see my family renting cars, the Lotus was returned in worse condition than pre-accident.

I'm glad the car wasn't written off, I love them and they're brilliant to drive, but had there been a rental car involved I think the insurance company would have pushed harder to have the car repairs done in a timely manner. There were problems locating a clam but this could have been got around if anyone had any interest getting it back on the road. Much of the faults which are still there could have been addressed much earlier within the ten months.

I was told originally the car would be repaired for February.