T-boned Abarth

[galaxy500]

Looking for opinions from some clever accident repair types as to whether this is a write-off or not

T-boned yesterday by a Kia 4x4 doing no less than 30- old dear failed to notice a junction. My wife was doing 25 and her and the kids fortunately okay. Both side airbags worked really well to protect my daughter in the passenger seat. Impressed at how well the car stood up. I was following behind in our other car when it happened. You think a 30mph crash sounds tame but it didn't look it at the time. Scary stuff.

Door obviously a goner, side airbag in the seat deployed so 1 leather seat wrecked, A pillar bashed in at the bottom, B pillar wrinkled but i dont know if that is just a panel overlying the B pillar, rear bumper prob beyond repair, roof airbag deployed. Roof not creased and the sill looks straight, under the car looks fine.

Not sure I want it repaired and if it is I can't imagine it would ever be quite as strong as it should be. The repair place it's gone to also not got a great reputation. If it's a close call about writing it off or repairing do I get a choice?

Also, the car is not far from halfway through the finance deal- does anyone know if a big repair affects the ability to voluntarily terminate?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

[Strawman]

galaxy500 said:

A pillar bashed in at the bottom, B pillar wrinkled.........

Not sure I want it repaired and if it is I can't imagine it would ever be quite as strong as it should be.

I'd say a write off but not an expert.

[D15CO D4VE]

I would say Category C

[galaxy500]

I should have said the car books at about £8500. It's only 20 months old but I've done 39k in it. I think the value is relevant to the chances of write-off.

[McSam]

From the description alone, I'd say it would be a writeoff. However, it looks remarkably straight, and I guess given the decent value of the car it warrants proper inspection into the state of the chassis. If it's not been deformed, then maybe you'll be alright..

But do you want it back? You sound pretty ambivalent and I think in this case you could simply tell your insurers you are not happy to accept any sort of repair. I doubt they want the hassle. Be armed with adverts for similar-condition cars to prove a decent value, though.

[galaxy500]

I don't want to drive the car again but I suspect the settlement for a write-off will leave me about £2k short of the outstanding finance and I have no GAP cover. If it is repairable I can VT it in 4 months which will only cost me £1k in payments. But I'll also have the cost of running another car for 4 months or risk running around in a car that's never going to take another hit with quite the same resilience. So I don't really know what to do. But if it is a write-off I can cope with the £2k. I'm just glad I still have all my family tonight.

[saaby93]

McSam said:

But do you want it back? You sound pretty ambivalent and I think in this case you could simply tell your insurers you are not happy to accept any sort of repair. I doubt they want the hassle. Be armed with adverts for similar-condition cars to prove a decent value, though.

Why tell his own insurers? (other than to report it)
It looks like a straightforward third party claim without getting his own insurers in the middle.
Get a couple of quotes. Discuss with the TPs insurers what you want, job done

[paulrussell]

If the car is repaired, it won't be noticeable that it's been in a crash. I don't think your insurer will let you choose for it to be written off or not. The car will have the same strength as before, so should it ever be involved in another crash, the car will perform how it will be desgined to.

[KungFuPanda]

Yep I'd echo what Sabby has said. If liability is as clear cut as it sounds, approach the TP Insurers and tell them what you want. It may well be more economical for them to write the car off and and agree a pre accident value for your car and get a cheque in the post rather than have you off the road for an extended period time over which the horrid spectre of accident management and credit hire companies raise their ugly head.

[aw51 121565]

The car looks remarkably undamaged for a 30mph hit! Of course, the devil is in the detail when the door is open and the structural members examined.

I am sure that FIAT will have produced a manual describing exactly how to attach new body parts during accident repair to ensure original strength is retained. Providing it is done properly on a jig, the repair will be as strong as the original bodywork - not that anyone would like to test this .

It doesn't look like it needs a new shell, as there's no crease in the roof for example.

But then there's the argument about driving/owning a car that has been subject to this sort of stress with one's family on board .

[mollytherocker]

Your wife and kids are OK. I would start and end with that.

The car? From the pic, I reckon they will repair it. And so, no CAT status.

But I would refer you to my first comment.

MTR

[Coldfuse]

As a general rule if an airbag has gone off its a write off, it sounds like more than one has gone off so i'm going to say its a write off. Does look like its done its job though, glad to hear the other half and sprog are fine

[saaby93]

KungFuPanda said:

Yep I'd echo what Sabby has said. If liability is as clear cut as it sounds, approach the TP Insurers and tell them what you want. It may well be more economical for them to write the car off and and agree a pre accident value for your car and get a cheque in the post rather than have you off the road for an extended period time over which the horrid spectre of accident management and credit hire companies raise their ugly head.

If you cant handle it yourself nothing wrong with a good accident management co if they do what you want and it saves you having to mess about.
It's not your fault and your time vs their time
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
You either choose your own and they deal direct with the third party for you
or you let your own insurer choose theirs

[MissChief]

I'm sure your heart was in your mouth when it happened and you feared the worst! Glad your family were OK!

[djfaulkner]

Ouch! Good to hear everyone is ok.

Did you have GAP insurance?
We were told if our car gets written off to contact them before accepting any payouts.

[philmots]

I'd be amazed if they decide to fix that.

Although the door had taken the big hit it looks like the front wing has damage as well as the rear 3/4.. Both will need to be replaced. There's then the B pillar that will probably need replacing too. Maybe the bottom sill too.

Then there's the other stuff mentioned, 2 airbags, 1 leather seat cover, roof lining etc etc and a stack of labour.

Other than that I'm impressed how well the shell has stood up to a heavy hit. And at least your wife and daughter are all ok..

I always thought too if you're pretty determined you're able to pick your own place for repair?

[Alucidnation]

I must say (although this wont help the OP in this situation0 is that with any new vehicle on finance, always go for GAP.

[rallycross]

It looks repairable but costs of airbags and Abarth trim and panels might see it written off it it's only worth £8.5k in which case expect to see and cat D repaired Abarth on sale soon ( ie after you get your settlement).

Did you have Gap insurance on it?

[DonkeyApple]

If its the car that carries your wife and children then get it binned. It's done it's job once, scrap it and get a new one.

[Monty Python]

I don't see a problem in this case no matter what happens. As your wife was not at fault, all costs will be recovered from the third party, so you should end up in the same position you were before the crash with no financial losses incurred. GAP insurance is only of use when you're partly to blame for a crash where your own insurance company will try to limit how much it pays out.