Back on the black .......
Discussion
Well nearly at least.
Had the news today that the insurance company have given the authorisation for the repair. The repair is being undertaken by a lotus approved bodyshop recomended by the dealer from which I bought the car.
Some points that may be of interest to the forum members:
1) Tesco Insurance - Yes they are quite cheap (not the cheapest but cheaper than most) however on the whole my experience with them throughout this has been mixed. This has mainly been due to the extremely varied level of comptetence between different members of staff. This aside the main gripe was to do with the level of cover in the breakdown assistance component of the policy. When I was sold the policy it was never mentioned that there were varying levels of cover, it was a case of "do you want breakdown assistance" (yes or no question) and not "we offer varying levels of breakdown cover, which would you like". This resulted in nearly having to pay £400 to get the vehicle moved from the police designated recovery depot and the repair shop. This is ridiculous when the extra level of cover that allows you to have your vehicle towed everywhere cost a mere extra £20 on top of the £40 quid you pay for the standard cover that only allows your vehicle to be towed up to a maximum of around 10 miles. So its basically £40 for 10 miles or £60 for infinate miles in the UK. Fortunately for me I was able to get them to give me full cover retrospectively by making comment as to how the policy was sold. They also waived the upgrade fee. The next issue was to do with the designated repairer - first of all they wanted to take the vehicle to their preferred repairer who needless to say was not a specialist repairer or a lotus authorised one. By refusing this and specifying that I wanted the vehicle taken elsewhere I seemed to loose out on a courtsey car (fortunately not really a problem for me). Finally they were quite slow to arrange everything - If it were not for the chasing by both myself and the dealership I feel I would still be waiting for one of their engineers to inspect the damage on the vehicle. On balance though I would say that once the inspector did look over the vehicle things got moving quite fast.
2) Bell and Colvill - I know in the past people have had mixed views on these guys but I have to say every second of dealing with them has been a total pleasure. From buying the car through to the aftersales and now the aftermath of the accident. Their level of concern, dilligence, attentiveness with regard to problems, their organisation, advice, friendliness and overall level of service has been impecable.
3) The repair is being undertaken by Panel Wise. When I get the car back i'll let you all know how its gone.
4) As soon as the car is back i'm booking some days with Andy Walsh at first lotus, something I have come to believe that everyone should do.
Had the news today that the insurance company have given the authorisation for the repair. The repair is being undertaken by a lotus approved bodyshop recomended by the dealer from which I bought the car.
Some points that may be of interest to the forum members:
1) Tesco Insurance - Yes they are quite cheap (not the cheapest but cheaper than most) however on the whole my experience with them throughout this has been mixed. This has mainly been due to the extremely varied level of comptetence between different members of staff. This aside the main gripe was to do with the level of cover in the breakdown assistance component of the policy. When I was sold the policy it was never mentioned that there were varying levels of cover, it was a case of "do you want breakdown assistance" (yes or no question) and not "we offer varying levels of breakdown cover, which would you like". This resulted in nearly having to pay £400 to get the vehicle moved from the police designated recovery depot and the repair shop. This is ridiculous when the extra level of cover that allows you to have your vehicle towed everywhere cost a mere extra £20 on top of the £40 quid you pay for the standard cover that only allows your vehicle to be towed up to a maximum of around 10 miles. So its basically £40 for 10 miles or £60 for infinate miles in the UK. Fortunately for me I was able to get them to give me full cover retrospectively by making comment as to how the policy was sold. They also waived the upgrade fee. The next issue was to do with the designated repairer - first of all they wanted to take the vehicle to their preferred repairer who needless to say was not a specialist repairer or a lotus authorised one. By refusing this and specifying that I wanted the vehicle taken elsewhere I seemed to loose out on a courtsey car (fortunately not really a problem for me). Finally they were quite slow to arrange everything - If it were not for the chasing by both myself and the dealership I feel I would still be waiting for one of their engineers to inspect the damage on the vehicle. On balance though I would say that once the inspector did look over the vehicle things got moving quite fast.
2) Bell and Colvill - I know in the past people have had mixed views on these guys but I have to say every second of dealing with them has been a total pleasure. From buying the car through to the aftersales and now the aftermath of the accident. Their level of concern, dilligence, attentiveness with regard to problems, their organisation, advice, friendliness and overall level of service has been impecable.
3) The repair is being undertaken by Panel Wise. When I get the car back i'll let you all know how its gone.
4) As soon as the car is back i'm booking some days with Andy Walsh at first lotus, something I have come to believe that everyone should do.
Good news Doug. Glad to hear you are on the way to getting it back on the road. Agree with doing the Andy Walsh days. I did one last year and am going to do a few more this year.
Before you get the car back and book some training have a look on www.carlimits.com (same company as 1st Lotus) and order Mr Walsh's new DVD. It's got all the information and instruction on all the techniques that you learn on the day and a lot more. It would be a big help to have some background info on the techniques before you go (and no I am not on commission)
Received my copy today and it is excellent. Brought back all the training I had 12 months ago.
Only £11 as well.
Davey S1 said:
Agree with doing the Andy Walsh days. I did one last year and am going to do a few more this year.
Before you get the car back and book some training have a look on www.carlimits.com (same company as 1st Lotus) and order Mr Walsh's new DVD. It's got all the information and instruction on all the techniques that you learn on the day and a lot more. It would be a big help to have some background info on the techniques before you go (and no I am not on commission)
Received my copy today and it is excellent. Brought back all the training I had 12 months ago.
Only £11 as well.
Hi Dave,
Do you know if the Lotus training day is any good ? If not then I'll do the one you mentioned, wasn't that keen on using my car that was all.
Boggy
the Lotus training days is good, but you dont get as much time in the car and it costs 3x the price.
Some people like to do one as you use their car and its at Hethel...but for VFM and additional practice I prefer 1stlotus/Carlimits...have done 7 days there myself and 4 activity days
...the only way to keep improving/well practiced is to do more !
Some people like to do one as you use their car and its at Hethel...but for VFM and additional practice I prefer 1stlotus/Carlimits...have done 7 days there myself and 4 activity days
...the only way to keep improving/well practiced is to do more !ps - gald to hear you will be sorted out soon Doug
Boggy - its best to do it in your own car - as that will be the one you are driving daily !...the geo/tyres/suspension etc may be completely different on a factory provided car, so youd end up getting used to something thats not at all like your own........
Boggy - its best to do it in your own car - as that will be the one you are driving daily !...the geo/tyres/suspension etc may be completely different on a factory provided car, so youd end up getting used to something thats not at all like your own........
bogie said:
ps - gald to hear you will be sorted out soon Doug
Boggy - its best to do it in your own car - as that will be the one you are driving daily !...the geo/tyres/suspension etc may be completely different on a factory provided car, so youd end up getting used to something thats not at all like your own........
Cheer's Bogie
I can see what you mean "my car's going to be different than the factory car's". I could also book more day's ! sound's good to me, soon as Xmas is out of the way Mrs Boggy is going to be getting her Purse out
Large
Boggy
>> Edited by boggy on Thursday 23 December 14:53
Yup, there is a pic of the damage on my profile.
They basically had to strip the car back to the chassis and rebuild it! New front and rear clamshells, lights, heat shield, rear diffuser, front splitter, exhaust, totally new rear suspension, 4 new road wheels and a whole bunch of other stuff!
They basically had to strip the car back to the chassis and rebuild it! New front and rear clamshells, lights, heat shield, rear diffuser, front splitter, exhaust, totally new rear suspension, 4 new road wheels and a whole bunch of other stuff!
Pleased you re back on the road Doug.
Horrible being carless.
I dont use my exige that often, out of choice/weather. Last week i had a couple of days when insurances were changing over and therefore couldnt use the car. That was horrible knowing it was in the garage but not being able to use it.
Glad she looks pretty again now.
Horrible being carless.
I dont use my exige that often, out of choice/weather. Last week i had a couple of days when insurances were changing over and therefore couldnt use the car. That was horrible knowing it was in the garage but not being able to use it.
Glad she looks pretty again now.
Only recently started using this Forum, so apologies for resorecting an old post, but thought people would like to know about my experience with Tesco's.
Getting the Car picked up and an asseser out to inspect the car, was easy, all done in 5days. Check for the write-off by the end of the 2nd week.
The problems started when I tried to get my excess from the 3rd party. The accident happened in August, the 3rd party accepted liability, verbally in October and still no money even now.
Spoke to Tescos last week and they have at last agreed to close the file with the 3rd Party liable, which will mean I dont have to have a claim on my next set of quotes, due next month.
They will still try yo get the excess, but to be honest the liability part is more important, than the excess.
Any way the write-off of a 106XN resulted in a 111R, so a good result.
Getting the Car picked up and an asseser out to inspect the car, was easy, all done in 5days. Check for the write-off by the end of the 2nd week.
The problems started when I tried to get my excess from the 3rd party. The accident happened in August, the 3rd party accepted liability, verbally in October and still no money even now.
Spoke to Tescos last week and they have at last agreed to close the file with the 3rd Party liable, which will mean I dont have to have a claim on my next set of quotes, due next month.
They will still try yo get the excess, but to be honest the liability part is more important, than the excess.
Any way the write-off of a 106XN resulted in a 111R, so a good result.
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