Why do people do this?
Discussion
Utterly utterly gutted. After 2 months of joyous motoring, some complete lunkhead has decided to vandalise my car by stamping on the front clamshell and snapping the lip above and around the front grill on my S1. The footprint is still there!!! Its right next to the badge and the crack is runs from right under the grill lip and up the front of the shell, running about 9 inches up and snapped inwards. There are two horizontal cracks that run parallel from the main crack, each about 5 inches long.
Gutted? You wouldn't believe it........
So, any idea where I can get this fixed and how much this is going to cost me? The paint code is rare cos its a Millenium Edition too. I have spoken to the guy who I bought it from (Speedwells, near Southampton) and he suggested that as I am near, get it to the factory and they will be able to do it. I have protected no claims and about £250 excess, so he recommended that I go through insurance and then get an entire new clamshell.
Is this good advice? Either way, I would like to have some plan of action as soon as possible so I can get it done.
Any advice right now would be good advice. I am completely devastated right now..........it feels so crap....
Cheers guys
Gutted? You wouldn't believe it........
So, any idea where I can get this fixed and how much this is going to cost me? The paint code is rare cos its a Millenium Edition too. I have spoken to the guy who I bought it from (Speedwells, near Southampton) and he suggested that as I am near, get it to the factory and they will be able to do it. I have protected no claims and about £250 excess, so he recommended that I go through insurance and then get an entire new clamshell.
Is this good advice? Either way, I would like to have some plan of action as soon as possible so I can get it done.
Any advice right now would be good advice. I am completely devastated right now..........it feels so crap....
Cheers guys
Oh Man! That is so crap. They had better pray that you dont catch him!
I would suggest that you make sure your no claims is protected and then go through your insurance. That kind of damage is hard to repair properly and if left will "spread".
I used to have a Mk1 MR2 which I restored and had resprayed, my first real car. This would get vandalised at least once every 3-4 months. I have not had any problems in the elise but then I never park it in the road. I know how gutted you must feel. I hope you manage to track the culprit down.
I would suggest that you make sure your no claims is protected and then go through your insurance. That kind of damage is hard to repair properly and if left will "spread".
I used to have a Mk1 MR2 which I restored and had resprayed, my first real car. This would get vandalised at least once every 3-4 months. I have not had any problems in the elise but then I never park it in the road. I know how gutted you must feel. I hope you manage to track the culprit down.
John, that's f***ing shite mate, so sorry to hear your baby has been abused.
I presume you've reported it to the fuzz? You should do this right away if you haven't, so you can get a crime number for the insurance. Depending on the damage a good bodyshop might be able to repair it, but a donor front clam and respray might be a cheaper option and less hassle.
Talk to Hangar111 (who are up your way I believe) and see if they can help or recommend anyone, and also Sinclaires in Romford who are great with bodywork. Maybe they can source you a cheap replacement clam?
Also get on SELOC and see if anyone on there can suggest someone local (junks may be able to help for instance in sourcing you something). The Norfolk/E Anglia/Suffolk lot are pretty active.
Best of luck.
I presume you've reported it to the fuzz? You should do this right away if you haven't, so you can get a crime number for the insurance. Depending on the damage a good bodyshop might be able to repair it, but a donor front clam and respray might be a cheaper option and less hassle.
Talk to Hangar111 (who are up your way I believe) and see if they can help or recommend anyone, and also Sinclaires in Romford who are great with bodywork. Maybe they can source you a cheap replacement clam?
Also get on SELOC and see if anyone on there can suggest someone local (junks may be able to help for instance in sourcing you something). The Norfolk/E Anglia/Suffolk lot are pretty active.
Best of luck.
Alll good stuff guys. Yeah, gutted the baby has been damaged. Just t
ts and tttish mentality.....
Anyway, someone has said to me that as I have protected no claims and £250 excess, then I should get a new clamshell from the factory, get a quote for that, with painting and fitting, with VAT and get the insurance to pay out. Also, while the factory has it, they can replace the driving light that has cracked too.
If this isn't possible, then I will use the people that you have suggested. I don't know who Hangar111 are and never heard of them, but will look them up.
As for the fuzz, I have already informed them, but even they said that they probably won't be able to do anything. They could take a print of the footprint, but that probably won't lead to anything. But I will get a crime number, so I can get the insurance moving as soon as possible. I want my car looking pristine for summer!!!
Cheers for the advice guys...........I am off to go a buy a shotgun now........
ts and tttish mentality..... Anyway, someone has said to me that as I have protected no claims and £250 excess, then I should get a new clamshell from the factory, get a quote for that, with painting and fitting, with VAT and get the insurance to pay out. Also, while the factory has it, they can replace the driving light that has cracked too.
If this isn't possible, then I will use the people that you have suggested. I don't know who Hangar111 are and never heard of them, but will look them up.
As for the fuzz, I have already informed them, but even they said that they probably won't be able to do anything. They could take a print of the footprint, but that probably won't lead to anything. But I will get a crime number, so I can get the insurance moving as soon as possible. I want my car looking pristine for summer!!!
Cheers for the advice guys...........I am off to go a buy a shotgun now........
What a bastard, eh?
If there are no small print clauses to your protected NCD, it will ne nigh on impossible for you to get this done for less than £250, I would have thought.
The only semi-annoying thing is insurers tend only to want their 'specialists' to do the work...and they may know zilch about fibreglass repair.
What you can do is get quotes from dealers you may know or trust, and forward these to the insurers. Their loyalty will soon shift if you can get a cheaper price.
I would still talk to them about the real costs, though. If protected NCD simply means they give you the same official figure, but still load your premium the normal 20-50% at renewal, you could be looking at a contribution from you of up to £500-£700 after the twists and turns.....which may mean it is cheaper to pay all costs!
( Unlikely, unless it is repair and re-spray as opposed to new clam and respray )
It does sound like the insurance deal is fine and 'best' for you ( best is of course getting the pr-ick to pay ) but just check their small print!
If there are no small print clauses to your protected NCD, it will ne nigh on impossible for you to get this done for less than £250, I would have thought.
The only semi-annoying thing is insurers tend only to want their 'specialists' to do the work...and they may know zilch about fibreglass repair.
What you can do is get quotes from dealers you may know or trust, and forward these to the insurers. Their loyalty will soon shift if you can get a cheaper price.
I would still talk to them about the real costs, though. If protected NCD simply means they give you the same official figure, but still load your premium the normal 20-50% at renewal, you could be looking at a contribution from you of up to £500-£700 after the twists and turns.....which may mean it is cheaper to pay all costs!
( Unlikely, unless it is repair and re-spray as opposed to new clam and respray )
It does sound like the insurance deal is fine and 'best' for you ( best is of course getting the pr-ick to pay ) but just check their small print!
>> Talk to Hangar111
Seconded. The body shop they use is excellent. I had the n/s panel (with the indicator repeater on) broken when I was reversed into in a car park - (just a nudge, and no other damage).
When I went to pick thwe car up, Greg came out to show me how good the paint match was and went to the wrong side of the car - he'd forgotten which side had been done and you really can't see what's been resprayed and what hasn't.
If you're anywhere near Ipswich / Martlesham, give him a ring or drop in to see him.
Err, (searches in wallet for their card) 01473 636961
Steve.
Seconded. The body shop they use is excellent. I had the n/s panel (with the indicator repeater on) broken when I was reversed into in a car park - (just a nudge, and no other damage).
When I went to pick thwe car up, Greg came out to show me how good the paint match was and went to the wrong side of the car - he'd forgotten which side had been done and you really can't see what's been resprayed and what hasn't.
If you're anywhere near Ipswich / Martlesham, give him a ring or drop in to see him.
Err, (searches in wallet for their card) 01473 636961
Steve.
that's a real pisser... i remember leaving my previous elise in a multistorey and some c*nt trying to prise off the enamel badge on the front... grrrr
the best thing about my current weapon of choice is that it is sooooooo attractive to vandals that leaving it anywhere isn't an option,,, i just have to take another car! lol
the only place you will see the toxic frog parked is in a marina carpark, on lymington high street or possibly on east street in scumhampton with the roof off (i've realised that there is a constant stream of people who just stand and stare at it, giving no opportunity for vandals to get to work!)
bastards one and all!
the best thing about my current weapon of choice is that it is sooooooo attractive to vandals that leaving it anywhere isn't an option,,, i just have to take another car! lol
the only place you will see the toxic frog parked is in a marina carpark, on lymington high street or possibly on east street in scumhampton with the roof off (i've realised that there is a constant stream of people who just stand and stare at it, giving no opportunity for vandals to get to work!)
bastards one and all!
Guys this is all fantastic stuff. You lot are brilliant!!! Cheers for all that. Hangar111 in Ipswich isn't too far. Superb!
I am going to see what the insurance says tomorrow and then start making inquiries into where to start on this. If they say that I can start to look into getting my own quotes, then all of this information is invaluable.
Thanks again!
I am going to see what the insurance says tomorrow and then start making inquiries into where to start on this. If they say that I can start to look into getting my own quotes, then all of this information is invaluable.
Thanks again!
What a 
er! I know exactly how you feel - someone drove into my Mini last month and wrote off my n/r door. They just drove away without a care in the world. No witnesses :-( Can't claim on my insurance as I haven't got protected NCB and, anyway, the excess is £500!!! Just waiting for a decent black door to show up in a scrappy... :-(
Good luck with the repair. If only these bastards could just off and die! I just hope that karma does actually exist and catches up with them, eventually.
Stu
er! I know exactly how you feel - someone drove into my Mini last month and wrote off my n/r door. They just drove away without a care in the world. No witnesses :-( Can't claim on my insurance as I haven't got protected NCB and, anyway, the excess is £500!!! Just waiting for a decent black door to show up in a scrappy... :-( Good luck with the repair. If only these bastards could just
off and die! I just hope that karma does actually exist and catches up with them, eventually. Stu
Thanks for your kind words guys. Much appreciated. Its nice to know that there are people out there who feel your pain! Might be a drop in the ocean in the bigger scheme of things, but thats not the point is it? There are idiots out there who want to spoil it for us all. What they can't have, no one can have.........
What a stupid mentality. The Elise is one of the few things that I have ever actually coveted in my life. And when I actually achieve an ambition, someone goes a messes it up royally.
Sad as this may seem, I almost had a lump in my throat when I first saw it............daft, I know, but hey, I love my car!!!
Anyway, lets see what Mr Flux can do for me tomorrow eh? Fingers crossed........
What a stupid mentality. The Elise is one of the few things that I have ever actually coveted in my life. And when I actually achieve an ambition, someone goes a messes it up royally.
Sad as this may seem, I almost had a lump in my throat when I first saw it............daft, I know, but hey, I love my car!!!
Anyway, lets see what Mr Flux can do for me tomorrow eh? Fingers crossed........
People in this country are jealous. Because they dont have the energy to make something of themself, the people who are hard working and invest in thier dream are "rich barstards" and they feel they have the right to vandalise our property, it serves us right.
I have never understood this type of jealousy. The mentality in the states is completly different. I you do well, (most people) are happy that you have lived the dream!
I really dislike the british "thug" mentality. They think they are serving out some kind of justice when they are the worst kind of coward. If they had any guts they would say it to your face but all they are up to ois cowardly vandalism.
If I could get my hands on them, I would really take my time! I never will, I just have to consoul myself that they are driving to thier council estate sh!t hole in a crappy escourt or capri.
I have never understood this type of jealousy. The mentality in the states is completly different. I you do well, (most people) are happy that you have lived the dream!
I really dislike the british "thug" mentality. They think they are serving out some kind of justice when they are the worst kind of coward. If they had any guts they would say it to your face but all they are up to ois cowardly vandalism.
If I could get my hands on them, I would really take my time! I never will, I just have to consoul myself that they are driving to thier council estate sh!t hole in a crappy escourt or capri.
Sorry to hear of your woes mate - if it makes you feel any better, it's not just the more distinguished marques like yours that have it done, my wife's Civic ESI, along with 4 other cars in the road, were run over the top of by some yobs - they were jumping from the back of a landrover to see how far they could get. Though it doesn't look too bad the car is effectively a write off now so we haven't bothered going to the insurers to get it repaired - though I have to admit that the police were really very helpful, even sent a forensics person out to see if they could lift the prints off any of the cars that were damaged.
Must be something to do with cars that come from Southampton!
Must be something to do with cars that come from Southampton!
gooby said:
People in this country are jealous. Because they dont have the energy to make something of themself, the people who are hard working and invest in thier dream are "rich barstards" and they feel they have the right to vandalise our property, it serves us right.
I have never understood this type of jealousy. The mentality in the states is completly different. I you do well, (most people) are happy that you have lived the dream!
I really dislike the british "thug" mentality. They think they are serving out some kind of justice when they are the worst kind of coward. If they had any guts they would say it to your face but all they are up to ois cowardly vandalism.
If I could get my hands on them, I would really take my time! I never will, I just have to consoul myself that they are driving to thier council estate sh!t hole in a crappy escourt or capri.
spot on anywere else and you dont get the same politics of envy that you do here, epitomised by the sun an mirror who are obssesed with printing the value of the persons house in practically every story they run... like it
matters how much there house is worth
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