Car vandalised - likely cost?
Discussion
Seems I can't even park my own car in my own f
king street. I only ever park in my street when I can put it on the end so I don't get 'parallel parkers' smashing my bumpers (as happened 6 days after picking my new MG ZT up, first new car I'd bought in 15 years).
Now I've got another new car. And some has driven straight into the front splitter, the number plate is trashed and the splitter fibreglass is all crazed / split.
Given that it's a new one (MY2010) and it's the special burnt orange paint, how much is this going to cost me to fix? Insurance not an option.
And given the week I've had I'm fking furious - I'm still working but had some neighbour pop round to say that it looks like someone's ripped the numberplate off my car. I'd be fking furious regardless but if I knew which did it I'd be seriously filling his fking head in right now and I'm not a violent man 
Hopefully it was just an accident, though the should have had the fking spine to man up and admit it. If it's someone in the street who doesn't like the fact I work my fking balls off to spend a huge proportion of my money and get *well* into debt to have the cars of my dreams - and there's continued vandalism (which I've never had, in 6 years of living here and with numerous 'flash' cars) then I *will* find out who the fk it is and I will fking put them in fking hospital. And I am NOT joking.
king street. I only ever park in my street when I can put it on the end so I don't get 'parallel parkers' smashing my bumpers (as happened 6 days after picking my new MG ZT up, first new car I'd bought in 15 years).Now I've got another new car. And some
has driven straight into the front splitter, the number plate is trashed and the splitter fibreglass is all crazed / split.Given that it's a new one (MY2010) and it's the special burnt orange paint, how much is this going to cost me to fix? Insurance not an option.
And given the week I've had I'm f
king furious - I'm still working but had some neighbour pop round to say that it looks like someone's ripped the numberplate off my car. I'd be fking furious regardless but if I knew which did it I'd be seriously filling his fking head in right now and I'm not a violent man Hopefully it was just an accident, though the
should have had the fking spine to man up and admit it. If it's someone in the street who doesn't like the fact I work my fking balls off to spend a huge proportion of my money and get *well* into debt to have the cars of my dreams - and there's continued vandalism (which I've never had, in 6 years of living here and with numerous 'flash' cars) then I *will* find out who the fk it is and I will fking put them in fking hospital. And I am NOT joking.Sorry to hear about your problem - I faced a similar one recently when a lorry travelling along the motorway threw a piece of wood into the front of my Elise.
My repair came out at just over £4k plus VAT, and was undertaken by Lotus themselves. That was for a new front clam, grilles & fittings, new windscreen, and repainting the access covers & clam with Ardent Red. That should perhaps give you some idea of the worst case scenario, although bear in mind that your damage might be repairable. I'm sure someone can recommend a place in your area who would be able to take a look and/or undertake the work; I can give you the details of the chap I dealt with at Lotus, if you like - PM me if so.
For what it's worth, I was told that due to the way in which the clams are made, it's not always possible to repair them properly, and they can crack again in the same place later. Something to do with different layers in the fibreglass IIRC.
[k]
My repair came out at just over £4k plus VAT, and was undertaken by Lotus themselves. That was for a new front clam, grilles & fittings, new windscreen, and repainting the access covers & clam with Ardent Red. That should perhaps give you some idea of the worst case scenario, although bear in mind that your damage might be repairable. I'm sure someone can recommend a place in your area who would be able to take a look and/or undertake the work; I can give you the details of the chap I dealt with at Lotus, if you like - PM me if so.
For what it's worth, I was told that due to the way in which the clams are made, it's not always possible to repair them properly, and they can crack again in the same place later. Something to do with different layers in the fibreglass IIRC.
[k]
Edited by [k]arl on Saturday 17th April 20:57
[k]arl - cheers, though thank fk it shouldn't be that bad, it's just the splitter that's damaged and the clam looks OK. It wasn't a high speed thing, this was clearly just incompetent parking so I've gaffer taped the number plate onto the splitter for the time being.
Makes me sick to think that I may as well just have a cheap tatty car, not worry about the condition of the bodywork etc. I'd only just had the thing washed and polished FFS and she looked absolutely tip-top.
Anyway there's always drugs and alcohol
Won't be parking in my own street so I can see my beautiful car from my own home any more though. She's now in the public car park next door.
k it shouldn't be that bad, it's just the splitter that's damaged and the clam looks OK. It wasn't a high speed thing, this was clearly just incompetent parking so I've gaffer taped the number plate onto the splitter for the time being.Makes me sick to think that I may as well just have a cheap tatty car, not worry about the condition of the bodywork etc. I'd only just had the thing washed and polished FFS and she looked absolutely tip-top.
Anyway there's always drugs and alcohol
Won't be parking in my own street so I can see my beautiful car from my own home any more though. She's now in the public car park next door.
Know how much this must hurt! Still, bright side is the bit that's damaged can be unbolted and replaced. Good excuse for some carbon tat!
Not good that you can;t feel comfortable parking and leaving the car. Any lock-up garages nearby? They're more than useful for storing everyday crap so combine that with getting the car away safe it's probably a cheap option. Especially if you want to avoid any potential insurance claim.
Not good that you can;t feel comfortable parking and leaving the car. Any lock-up garages nearby? They're more than useful for storing everyday crap so combine that with getting the car away safe it's probably a cheap option. Especially if you want to avoid any potential insurance claim.
Gutted for you cyberface. I remember when someone did a simular thing with my Zed not too long ago, I was livid not so much because of the damage caused but more because the stupid efwit responsible didn't own up, and I'd just washed it as well. Fingers crossed for a cheap(ish) repair 
I must admit I'd not own a nice but venerable car if I had to park it on the street, scum do think bumpers are for bumping "to help you park", they are far too common i'm afraid and worse they thing thats how you park. I've parked an old but nice MR2 before and been locking it when some tit paralled parked behind me and hit my car, I walked round and glared at him. He got out and said hello all happy and fine as if he'd not done anything wrong. I said you hit my car, he looked bemused and said "thats what bumpers are for"....
I'd not sleep at night if I had to park my VX on the street, i'm not particularly happy parking it on my drive, not locked in a garage.
Maybe its time to move out to the country where people respect property, as un-wanted tresspassing means potential for dogs or shotguns
I'd not sleep at night if I had to park my VX on the street, i'm not particularly happy parking it on my drive, not locked in a garage.
Maybe its time to move out to the country where people respect property, as un-wanted tresspassing means potential for dogs or shotguns
Sorry to hear that chap, I remember you getting that motor. I'd be well pissed too!! Maybe a CCTV mini DVR car system would have given you an idea of who did it.
They can be set up for movment recording, saving power.
'A dickless piece of st fked with it'
'Boy, I wish I could've caught him doing it. I'd have given anything to catch that asshole doing it. It'd been worth him doing it just so I could've caught him doing it'.
Pulp Fiction.
They can be set up for movment recording, saving power.
'A dickless piece of s
t fked with it''Boy, I wish I could've caught him doing it. I'd have given anything to catch that asshole doing it. It'd been worth him doing it just so I could've caught him doing it'.
Pulp Fiction.
Edited by Bebee on Sunday 18th April 08:21
Gaffer tape now replaced with the trusty ultra-heavy-duty Velcro that I used back in the day to have my 'slightly legal' smaller front number plate on my VXT, and the full-size one in the boot
Yes the splitter is a mess but 21TonyK - carbon tat - got any links?
It's a sunny day and with the numberplate back on (will go to Halfords and get a couple more made up just in case) I'm going for a drive. It may be a mess but it still drives like a dream and there's no fking reason why I won't still be enjoying driving it.
Yes the splitter is a mess but 21TonyK - carbon tat - got any links?
It's a sunny day and with the numberplate back on (will go to Halfords and get a couple more made up just in case) I'm going for a drive. It may be a mess but it still drives like a dream and there's no f
king reason why I won't still be enjoying driving it.Herman Toothrot said:
scum do think bumpers are for bumping "to help you park", they are far too common i'm afraid and worse they thing thats how you park. I've parked an old but nice MR2 before and been locking it when some tit paralled parked behind me and hit my car, I walked round and glared at him. He got out and said hello all happy and fine as if he'd not done anything wrong. I said you hit my car, he looked bemused and said "thats what bumpers are for"....
I have to say that to an extent I do agree with this, I don't think that there is anything wrong with nudging up against a car to park it PROVIDED THAT ZERO DAMAGE IS DONE, personally I think that people are a bit too precious about their cars, they are just bits of metal and plastic (or fibreglass), however changing car designs these days makes this impossible with body coloured bumpers and seemingly more fragile mounting backets. I remember spending some time in Paris where my sister lived, people there park with their handbreak off and cars are 'nudged' around to get people in and out, means that you can get more into busy streets.I'm not in anyway condoning damaging someones car and not owning up to and paying to fix it. And damaging someones car does show a lack of parking ability. I did it once (I didn't try to touch them on purpose, I was driving a hire car and misjudged the length) and cracked someones plate, I left a note and payed for the fix, they were fine about it but to be honest if they'd have got shirty and got all wound up about it I wouldn't have had much time for them.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you park in a public place you encounter the strange breed that are 'the public' and different people have a different view of what is and is not acceptable (similarly you may think that its 'reasonable' when someone else doesn't agree with your view of what is acceptable to assault them).
From the other angle I once woke up in the morning to find that some t**t had walked along the whole row of cars (as evidenced by the row of footprints) in front on my house and in jumping from the car in font onto mine had caved the bonnet in (luckily it was a crappy Cavalier). If I'd have had a shotgun and been awake I'd have quite happily wasted him, but it was a good thing for both our sakes that I was fast asleep. So I know what you are feeling. Hopefully youll get it fixed soon.
Edited by Loudman on Sunday 18th April 14:56
cyberface said:
Yes the splitter is a mess but 21TonyK - carbon tat - got any links?
Just realised yours is a 2010 model. Don't think anyone is making carbon splitters for them yet but there will obviously be a market. Is it worth talking to Reverie if they have anything in the pipeline?http://www.reverie.ltd.uk/product_list.php?group=A...
This sort of thing unfortunately happens to everyone.
My daughter had her Ka vandalised 7 times whilst at uni in Middlesbrough. Everything from aerial nicked ( x 2 ) rear wiper nicked, back light cluster smashed , then the basterds went to town on it - front wings both kicked in, door kicked in, both rear panals kicked in. reported this to police who in fareness came round and did what they could. Then whilst car looking a wreck thes bumped it into the middle of the road and left it there.
st happens.
Hope everything works out for you.
My daughter had her Ka vandalised 7 times whilst at uni in Middlesbrough. Everything from aerial nicked ( x 2 ) rear wiper nicked, back light cluster smashed , then the basterds went to town on it - front wings both kicked in, door kicked in, both rear panals kicked in. reported this to police who in fareness came round and did what they could. Then whilst car looking a wreck the
s bumped it into the middle of the road and left it there.s
t happens.Hope everything works out for you.
Lotusjez said:
This sort of thing unfortunately happens to everyone.
My daughter had her Ka vandalised 7 times whilst at uni in Middlesbrough. Everything from aerial nicked ( x 2 ) rear wiper nicked, back light cluster smashed , then the basterds went to town on it - front wings both kicked in, door kicked in, both rear panals kicked in. reported this to police who in fareness came round and did what they could. Then whilst car looking a wreck thes bumped it into the middle of the road and left it there.
st happens.
Hope everything works out for you.
It's not as bad as that, don't think I'm crying wolf! My daughter had her Ka vandalised 7 times whilst at uni in Middlesbrough. Everything from aerial nicked ( x 2 ) rear wiper nicked, back light cluster smashed , then the basterds went to town on it - front wings both kicked in, door kicked in, both rear panals kicked in. reported this to police who in fareness came round and did what they could. Then whilst car looking a wreck the
s bumped it into the middle of the road and left it there.s
t happens.Hope everything works out for you.
I was incredibly angry at the time, as most owners on here who love their cars would be. At the end of the day it's just a bust splitter and number plate, the rest of the car is fine and there's no indication that, actually, it was really 'vandalism' in the *malicious intent* meaning of the word. It's much more likely to have been just inept parking.I was furious at the lack of backbone and honesty of the idiot who reversed into my car. I'd have been a damn sight less explosive if the moron concerned had knocked on my door (if a resident, in which case they'd know damn well where I live) and apologised and offered to fix it, or left a note for me to follow up. I'd have been upset but much more on the 'oh no' concern-for-car side of things than any anger directed at the person who did it. The reason I was so angry was the impotent rage of someone who can't do *anything* about it...
It's a principle thing. My car isn't trashed, it's not immobilised, and I won't have everyone pointing at what a moron I am because I've got bits hanging off my car, and supposing it's *my* fault and I simply can't drive. Many people here have had MUCH worse happen to them so apologies if my rage in the initial post seemed OTT for what is light damage. I'm an emotional person, OK.
Hopefully the gaffer tape behind the split bit will hold it together long enough, I know the heavy duty Velcro works because I ran my VXT for a year with the small number plate held on with Velcro! Great stuff, even at high speed. Then I can wait and bung a carbon splitter on as an upgrade. I really don't want to pay for bodywork fixes right now (I don't expect a new splitter is cheap, and then it has to be painted, and my car apparently has the most expensive paint...), since I am MUCH more concerned with getting some new wheels for the summer tyres and getting back on track. I went for a drive at the weekend and the winter tyres are squirming around in the warmer temperatures... they're obviously out of their comfort zone and I don't want to trash them, they should give me another 3 or 4 winters at least.
So - moral of the story is:
Oh man that's crap, hope it doesn't cost you much time/money to get it sorted.
As for people using bumpers to help them park - Then you'll not mind if I want to put my hand next to your head, but accidentally have to smash it in to it a few times to judge how close it is then? If you can't park without using your bumpers then you shouldn't be on the road - not all cars have deformable bumpers, every driver has eyes.
As for people using bumpers to help them park - Then you'll not mind if I want to put my hand next to your head, but accidentally have to smash it in to it a few times to judge how close it is then?
If you can't park without using your bumpers then you shouldn't be on the road - not all cars have deformable bumpers, every driver has eyes.I had the same issue 3 times, on moonstone silver, don't even ask how difficult it is to just get ahold of some paint, let alone the consequences on my insurance... now I have a custom CCTV system installed in the car, nothing has happened since, but if it does, I'll know who did it. I would recommend this to anyone parking regularily in urban\parallel park areas
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