Maybe written off?

[J__D]

I had crashed my car last week. Completely my fault, no one else involved. Just poor roads at the time. Anyway, just had a estimation of £13,000 for the damages (excl VAT) from SL Restorations. I am insured and had put value of car down as £25,000. Now, the garage do not feel it will be a write off. But I am worried it may be? Any opinions?

Edited by J__D on Thursday 15th April 14:44

[bramley]

I'm no expert but I'd say based on the figures you've quoted they'll write it off. Maybe a close call, but I reckon they'd sooner write it off and be done with it than risk the hassle of finding more hidden damage once the work starts.

[J__D]

Well it has all been stripped and all parts needed have been listed, so should be final figure! Is there a way I can still request it to be repaired? (The assessor is yet to go down and confirm costs mind)

[gilla]

Normally they write off at over 50% of the value on sports cars, a lot depends on the person managing the case. You could try to argue but when in a similar situation with Admiral they weren't interested. They were a lot more interested in squirming and dicking me around for nearly 3 months on the payout.

Can you be more specific about the damage, you may be better with it written off and replaced rather than having ongoing problems... a lot of these cars are never quite the same after a good stack!!

good luck whatever the outcome...don't be afraid to stay right on their backs until they sort it out - I had to.

Edited by gilla on Tuesday 13th April 16:59

[bramley]

I'm going on nothing more than a hunch so I'll step out and let more knowledgeable people chip in!

[gilla]

Oh... and refuse their 1st offer unless it's exactly what You need to replace like for like - they'll do better!!!

[J__D]

The rear alloy was damaged and bent inwards slightly, rear drivers side, wheel arch also dented, above the alloy, and front drivers side alloy chipped, and wheel arch dented there too. I am not worried at all in getting it repaired, safety wise, no chassis damage at all, no internal damage relating to safety issues at all. I did not feel it was a write off when I saw it, it is not extensive damage at all. I am also not interested in getting a pay out at all. Just looking for car back. Wasn't sure if they would allow me to pay a contribution / they give me XX cash, I keep car and get it repaired?

[mr_tony]

Based on previous experience - I convinced an insurance company to repair my beloved MGF after I stacked it. (ok cut me some slack, I was young and had not discovered pistonheads yet). Car wasn't seriously damaged, but needed extensive bodywork repairs.

Overall the car never drove the same again, and was tough to get rid of as any decent inspection revealed 'its had paint' or 'a lot of work has been done' leading to the inveitable low ball offers. I think in my youthful hope to get 'my' car back, the garage probably ended up ignoring extra things that needed sorting as they were being paid for what they were being paid for and no more.

If you have the choice and they write it off, get another one that is straight. I know that sentimentally it's nice to have your car back, but in the long run you will probably regret it unless the damage is very minor (i.e. a lot less to fix than you are suggesting).

[statts1976uk]

I crashed my family wagon and the damage was £4111 and the book price on the C-max was £5600 and my insurance company (the posh one in the ads) wanted to repair but I managed to persuade them to write it off if I took a slightly lesser figure by a couple of hundred quid, I was happy to do this as I needed a car quickly as Mrs Statts was due to give birth 2 weeks after my crash.. The assessor told me that most companies are tightening up on the threshold of when they write it off. Maybe they might write it off as they would get a fair bit back for your Cayman if it was sold for salvage. Talk to your assessor they might be able to push it towards write off if that's what you want.

Edited by statts1976uk on Tuesday 13th April 21:04

[stuart-b]

J D said:

Best car by far. Balanced, poised and with a few modifications due, fast as well.

JD sorry to hear about the car, terrible news - I bet you were gutted when you got out and took a look around the car.

However I would agree with other people that unless the car is repaired absolutely perfectly, will it ever be as good as when it rolled off the production line at Porsche?