never lend your car to a mate
Discussion
Especially if they're not insured fully comp, and stack it into a signpost. :Shoot:
It's been a trial over the last few weeks trying to sort this one out, so I can only present this as a cautionary tale. Never, no matter how much you trust them, let your mates drive your motor on just 3rd party. It's way too much hassle to sort out when it goes wrong. It's bloody expensive, time consuming and downright depressing.
In fact the only thing thats cheering me up, is the thought of going car shopping! (anyone got any recommendations?)
see here
http://ltsc.brinkster.net/images/car/after1.jpg
here (underneath - bent suspension/axle/sils ouch)
http://ltsc.brinkster.net/images/car/after2.jpg
and here
http://ltsc.brinkster.net/images/car/after3.jpg
Looks like the end of the road for the taxi, several breakers yards are now quoting for the carcass. Should be shot of it by the weekend. If you want to see what it used to look like check out my profile for a pic if it screeching around Folembray in happier times.
[blatant plug]
If any of you enterprising types out there fancy buying it and doing it up (or just buying the thing for the 276Bhp 3.6 AMG V6 lump to drop in your westie) then give me a call. 3000 quid secures the wreck. No damage to front of car at all.[/plug]
It's been a trial over the last few weeks trying to sort this one out, so I can only present this as a cautionary tale. Never, no matter how much you trust them, let your mates drive your motor on just 3rd party. It's way too much hassle to sort out when it goes wrong. It's bloody expensive, time consuming and downright depressing.
In fact the only thing thats cheering me up, is the thought of going car shopping! (anyone got any recommendations?)
see here
http://ltsc.brinkster.net/images/car/after1.jpg
here (underneath - bent suspension/axle/sils ouch)
http://ltsc.brinkster.net/images/car/after2.jpg
and here
http://ltsc.brinkster.net/images/car/after3.jpg
Looks like the end of the road for the taxi, several breakers yards are now quoting for the carcass. Should be shot of it by the weekend. If you want to see what it used to look like check out my profile for a pic if it screeching around Folembray in happier times.
[blatant plug]
If any of you enterprising types out there fancy buying it and doing it up (or just buying the thing for the 276Bhp 3.6 AMG V6 lump to drop in your westie) then give me a call. 3000 quid secures the wreck. No damage to front of car at all.[/plug]
In fact the only thing thats cheering me up, is the thought of going car shopping! (anyone got any recommendations?)
I recommend you don't take your mate with you on the test drives.
Seriously though, hard luck mate. A cautionary tale for all of us. I've driven friends cars on third-party before and have mused about how bad it would for both of us be if I damage it!
[blatant plug]
If any of you enterprising types out there fancy buying it and doing it up (or just buying the thing for the 276Bhp 3.6 AMG V6 lump to drop in your westie) then give me a call. 3000 quid secures the wreck. No damage to front of car at all.[/plug]
Not meaning to sound incredibly naive, but the damage on the photos doesn't look too bad. I assume there's huge strutural stuff that the photos don't show.
Damage is localised to the rear left offside around the wheel, and also the bootlid is bent and the rear screen is smashed.
As far as I have been told the main chasis is fine, the sil on the rear lhs side needs new parts and welding, as does the floorpan. After that add in the cost of new suspension bits, new wheel etc etc and you're looking at about 5ks worth of official merc parts. On top of that labour and VAT and it's getting expensive.
We could do it cheaper with recon parts, so it's possible that someone could take it on and do it themselves and put together a very slick motor for less than it would cost to buy.
Personally, I want to avoid that possibility of the car causing hassle for either of us again. e.g. If I get it repaired using recon parts what happens if a part fails if 3 years time - is my mate still liable then? etc etc etc
Cheers Thom, flattery will get you everywhere mate
In the end the cost of me taking it to a garage and saying make it like new is gonna be at least 7k.
As far as I have been told the main chasis is fine, the sil on the rear lhs side needs new parts and welding, as does the floorpan. After that add in the cost of new suspension bits, new wheel etc etc and you're looking at about 5ks worth of official merc parts. On top of that labour and VAT and it's getting expensive.
We could do it cheaper with recon parts, so it's possible that someone could take it on and do it themselves and put together a very slick motor for less than it would cost to buy.
Personally, I want to avoid that possibility of the car causing hassle for either of us again. e.g. If I get it repaired using recon parts what happens if a part fails if 3 years time - is my mate still liable then? etc etc etc
I really feel sorry for you, especially after having seen it being so well driven in Folembray.
Cheers Thom, flattery will get you everywhere mate
In the end the cost of me taking it to a garage and saying make it like new is gonna be at least 7k.
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