Emotions after car written off
Discussion
Bit of a rambling post this, because my heads all over the place. Situation: I hit a deer and repairing my 07 XKR has been deemed "economically unviable" by insurance co.
I know car lovers, of which I am one, often want to experience as many cars as possible in their lifetime and often change them every 1, 2, 3 years to this end. I've not done that because a) I'm a tight northerner who hates losing money on resale and b) I get attached to my car and take good care of it, repairs, detailing it, etc.
Obviously I will probably have the option of buying the car back and repairing myself (~11k, even though there's no structural damage!) but then I guess I end up with a Category N or S car with little residual value which might be hard to insure. Plus the insurance company will probably low ball me on the car's value making everything more complicated.
Of course my eye is turned by possible replacements (Mustang maybe, and whatever I went for I admit it'd be nice to have a newer, more advanced car) but the thought of my pride and joy being sold cheap for salvage - the repairer is even shocked at the decision and has said he knows for sure the car will be bought and end up back on the road - annoys me more than a little.
So I guess my questions is, as car lover's, how do you move on from a vehicle you've invested time, money, even feelings into so easily?
I know car lovers, of which I am one, often want to experience as many cars as possible in their lifetime and often change them every 1, 2, 3 years to this end. I've not done that because a) I'm a tight northerner who hates losing money on resale and b) I get attached to my car and take good care of it, repairs, detailing it, etc.
Obviously I will probably have the option of buying the car back and repairing myself (~11k, even though there's no structural damage!) but then I guess I end up with a Category N or S car with little residual value which might be hard to insure. Plus the insurance company will probably low ball me on the car's value making everything more complicated.
Of course my eye is turned by possible replacements (Mustang maybe, and whatever I went for I admit it'd be nice to have a newer, more advanced car) but the thought of my pride and joy being sold cheap for salvage - the repairer is even shocked at the decision and has said he knows for sure the car will be bought and end up back on the road - annoys me more than a little.
So I guess my questions is, as car lover's, how do you move on from a vehicle you've invested time, money, even feelings into so easily?
It's a car. A piece of metal. It's not the family dog.
I look after it and enjoy it - there's a reason why I chose it after all - but if it was stolen or written off, I'd simply use it as an opportunity to go and experience something else different and/or better.
If you liked it so much, either buy it back and fix it or buy a different one that's the same spec.
I look after it and enjoy it - there's a reason why I chose it after all - but if it was stolen or written off, I'd simply use it as an opportunity to go and experience something else different and/or better.
If you liked it so much, either buy it back and fix it or buy a different one that's the same spec.
MH said:
Bit of a rambling post this, because my heads all over the place. Situation: I hit a deer and repairing my 07 XKR has been deemed "economically unviable" by insurance co.
I know car lovers, of which I am one, often want to experience as many cars as possible in their lifetime and often change them every 1, 2, 3 years to this end. I've not done that because a) I'm a tight northerner who hates losing money on resale and b) I get attached to my car and take good care of it, repairs, detailing it, etc.
Obviously I will probably have the option of buying the car back and repairing myself (~11k, even though there's no structural damage!) but then I guess I end up with a Category N or S car with little residual value which might be hard to insure. Plus the insurance company will probably low ball me on the car's value making everything more complicated.
Of course my eye is turned by possible replacements (Mustang maybe, and whatever I went for I admit it'd be nice to have a newer, more advanced car) but the thought of my pride and joy being sold cheap for salvage - the repairer is even shocked at the decision and has said he knows for sure the car will be bought and end up back on the road - annoys me more than a little.
So I guess my questions is, as car lover's, how do you move on from a vehicle you've invested time, money, even feelings into so easily?
I get exactly where you are coming from and I fall into the emotional attachment to cars.I know car lovers, of which I am one, often want to experience as many cars as possible in their lifetime and often change them every 1, 2, 3 years to this end. I've not done that because a) I'm a tight northerner who hates losing money on resale and b) I get attached to my car and take good care of it, repairs, detailing it, etc.
Obviously I will probably have the option of buying the car back and repairing myself (~11k, even though there's no structural damage!) but then I guess I end up with a Category N or S car with little residual value which might be hard to insure. Plus the insurance company will probably low ball me on the car's value making everything more complicated.
Of course my eye is turned by possible replacements (Mustang maybe, and whatever I went for I admit it'd be nice to have a newer, more advanced car) but the thought of my pride and joy being sold cheap for salvage - the repairer is even shocked at the decision and has said he knows for sure the car will be bought and end up back on the road - annoys me more than a little.
So I guess my questions is, as car lover's, how do you move on from a vehicle you've invested time, money, even feelings into so easily?
I still have my first car after 25 years, even my daily shed I'd struggle to see scraped after owning it for 8 years now. I'm not like this with all cars I've owned but the longer I have them the harder it is to sell them.
If yours is in otherwise good order its better to keep and repair rather than buy an unknown replacement. From past experience I've never had trouble insuring a cat d or trouble with insurance payouts on a cat car.
I had a my 306 Rallye written off many years ago after someone rear-ended me in traffic. The damage wasn't too bad, but the valuation of the car was super low so the numbers didn't add up.
Much like you, I was not at all happy with the verdict, and was not even nearly ready to not have the car anymore. I spent months trying to contest the value attached to the car, hoping for the repair bill to then fall inside the threshold of viablility. That together with shopping around to get a cheaper repair quote was (just) enough to get it repaired. But it took months of phone calls. The insurance company were only really motivated by scrapping it and writing me a cheque OR writing it off and giving me the option to buy it back and repair it. Which didn't appeal as I didn't want it recorded as a CAT D
Much like you, I was not at all happy with the verdict, and was not even nearly ready to not have the car anymore. I spent months trying to contest the value attached to the car, hoping for the repair bill to then fall inside the threshold of viablility. That together with shopping around to get a cheaper repair quote was (just) enough to get it repaired. But it took months of phone calls. The insurance company were only really motivated by scrapping it and writing me a cheque OR writing it off and giving me the option to buy it back and repair it. Which didn't appeal as I didn't want it recorded as a CAT D
Edited by Helical on Thursday 6th May 11:05
OP, I’m sorry to hear about the damage. I can understand you wanting to repair it and get it back to useable. However, you might find your love for it changes after the damage is repaired. Now might be the time to go for that Mustang you’ve always wanted. It’ll help you move on.
I had a motorbike many years ago. I was obsessed with it but it was damaged in a hit and run accident. I spent a small fortune getting it better than how it was, but my feelings for it changed after that. I was never quite happy with the way it handled.
I had a motorbike many years ago. I was obsessed with it but it was damaged in a hit and run accident. I spent a small fortune getting it better than how it was, but my feelings for it changed after that. I was never quite happy with the way it handled.
Chubbyross said:
OP, I’m sorry to hear about the damage. I can understand you wanting to repair it and get it back to useable. However, you might find your love for it changes after the damage is repaired. Now might be the time to go for that Mustang you’ve always wanted. It’ll help you move on.
I had a motorbike many years ago. I was obsessed with it but it was damaged in a hit and run accident. I spent a small fortune getting it better than how it was, but my feelings for it changed after that. I was never quite happy with the way it handled.
I agree with this - I repaired my car after it was written off and emotionally it just never felt like it was the same car again. It was only a new door so there was nothing in the way of handling or anything like that which changed, it was purely on an emotional level that it felt 'not right' and I wished I had just taken the money. I don't think I kept it very long afterwards.I had a motorbike many years ago. I was obsessed with it but it was damaged in a hit and run accident. I spent a small fortune getting it better than how it was, but my feelings for it changed after that. I was never quite happy with the way it handled.
After my next car was written off after owning it 6 years and 100,000 miles from new I just took the money and moved on
I get exaclty where you are coming from and also get attached to cars. I think there are 2 distinct groups of petrol heads - the ones like us that get attached and enjoy maintaing them as much as driving and then the other category who want to own as many types of cars as possible.
Is there anyway you could get the car back without going through the insurers hands? I guess it is too late now.
However the category rating although intially a kick in teeth isn't that bad if you plan to keep the car and enjoy it. Make sure you take lots of photos of it so if were to sell it you can show the extent of the work. Most old cars have had bodywork so to the right buyer it won't put them off too much. Yes the value will be hit but then you would have had a payout now to offset that.
Edit to add - i've restored one of my cars and that involved installing two new 3/4 panels due to rust. The car has no insurance category rating but arguably has had a lot more than one that would be classed as cat s.
Is there anyway you could get the car back without going through the insurers hands? I guess it is too late now.
However the category rating although intially a kick in teeth isn't that bad if you plan to keep the car and enjoy it. Make sure you take lots of photos of it so if were to sell it you can show the extent of the work. Most old cars have had bodywork so to the right buyer it won't put them off too much. Yes the value will be hit but then you would have had a payout now to offset that.
Edit to add - i've restored one of my cars and that involved installing two new 3/4 panels due to rust. The car has no insurance category rating but arguably has had a lot more than one that would be classed as cat s.
Edited by _Mja_ on Thursday 6th May 11:14
Monkeylegend said:
Not a single word of sympathy for the deer 
Well if they will tw@t about in a fast moving road...having said that, if the car gets written off maybe having the deer stuffed and hung above the fire place might at least bring a smile of satisfaction in a few years time maybe.
It's probably being written off due to crazy prices of genuine parts.
If I was in you situation (as in you love the car and know it's good one) I'd be buying it back and repairing it myself with good used or aftermarket parts. You could buy another one but in my experience they are never the same as the car you love.
If it is just bolt on panels/lights/grills etc e-bay would be getting plundered!
If I was in you situation (as in you love the car and know it's good one) I'd be buying it back and repairing it myself with good used or aftermarket parts. You could buy another one but in my experience they are never the same as the car you love.
If it is just bolt on panels/lights/grills etc e-bay would be getting plundered!
Monkeylegend said:
Not a single word of sympathy for the deer
I assume it was Muntjac, I hit one and did £5-£6k damage, there are loads where I am, herfordshire/bedfordshire, A breed introduced and then not controlled, they are a hazard as juts too many of them and all the new build going up not helping.I rarely post on Facebook, but did so just to warn others to be careful, all I got was abuse for driving too fast (i wasn't), not being aware and how I should mourn for the the Deer...no one mourned my £500 excess!!!
I experienced this 3 months into my current car’s ownership; I elected to retain the car, receive partial payout and fix myself. Damage was minimal and a salvage front bumper and wing and that was it.
Maybe £300 in parts; car is now Cat N but I’ve had no issues insuring it in the 3 years since; in fact my premiums didn’t take a hit at all, although I do have protected NCB. But I am thinking of selling the car and I know it’ll be a tough sale with it being Cat N.
How easy would it be to repair the car OP? That would be my yard stick. I got lucky as the 03 Z4 had bolt-on panels so it was an easy fix.
Maybe £300 in parts; car is now Cat N but I’ve had no issues insuring it in the 3 years since; in fact my premiums didn’t take a hit at all, although I do have protected NCB. But I am thinking of selling the car and I know it’ll be a tough sale with it being Cat N.
How easy would it be to repair the car OP? That would be my yard stick. I got lucky as the 03 Z4 had bolt-on panels so it was an easy fix.
MH said:
Obviously I will probably have the option of buying the car back and repairing myself (~11k, even though there's no structural damage!) but then I guess I end up with a Category N or S car with little residual value which might be hard to insure. Plus the insurance company will probably low ball me on the car's value making everything more complicated.
Where does the £11K figure come from. I'd be thinking the following, is the damage largely superficial (sounds it). Check ebay for cars being broken, ie just check general availability or spares.
Verify you can buy back the car, then how much that would be/how much they'd pay as a balance (cash in lieu). Ok you end up with a repaired car but this way can end up being cash positive. Also despite the Cat N it might get if you take pictures and then also keep it a few years from repair then it should help if you do later sell. After all if this damage had happened when the car was 2 years old wouldn't even be recorded!!?
It happened to me too. A truck collided with me and wrote off my car. Everybody was telling me that it is was a great opportunity to try something else. But I ended up buying the same model, newer and with all the options that I did not have in the first car. 3 years later, I still have the car and I am very happy.
If it's only gonna be cat N £11k in repairs seems a lot?
I'm currently repairing this I've had for 11 years at only £900 out of pocket, payout £3200 - £400 buyback (where low value works in your favour).
Repairs £1500 in parts, £2200 bodyshop (full respray excluding roof).
The car was near mint but will be better than ever with all the pre-existing minor bodywork issues sorted, even if it's cat N.
I'd get all the figures and see if it adds up?
It needed airbox, thermostat, radiator, condenser, plastics, crash beam etc. but yours could all be cosmetic.
I'd just put a few grand into it anyway though with clutch and DMF, anti roll bars, tyres and so on so £900 didn't seem a big deal to keep it going.
And I get to avoid dealing with said emotions.
I'm currently repairing this I've had for 11 years at only £900 out of pocket, payout £3200 - £400 buyback (where low value works in your favour).
Repairs £1500 in parts, £2200 bodyshop (full respray excluding roof).
The car was near mint but will be better than ever with all the pre-existing minor bodywork issues sorted, even if it's cat N.
I'd get all the figures and see if it adds up?
It needed airbox, thermostat, radiator, condenser, plastics, crash beam etc. but yours could all be cosmetic.
I'd just put a few grand into it anyway though with clutch and DMF, anti roll bars, tyres and so on so £900 didn't seem a big deal to keep it going.
And I get to avoid dealing with said emotions.
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