Oh sh1t. This is going to cost me...
Discussion
Gearbox in reverse, brain in neutral moment.
I went to pick up the F1 this morning. Nice weather, plenty of time, roads reasonably quiet. Unfortunately I failed to factor in the effects on an ageing (ancient ?) brain of travelling for 21 of the past 24 hours.
I pulled confidently out of the storage unit and backed into the driveway, failing to notice the 18" high post at the side of the path.
Upshot of which is that the car now has a white/grey go faster stripe down the nearside door and electronics/luggage hatch. 
I've 'phoned the factory to be told
"It's not our policy to repair door panels without a full ultrasound inspection of the composite. We would estimate a turn-round of 8 weeks and a cost of around £10k, assuming the damage is only to the paint and outer layers"
To cut a long story short-does anyone know a composites expert who is not going to rob me blind ?
I went to pick up the F1 this morning. Nice weather, plenty of time, roads reasonably quiet. Unfortunately I failed to factor in the effects on an ageing (ancient ?) brain of travelling for 21 of the past 24 hours.
I pulled confidently out of the storage unit and backed into the driveway, failing to notice the 18" high post at the side of the path.
Upshot of which is that the car now has a white/grey go faster stripe down the nearside door and electronics/luggage hatch. I've 'phoned the factory to be told
"It's not our policy to repair door panels without a full ultrasound inspection of the composite. We would estimate a turn-round of 8 weeks and a cost of around £10k, assuming the damage is only to the paint and outer layers"
To cut a long story short-does anyone know a composites expert who is not going to rob me blind ?
If it's not off the road waiting for Mc**** to get their @rses in gear then yes, that was the plan... Might as well use the thing having spent years slagging off people who have 'investment' cars rotting away in barns and never use them.
-On which point the tail badge has seriously deteriorated (gone white as though it were full of bubbles, in the manner of the ford badges on ageing Sierras) while the car has been in storage. I wonder what they'll sting me for a new one...
edited to add: Thanks bonce. Do you need to borrow my angle grinder to do the job?
>> Edited by jondokic on Friday 28th February 10:56
-On which point the tail badge has seriously deteriorated (gone white as though it were full of bubbles, in the manner of the ford badges on ageing Sierras) while the car has been in storage. I wonder what they'll sting me for a new one...
edited to add: Thanks bonce. Do you need to borrow my angle grinder to do the job?
>> Edited by jondokic on Friday 28th February 10:56
Have you tried Atlas Composites in Ilkeston. They do F1 cars so might be of help.
Tel: 0115 9304058 - www.atlascomps.co.uk
I wondered about using a bit of chicken wire, then some P40 and giving the whole thing a blow over with smoothrite. Then I get Quentin Wilson to write a Top Gear article about how practical the F1 is as a second car. Make a change from articles about 15 year old Turbo Rs-and about as much sense 
Sorry to hear about this mornings incident Jon. At the sort of money Mc..... are quoting you I'd expect a 24 hour around the clock all hands on deck job rather than 8 weeks.
Can I just ask that if you decide to bring the car to a PH meet, you put your name down for the event. Otherwise my family are never going to see me on the basis I'll be attending every meet from Penzance to Aberdeen on the off chance.
cheers
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Friday 28th February 11:20
Can I just ask that if you decide to bring the car to a PH meet, you put your name down for the event. Otherwise my family are never going to see me on the basis I'll be attending every meet from Penzance to Aberdeen on the off chance.
cheers
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Friday 28th February 11:20
)
I'd be gutted if I did anything like that to my pride and joy (especially one so exotic). Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff