shunted from behind
Discussion
Just about 3 miles away from my folk's place in yorkshire, after a 140 mile trouble free drive, pulled off the A1 and waiting at a roundabout then what should happen but 'crash' - hit from behind by a ford fiesta!!!!
Pulled into a layby to survey the damage and discuss possible costs and exchange details with the rather nice 24 year old lady whom had committed the deed.
OK, so i though it would look worse than it did - a gash 2 to 3 inch long in the outermost rim of the bumber, a cracked light cluster glass, a crack/gash just above the left exhaust, and a couple of paint cracks here and there. Plus the gap between boot and wing seems to be slightly larger on one side than the other - perhaps the entire back end has been knmocked out of shape?
I know it is likely to be quite expensive, but what do you think i am looking at? Not so much for me, but i think the lady would dearly like to pay personally rather than make a claim. My worry is that it looks to me that the whole car is one fibreglass cast, so will it all need to be replaced or can they just fix the damaged bits and respray. That is another worry though - i read recently that TVR have stopped doing Halcyon Midas Pearlescent, but surely it is still available from somewhere or other?
Any advice as to price/nature of work/likely length of work would be much appreciated, as would recommendations of good bodywork garages around.Bedfordshire.
Pulled into a layby to survey the damage and discuss possible costs and exchange details with the rather nice 24 year old lady whom had committed the deed.
OK, so i though it would look worse than it did - a gash 2 to 3 inch long in the outermost rim of the bumber, a cracked light cluster glass, a crack/gash just above the left exhaust, and a couple of paint cracks here and there. Plus the gap between boot and wing seems to be slightly larger on one side than the other - perhaps the entire back end has been knmocked out of shape?
I know it is likely to be quite expensive, but what do you think i am looking at? Not so much for me, but i think the lady would dearly like to pay personally rather than make a claim. My worry is that it looks to me that the whole car is one fibreglass cast, so will it all need to be replaced or can they just fix the damaged bits and respray. That is another worry though - i read recently that TVR have stopped doing Halcyon Midas Pearlescent, but surely it is still available from somewhere or other?
Any advice as to price/nature of work/likely length of work would be much appreciated, as would recommendations of good bodywork garages around.Bedfordshire.
As soon as you start getting quotes, I have a feeling the other party will soon want to go through insurers...
Even a small amount of accident damage can end up costing into 4 figures...
Hope you get it fixed soon..
slinky
587racing.com
Even a small amount of accident damage can end up costing into 4 figures...
Hope you get it fixed soon..
slinky
587racing.com
slinky said:
As soon as you start getting quotes, I have a feeling the other party will soon want to go through insurers...
Even a small amount of accident damage can end up costing into 4 figures...
Hope you get it fixed soon..
slinky
587racing.com
Exactly my thoughts.... fibreglass repair isn't something that your average repair shop will handle.
Especially if you need panels replaced.
Sorry to hear of your misfortune. Hope you get it sorted soon.
Bud
£3k - 5k depending on particular paint costs, and extent of fiberglass repair.
You'll also need to check for stress cracks around the bottom of the C-pillar, where the fiberglass creates a sharp angle and in the horizontal bumper crease just behind the rear wheel arches. This is caused by the downward push and flaring action of the bodyshell by the impact of the car even at low speeds.
The exhauses will also need to be checked for impact compression due to the vehicle pushing the exhaust ends in. Including manifold bolts!
Use a specialist and DO NOT allow your/her insurance company push you into using a repair shop that generally repairs Alluminium or metal bodied cars, even if they are Rolls or Aston certified. Neither ever produced fiberglass cars.
TVR use ICI paint, it’s a good idea to ensure that the bodyshop use ICI as an alternative paint provider will never match.
Thames Valley Race Tech fixed my car when a chap did exactly the same to me going onto a roundabout...Although it seems at considerably slower speed.
I would recommend them for both a damn good job and great service.
You'll also need to check for stress cracks around the bottom of the C-pillar, where the fiberglass creates a sharp angle and in the horizontal bumper crease just behind the rear wheel arches. This is caused by the downward push and flaring action of the bodyshell by the impact of the car even at low speeds.
The exhauses will also need to be checked for impact compression due to the vehicle pushing the exhaust ends in. Including manifold bolts!
Use a specialist and DO NOT allow your/her insurance company push you into using a repair shop that generally repairs Alluminium or metal bodied cars, even if they are Rolls or Aston certified. Neither ever produced fiberglass cars.
TVR use ICI paint, it’s a good idea to ensure that the bodyshop use ICI as an alternative paint provider will never match.
Thames Valley Race Tech fixed my car when a chap did exactly the same to me going onto a roundabout...Although it seems at considerably slower speed.
I would recommend them for both a damn good job and great service.
Ouch! 
Price wise, if there has been structural damage to the back end, this may need some hefty work, if we're talking simply cracking, you can get the offending cracks 'skinned'. But a backend respray is definitely in the equation, and your paint mix is rather expensive
* I hope you confirmed her insurance details by calling up her insurance company on the spot for verification?
* And, I hope you got a witnesses phone number and car registration.
* Followed by immediate 'photos' of the 3rd party e.g. vehicle, person(s) etc.
They always seem nice, until they dissapear off the face of the earth!
Price wise, if there has been structural damage to the back end, this may need some hefty work, if we're talking simply cracking, you can get the offending cracks 'skinned'. But a backend respray is definitely in the equation, and your paint mix is rather expensive
* I hope you confirmed her insurance details by calling up her insurance company on the spot for verification?
* And, I hope you got a witnesses phone number and car registration.
* Followed by immediate 'photos' of the 3rd party e.g. vehicle, person(s) etc.
They always seem nice, until they dissapear off the face of the earth!
Cheers fellers! Got drunk last night, and your comments this morning cheered me up. Will be driving her back today, and will be on the blower tomorrow to some recommended TVR body shop for the repairs - just hope she is not off the road for too long.
SXS - i got her details, but she did'nt know who her insurers were as she was only put on her sisters policy two days ago. But worry not, i have all other details and photos of the damage, and i have her Reg so she's not going to get away. Plus i don't think she is the sort of person to try, but you are right - you never know. Think i will just tell her not to even bother waiting for quotes - it's gonna be pricey so lets get her insurance on the job!
SXS - i got her details, but she did'nt know who her insurers were as she was only put on her sisters policy two days ago. But worry not, i have all other details and photos of the damage, and i have her Reg so she's not going to get away. Plus i don't think she is the sort of person to try, but you are right - you never know. Think i will just tell her not to even bother waiting for quotes - it's gonna be pricey so lets get her insurance on the job!
My neighbour recently reversed into the rear qtr of my Chim. Visibly there were only a couple of scratches to the wing and bumper, a scratched light cluster and a small chip in the fibreglass. Trouble is you don't know what its like underneath as F/glass reacts differently to metal. Mine needed stripping and re-laminating and the final bill was £2800 - I'm sure she'd rather not pay that.
May I also suggest the services of PHer Anniesdad. He works for a company similar to helphire - Europa consultants - and he dealt with my claim with the upmost efficiency plus got me a like for like hire car for the duration of the repair, 6 weeks in my case.
His service is totally free and he carried it all out far quicker than my insurance company would have done without even having to involve them.
If you need any more info then feel free to mail me or look him up through his profile. He's done work for a number of PHers so I'm sure there'll be penty of others here that can back me up.
May I also suggest the services of PHer Anniesdad. He works for a company similar to helphire - Europa consultants - and he dealt with my claim with the upmost efficiency plus got me a like for like hire car for the duration of the repair, 6 weeks in my case.
His service is totally free and he carried it all out far quicker than my insurance company would have done without even having to involve them.
If you need any more info then feel free to mail me or look him up through his profile. He's done work for a number of PHers so I'm sure there'll be penty of others here that can back me up.
problem with this kind of damage is that a lot more needs to be replaced than just the damaged area, so it will end up costing a few quid - I would guess around a couple of grand - even the respray won't be cheap. No point wasting time getting quotes, you should just tell her that it'll cost well over a thousand at least.
This happened twice in my Chim, always a gutter - on the upside, second time it was on a spot that someone had minorly damged whilst parking - I was gonna have to pick up the tab for that - and they hit the same spot - result !
This happened twice in my Chim, always a gutter - on the upside, second time it was on a spot that someone had minorly damged whilst parking - I was gonna have to pick up the tab for that - and they hit the same spot - result !
gbbird said:
It's all going to be done through the insurance now, so price is not a problem anymore, but i will be interesterd to see what it does cost. I just hope i am not without her for too long. I wonder if i could get a like-for-like courtesy car
As mentioned if you go through Anniesdad, AKA Steve Greensmith, you'll get a like for like. Totally free service and a lot quicker than your insurance company will be. No connection, just a very happy customer of his.
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