BMW meets Chimaera
Discussion
Just picked the car up last night after a week in the garage getting some alterations and repairs. Driving to work this morning I end up with the the pleasure of watching a 3 series in my rear view mirror drive straight into the back of me. 
I'm stationary, the chimaera is bright yellow and the V8 can't be called subtle. Yet still this BMW drive totally fails to see me till the last minute.
Well I think I managed to crack his number plate. The chimaera however is another story. The rear ends a real mess with the boot about a foot smaller than it use to be.
The only good thing I can say is that the boot sure is a good crumply zone. The car may have been knocked forward a foot or two but I didn't really feel it.
I'm stationary, the chimaera is bright yellow and the V8 can't be called subtle. Yet still this BMW drive totally fails to see me till the last minute.
Well I think I managed to crack his number plate. The chimaera however is another story. The rear ends a real mess with the boot about a foot smaller than it use to be.
The only good thing I can say is that the boot sure is a good crumply zone. The car may have been knocked forward a foot or two but I didn't really feel it.
Got a witness, another BMW 
, so no chance of a tall story on his part. The roads where slick but thats no real excuse. We where just leaving wokingham town centre, in rush hour traffic, so it was stop/start in a 30 zone. The guy was just fast sleep on his sofa.
She's just been dropped off at a TVR bodyshop. Entire new rearend required and no-longer road legal due to both light clusters hanging by their wires. Boot lid's fine though there's nothing left to attach it to. I've only had her a month and it looks like she's going to be a month in the garage.
On the plus side I've gone for one of these help hire claims companies as direct line ain't interested in providing a hire car until they've worked out liability with the third party. Help hire have promised me something equivilent, in their books thats a 911, if they can pull it off I won't be grumbling about the loan car.
, so no chance of a tall story on his part. The roads where slick but thats no real excuse. We where just leaving wokingham town centre, in rush hour traffic, so it was stop/start in a 30 zone. The guy was just fast sleep on his sofa. She's just been dropped off at a TVR bodyshop. Entire new rearend required and no-longer road legal due to both light clusters hanging by their wires. Boot lid's fine though there's nothing left to attach it to. I've only had her a month and it looks like she's going to be a month in the garage.
On the plus side I've gone for one of these help hire claims companies as direct line ain't interested in providing a hire car until they've worked out liability with the third party. Help hire have promised me something equivilent, in their books thats a 911, if they can pull it off I won't be grumbling about the loan car.
alt said: Happenned to me once too! I was in my 3 series and there was this low down TVR thing going too slow in front of me. I kept my distance down to a sensible 4 feet until the idiot broke outside a school giving me no chance!
Only trying to make you laugh! Really sorry to hear about it! Hope it gets fixed soon.....
Your right, you've got to laugh as it sure beets the alternative. Just thinking of what his insurance company are going to say when the see the bill helps. Besides if help hire come up with the 911 I intend to enjoy myself fully.
I suppose I was lucky the guy was prepared to stop and be held accountable given some of the replies I've seen.
Thanks for the support folks, much appreciated. 
Its going to take TVR about three weeks to come up with a new chimaera rear end. Which given their normal reputation for spare parts isn't too bad. Given a weeks worth of work on top I'm going to be driving loan cars for about a month.
Ironic when I only aquired her just before Christmas.
One point thats probably worth you all noting is that your entitle to an 'equivalent' car as replacement if your claiming of the other guys insurance.
Begs the question of what equivalent to a TVR. In my mind that 911, NSX upwards.
Its going to take TVR about three weeks to come up with a new chimaera rear end. Which given their normal reputation for spare parts isn't too bad. Given a weeks worth of work on top I'm going to be driving loan cars for about a month.
Ironic when I only aquired her just before Christmas.
One point thats probably worth you all noting is that your entitle to an 'equivalent' car as replacement if your claiming of the other guys insurance.
Begs the question of what equivalent to a TVR. In my mind that 911, NSX upwards.
tvrgaas said:
madhatter said: .
Begs the question of what equivalent to a TVR. In my mind that 911, NSX upwards.
That'd be a TVR
www.tvr-centre.co.uk/tvrhire.asp
Chim £900pcw, so you could argue round that value
Thanks, I'll bear that in mind. Might even be able to get an astin at that rate
, though to be honest I'd still rather have another TVR.
RichardR said: Don't want to be Mr Gloomy, but it's always better to be forewarned...
Update on Insurance versus Credit Hire Industry Article November 2000
The article was a while back mind, so maybe it's all been sorted out now.
Interesting article and as you say something to be considered. I've just picked up an MGTF 160, all they could provide on short notice, which they're charging out at £117 a day. Probably 20% above the going rate, but not a complete ripoff. I also checked out a prestige car hire site, www.prestigecarhire.co.uk , to get a real idea of hire costs. TVR hire costs seem to fall midway between Boxter S and 996. I might end up having to settle for a boxter.
Garage have given me a rough estimate of £6500 for repairs
. Probably about the worth of the beemer that drove into me. I don't know how that compairs with other people's rearends. NB: The MGTF is hidious.
bandit said: You're kidding ! My Cerbera got smashed and I'm driving around in a bl*ody Vauxhaul Corsa !! My insurance company are rubbish, they told me to get the cheapest one possible if I wanted to claim the money back off the other guys insurance company.
How did you approach this with the insurance company?
I'm gutted! I've already been driving around in this glum and gutless tin can for 5 weeks, my car won't be ready until next month either !
If you claiming against the third party your legally entitled to additionaly claim for a replacement vehical similar to your own, provided you are in need of transport. i.e. its your only car and you use it as day to day transport.
Direct line weren't intereted in providing me with a replacement vehical until they'd sorted liability out with the third party. Bugger all use to me as with the real lights sitting in the boot the car wasn't road legal or water proof.
The bodyshop pointed me at one of these post accident loan car companies, Helphire. They take over the entire claim, i.e. their lawyers claim against the third party rather than your insurance companies. In addition to claiming for your repairs they also claim back the cost of your car. Obviously they make their money on inflated hire car rates, they ain't no
. If your cars still off the road and your being forced to drive a corsa around I'd go back to the insurance company and complain. Your entitled to something equivilent.
t1 pcs said: Watch out for the hire car schemes, someone shoved my chimaera a couple of years back and the body shop got me a 328i bmw (don't laugh). Found out the small print was something like ' if we can't recover the costs from third party we'll come and get it from you'.
I think my bills were £4000 for hire car ( a month of hire fees). They had trouble recovering and tried to get money from me. Got a bit nasty and I fought them off (not through court but through quoting the conversation which said I had no liability when I booked).
Long and short of it is I wish I had a Corsa at £20 a day rather than the hassle of the BMW.
BTW I got so much grief driving it - a completely different attitude from others.
Anyway just a word of caution...
Cheers
Paul
>> Edited by t1 pcs on Monday 10th February 19:55
Thanks for the warning, I've got the same small print. I'll have to make sure I've covered my back.
joust
The current scam they're using to get round this is to suppy you with an insurance policy covering you against the recoverable charges. You pay a fixes amout per day you have the loan car with an upper limit on the total of £40. Should they failed to recover charges the insurance policy leaves me with no liability. At least thats what I was told over the phone.
The current scam they're using to get round this is to suppy you with an insurance policy covering you against the recoverable charges. You pay a fixes amout per day you have the loan car with an upper limit on the total of £40. Should they failed to recover charges the insurance policy leaves me with no liability. At least thats what I was told over the phone.
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