Storm write off?

Author
Discussion

triathlonstu

Original Poster:

274 posts

149 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
quotequote all
Understand these things are difficult to tell from photos but long story short a tree landed on my mate's Focus RS. Damage to the A-Pillar is the only issue aside from scrapes and scratches on the bodywork which don't seem too extensive. Is this something that's likely to be a write off?

I'm not sure how cosmetic something like that could be. Windscreen isn't cracked, hoping that it's something that could potentially be repaired.



Edited by triathlonstu on Thursday 20th September 14:16

Pica-Pica

13,793 posts

84 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
quotequote all
Looks a bit more than cosmetic. That A pillar is somewhat compromised. The state of the windshield is largely irrelevant. All IMHO.

eybic

9,212 posts

174 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
quotequote all
Agreed, the A Pillar is structural so it could well be a goner unfortunately.

VAG Hamez

23 posts

82 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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Either a write off or a bit spend insurance is so annoying because I bet your no claims get effected over something out of your control

triathlonstu

Original Poster:

274 posts

149 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
quotequote all
Thanks for the feedback... Assuming if it's structural it's not something that would be able to be repaired full stop?

Badgerboy

1,783 posts

192 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
quotequote all
Anything can be repaired, it's just a question of effort and expenditure.

Unfortunately insurance companies are not in the business of expending much of either.

V8covin

7,315 posts

193 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
quotequote all
That A pillar could be pulled out quite easily.
Whether the internal structure is compromised to any great extent would be a matter of debate.

Pica-Pica

13,793 posts

84 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
quotequote all
Badgerboy said:
Anything can be repaired, it's just a question of effort and expenditure.

Unfortunately insurance companies are not in the business of expending much of either.
Indeed. Also it would involve removing any wiring from that A-Pillar, it is quite likely a loom runs down there. That would mean eithe a complete loom strip-out or a cut-and-shut loom repair.
If the A-Pillar is repaired (and thus strengthened there) it would push a weak point elsewhere, perhaps in an unfavourable location from a crash absorption point of view. I would not want to drive a car with a compromised A-Pillar running just by my head and torso.

OP. When all is sorted, let us know the final outcome.

Green1man

549 posts

88 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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That might be a write off on a £1000 shed, but easily repairable on a £25k+ car.

triathlonstu

Original Poster:

274 posts

149 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
quotequote all
Pica-Pica said:
OP. When all is sorted, let us know the final outcome.
Will do

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

126 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
quotequote all
triathlonstu said:
Thanks for the feedback... Assuming if it's structural it's not something that would be able to be repaired full stop?
It'd take Arthur about 20 minutes.

Cat S is quite possible. A lot may depend on what happens when the rest of that branch is removed. Wouldn't surprise me at all if there was a lot of work needed on roof/bonnet/NSF wing, maybe even doors.

triathlonstu

Original Poster:

274 posts

149 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
It'd take Arthur about 20 minutes.

Cat S is quite possible. A lot may depend on what happens when the rest of that branch is removed. Wouldn't surprise me at all if there was a lot of work needed on roof/bonnet/NSF wing, maybe even doors.
Branch was removed by hand. Wasn't ridiculously heavy, but obviously fell from a considerable height. Doors etc all fine but roof and spoiler are scratched.

f1nn

2,693 posts

192 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
quotequote all
That’s a fairly straight forward repair/replacement on a 25k+ car.

northwestrecovery

159 posts

184 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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Think i might go on some building or plumbing website and offer some stupid advice .banghead

996TT02

3,308 posts

140 months

Thursday 20th September 2018
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northwestrecovery said:
Think i might go on some building or plumbing website and offer some stupid advice .banghead
Haha I understand perfectly.

Love to offer 1k scrap value for that, OP...

triathlonstu

Original Poster:

274 posts

149 months

Friday 21st September 2018
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northwestrecovery said:
Think i might go on some building or plumbing website and offer some stupid advice .banghead
I don't follow.

heisthegaffer

3,404 posts

198 months

Friday 21st September 2018
quotequote all
Badgerboy said:
Anything can be repaired, it's just a question of effort and expenditure.

Unfortunately insurance companies are not in the business of expending much of either.
Of course if the car is written off and the Insurer settles at £30k/market value, is that them expending much expenditure?

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

126 months

Friday 21st September 2018
quotequote all
heisthegaffer said:
Of course if the car is written off and the Insurer settles at £30k/market value, is that them expending much expenditure?
They take the salvage value into account, don't forget.

£30k car minus £10k salvage value = £20k max damage before write-off. (Yes, over-simplified)

heisthegaffer

3,404 posts

198 months

Friday 21st September 2018
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
They take the salvage value into account, don't forget.

£30k car minus £10k salvage value = £20k max damage before write-off. (Yes, over-simplified)
The point I was making relates to the other chap saying Insuere expend little effort or money at claim stage. The car being written off surely is the Insurer expending more money than repairing?

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

126 months

Friday 21st September 2018
quotequote all
heisthegaffer said:
The car being written off surely is the Insurer expending more money than repairing?
That's the sum the insurer bases their decision on.