Rover 75 CDTi Tourer

[Cambs_Stuart]

Always good to hear from you, just a shame it feels like the clock is ticking down on your time with his car.

[Spinakerr]

Yes it is all rather bittersweet, but I'm glad I managed to get every single major job done. It been a journey, in all senses, of nearly 90k in this car.

My Triumph GT6 was my 'wedding car', but the 75 lugged everything around to make it possible. It was the first car my wife bought herself, and remains in all weather service. I will miss it a lot.

[Cambs_Stuart]

Strange how some cars really get into your affections. 18 years ago I traded in my 306 gti6 for a mk1 ford focus zetc. And with the ford I met my wife, we had a baby, got married and traveled all over the country. I had it for 35,000 miles and it only needed a thermostat housing and an engine mount. I genuinely had a lump in my throat when it went.

[Spinakerr]

Cambs_Stuart said:

Strange how some cars really get into your affections. 18 years ago I traded in my 306 gti6 for a mk1 ford focus zetc. And with the ford I met my wife, we had a baby, got married and traveled all over the country. I had it for 35,000 miles and it only needed a thermostat housing and an engine mount. I genuinely had a lump in my throat when it went.

Gosh that's a real journey. And people wonder why we get sentimental about cars over other objects!

Fresh MOT on the 75 today, advisory free after all the prep work last weekend, although the team did change my wipers as they were about to disintegrate. Just in time for the rain. I have no idea how we managed with the previous wipers for so long. Only other comment was something along the lines of 'finally changed the discs then'.





As is tradition, the car received a scrub and polish for passing an MOT, with an extra bit of alloy protection for not having any advisories.



Quite a few tasks planned for it before we part company, so very happy it has a clean bill of health.

[Spinakerr]

Well, this wasn't part of the plan.



According to our neighbours, who thankfully witness it, a van drove into our beloved 75 as it was parked outside out house in the morning.

No note left and the doorbell was not rung - we were both at home - they drove off after having a quick chat with our neighbours.

Fortunately several took photos of the van to get the registration and the name of the company, written on the side.

Now begins the dance of the insurance companies...

Edited by Spinakerr on Monday 17th April 21:40

[B'stard Child]

Spinakerr said:

Well, this wasn't part of the plan.



According to our neighbours, who thankfully witness it, a van drove into our beloved 75 as it was parked outside out house in the morning.

No note left and the doorbell was not rung - we were both at home - they drove off after having a quick chat with our neighbours.

Fortunately several took photos of the van to get the registration and the name of the company, written on the side.

Now begins the dance of the insurance companies...

Edited by Spinakerr on Monday 17th April 21:40

Bugger...................... Best of luck in stringing the aholes up

[Bobupndown]

That in all likelihood would be written off by an insurance company. Assume you'll refuse and take a cash to fix settlement?

[Cambs_Stuart]

That's horrible. Hope your insurance company helps you resolve it.

[darkyoung1000]

Oh no, I’m so sorry to see that. Spectacularly poor timing as well, but I’m so glad your neighbours got the details.

Good luck with getting a swift resolution.

[Merry]

Spinakerr said:

Well, this wasn't part of the plan.



According to our neighbours, who thankfully witness it, a van drove into our beloved 75 as it was parked outside out house in the morning.

No note left and the doorbell was not rung - we were both at home - they drove off after having a quick chat with our neighbours.

Fortunately several took photos of the van to get the registration and the name of the company, written on the side.

Now begins the dance of the insurance companies...

Edited by Spinakerr on Monday 17th April 21:40

As much as it pains me to say it, as it isn't really the right thing to do, I wouldn't be getting the insurance involved.

Looks like a light, bumper and a bit of bodywork? They'll write that off causing no end of hassle and then give you next to nothing in terms of pay out. To them it's just an old Rover with next to no value, despite all the work you've put in on it.

It's probably just worth biting the bullet and repairing it yourself particularly as the damage looks pretty light.

Edited by Merry on Tuesday 18th April 15:06

[Spinakerr]

Thanks - following advice here and on other PH threads we are going to approach the other party's insurance directly.

The problem we have is no note or contact, I am having to discuss via the company office.

Any tips on how to proceed? Our insurance company had my wife running into dead ends for hours yesterday. I'm hoping we can cancel our claim and cut out the (obstructive) middle men to get the easiest conclusion.

Edited by Spinakerr on Wednesday 26th April 22:40

[whytheory]

In the past I've found companies are willing to pay directly for repairs if given an official estimate, I can't see that being mega bucks to fix? And you get the luxury of choosing a decent paint shop. Worth reaching out to them?

[Jakg]

whytheory said:

In the past I've found companies are willing to pay directly for repairs if given an official estimate, I can't see that being mega bucks to fix? And you get the luxury of choosing a decent paint shop. Worth reaching out to them?

I think that's almost guaranteed to be a writeoff.

[whytheory]

Jakg said:

whytheory said:

In the past I've found companies are willing to pay directly for repairs if given an official estimate, I can't see that being mega bucks to fix? And you get the luxury of choosing a decent paint shop. Worth reaching out to them?

I think that's almost guaranteed to be a writeoff.

Indeed, so avoiding insurance companies could be beneficial if you wanted to avoid that outcome.

[sutoka]

whytheory said:

Jakg said:

whytheory said:

In the past I've found companies are willing to pay directly for repairs if given an official estimate, I can't see that being mega bucks to fix? And you get the luxury of choosing a decent paint shop. Worth reaching out to them?

I think that's almost guaranteed to be a writeoff.

Indeed, so avoiding insurance companies could be beneficial if you wanted to avoid that outcome.

From having owned a Rover 75 of the same year and spec. Most insurers will write that off straight away and value it about a grand and then want 200-300 to buy it back. Then you'll have a Cat N Rover 75. Fix it yourself

[99t]

Very annoying, however given that you were getting rid anyway...

Assuming the company involved will accept liability and cough up when presented with a couple of sensible estimates, I'd be tempted to fit a used light, hot air gun the bumper in the hope it will pop out and polish the worst of the scuffs away.

It'll look 90% better and I bet the loss in value at the point of sale will be less than the cash pocketed re: the estimates...

[snoopy25]

Long term reader of your thread here!

Must admit every time I read the updates on this car, it makes me want to get one lol. However, I reside in the 'ULEZ Zone' and once the expansion encompasses all of London, It makes me fearful for my 2009 Megane as I am sure they will be wanting to move the goal posts to take into account other older cars, which rules me out getting one

Otherwise I would love to own one of these as they really do look like lovely cars to drive!

[Spinakerr]

Thanks for all the comments (and the PMs with advice!) - the 75 has dodged a bullet, fanstatically. The insurer for the van driver (Allianz, who were excellent throughout) went the extra mile and ensured a settlement was paid to cover the repair and also pushed to remove the 'write off' tag at the DVLA incorrectly applied (automatically) by our incompetent insurer.

My wife spent countless hours on hold with our insurers and being passed around various interchangeable underwritersm, valuers, assessors, etc, all of who didnt seem to be able to help at all. Ultimately they never called us back, over several weeks of trying, failed to follow any of our requests or instructions, and tried to slap a write off ticket on the car without consulting us and against our express wishes.

Happily, Allianz figured it out and made up for the errors made!

99t said:

Very annoying, however given that you were getting rid anyway...

Assuming the company involved will accept liability and cough up when presented with a couple of sensible estimates, I'd be tempted to fit a used light, hot air gun the bumper in the hope it will pop out and polish the worst of the scuffs away.

It'll look 90% better and I bet the loss in value at the point of sale will be less than the cash pocketed re: the estimates...

Exactly what I have done - rear light covered by the payout (wow these have got expensive), plus a loom and some bolts/fixtures. Bumper foam renewed and potential to repaint in future.





Car soldiers on and thankfully back into service after 2 weeks.

Moderator edit: no naming & shaming please

[B'stard Child]

Spinakerr said:

Thanks for all the comments (and the PMs with advice!) - the 75 has dodged a bullet, fanstatically. The insurer for the van driver (Allianz, who were excellent throughout) went the extra mile and ensured a settlement was paid to cover the repair and also pushed to remove the 'write off' tag at the DVLA incorrectly applied (automatically) by our incompetent insurer.

My wife spent countless hours on hold with our insurers and being passed around various interchangeable underwritersm, valuers, assessors, etc, all of who didnt seem to be able to help at all. Ultimately they never called us back, over several weeks of trying, failed to follow any of our requests or instructions, and tried to slap a write off ticket on the car without consulting us and against our express wishes.

Happily, Allianz figured it out and made up for the errors made

Hang on a second - are you saying your insurance company wrote it off without you claiming on your own policy??

Don’t name the muppets on here because that’s against the rules but credit to Alliance for fixing it as well as dealing with the situation well

[Spinakerr]

B'stard Child said:

Hang on a second - are you saying your insurance company wrote it off without you claiming on your own policy??

Don’t name the muppets on here because that’s against the rules but credit to Alliance for fixing it as well as dealing with the situation well

That's correct. A terrible experience and extremely stressful - I had actually named them (sorry Mods!) but now realise against the rules.

Luckily, the Rover is back to its old self, just with a few new scars.