A favour needed from 156 owners!

[Raify]

Morning,

I have a small favour to ask the 156-owning PH population!

A friend of mine hit a parked 156 the other day in a 206 gti. He did the honourable thing and waited for the owner to return and exchanged details.

Now he's beginning to get suspicious about the extent of damage that the 156 owner is claiming. The damage to the 206 was barely a scratch on the bumper but the 156 is claiming that this happened during the collision:

[pic]http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00453953f00000023.jpg[/pic]

So what we'd like to know is:

1. what is the height off the floor of that area next to the headlight? It seems to me that the bumper of the 206 could not be that high, certainly not higher than the bumper.

So, anyone got a 156 and a tape measure handy? :hehe: Or even better, a 156 and a 206!!

Thanks in advance,

Nathan

[Wombat Rick]

The top of the bumper is about 570mm off the ground on a 156 with sports suspension. That's the gap where the plastic bumper finishes and the metal wing starts.

Good luck with sorting it out, but I would hate to think any Alfa owner would be such a scoundrel!

[Raify]

Thanks for that Wombat!

Does anyone have the measurement for standard suspension? Or are they the same?

I was surprised at the idea of an Alfa owner trying it on! Perhaps he borrowed it from someone

If you could see the 'damage' on the 206 you'd be as suspicious as I am. There is literally just a very light scratch, the sort of thing that could be T-Cut away. I'm really surprised at the damage on the 156, and the costs being talked of to repair...

[pdV6]

Not being funny, but can't your mate remember what the damage looked like, seeing as he was hanging around by the 156 for a while waiting for the owner to turn up?

[Wombat Rick]

Raify said:

Does anyone have the measurement for standard suspension? Or are they the same?

The 156 pic in the picture is on sports suspension, so it should be there or thereabouts.



@ pdV6 - that's a very good point well put.

[Raify]

What he's trying to work out, is whether the damage was already there before he hit the car.

Proving that his bumper could not have physically hit that part of the car will prove this either way...
edited to fix italics

>> Edited by Raify on Friday 24th June 10:46

[Wombat Rick]

Raify said:

What he's trying to work out, is whether the damage was already there before he hit the car. Proving that his bumper could not have physically hit that part of the car will prove this either way...

Ah right.
I see.

[Raify]

Wombat Rick said:

Raify said: Does anyone have the measurement for standard suspension? Or are they the same? The 156 pic in the picture is on sports suspension, so it should be there or thereabouts.

You can tell that from the picture?! I'm impressed thanks everyone for your help. Now to measure the 206...

[Raify]

The Pug bumper is 590mm, just about spot on the area of that dent..

I'm amazed it could do that much damage, and only have a scratch on it. Thanks again, minds have been put at rest!

[Mon Ami Mate]

I have a 156...and a Pug 206. My 156 does not have sports suspension, and my Pug is a 1.4 HDI, so both cars are likely to be a little different. However, looking out of the window at the two cars parked next to each other, I have to say that this damage does look conceivable to me. It also has to be said that the Alfa wings deform if you so much as look at them a bit funny...

[sixpot]

Mon Ami Mate said:

I have a 156...and a Pug 206. My 156 does not have sports suspension, and my Pug is a 1.4 HDI, so both cars are likely to be a little different. However, looking out of the window at the two cars parked next to each other, I have to say that this damage does look conceivable to me. It also has to be said that the Alfa wings deform if you so much as look at them a bit funny...

[sixpot]

Mon Ami Mate said:

I have a 156...and a Pug 206. My 156 does not have sports suspension, and my Pug is a 1.4 HDI, so both cars are likely to be a little different. However, looking out of the window at the two cars parked next to each other, I have to say that this damage does look conceivable to me. It also has to be said that the Alfa wings deform if you so much as look at them a bit funny...

I concur...I too possess a 156 and a 206 and the damage does look coceivable. Although my 156 has sports suspension it does still look probable

[viper_larry]

The 156 wings are very thin metal - surprised me when I first 'tapped' them - wouldn't take much to do that sort of damage.

Chances of that damage already being in that exact location would be pretty slim really?

[sixpot]

I must confess I don't quite understand if your friend was the one who hit the car....surely he will know whether it is the damage he caused or not?

[pdV6]

sixpot said:

I must confess I don't quite understand if your friend was the one who hit the car....surely he will know whether it is the damage he caused or not?

That's what I initially thought, but it all became clear when

Raify said:

What he's trying to work out, is whether the damage was already there before he hit the car. Proving that his bumper could not have physically hit that part of the car will prove this either way...

[sixpot]

pdV6 said:

sixpot said: I must confess I don't quite understand if your friend was the one who hit the car....surely he will know whether it is the damage he caused or not? That's what I initially thought, but it all became clear when Raify said: What he's trying to work out, is whether the damage was already there before he hit the car. Proving that his bumper could not have physically hit that part of the car will prove this either way...

Ok....so in addition to this:- Generally if you hit something in a car park, you are moving relatively slowly and you would stop the car as you realise contact has been made. Hence the car should either still be in contact with or extremely close to the car you hit. Is it not possible then to deduce whether you caused the damage or not? I am confused....

Unfortunately this is something that should have been deduced at the scene...it is now too late to argue about it. Besides I thought car parks are deemed in the eyes of the law knock for knock any way....so could he not just refuse to pay?

>> Edited by sixpot on Wednesday 20th July 17:28

[Raify]

Not sure why this thread has been resurrected, but it's done and dusted now. Already been repaired and paid for by the insurance company.