Buy a hail damaged car?

[Emeye]

My dad's friend's 05 Volvo S60 is potentially up for sale and could be going very cheap due to it being battered in a hail storm in Spain.

I have not seen it myself, but my dad say it looks like it has been machine gunned!

Looking at pictures on the web, hail damaged cars can look a real mess, but if all the mechanicals etc are ok, it isn't rusting and it is cheap enough I'm thinking it might be worth a punt - could it be the ultimate urban commuter/station car?

Any one any experience of running a hail damaged car that wasn't worth repairing?

[sc0tt]

Its just a car with dents, what is the issue?

[0a]

If it's mechanically fine then that's okay, just remember that it will be worth about 10p when you come to sell it on!

[marmitemania]

Get it brought and put a vinyl roof on it...........no wait

[ModernAndy]

When I worked for Audi in 2008-2009 we had massive delays on some models (including customer reserved cars) due to a freak hail storm at one of the ports doing in thousands of VW group cars. There were guys checking the cars for a fortnight and all the damaged ones had to go back and get sorted.

Speaking of VW, get that Volvo bought and it's smashed in look will probably inspire Vee-dubbers all around you to don the caved in panel look. It'll be the next big thing on the scene.

[defblade]

Do you care about looks?

Is it proper cheap?

Would you like to have a car you can park anywhere without worrying about other peoples' doors and abandoned trollies, bluff your way through any tight squeeze, never care about catching on a gate post?


Paint it white and write "Titleist" down the side

[Emeye]

ModernAndy said:

When I worked for Audi in 2008-2009 we had massive delays on some models (including customer reserved cars) due to a freak hail storm at one of the ports doing in thousands of VW group cars. There were guys checking the cars for a fortnight and all the damaged ones had to go back and get sorted.

Speaking of VW, get that Volvo bought and it's smashed in look will probably inspire Vee-dubbers all around you to don the caved in panel look. It'll be the next big thing on the scene.

A sort of Volvo Rat look?

I'd have to park it around the corner when I visit customer's sites.

I'm wondering what its insurance status is - unless he never bothered claiming - I will find out the details tomorrow.

[ModernAndy]

Emeye said:

A sort of Volvo Rat look?

Yeah. What engine's in it? If it's a T5 then it's a cert.

[Emeye]

It is definitely not a T5. I think it may be a diesel.

[morgrp]

05 plate diesel will be an excellent car - very well sorted motor on that model year - don't worry about it being diesel - the volvo d5 unit is widely regarded as one of the most robust "modern" diesels out there, they sound good, are reasonable on juice and perform well - if it's less than 1500od quid then it's a no brainer

[PositronicRay]

Hail damage is the best kind.

[Charlie1986]

Buy it then wrap it and sell in Yorkshire there's some great garages what will help you in this

[Hugo a Gogo]

you might be able to tap the dents out yourself

[Emeye]

I have friend who I have not seen for ages who used to work in Vienna every year panel bashing hail damaged cars, I might give him a shout. I was thinking a secondhand bonnet and boot in the same colour can't be that expensive. Just leaves the roof.

[Robb F]

Get it wrapped in white and make it look like a golf ball?

[defblade]

Robb F said:

Get it wrapped in white and make it look like a golf ball?

defblade said:

Paint it white and write "Titleist" down the side