Livid- Why Oh Why Oh Why do people do it
Discussion
Hi all,
Have been lurking on here for AGES and have really found it a fab place to do lots of research- I took the plunge in Feb and bought my first 911- a 1994 993 Carrera which has brought a little more sunlight into my life each time I get behind the wheel. (You can stop reading here if you don't want to hear my rant which follows).
So there I was minding my own business on the Wandsworth one-way system this afternoon at about 4pm. I was straddling two lanes and moving into the inside one, but was utterly stationary in traffic at the time. Some bastrad then decided to undertake on the inside where there was clearly hardly enough room for a bike. I (sitting completely motionless) was so gobsmacked I couldn't do anything- next thing the wing mirror went twang and our optimistic friend proceeded to smooth a layer of cheap plastic off his people-carrier onto my front wheel arch. THEN he continued on his merry way. I gave chase and stopped him at the next lights- he seemed completely oblivious to the whole thing until I showed him the pretty patent evidence- rather large paint smear and scrape on the wheel arch. To be fair he was OK about it and gave me his insurance details etc- but how hacked off was I?
Got home and washed off the dust/peeled off the plastic which had gone onto the bodywork and it's not too bad- there's a bit of paint about the area of a 10p piece which been rubbed off above the arch and a nice ding in the side of the mirror- but I still can't believe what a tool this bloke was to even think about squeezing past.
Assume if I do contact his insurers it'll turn into the usual "go to dodgy-body-shop please as that's all we're prepared to pay for"- anyone got any other ideas? I guess whatever way I play it I'm always going to end up funding the difference between their estimate and whatever a decent bodyshop is going to charge.
Anyway, rant over- I am now going out to the pub for some sustenance.
Rich
PS if you're the Tesco lorry driver who offered to act as a witness, thanks very much- I'll call you tomorrow when I've calmed down.
Have been lurking on here for AGES and have really found it a fab place to do lots of research- I took the plunge in Feb and bought my first 911- a 1994 993 Carrera which has brought a little more sunlight into my life each time I get behind the wheel. (You can stop reading here if you don't want to hear my rant which follows).
So there I was minding my own business on the Wandsworth one-way system this afternoon at about 4pm. I was straddling two lanes and moving into the inside one, but was utterly stationary in traffic at the time. Some bastrad then decided to undertake on the inside where there was clearly hardly enough room for a bike. I (sitting completely motionless) was so gobsmacked I couldn't do anything- next thing the wing mirror went twang and our optimistic friend proceeded to smooth a layer of cheap plastic off his people-carrier onto my front wheel arch. THEN he continued on his merry way. I gave chase and stopped him at the next lights- he seemed completely oblivious to the whole thing until I showed him the pretty patent evidence- rather large paint smear and scrape on the wheel arch. To be fair he was OK about it and gave me his insurance details etc- but how hacked off was I?
Got home and washed off the dust/peeled off the plastic which had gone onto the bodywork and it's not too bad- there's a bit of paint about the area of a 10p piece which been rubbed off above the arch and a nice ding in the side of the mirror- but I still can't believe what a tool this bloke was to even think about squeezing past.
Assume if I do contact his insurers it'll turn into the usual "go to dodgy-body-shop please as that's all we're prepared to pay for"- anyone got any other ideas? I guess whatever way I play it I'm always going to end up funding the difference between their estimate and whatever a decent bodyshop is going to charge.
Anyway, rant over- I am now going out to the pub for some sustenance.
Rich
PS if you're the Tesco lorry driver who offered to act as a witness, thanks very much- I'll call you tomorrow when I've calmed down.
Sorry to hear about this - I think every time you go out on the road in town you're risking your P&J. I try and drive very early or late on weekends when the masses are in bed - if I have to drive during the day will take the Mini which is far less work in traffic and a bit nippier.
I think traffic in London has got noticeably worse in the last two years - I don't have to move far at all to hit serious congestion, and usually terrible driving standards to go with it. Not sure if it is my imagination but the worse culprits with frankly shocking manners on the road are usually driving a beaten up Vauxhall/Ford/Renault that looks like its worth less than 50 quid, and driving it to the same standard as they would do if they were back 'at home' - does them no favours.
If you want a recommendation for bodywork - I have used Camtune in Surrey for everything todate, including respray of front bumper to remove stone chips. They're great - surely you can get a front end respray off the back of this little mishap ;-)
I think traffic in London has got noticeably worse in the last two years - I don't have to move far at all to hit serious congestion, and usually terrible driving standards to go with it. Not sure if it is my imagination but the worse culprits with frankly shocking manners on the road are usually driving a beaten up Vauxhall/Ford/Renault that looks like its worth less than 50 quid, and driving it to the same standard as they would do if they were back 'at home' - does them no favours.
If you want a recommendation for bodywork - I have used Camtune in Surrey for everything todate, including respray of front bumper to remove stone chips. They're great - surely you can get a front end respray off the back of this little mishap ;-)
RichS, sorry to hear your tale of woe. Look on the bright side, the damage could have been all the way down the side of the car !
It's my understanding you are entitled to have your car fixed wherever you want. No insurance company can dictate to you which bodyshop you may or may not use.
You should however get at least two estimates from other repair shops to make it clear you have made an effort to get competitive quotes.
AnniesDad (do a search) who posts on here might be able to give further information that would be of help.
Best of luck.
It's my understanding you are entitled to have your car fixed wherever you want. No insurance company can dictate to you which bodyshop you may or may not use.
You should however get at least two estimates from other repair shops to make it clear you have made an effort to get competitive quotes.
AnniesDad (do a search) who posts on here might be able to give further information that would be of help.
Best of luck.
Similar thing happened to me some years ago. Also had to chase the driver some miles till I was able to stop her. I made the big mistake not to invovle the police. Later on she disputed all claims and it took me three months to get the money for the repairs. Be tough or get scr*wed...
slippydiff said:
tracer.smart said:
surely you can get a front end respray off the back of this little mishap ;-)
Excellent idea, a bit of insurance fraud never hurt anyone did it ?
Well yes it did actually, more often than not in the shape of increased insurance premiums year on year.
Use your brain and it doesn't have to be fraud - always suprises me how many people don't hink outside the box!
Hmmm- thanks for the comments (and sympathy). I actually bought the car from Camtune, who I agree were superb when i bought it. I would have confidence in taking it back to them. Thanks Tracer. I'll probably get another quote or two as well. I think you're right though slippy- front end respray might be pushing it a bit!
And I would have been back slightly later if I'd not, erm, pressed on quite so enthusiatically on the A283 coming back from Sussex.
Thanks all- feel much better. And now I AM going to the pub- if anyone's in the Fox and Hounds in Battersea I'm the 6'3 N Irish bloke...
Rich
And I would have been back slightly later if I'd not, erm, pressed on quite so enthusiatically on the A283 coming back from Sussex.
Thanks all- feel much better. And now I AM going to the pub- if anyone's in the Fox and Hounds in Battersea I'm the 6'3 N Irish bloke...
Rich
RichS said:
And now I AM going to the pub- if anyone's in the Fox and Hounds in Battersea I'm the 6'3 N Irish bloke...
Rich
Rich
There you go .. There's an up-side to every story ... You're going to the pub (always a plus) .. AND you're Irish , damn fine country to choose for a birth place!!!!!
same thing happend to my wife on saturday parked up waiting for a bus to go past and some idiot under cuts the bus and goes up the pavement to get past her on the wrong side of the road and smashes the side out of her missano red audi TT then drives off and is gone for ever.
F**kers if i was there i would of chased after him and ripped his head off ....proberley pi33ed and uninsured.
And now i will have to pay this as its on my traders poilicy and excess is high and next year it will go throught the roof.
Sorry to hijack your thread but i cam smpothise with your situation.
Mike
sportsandclassic
F**kers if i was there i would of chased after him and ripped his head off ....proberley pi33ed and uninsured.
And now i will have to pay this as its on my traders poilicy and excess is high and next year it will go throught the roof.
Sorry to hijack your thread but i cam smpothise with your situation.
Mike
sportsandclassic
Don't worry about the repair - I would insist on an approved Porsche bodyshop.
In town, I'm of the view that we must drive defensively. This probably applies to any nice car but particularly a newer Porsche - the newer ones attract more on road jealousy than the older ones. From what I've experienced when I've been out with other friends, take a Ferrari and people will let you in because they want to admire it, take a (newer) Porsche and people want to cut you up!
Ajit.
In town, I'm of the view that we must drive defensively. This probably applies to any nice car but particularly a newer Porsche - the newer ones attract more on road jealousy than the older ones. From what I've experienced when I've been out with other friends, take a Ferrari and people will let you in because they want to admire it, take a (newer) Porsche and people want to cut you up!
Ajit.
tracer.smart said:
Not sure if it is my imagination but the worse culprits with frankly shocking manners on the road are usually driving a beaten up Vauxhall/Ford/Renault that looks like its worth less than 50 quid, and driving it to the same standard as they would do if they were back 'at home' - does them no favours.
Sad, but oh so true. No sign of a valid UK licence, insurance policy or MOT either. Oli.
Evenin' all- sorry to drag this to the top of the board again but wanted to at least do you the courtesy of posting and letting you know the upshot. In the end it was fairly painless- chap admitted liability to his insurers, they coughed up for Bodytechnics in Slough to do the work. They did it very well and even delivered the car back to my house again last week.
On top of which, I was able to rent a Boxter S for a weekend and the insurers paid for it. Mind you, didn't think much of the S compared to the 993, but that's a topic for another day I feel!
Thanks for all the help and encouragement anyway people.
Rich
On top of which, I was able to rent a Boxter S for a weekend and the insurers paid for it. Mind you, didn't think much of the S compared to the 993, but that's a topic for another day I feel!
Thanks for all the help and encouragement anyway people.
Rich
RichS said:
Hmmm- thanks for the comments (and sympathy). I actually bought the car from Camtune, who I agree were superb when i bought it. I would have confidence in taking it back to them. Thanks Tracer. I'll probably get another quote or two as well. I think you're right though slippy- front end respray might be pushing it a bit!
And I would have been back slightly later if I'd not, erm, pressed on quite so enthusiatically on the A283 coming back from Sussex.
Thanks all- feel much better. And now I AM going to the pub- if anyone's in the Fox and Hounds in Battersea I'm the 6'3 N Irish bloke...
Rich
And I would have been back slightly later if I'd not, erm, pressed on quite so enthusiatically on the A283 coming back from Sussex.
Thanks all- feel much better. And now I AM going to the pub- if anyone's in the Fox and Hounds in Battersea I'm the 6'3 N Irish bloke...
Rich
I can also vouch for the paintwork at Camtune. They have sprayed the front and rear PU's on mine to get rid of minor scratches / stonchips. Superb job. About £350 plus VAT to spray the rear PU.
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