After you've crashed an Alpine…
Discussion
Unfortunately I was involved in an RTC in February which has ultimately led to the car being declared a total loss (hit from behind whilst stationary). Being a bespoke vehicle it fell outside a lot of the standard insurance processes which extended the claims duration and I thought I'd post up the experience should anyone else end up in the same position - I sincerely hope not.
1) Following the collision I chose to use Alpine assist to recover the car - it took 45 mins of being transferred around various parties before they could agree who was taking the job. This also added another link in the chain - I'd contact the insurance company next time and let their process deal with it (was in very rural Yorkshire with no 4G so all electronic docs were inaccessible).
2) Insurance company directed the car to one of their approved aluminium repairers in East London who on inspecting the car decided it needed an Alpine approved repairer. The insurers don't have one registered and the baton was handed to me to find said approved repairer - a bit of googling revealed there appears to only be one in the UK - Martins of Basingstoke.
3) Whilst Alpine approved Martins aren't able to carry out structural aluminium repairs (which seems odd) so again the baton came back to me. I then googled and called around a dozen options before finding Hilton Coachworks in Bishops Stortford who agreed to take it on - they were incredibly helpful and professional. Repair estimate was circa £25k which is within the 60% tolerance to proceed but the independent assessor declared it a cat S due to the rear sub-frame being damaged so it was declared a total loss.
4) From there the normal processes took over again and the claim has been settled (I'm happy with the offer). However points 1 to 3 probably added 3 weeks into the timescale to complete - if I were to be in the same situation again I'd point the car straight at Hilton Coachworks and remove the faffing about.
Not being in the habit of crashing cars I expect there's a lot of naivety on my part and hopefully the above is redundant info but should the worst happen to anyone it might help avoid some of the issues I had.
The car is now heading to Copart, it might make a good track project for someone as it was mint prior to the accident and is very much repairable - even had a full tank of fuel which is probably worth £25 more than when I filled it!
1) Following the collision I chose to use Alpine assist to recover the car - it took 45 mins of being transferred around various parties before they could agree who was taking the job. This also added another link in the chain - I'd contact the insurance company next time and let their process deal with it (was in very rural Yorkshire with no 4G so all electronic docs were inaccessible).
2) Insurance company directed the car to one of their approved aluminium repairers in East London who on inspecting the car decided it needed an Alpine approved repairer. The insurers don't have one registered and the baton was handed to me to find said approved repairer - a bit of googling revealed there appears to only be one in the UK - Martins of Basingstoke.
3) Whilst Alpine approved Martins aren't able to carry out structural aluminium repairs (which seems odd) so again the baton came back to me. I then googled and called around a dozen options before finding Hilton Coachworks in Bishops Stortford who agreed to take it on - they were incredibly helpful and professional. Repair estimate was circa £25k which is within the 60% tolerance to proceed but the independent assessor declared it a cat S due to the rear sub-frame being damaged so it was declared a total loss.
4) From there the normal processes took over again and the claim has been settled (I'm happy with the offer). However points 1 to 3 probably added 3 weeks into the timescale to complete - if I were to be in the same situation again I'd point the car straight at Hilton Coachworks and remove the faffing about.
Not being in the habit of crashing cars I expect there's a lot of naivety on my part and hopefully the above is redundant info but should the worst happen to anyone it might help avoid some of the issues I had.
The car is now heading to Copart, it might make a good track project for someone as it was mint prior to the accident and is very much repairable - even had a full tank of fuel which is probably worth £25 more than when I filled it!
595Heaven said:
What was the bespoke content?
Perhaps the right phrase is non mainstream. If it was a Porsche or Merc then the insurer would have approved repairers who specialise in fixing them, they would be able to manage the situation within their process management. Because the Alpine is rare they haven't got anything in place to take care of it hence I had to do all the running around. I was informed the Alpine isn't listed on Autodec (I think that's what it's called) which is a universal software package that assists repairers in building up quotes based on parts prices and expected labour time.I guess this is partly due to the bespoke nature of the car, it being an aluminium/GRP composite construction that doesn't share anything with other vehicles other than the drive-train and interior switch gear etc. Even well established aluminium repairers refused it when they probably wouldn't something more mainstream.
Edited by Venisonpie on Saturday 14th May 10:22
Edited by Venisonpie on Saturday 14th May 11:28
Miserablegit said:
Thanks for the very helpful post. I remember you posting about the accident at the time.
I think most of us would have done the same as you.
It would be good if Alpine took things like this on board but I very much doubt it.
Absolutely, I found it bizarre an approved repairer couldn't carry out metal work on an aluminium car.I think most of us would have done the same as you.
It would be good if Alpine took things like this on board but I very much doubt it.
bcr5784 said:
While the damage to the car is extremely upsetting, given the extent I doubt you would ever have been happy with the afterwards if they had be managed to fix it. As it is you can, if you wish, get a replacement - though you might have trouble get the exact spec of the deceased car.
Yes, agreed - I was relieved it was written off. Was a stock car rather than something I specced myself so I wasn't attached to that particular one.Am now exploring how to spend the spoils!
biggles330d said:
Venisonpie said:
Mine is also Abyss Blue, so it's quite depressing to see one bashed. Could you clarify - was it written off because the chassis was proven to be bent, or just it was too expensive to even find out and risk that it was?
It seems incredible that such modest damage can render it a total loss.
Your point is right though, at first glance it doesn't appear that bad. I was browsing other cars on Copart and it appears a lot of what look like lightly damaged stuff has been declared a total loss probably due to similar reasons.
If you could buy this for £10k then you'd have a 6,000 mile Alpine on a 70 plate for £35k which although cat s hasn't suffered a massive shunt.
For me it would never feel the same so not interested in doing it myself.
Edited to add - actually I'm wrong, there was some chassis damage. The rear cross member had sheared as they're designed to do but it's a bolt on part. The legs were straight from what I could see and the repairer advised.
Edited by Venisonpie on Wednesday 22 June 08:35
bcr5784 said:
True - what did it go for in the end as that may affect things one way or the other?
I think it made just over 18k which seemed toppy to me. I agree that premiums could be affected however looking at the copart inventory the Alpine is not alone being written off with what appears to be minor damage. stephendell said:
See here for further explanation regarding the supply chain problems.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/801407303683897/pe...
Blimey, the advert for the car on Ebay is inaccurate and generally disingenuous. By putting trade plates on the seller is suggesting you could drive it on the road as is which you absolutely can't. And fails to mention the extent of repairs required. Also spec is wrong, it doesn't have the big brakes or buckets, list price was 54k not 50k etchttps://www.facebook.com/groups/801407303683897/pe...
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