First, glad you're okay.

Sorry to say [IMHO] you've no chance at £3,500.00 for a TF135 2002.

Surprised you seen them at that kind of value on autotrader, I plan to sell my TF160 2002 22k on the clock in a few months for a boxster and would be surprised if I get anywhere near that figure, despite paying a reasonable £4,300.00 in May 2009.

I'd prepare yourself for the worst, I don't think you're gonna be happy if, worst case, they write it off

No insurance company in the world is gonna' consider after-market none-notified additons when considering a settlement figure

I'd like to say £2,500.00.
Rob

 

In working ou the valuation you have to take into account the mileage and adjust the figure accordingly. The difference between high mileage cars and low mileage cars can be over £500 on the valuation.

 

Good point.
When I was looking for mine 2002 plates all seemed to be around 50k on the clock, hence my assessment.
At the same garage was mine at £4,400.00 and a 2002 TF160 55k in blue for £3,700.00.

 

Thanks... It's done 55k on the clock which I guess is low for an 02.

 

Sorry to hear of the accident, glad you're ok though. Hail can catch a lot of people out, most people don't associate it with grip issues (after all its not snow), but if alot of it comes down quickly it can turn a road into a skating rink.

Very, very easy to be caught out.

 

55k is pretty much average mileage. If they are selling for that price for the same spec, then gather evidence of this and present it to the insurance company, don't take the first offer and keep pushing for what it would cost to replace.
If you added the extras and you declared them then they should take them into account, if not then they may not be covered, so probably best not to shout about them too much.
Or buy it back and repair it yourself.

 

Yeh one of my friends had to fight last year with the insurance company. They offered him 5k for his car but the cheapest he could buy the same spec was £7000 so they offered him £6,800 after 3 weeks of showing them local adverts.

I have my courtesy car today, a Nissan Micra! One of the ugliest cars I know of from the outside but its pretty nippy and not too bad inside. Took that as they ran out of 0.8l Daewoo Matiz's to give me!!!

 

Bear in mind that the added cost of the Courtesy car may well impact their offer...

 

A Nissan Micra :eyes:. At least it's some wheels to keep you on the road.
I think John probably did one better with his Fabia!

Glad you seem to be ok. Have they given you any idea whether or not there is any chance of saving your TF or is it a definite write off?

 

They only just picked up the car today even though I should have been told today, will have to wait till tomorrow or the weather might slow them down even more.....
Have started to look at replacements cars to buy though on Autotrader just incase......

 

ok will do.
This is actually my first ever crash in the 8 years that I have been driving so any tips will help.
Was wondering if it is a write off, that it might be a good idea to buy it back? Would I buy it back from the insurance company or the scrap yard it will go to? Any idea what sort of price they will say to buy it back? Bumpers are about £100 each off ebay so might be cost effective to repair it on the cheap.
Also been looking at replacement vehicles too, like an MG ZS 1.8 petrol lpg converted.... etc...

 

I think the car is a right off, not been told yet so still waiting. Did go to see the car at the weekend and took some photographs. What do you guys think?

There is coolant loss and I think it maybe dripping onto the exhaust?

Bumpers are about £100 each off ebay, not sure about bodypanels etc if I were to buy the car back?

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3394/cimg0316c.jpg
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5061/cimg0334.jpg
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/1662/cimg0325.jpg
http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/2861/cimg0322f.jpg
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/1149/cimg0315s.jpg
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/8136/cimg0313f.jpg
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/4999/cimg0312v.jpg
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/2194/cimg0307.jpg

 

really sorry to see that twe. Even if it isnt repairable, a slight profit could possibly be made on breaking the car. As you said you may well have to just see what price they offer.

 

I'm no expert and didn't immediately spot any structural damage; looks external plastic and panel damage to me.
I don't think they'll write it off but if they do, and depending on the price I don't imagine it's a tough fix for someone a little handy with cars.

Good luck.
Rob

 

The crash was only about 20mph so I can't see it being structural. The main concern for me would be the body panels and that coolant leak at the back.

Just wondering, if they did fix the car could the coolant create a hole in the exhaust?

Will find out today hopefully. Can't believe how busy the place was! Had about 80 cars all waiting to be repaired! Insurance company said within 24hrs but that would have been thursday last week!

 

The crash was only about 20mph so I can't see it being structural. The main concern for me would be the body panels and that coolant leak at the back.

quote]

Panels wont be a problem - I had a full sill and quarter panel done on mine last August and there were no supply problems. Having said that, it might be different now with all of these accidents about!

Good luck but be prepared to have it written off. I think its perfectly repairable if you did buy it back - however I guess it all comes down to how attached you are to the car, whether you can be bothered and if you can be without it whilst its being fixed.

I was in the same prediciment last year, luckily they chose to repair rather than write off but I think I would have gone down the repair route due to the amount of time and money I have spent to make mine better than when it left Longbridge!

 

In my opinion as an insurance broker I would say its a write off, purely on the basis that the insurance company would have to order brand new bumpers and various other parts for repairs then pay the garages "insurance job" prices. I would say the best outcome would be for them to pay you £2500 for the car then ask them how much to buy it back, then make a counter offer. Basically if you dont buy it back from them its only going to get scrapped or sold to a breaker for peanuts. Then as you say fix it up yourself, remember to get it back on the road you will need the following (depending on your new prospective insurer)

- An independant engineers report (IER)
- A vic check (vehicle inspectorate check)
- A new MOT

Most insurers will only want a MOT and a IER. So hopefully you will get your tf back on the road and who knows if you get a good offer for yours and get a bargain when you buy it back you might even have some change left over. GOOD LUCK MATE!

 

I think you looking at this following to repair it

front bumper
rear bumper
NS front wing
NS rear wing
Radiator
Coolant pipes
then maybe some additional rubber pipework for cooling system.



Will they write it off? Tough call, as has been said garage doing insurance jobs charge alot

Could you get it done yourself chepaer if you boughts it back! Definately!!

 

Buy it back and speak to vvcsteve to see about the pannels as you could get lucky and find the right colour on some of them. save on painting. Then even if the paint does not match completely you can go for a cheeper spray job any way. Good luck and lets hope for a result.

Never take their first offer from the insurance company. If they dont budge on the pay out try haggling over the car for say £50 instead.

 

Thanks for the help guys. No news yet if its a write off, going to give them another call in the afternoon. Will see how it goes. Coolant pipes were changed in November to stainless steel but will see how bad they are if I buy it back etc.

 

yh i added that as a precaution, incase tey were bent from car being rested on something

Good luck!!

 

I just got a call from the insurance company. They are writing the car off. They said the garage quoted them £3,200 to repair the car.
They have given me an offer for my car at £3,200 which isn't too bad I guess. But I think its worth a couple hundred pound more with the hardtop on there.
I asked about buying the car back and he said that we have to sort out the cost of the vehicle first and that buying the car back works on percentages, etc... anyone have any idea?
I need to do some homework tonight to try and get the price up....

 

Sounds like a good deal to me.
I would say a buy back is going to be nearer £2k, but that's just gut feel.
I don't want to get your hopes up
Surely [don't call me Shirley] you can take the hard top off anyway as it was an addition?

 

twe, glad you are OK.

£3200 looks a decent offer. Get the hard top if you can.

 

They said £2900 + £300 for the hard top. So can I actually take it off and let them have the rest? Would I lose that £300 that they give me? People are telling me to start stripping it down! Has confused me a bit if I can do that if they are taking it away.
Thanks red devil.

 

i would leave the hard top on it has you can pick them up for 200 - 250 but 1 thing i would change if possible is to put a cheap set of alloys with rubbish tyres on and take your ones off nad also take the stereo out . but as for everything else i would just leave it with the car

 

See what their offer price is to buy back before you make too many decisions.

I would think they ask that you pay no more than £800 for it as it is -at the most. You will get it back looking like it was for about £1500 so you will make 1K out of it. However, you will have to put a bit of work in to get some good quotes and be prepared to get the bumpers/wings yourself (secondhand) and get the garage to spray up. Also, as its cat C your car will not be worth what it was.

As said before, its whether you want to keep the car or take the money and run onto another one

/something else

 

I don't understand why people are advising you to strip it?

1, If they have written the car off the car must be in their posession so you cant just hitch it up and pull the wheels off etc.

2, the offer they have given you is based on the car "as is" why remove alloys and the roof when it would reduce the value they aren't mugs.

3, If you plan to buy it back why bother stripping parts?

4, If you are lucky enough to have upgraded alloys and hard top roof and any other modifications that you didnt notify the insurer then thank your lucky stars they havent raised any issued of non disclosed modifications and reduced any offer or flat out voided your policy to avoid paying a penny (harsh but not unheard of by some of the "cheaper internet " companies) Just take the good offer and try to buy it back for a sensbilble price.

Remember one of the key principles of insurance is following any claim the insurered (you) should be returned to the pre claim condition ie car fixed or compensated sufficently to buy an equilivent replacement. You shouldnt be in a position where you are better off financially post accident. So dont get too hung up on the buy back price if you accept that offer you could easily get a newer/ better tf than your original one, or you could pay for repairs.

That is a good offer though. Out of interest who are you insured with?

 

It's with Swinton.

I actually need to remove the fittings for the wind deflector but everything else the insurance company knows about. I can see some for £2900 without hard top so I guess I might have to take the £3200.... Shame the tyres at the front are new and I had new coolant pipes fitted. Am guessing that does not accounted for? As its to do with maintenance?

 

Hey guys my car has gone to scrap heaven. Was not financially worth buying the car back at £875 as the damage seemed to be about £1000 and it would be registered as a category C car so would make about £200 or so if I wanted to sell it on which is not much at all. Could just buy a Cat D car with the payout and a hard top off ebay. anyway going to be selling the wind stop as I took that out.
I got a bit more money for my car though, £3500 minus the excess.