Hi there, This is a long shot but does anyone recall what the options were on a 2003 Elegance 1.9 (130)? The reason I ask is that my wife had little accident in ours on black ice a couple of weeks ago and even though the airbags were not triggered, the insurers want to write-off the car. They have offered us a measly £5,411 :eek:for a car I paid 18K just 5 years ago. I am trying to remember if the car had any extras that the insurers haven't included (i.e was the full leather an option or the xenon headlights etc),

Thanks

Derek.

I think Xenon lights were standard, and at that time the interior was half leather instead of full leather, and there was no standard fit sat nav. Other than that, there wasnt much, maybe a solar sunroof? not sure tho.

Hope that helps - if only a little.

Hi there, This is a long shot but does anyone recall what the options were on a 2003 Elegance 1.9 (130)? The reason I ask is that my wife had little accident in ours on black ice a couple of weeks ago and even though the airbags were not triggered, the insurers want to write-off the car. They have offered us a measly £5,411 :eek:for a car I paid 18K just 5 years ago. I am trying to remember if the car had any extras that the insurers haven't included (i.e was the full leather an option or the xenon headlights etc),

Thanks

Derek.

IIRC the options fitted to your particular vehicle are detailed on the vehicle option sticker.

Thanks for the replies but I have a problem with the vehicle option sticker as I don't have access to the vehicle!

I think the full leather was an option but most stuff was standard (that's why I bought it!).

The annoying thing is, I only threw out the brochures last autumn.....

D.

If you've been offered £5k+ for it for a 5 year old car I'd say that's a pretty good valuation myself, just seen a 110k example on an 05 plate on autotrader for 4.5k same spec.

I know it's no comfort to you as the car was fine as it was, but the values are on the floor and had you tried to px I'd be suprised if you got offered any more than 3.5k for it regardless of how nice it might've been.

Your so right with the book values - the insurers have offered top book but that doesn't replace a car that you've owned forever, cherished, polished, loved and cared for. They haven't included the full leather in the valuation so I'll try and get a bit more for that - I wanted the car repaired but they claim there is 11 grands worth of damage - wing, bonnet, bumper, 1 light cluster and pipework to the intercooler and radiatior (maybe the rad & intercooler), left horn bracket and that was about all I could see. I can see 3k of repairs at list and commercial rates, not 11k. At 11k, it will be a cat c or b write-off and I believe I can get it back on the road for under a grand with breakers yard parts......

D.

Your so right with the book values - the insurers have offered top book but that doesn't replace a car that you've owned forever, cherished, polished, loved and cared for. They haven't included the full leather in the valuation so I'll try and get a bit more for that - I wanted the car repaired but they claim there is 11 grands worth of damage - wing, bonnet, bumper, 1 light cluster and pipework to the intercooler and radiatior (maybe the rad & intercooler), left horn bracket and that was about all I could see. I can see 3k of repairs at list and commercial rates, not 11k. At 11k, it will be a cat c or b write-off and I believe I can get it back on the road for under a grand with breakers yard parts......

D.

I was gonna suggest that route but was unsure if it would appeal to you, I doubt there's 11k damage as well, photos would help to assess it better, but if you're fond of it and really want to keep it, it being a cat in future shouldn't matter as you will get nothing for it in 2 yrs time anyway, try and upload some pics then we can have a look and see if there's anything glaring that might make it a repair nightmare.

I'll try and get photo's on Monday - the car is at a local repair centre so I should be able to get to it...... We'll see. I have a mate who is an independant vehicle examiner so I'll see if he can take a look as well.

D.

I'll try and get photo's on Monday - the car is at a local repair centre so I should be able to get to it...... We'll see. I have a mate who is an independant vehicle examiner so I'll see if he can take a look as well.

D.

That sounds the best option, see if you can buy it back and get someone like Lummox :: Unit 18 Automotive :: coming soon... :: to fix it.

Hmm, can't you ask them to justify the 11k repair bill?

I had a 2003 Superb 130 PD Comfort.

Xenons definitely were not standard, the seats (IIRC) were a velour with no leather, they were definitely not all leather.

It came with 16" alloys, rear parking sensors, loads of airbags...the curtains were originally an option but became standard that year, climate control, remote central locking, all round electric windows, cruise control.

Dan

I had a 2003 Superb 130 PD Comfort.

Xenons definitely were not standard, the seats (IIRC) were a velour with no leather, they were definitely not all leather.

It came with 16" alloys, rear parking sensors, loads of airbags...the curtains were originally an option but became standard that year, climate control, remote central locking, all round electric windows, cruise control.

Dan

I confirm what you say about the Comfort spec, as I also had one (mine was a 2004), however isn't 4X4 Octavias an Elegance?

Just been on glasses' valuation pages , and the list of options for the Superb all seem to be down there , and listed under trim options , might be worth taking a peek.

Parkers spec link here

Basically from what i can see everything was STD apart from:

ESP £500 From Launch to Jan 2004

Satellite navigation system £1,800 From May 2003 to Mar 2005

Cargoflex £200 From May 2003 to Now

Fine Nappa leather upholstery £500 From Dec 2002 to Mar 2005

Curtain airbags £350 From Launch to May 2003

I had a 2003 Superb 130 PD Comfort.

Xenons definitely were not standard, the seats (IIRC) were a velour with no leather, they were definitely not all leather.

It came with 16" alloys, rear parking sensors, loads of airbags...the curtains were originally an option but became standard that year, climate control, remote central locking, all round electric windows, cruise control.

Dan

Dan, his is an Elegance model mate

SORRY!

Dan

Curtain airbags £350 From Launch to May 2003

According to the May 04 brochure, curtain airbags were "fitted as standard on vehicles built from 1st January 2003"

Yup - the leather was an option - and so was metallic paint! so there are 800 quids worth of extras to be considered. Haven't got the photo's yet but I have booked an independent vehicle inspector to assess the car (and poke fun at the 11k repair bill, I hope!).

Thanks to all for your input so far - I will update you after the IVC's visit today.

BTW - received the letter from the insurers yesterday, but without the offer figure. I thought that was very interesting!

Derek

This just gets better & better..... My inspector can't now see the car as it's been moved without my consent to a salvage company in Dorset - I've paid for this guy to go to Crawley and he's on the road..... Who's going to pay?

D.

I had a big difference of opinions with an insurance company that wanted to write off my mum's car when it was hit by a minibus when stationary in a car park. The car was only worth about £450 at the time, but was well maintained and looked after, and the car had a lot of sentimental value. We argued that the damage could be put right for about £250 (new bolt on wing, spray paint etc) and questioned who actually has the right to decide to scrap YOUR car.

I found it unbelievable that the insurance company took the view that they could wander into my house, give me any price that they thought was reasonable, then take the car and do what they liked with it regardless of what I thought about the deal. Who actually owns the car .... you or them?

I argued that if I could get it fixed for a reasonable sum which was less than the amount they valued the car at, then they should pay me that money and let me do it .... and after a lot of humbug, they agreed to do just that. An engineer phoned me, we agreed a repair cost, they sent the cheque, I got it repaired and my mum kept her car.

Sometimes it pays to stand out for your rights .....

Hi there, This is a long shot but does anyone recall what the options were on a 2003 Elegance 1.9 (130)? The reason I ask is that my wife had little accident in ours on black ice a couple of weeks ago and even though the airbags were not triggered, the insurers want to write-off the car. They have offered us a measly £5,411 :eek:for a car I paid 18K just 5 years ago. I am trying to remember if the car had any extras that the insurers haven't included (i.e was the full leather an option or the xenon headlights etc),

Thanks

Derek.

Must have been one heck of a 'little accident' if they want to write the car off?

This just gets better & better..... My inspector can't now see the car as it's been moved without my consent to a salvage company in Dorset - I've paid for this guy to go to Crawley and he's on the road..... Who's going to pay?

D.

Any updates on the inspection?

Sorry for the delay in responding - it's been a B1TCH of a week! Anyway, the insurers have agreed to do a 2nd inspection - I'm waiting for the result of that. I have placed a formal complaint about the first engineer (who was rude & deceitful) - he's the one that promised me he'd keep the car locally for the inspection & then straight away authorized it's move to Dorset & refused to tell me the list of damage. When I queried the amount of damage, he asked me to list the damage "if I was so clever"!

If the insurers uphold my complaint I may name & shame the engineer......

Derek.

PS - I am assuming that the car will be written off so have located another car - an 06 Elegance with 43k miles on the clock. Couldn't think of anything better to get than another Elegance - it's even the same colour!

If he's estimated 11k then I would say he thinks you would want shot of it as it's been smashed regardless, or he knows someone who can pay a grand salvage and repair for another grand and retail for 4k.

, or he knows someone who can pay a grand salvage and repair for another grand and retail for 4k.

So youve spotted what goes on as well !!!, taxi anyone ?

Im glad Dereks digging his heels in, until you agree to the car being written off you still own it, The insurer will have moved it to save storage charges at the recovery company. They have agreements with salvage yards to store cars FOC until they are cleared

From your description It certainly wont be 11K unless he suspects a twisted shell.

If you really want to keep it & can confidentally expect to repair it for less ask the Insurance co to pay that bill & not total it, as one of the previous posters has said they will sometimes agree to it but you need to be sure you have a bit of bunce in the deal for other things you may find, or if its a cat D look at buying back, If its a cat D it should be around 25% of the pay out but the repair bill will need to be less than its value for that.

I would agree having just sold our car that was under 3 years old that the Insurance co are offering you a good price but its always worth trying for a bit more, the rule is never take the first offer without "discussion"