The fact that I'm writing this is testamount to the stregnth of the Skoda Octavia. On the way back from the Goodwood Festival of Speed I was involved in a high speed accident on the A27 involving a VW Caddy van that hit a stationary broken down Range Rover and Ifor Williams trailer full of cows. Said Caddy spun into the path of my VRS and I had nowhere to go.

Insurance have written her off with over £10K's worth of damage.......so.........what is one to do?

Well, BUY ANOTHER ONE!

I've just stuck a deposit on a new Race Blue 170 CR DSG from Willis Motor Co in Rislip. Awsome price too and with any luck, she'll be here in a couple of weeks!

I do have some questions though........

I've removed the Columbus from the wreck and as its an "A" version for a pre facelift I'm wondering if it will work correctly in the facelift model? If not I can always sell it on ebay and buy a later version. Comments?

Also I've got to retrofit auto lights - is this simply replacing the light switch?

Would like to retrofit rain sensing wiper if not too messy - any ideas?

Have you sought permission from your insurance company to remove the Columbus from the car? If they've written it off they now own it.

Sorry to hear this. Hope you are fine.

In reply to auto lights,you will need some repair wire, auto switch and coding. About £55 for parts without coding therefore check whether its feasable to order as a factory fit. This is provided you have auto wiper/light sensor on the wind screen.

I am not sure about retrofitting auto wiper/light sensor and assume it will be a costly business.

Have you sought permission from your insurance company to remove the Columbus from the car? If they've written it off they now own it.

Of course I have! :-)

Engineer from insurance co agreed completely as it was an aftermarket fit. Original system was fitted back in its place and everything tidied up. Made no difference to the offer on the vehicle - beleive me I asked!

Now we've established that you're ok... did you manage to get any pics?

Now we've established that you're ok... did you manage to get any pics?

I have lots more but would need to photoshop them for privacy reasons.

The Skud doesn't look too bad but the engine carrier is bent, suspension, wheel,tyre, gearbox (driveshaft ripped out), both airbags, screen, etc and the roof looks as if somebody has shot it with a BB gun 150 times - this was from the various tools and electrical parts that were thrown from the van at high speed. A 24volt DeWalt battery drill which weighs a good few pounds was thrown 100m directly up the road and there was half a doxen 1m long SDS drill bits stuck in the ground etc where they flew around like spears.

The van driver had a bloody nose

I have a fractured skull and whiplash from the airbag

A woman that was standing next to the Range Rover on the grass verge (it had broken down) has more severe injuries as she was hit by the Rangey - broken collarbone, jaw, wrist etc.

A Skoda is a good place to be in an accident but it could have been much worse..............

Jeepers!

Fractured skull! The van looks a right mess too, amazed he got out of it at all.

Edit: re the woman stood next to the land rover that got hit... you're always told to get out of your vehicle when you break down on the hs, do you think she might've been better off remaining inside hers?

Holy **** that vans a mess!

Jeepers!

Fractured skull! The van looks a right mess too, amazed he got out of it at all.

Edit: re the woman stood next to the land rover that got hit... you're always told to get out of your vehicle when you break down on the hs, do you think she might've been better off remaining inside hers?

The fractured skull sounds dramatic but its actually a fractured eye socket that will heal naturally (I hope). I've also got what appears to be permanent ringing in the ears from the airbag. Thankfully my parner was completely uninjured - she's smaller than me so missed the airbag.

I would think that it is still prudent to leave the vehicle but move well away from it as well. It was a freak accident unfortunately.

Here are a couple of other pics. The trailer was attacthed to the Range Rover and contained several bullocks which were unharmed. It was unhitched by the impact and ran across both lanes coming to a halt at 90deg to the lanes. Iw ould suggest that if you wish to survive a nuclear attack, you consider purchasing an Ifor Williams trailer!

Jeepers!

Fractured skull! The van looks a right mess too, amazed he got out of it at all.

Edit: re the woman stood next to the land rover that got hit... you're always told to get out of your vehicle when you break down on the hs, do you think she might've been better off remaining inside hers?

Thats the problem - being stood next to it is not a safe place.. If that were an articulated lorry hitting her land rover, she would be dead..

If you break down on the hard shoulder - get out and get well back away from the carriageway.

OMG! Ruddy good to know you are ok!

Being in a major "incident" in a loan car that was an Elegance Estate and being able to walk away, was what prompted me to buy my old vRS, and made me seek another one!

Holy crap !!!!

Glad all ok

Glad everybody is ok! It really is testament to the build quality of the cars now...

I was going to be a bit macabre and ask if you got any nice fillet steaks out of it, but I guess having the animals in the trailer unhurt was a good outcome.

Glad everybody survived,the sparks van looks a mess,yours looks to be only minor damage to the front wing ? horrific pics.

Jeepers true carnage glad that everyone including the livestock came out RELATIVELY unscaved :S

wardth........ after my accident last week I am looking forward more and more to getting back to my Octavia (when i can walk again) for a lil more protection over a bike (not that that will stop me riding) glad to see the car stood up to it well and gutted for anyone caught up in something they had no hand in causing nice one on getting radio sorted with insurance guy great move indeed

ps who was the photographer ??? I am hoping you were sitting somewhere taking it easy not flying about the place taking pics for us

Glad everybody survived,the sparks van looks a mess,yours looks to be only minor damage to the front wing ? horrific pics.

Yeah I thought "oh doesn't look too bad" but then you start digging once its up on the ramp - cosmetics: wing, liner, front bumper, headlight, grille, windscreen and dents in roof. Then comes the mechanicals: front upright, wheel, tyre, radiator, thermo fan plus frame, engine carrier, driveshaft,, possible gearbox and chassis leg torn out. It's easy to have 3K labour, 5k parts and 2K vat and before you know it, thats 65-70% of value which equals write off.

wardth........ after my accident last week I am looking forward more and more to getting back to my Octavia (when i can walk again) for a lil more protection over a bike (not that that will stop me riding) glad to see the car stood up to it well and gutted for anyone caught up in something they had no hand in causing nice one on getting radio sorted with insurance guy great move indeed

ps who was the photographer ??? I am hoping you were sitting somewhere taking it easy not flying about the place taking pics for us

The photographer was me - I had a DSLR from the day out at Goodwood and was so high on adrenalin that I thought it important to grad as many pics as possible once I'd checked on all injuries and called the emergency services!

Glad you and everyone else is OK.

That Caddy is f**ked!

Damn , glad to hear you and partner are (mostly) okay, it is surprising how what looks like a little damage soon adds up to a write-off. But look on the bright side you will soon have a brand new FL Octy VRS and WHAT A Car, had mine 9 months and i have never had such a great car.

The photographer was me - I had a DSLR from the day out at Goodwood and was so high on adrenalin that I thought it important to grad as many pics as possible once I'd checked on all injuries and called the emergency services!

that is hard core good man did emergency services when they arrived just think you were some opportunist photographer and try to move you on lol

that is hard core good man did emergency services when they arrived just think you were some opportunist photographer and try to move you on lol

Lol they kept on asking if I was allright!

Calm under pressure and all that :-)

are you sure you didn't swap the octavia for a tin opener. glad to hear ur ok.

It's nice to see that a car that we transport our familys in can take an accident in its stride. Glad to here you and everyone involved walked away. Hope you get sorted with new wheels soon wardth.