To say I'm hacked off is a complete and utter understatement.

The story of trying to obtain insurace for Miss Ree has been well documented in here, and was finally obtained four weeks ago.

So, 10 days into her new driving experience, what happens? Correct. An incident involving the Saxo Furio that I purchased in here last October.

Lovingly repaired with a new door (n/s) new battery, new drop links, new tyres,new horn, new indicator stalk full valet, taxed and new mot just 4 weeks ago and smash. Mrs 'park by sound' reverses straight into the previously undamaged off side from her driveway.

Miss Ree was absolutely devastated when she came back to it, seeing it now parked half on the pavement, such was the ferocity of the whack.

Give the woman credit, she came straight out of her house and owned up to my now distressed daughter.

Insurance are now involved, but following the estimate of an £1830 +vat repair bil, they have said that it's going to have to be written off for an actually quite decent sum, retail value I'd say tbh, either for salvage or for a £120 reduction, to buy back as a cat c, leaving me to get it repaired at an independent bodyshop for approx £500.

The dilema now however is are Miss Ree's insurance still going to allow this cat c car to be insured, and IF so, I wonder just how much more premium they're going to be expecting, as we all know cat c's are generally undesirable in the eyes of insurance companies.

The only soluition I've thought of so far, is to ask the insurance of this woman to pay just £600 to cover the costs of an independent bodyshop to REPAIR the damage, rather than replace the rear 1/4 panel and associated bits that were damaged on the proviso that they won't write it off.

The assesor claims it's just panel damage and a succesful repair to the damaged panel could in his eyes be completed.

The thought of seeing this car go for scrap and having to go through all this trauma of finding another car, spending more money to get it right, and then the insurance quote makarky again is giving me nightmares tbh

Thoughts?

The only soluition I've thought of so far, is to ask the insurance of this woman to pay just £600 to cover the costs of an independent bodyshop to REPAIR the damage, rather than replace the rear 1/4 panel and associated bits that were damaged on the proviso that they won't write it off.

I would agree with this, as it is a cracking car and would be a shame to see it written off

I wouldn't want to be in a Saxo that's had a £1800 shunt :S

I wouldn't want to be in a Saxo that's had a £1800 shunt :S

That is the cost for supplying and fitting a new o/s qtr panel, the vtr style pastic lower trim piece, repairing the small dent in o/s door, replacing 2 wheel trims, and painting the entire side. Price includes top rate full bodyshop labour costs which amounts to approx half the total cost, so I'm actually struggling to understand exactly where you are both coming from and going to, or is it that you are just anti Saxo p'raps?

I would agree with this, as it is a cracking car and would be a shame to see it written off

Cheers Chris. It's been a great little car. It scrubbed up really well and Miss Ree really loves driving it.and does NOT want to see it scrapped.

Even the assesor said it was too good for that.

OK, so I could grab the pretty good price they've offerd me and run, but that's not actually the point. I simply want it back to how it was looking less than 2 weeks ago....MINT!

Lets put it this way, I've got a mate who loves Saxos, and he's concerned about the safety of his car. I wouldn't let any of my loved ones drive these cars. I'll not post the link, but there are plenty of videos of the Saxo's "performance" at the NCAP test.

Back to your original question, if it is just panel damage... it would be a very tough battle to get the insurance to pay out for the repair. You'll need a full quote from a bodyshop to do the work for the price you reckon it can be done for, and you'll need to keep on and on at them. Even though it'll cost less cash, it's a lot more hassle for them to get stuff repaired, courtesy cars etc, than just saying "it's written off, there's a cheque in the mail".

It will need a VIC inspection before it can go back on the road.

I would agree with this, as it is a cracking car and would be a shame to see it written off

She particulary likes the sound system btw, especially as it's got an i pod plug in thingy

It will need a VIC inspection before it can go back on the road.

If it's deemed a cat c repaired, yes, I appreciate that. Yet another reason for me not wanting it classified, plus of course all the hassle of having doom and gloom filled tyre kicking merchants when I come to sell it.

If it's deemed a cat c repaired, yes, I appreciate that. Yet another reason for me not wanting it classified, plus of course all the hassle of having doom and gloom filled  tyre kicking merchants when I come to sell it.

Are you sure it hasn't already been logged with DVLA as a cat C?

Even if it hasn't, your current insurer will treat it as such.

You could have avoided the cat c, if you had made an information only claim and the woman did likewise (and paid for the repairs). However, insurance companies tend to treat information only claims by young drivers as though they have something REALLY BAD to hide.

A friend of mine had a similar dilemma, when her son's car was hit by a van with brake failure.

Are you sure it hasn't already been logged with DVLA as a cat C? Even if it hasn't, your current insurer will treat it as such. You could have avoided the cat c, if you had made an information only claim and the woman did likewise (and paid for the repairs). However, insurance companies tend to treat information only claims by young drivers as though they have something REALLY BAD to hide. A friend of mine had a similar dilemma, when her son's car was hit by a van with brake failure.

That's what I asked her to do, but she insisted on going through the insurance as she's skint, and besides, her C Max didn't come off too lightly either.

why not just take the cash that is on offer for ten w/o and replace with a similar car - much less hassle IMHO

Id take the sound system out and let the insurance company take it away. Help her find a safe car to drive, the neighbour did you a favour, I would never let a loved one drive a Saxo in the first place

Id take the sound system out and let the insurance company take it away. Help her find a safe car to drive, the neighbour did you a favour, I would never let a loved one drive a Saxo in the first place

Really wish I hadn't mentioned that it's a Saxo now tbh. Make and model with regard to this thread IS actually totally irrelevant, and should have known that it would bring the Anti Saxo drum banging brigade out. :zzz:

Really wish I hadn't mentioned that it's a Saxo now tbh. Make and model with regard to this thread IS actually totally irrelevant, and should have known that it would bring the Anti Saxo drum banging brigade out. :zzz:

Anyone want to 'have a pop' at my AX GT while they're at it?

Have you found out what effect this will have on future premiums for Miss Ree? Despite her not being at fault in any way whatsoever I think it will load future premiums. Have you considered claiming for uninsured losses or suing the insurance co of the driver at fault for such if this is possible. You should in no way be out of pocket for returning the car to the state it was in prior to the hit nor should she be required to pay excess or inflated future costs.

Best of luck.

Really wish I hadn't mentioned that it's a Saxo now tbh. Make and model with regard to this thread IS actually totally irrelevant, and should have known that it would bring the Anti Saxo drum banging brigade out. :zzz:

In fainess I just watched a SAxo NCAP test and it was pretty nasty. Still we probably all started out in cars that would be considered death traps by today's standards. IMHO it'd probably be less hassle in the long run to get something else even if it is another Saxo.

I wouldn't want to be in a Saxo that's had a £1800 shunt :S

I've seen them fold and send thair front axles in different directions in a relatively low speed shunt.

They're no less safe than most other cars of that ilk, but after a 2k repair job, I'd be a little bit concerned.

I'd take the money and find her another good car in a lower insurance group.

Worth asking how it'll affect her renewals too.

Anyone want to 'have a pop' at my AX GT while they're at it?

Just don't crank up your sub too loud! Guy at college did and cracked the glassfibre roof writing it off!

As above it'll already be logged as a cat c by now, which will make insuring costly and troublesome. I'd take the cash and find another little run around rather than getting too hung up on this one.

What would be the settlement? £1800 will get something nice.

Have you found out what effect this will have on future premiums for Miss Ree? Despite her not being at fault in any way whatsoever I think it will load future premiums. Have you considered claiming for uninsured losses or suing the insurance co of the driver at fault for such if this is possible. You should in no way be out of pocket for returning the car to the state it was in prior to the hit nor should she be required to pay excess or inflated future costs. Best of luck.

Just rung her insurance, and they cannot comment on the possibilty of an inflated insurance premium for next year even though it was nothing to do with her.

At this moment in time, they are more than happy to continue insuring with no increase on the already paid premium providing it's VIC'd and re-mot'd.

I have requested the above to be put in writing.

What a load of hassle for something that wasn't caused by us/her.

Just don't crank up your sub too loud! Guy at college did and cracked the glassfibre roof writing it off! As above it'll already be logged as a cat c by now, which will make insuring costly and troublesome. I'd take the cash and find another little run around rather than getting too hung up on this one. What would be the settlement? £1800 will get something nice.

No radio in it, so that's that sorted.

Next?

Anyone want to 'have a pop' at my AX GT while they're at it?

Loved the little AX`s. First car I drove was my mates brothers GT, which at the time was the dogs nuts for a 17yo

Anyone want to 'have a pop' at my AX GT while they're at it?

I like my old AX, BX etc but seriously by modern standards they are very poor.

I'm not anti anything, more a case of would you like your loved one in an accident with a much more modern car in flowing traffic.

Imagine if that c-max and her hit head on.

WRT the saxo, I personally would let them write it off, but if you're confident you can get it repaired then by all means give it a go.

Well O've just spoken to the insurance of this woman, and it's not been written off yet.

I iffered to accept half of what they are offering, but they initially refused. Beggars belief.

They have now however MOST generously allowed me 48 hours to get back to them with a non franchised bodyshop quote, and they will CONSIDER it but without any guarantee of acceptance at this time..

How bloody generous of them. So, stuff all my commitments today, like work etc, and I can start trawling the local bodyshops instead.

Anyone would think that I was the one that has caused all this drama.

Proper snotty 'hurry up' attitude from Hastings, which I suppose is about what I'd come to expect tbh.

...A friend of mine had a similar dilemma, when her son's car was hit by a van with brake failure.

UPDATE:

I saw her this morning, while she was walking the dog. Her insurer told her that provided she got a replacement car with no high insurance group/value within 28 days, they would roll over the insurance to the new car with no penalty. That's what she did.

Renewal time has been and gone - she said the premium had dropped 40% despite the no fault claim.