A year of very, very happy motoring in the Octavia vRS TDi.  20,000 miles and the car has been a joy to live with.  I love this car - 0-60mph in a reasonable sprint, 140mph+ yet 55mpg.  Motoring nirvana.

 

Then this week started.  Some failure of a father decided to let his kids ride around the car park of the flats where I live, only for a small girl to lose control and slam into a '93 Merc 500SL and bounce off into mine.  I saw the whole thing happen, and I'm ashamed to admit my first thought was for the welfare of the car.  Miraculously, my car seemed to survive unscathed - I think the classic Merc took much of the brunt....

 

Then on the way home from work, somebody managed to rear-end me in traffic.  I won't post pictures of the third party, but their '05 plate Golf came off significantly worse than my Octavia.  After feeling the impact, I thought the worst, but actually the damage doesn't seem too severe.  However, I'm a perfectionist when it comes to paintwork, and I'm worried I'll never be able to look at the car in the same way.

 

I'm worried this week will push me over the edge and I'll start following up those casual enquiries about the new Civic Type R..... 

 

 

Edited 17 April, 201511 yr by fiisch

Brace yourself, these things happen in three's remember!

A year of very, very happy motoring in the Octavia vRS TDi.  20,000 miles and the car has been a joy to live with.  I love this car - 0-60mph in a reasonable sprint, 140mph+ yet 55mpg.  Motoring nirvana.

 

Then this week started.  Some failure of a father decided to let his kids ride around the car park of the flats where I live, only for a small girl to lose control and slam into a '93 Merc 500SL and bounce off into mine.  I saw the whole thing happen, and I'm ashamed to admit my first thought was for the welfare of the car.  Miraculously, my car seemed to survive unscathed - I think the classic Merc took much of the brunt....

 

Then on the way home from work, somebody managed to rear-end me in traffic.  I won't post pictures of the third party, but their '05 plate Golf came off significantly worse than my Octavia.  After feeling the impact, I thought the worst, but actually the damage doesn't seem too severe.  However, I'm a perfectionist when it comes to paintwork, and I'm worried I'll never be able to look at the car in the same way.

 

I'm worried this week will push me over the edge and I'll start following up those casual enquiries about the new Civic Type R..... 

 

Not much you can do about the first part, but the rear ended shunt, did you take the other party's insurance details and did he/she admit liability?

I must admit, if I've had a bad day or journey, I calm down by thinking 'well at least we're all healthy and no-one has trashed the car'. So many cars are dinged around where I live, every dink free day is a good one! Looking at your damage, I think a body shop would sort it without a problem even if they have to take the bumper off. Best of luck.

Annoying but just think its only a piece of metal and it can always be repaired/replaced.

To put some perspective on things (and the Mercedes comment rather bought it home).....my father has just sold his classic 1989 420SL this week because at 67 years of age has been diagnosed with recurred and terminal cancer and at best has only months (reality is most likely weeks) to live.

Got to enjoy things whilst they last rather that dwell on twisted metal...definitely more to life.

....sorry my post is perhaps a bit morbid but sure you all catch my drift!

....sorry my post is perhaps a bit morbid but sure you all catch my drift!

I'm catching your drift!! I'm 39 and fighting cancer and my father is 64 and is terminally ill with cancer. Perspective is the key word. I was a real fuss pot over my cars and possessions and like the OP would have a real issue over the repair being perfect. Now, I couldn't give a rats...

Agree, perspective is the key here, i love my car and my motorbike and take real pride in them both.... but they don't compare to what i know is really important in life.

 

To the OP, its minor damage on a lovely car, get it fixed and move on, even if you do get a Type R or something else, where is the next kid on a bike or the next half-wit in a car ready to rear end you coming from, whatever you have, there will always be some idiot waiting to make your day bad. Fix it and move on.

Edited 18 April, 201511 yr by Hudson01

And now we all feel like real inconsiderate idiots caring about our cars

My heartfealt wishes for everyone affected by what has unfortunately become the diease that most of us won't escape and can be lucky to detect early enough to treat.

 

As for the OP: I know that garages are very tricky when it comes to bumps in erm... bumpers since the integrity of it may be compromised and so won't provide the shock resistance in a further crash. Thus they often tend to replace it, which will certainly cost around 1 grand (it did for my Scirocco). Just be happy that the crash wasn't more severe, a bumper is easily fixed (even if very annoying). A work colleague of mine got rear-ended (erm car-related, guys) and she had to wear one of the neck braces for a few weeks and has had problems for a long time after that.

Get it done properly through the insurance, bumpers spring back in to shape so there may be damage underneath that you can't see until the bumper is removed.

 

I was involved in a huge pile up on the M62 a few years ago and the damage to mine looked superficial until they removed the bumper and all the panels behind had been pushed in as well. Luckily my towbar took most of the impact (and punched a nice hole clean through the radiator, condensor and intercooler of the car that hit me).

You've every right to be cheesed off. They hit you because they were either going too fast, travelling too close and or not paying attention most likely. These cars cost a fortune and imo they are never quite the same when they get damaged. I'd have a michael douglas 'falling down' moment!

A year of very, very happy motoring in the Octavia vRS TDi. 20,000 miles and the car has been a joy to live with. I love this car - 0-60mph in a reasonable sprint, 140mph+ yet 55mpg. Motoring nirvana.

Then this week started. Some failure of a father decided to let his kids ride around the car park of the flats where I live, only for a small girl to lose control and slam into a '93 Merc 500SL and bounce off into mine. I saw the whole thing happen, and I'm ashamed to admit my first thought was for the welfare of the car. Miraculously, my car seemed to survive unscathed - I think the classic Merc took much of the brunt....

Then on the way home from work, somebody managed to rear-end me in traffic. I won't post pictures of the third party, but their '05 plate Golf came off significantly worse than my Octavia. After feeling the impact, I thought the worst, but actually the damage doesn't seem too severe. However, I'm a perfectionist when it comes to paintwork, and I'm worried I'll never be able to look at the car in the same way.

I'm worried this week will push me over the edge and I'll start following up those casual enquiries about the new Civic Type R.....

Very unlucky indeed.

I'm confused though..for a perfectionist why did you buy a skoda...:-))

I'm catching your drift!! I'm 39 and fighting cancer and my father is 64 and is terminally ill with cancer. Perspective is the key word. I was a real fuss pot over my cars and possessions and like the OP would have a real issue over the repair being perfect. Now, I couldn't give a rats...

Indeed Pumatron, puts perspective on things as I am just the same with my cars and possessions....but they are just things with no real significance or importance arent they.

I knew you were unwell from previous posts but am very sorry to hear you are also battling Cancer, particularly at what is a young age...naturally wishing you all the very best and hope for a speedy recovery for you. Also share the pain RE your father and very sorry to hear that, life can really be a ****** sometimes.

Wasnt in any way meant to make the OP of anyone else feel bad about caring for their motors as I do to, but its been a real wake up call for me.

Edited 19 April, 201511 yr by pipsyp

Get it done properly through the insurance, bumpers spring back in to shape so there may be damage underneath that you can't see until the bumper is removed.

 

I was involved in a huge pile up on the M62 a few years ago and the damage to mine looked superficial until they removed the bumper and all the panels behind had been pushed in as well. Luckily my towbar took most of the impact (and punched a nice hole clean through the radiator, condensor and intercooler of the car that hit me).

 

This ^^

 

If the front of the golf looked a bit of a mess, the rear of yours would of taken a push in too.

 

Someone rear ended my Audi A4 year back at the damage appeared to be just marks on the bumper.. however the full rear bar, had collpased and pushed the boot floor/ wheel well in too.