So, we rent a gite for a week, i have some reservations about on street parking but landlord assures us that its a very quiet street....  First few days are fine then last night there's a bang and I go out to find that someone has hit us head on (presumably drunk or chasing Pokemon as there's a 200M straight run to the car so its not as if it just appeared).

 

Guessing €600 to €1000 worth of damage as bumper dented and scraped and both headlight and foglight badly scraped.  i can't understand how someone could do this and not try to sort it out afterwards.  Same as stealing really.  Parts left at the scene identify the car as a 06/07 Renault Espace.  I'm watching local traffic and waiting     Thankfully I'm older and more sensible now so dialogue and the law are the more sensible options.

 

Sorry I didn't fit a shock sensitive dash cam as I'd take things further (as above) with that info.

 

Had to vent.

Edited 20 July, 20169 yr by Legacy

Really sorry to hear this, I hope that you can get some recompense 

Really sorry to hear this, I hope that you can get some recompense 

Thanks - I'm not optimistic given that I've no identifying info...  There's a crack on the bottom of the bumper but I'm lucky that damage is restricted to the bumper and there's nothing on the side panels.  Looks like they stopped rather than swerved.

 

After a 10km drive there was a clunk when I engaged reverse but nothing since.  The car tracks straight and all lights work.  Thankfully the collision sensor wasn't damaged.

 

I tried to attach a pic earlier but it was too big.  Here's another attempt:

Edited 20 July, 20169 yr by Legacy

Thanks - I'm not optimistic given that I've no identifying info...  There's a crack on the bottom of the bumper but I'm lucky that damage is restricted to the bumper and there's nothing on the side panels.  Looks like they stopped rather than swerved.

 

After a 10km drive there was a clunk when I engaged reverse but nothing since.  The car tracks straight and all lights work.  Thankfully the collision sensor wasn't damaged.

 

I tried to attach a pic earlier but it was too big.  Here's another attempt:

 

Shame that they didn't leave a number plate on the ground, lets just hope that they die a horrible death and soon!

The only other thing to check for is damage to the gearbox - hopefully the clunk from reverse was just a bit of DSG randomness. Pushing a car with an automatic gearbox around while in park can damage it. I've no idea what park mode is like in the DSG, it may just do something like selecting a gear on both clutches at the same time so a clutch has to slip for the car to move, but on auto boxes the pin that locks the gearbox up on parking can shear if the car is hit while parked. Good to hear that enough bits fell off the Espace to identify it while your car didn't even lose a light though.

 

Here's a bit of Espace crash therapy (And why I have very little interest in using an old car as a daily driver). Incidentally both cars are older models than the one that hit yours: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQS-7heF-og

Thanks - I was surprised by the amount of debris left by the Espace and was able to track its progress for over a mile on my bike by following the debris trail the following morning.  I made a formal report to the local Gendarmes today just to keep their crime stats accurate.  It does show the value of bringing the full registration and insurance documentation over here (its a legal requirement anyway)  as the computer demands every last detail.  I don't expect much more from it officially but who knows - maybe the car triggered a speed trap in a neighbouring village. I know what road the driver took out of the village and the turn they took at a subsequent junction so hopefully justice will prevail. I'm not optimistic but I felt that I should do my bit.  

 

There was another smaller clunk this evening but its coming from the passenger (NSF in the UK and ROI) corner.  That is hopefully not DSG-related but may be suspension/steering. The car tracks straight and is otherwise fine but it'll be going for a proper checkup in a week's time when we go home.

 

On a more positive note, the Superb has been a fantastic travelling companion.  I've enjoyed driving it over here as its long-leggedness and relaxed nature make the holidays much more enjoyable.  The fuel economy and large tank help too.  Plenty of room in the boot for some of the local wines too :-)

Even if the bumper doesn't look too heavily damaged, they flex a lot and stuff behind could have been damaged without you realising.

I'd be making a thorough check of stuff like headlight washers, radar sensor, parking sensors, bumper mounting points/brackets, whether headlights still swivel etc.

Ideally I'd want the bumper taken off to have a look behind it for hidden damage.

Edited 22 July, 20169 yr by muddyboots

Even if the bumper doesn't look too heavily damaged, they flex a lot and stuff behind could have been damaged without you realising.

I'd be making a thorough check of stuff like headlight washers, radar sensor, parking sensors, bumper mounting points/brackets, whether headlights still swivel etc.

Ideally I'd want the bumper taken off to have a look behind it for hidden damage.

 

Thanks - that is sensible advice as the bang was quite loud and I expected to see more damage to mine.  The lights and DRLs seem to be working fine.  The lights aren't adaptive and I don't have front parking sensors but the lights their usual little dance when they are switched on. The radar seems to be working fine - luckily the impact was to one side of the bumper so the middle escaped.  I won't try the headlamp washers until I'm home as I'm afraid that they won't retract if they're damaged.  I am worried about damage to the bumper mounting points etc but its better to get it sorted than to have a bumper that won't quite fit.

Sorry to hear of the damage.

 

Would it of not been wise to ring your insruance company informing them and then requesting you take it to a local Skoda dealer for them to at least check its safe for the mileage back home ?  You are lucky its not dropped any fuild from a front impact.

Sorry to hear of the damage.

 

Would it of not been wise to ring your insruance company informing them and then requesting you take it to a local Skoda dealer for them to at least check its safe for the mileage back home ?  You are lucky its not dropped any fuild from a front impact.

Thanks.

 

I waited until I got home today to talk to my insurance as there was no third party risk and I usually end up on hold for ages...  Insurance cost increases have been quite severe here over the last few years due to the collapse of several foreign-registered insurance companies and subsequent levies on the rest of us to pick up the tab so its unlikely that I'll be making a claim as I've a full no claims bonus and lowish premium - I'd like to keep both.  

 

The car is booked in for an inspection/quotation tomorrow morning.  I'm a little nervous about the cost but it'll be nice to start the process of having it restored to its former glory

So how are you going with yours? Any news yet??

 

You won't believe this....within 48hours of receiving the car, my wife hit a kangaroo.

It popped out the small plastic grill part on the RHS (driver side). The bottom grill is a 3 piece unit with the main section in the middle and two little corner pieces left and right. It is installed with four little tongues that simply clip into their slots. No damage their and it would simply be a matter of ordering the small piece and clipping the new one back in again.

Unfortunate the roo must have hit right on the corner and flexed the bumper bar, causing a small crack of the plastic bumper bar in the wheel arch. Barely noticeable.

But knowing from past experience that some plastics just can't be successfully welded, we put a claim in....Assessor had a look.....said no go, will need a new bumper bar.

My guess it will be months before they can get the parts.

Such is life.

Sorry to hear about the impact with the roo on such a new car.  Hopefully they'll be able to source the parts quickly.

 

In terms of my car, its good news and bad news so I'm going with the good news...

 

Skoda dealer quoted €1500 to €2000 euro subject to stripping.  The car is safe to drive but a new bumper, headlamp, foglight lens, wheelarch liner, labour, paint etc all add up.  There was mention of recalibrating the radar unit but they didn't seem sure if it was necessary.

 

A panel beater who comes recommended and who does the bodywork for another Skoda dealer quoted me €450 to €500 to repair the existing bumper.  I need a new wheelarch liner as above (my existing one was breached) and I also need a new trim piece that goes into the bumper beside the foglight as the clips are broken on the existing one.  He wants to try polishing out the deep scratch in the headlamp lens but I may still need a new one at extra cost.  That quote is also subject to stripping but he was reasonably happy that he knew the extent of the damage. There was no mention from either party about the bumper bar so I'm very curious about the state of mine.

 

I'm planning to go for the cheaper option seeing as I'm paying for it myself.  I intend to keep the car for six years or so - that'll give me plenty of time to see if I can live with any aspect the repair that I'm not happy with and put some money aside for a more complete repair if necessary.

 

One thing that I'm curious about though.  I was driving last night for the first time in a while and found that there is a dark spot in the middle of the beam pattern (xenon lights), roughly covering two feet either side of the center white line.  Maybe it was there before the impact - I'm not sure - but I'm not entirely happy with it.  The beam pattern extends to the opposite side of the road and doesn't dazzle oncoming drivers but the dark spot in the middle is a bit mysterious.  Maybe its an issue caused by the deep scratch in the lens but its hard to say.  In any event, I reckon that it'd be safer to replace the scratched lens.

 

I'll try posting a pic when I get a chance. 

Edited 30 July, 20169 yr by Legacy

The assessor was very cocky about being able to source the parts quick...haven't heard a word yet....LOL

I will ring the insurance today and see where we are as it all has gone quite.

 

I would not be at all surprised if that deep scratch wouldn't cause a dark spot and even if he can polish it, that area would still give a distorted beam light.

If it was me, unless it's hellish expensive, I would replace the headlight.

I did see a post in the Superb II forum where the headlight bulbs not being perfectly seated led to a dark spot in the beams. Possibly the impact has shifted the headlight bulb. I'd check by alternatively covering each headlight to see whether the dark spot is on one or both beams. If it's on the damaged one only wetting the lens of the light might temporarily fill the scratch enough for you to see whether the dark spot goes away and confirm it is a result of the scratch.

The assessor was very cocky about being able to source the parts quick...haven't heard a word yet....LOL

I will ring the insurance today and see where we are as it all has gone quite.

 

I would not be at all surprised if that deep scratch wouldn't cause a dark spot and even if he can polish it, that area would still give a distorted beam light.

If it was me, unless it's hellish expensive, I would replace the headlight.

Sorry to hear that its taking a while to sort - I guess its always a risk with a newer model.  Keep the pressure on them :-)

 

I'd be inclined to agree that it'd be a false economy not to replace the headlight.  There's always the risk the polishing it might end up distorting the beam pattern enough to annoy other drivers

 

I did see a post in the Superb II forum where the headlight bulbs not being perfectly seated led to a dark spot in the beams. Possibly the impact has shifted the headlight bulb. I'd check by alternatively covering each headlight to see whether the dark spot is on one or both beams. If it's on the damaged one only wetting the lens of the light might temporarily fill the scratch enough for you to see whether the dark spot goes away and confirm it is a result of the scratch.

Cheers - that makes sense.  I've had a quick look around the headlight housing and nothing loose but I reckon that it'd be safer to replace the headlight unit in any event