Ouch, ouch, ouch

General Discussion Forums MX-5 Chat
61

I have had so many near misses at junctions lately in exactly that way, I have had people throw me the V sign for having the audacity to be on the correct side of the centre line!

62

I find that Audi drivers are the worst on the road . Up your backside or they carve you up.

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63

Looks none structual and they will right it off agree a settlement figure and get it fixed what thay offer should pay for the damage

64

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Just has a call from the insurance company. As feared, the car is a total loss, but the good news is, the damage is Cat N ie non-structural.

I have been having sleepless nights worrying that it would be assessed as Cat S ie structural, which would involve a lot more hassle with the DVLA and an engineer’s inspection.

As it is, I can get the car fixed, MOT’d and I think that’s about it.

They offered me a settlement figure of £2.7k including buying the car back (scrap value £350), and I will have to pay £150 for delivery. No storage fees (at £30 per day, that’s a relief) they aim to recover those costs from the 3rd party.

I’m SO relieved. I was dreading a Cat S classification and was pretty much resigned to giving up the car if that was the case.

As it is, the settlement ought to easily cover the repair costs. I am resigned to higher insurance premiums, and I know the resale value will be much lower, but that’s immaterial as I’ll be driving it until it dissolves into a pile of rust (or I’m pushing up dasies, whichever is the earlier).

She’s part of the family and she’s coming home!

Precious-Cranbourne Chase
Precious-Cranbourne Chase1920×1658 377 KB

20 Likes
65

Hi TerryM1,
Oh, what a relief! At least you can get her back and get her fixed now - that is fantastic news!
Have you got a decent body shop locally who you can approach to get the work done?
Fingers crossed you can get her back on the road soon.
JMK

66

Thanks JMK. I have been given two recommendations for body shops. If you have any further suggestions I’d be happy to hear them…

67

Hi TerryM1,
I just wondered if it might be worth speaking to MX5 Heaven - they are in Dorset, and often have good second hand panels for sale, as well as new items? (I have never used them, so cannot personally recommend them) I am not sure if they do body repairs too, but if not, they may at least be able to suggest a bodyshop local to them (and you?) that they use?
Just a thought?
JMK

68

Great idea! There’s also the place Scottishfiver suggested earlier, that specialises in second hand NB parts.

69

We’ve got a breaker near us in South Derbyshire. I know it’s a long way from you but if you’re having trouble getting any parts let me know. It may save money trying to get the parts, bumper/wing in colour instead of painting. Of course it depends on availability and the condition of said parts if there.

Anyways if you need their numbers, I don’t know which one works as they’ve changed the company name recently.

Sports Cars and spares…

01332 799217

01332 854760

Best of luck with the repairs.:+1:

70

That’s a great deal. I only got £1,300 for a really good NA with similar repairable damage.

1 Like
71

Yes, I was surprised. I was expecting below 2k.

72

Thanks for that, much appreciated.

73

Good news about your car. You could also try the guys at Mazdadudes for the parts you need

74

I would use new panels, not old. Used panels are often as never as good as the seller decribes, and the coach works end up spending time sorting out the dings etc. Plus NBs will have the same problem a NA wings; beginning of rusting around the bumper join (mud trap) and and the bottom of the wing (build up of debris washed off the scuttle). Plus one used wing doesn’t save that much money (I doubt it will save much at all, when you factor getting it dressed).

75

“I am resigned to higher insurance premiums, and I know the resale value will be much lower”
Well the lower value should act as a driver for lower quotes(?)
Getting bona fide repair bills from a reputable repair garage might keep premiums down.
Having said that, I had a similar write off, got it repaired with second hand parts, and I can’t remember being stung with higher premiums on renewal.

76

Excellent News Terry and Precious :grin: :joy:

I concur with portvalenil as the accident was not your fault as when Bullit soft top slashed. Didn’t affect my NCD or Insurance premiums much to my surprise - they just took my agreed Excess amount off the cheque and paid pretty quickly. As a consequence I’m still with the same Insurers :smiley:

[Luckily too you’re past getting any more grey hairs :wink: :rofl:]

Sleep better :zzz: after all the worry & stress :triumph:

2 Likes
77

Thanks. I slept much better last night. From what I’ve read while googling Cat N cars, they are more expensive to insure. We shall see. I should have some settlement money left over after the repair to offset the increase for a few years anyway. Insurance for last year was only £135 fully comprehensive (based on 3500 miles use) so that’s the least of my worries. The insurer, One Call, have been excellent by the way, big shout out for them.

Just waiting on a call now to arrange a date for the return of the car.

I’d also like to thank everyone who has responded so positively with advice and encouragement in this thread. I keep telling myself that it’s only a car, and many people have much more to worry about - mortgages, energy costs, feeding their children even - but it has been stressful, so thank you.

78

Concur with your thinking Terry [it’s a generational thing ?] “It’s only a car and many people have much more to worry about”

But you’ve earnt Precious over years of hard work etc and so right to enjoy her

Keep Strong as You’ve Cracked it re Precious & Insurance :muscle: [Did better than me at £157]

Just need to manage the ‘Separation Anxiety’ whilst you await return of Precious and whilst she goes through her repairs :persevere: :relieved: :pensive:

And yep…ditto re Club Support :clap: :+1: :handshake:

1 Like
79

I agree with ast that used panels are quite likely to be rusted but you have to balance this against

  1. The paint savings from getting panels in the right colour
  2. The notoriously bad fit of most pattern panels.

I would at least try to find good OEM panels in the right colour first. They might come from a recent import that has been rear-ended, or from a car that was cosseted before being pranged. Many enthusiast owners knew to undo the bolts and clean the “compost” from the lower wing area, and/or had rustproofing done.

80

You’re only two years away from getting the pretty inexpensive classic car insurance (unless they’ve changed the 20yr requirement) and it used to be that they weren’t worried about Cat classifications, only the actual value of the car…which you could go through a process of agreeing with them.