Rank: Veteran
Groups: Moderator, Registered, Veteran
Joined: 2/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,898
Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)
|
We have owned our VP Exec for pretty well 10 years. We purchased it off my best mates dad who bought it new so we know where it has been since it left the dealer back in 1992.
The car has had faults such as falling roof lining and the starter motor trying its best to imitate an old Falcon by grinding at the flywheel from time to time but it has only broken down once in that 10 years when the fuel pump failed and even that happened in our garage so no one was left stranded so it has been uber reliable.
My wife baked it into a concrete pillar on Saturday in the local shopping centre car park.
She was only doing walking pace but the damage is unbelievable it folded up like a Toyota. Concrete offers very little cushioning I suppose.
The RH rear quarter is bent all the way forward past the fuel filler, the tail light's reversing light lens is the only bit left The boot lid is buggered and would not open and the bumper cover is split bent and hanging the boot garnish is unscathed.
The insurance company won't look at the car until next Tuesday December 1st. The car is insured for $3800 so do any of you learned panel people reckon they will fix it or not?
I'll put up a picture as soon as I can bring myself to taking one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/03/2009(UTC)
Posts: 45
|
If it is bent as you say, I reckon the rail is bent, and at that age, would write the car off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Veteran
Groups: Registered, Veteran
Joined: 1/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 1,991
Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)
|
as caspers says, the chassis rail isprobably bent. if it is bent the insurance has to write it off as a statutory writeoff, cannot be relicenced.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Veteran
Groups: Moderator, Registered, Veteran
Joined: 2/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 3,135
Thanks: 1 times
Was thanked: 35 time(s) in 33 post(s)
|
To fold up that much, and knowing where the boot suupport rails are, Id say youve missed all the structural components, and the damage is mostly superficial.
Being the age that it is, they probably wont cancel the VIN - it will be a repairable write-off.
You may be lucky enough to get a payout, less the salvage value (which is bugger-all) and retain the wreck - meaning you could repair it if you wanted to, or put the drivetrain into something else.
Cheers,
Mick
_______________________________________________________________
Judge a successful man not on how he treats his peers, but on how he treats those less fortunate. |
Cheers,
Mick
_______________________________________________________________
Judge a successful man not on how he treats his peers, but on how he treats those less fortunate. |
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Veteran
Groups: Moderator, Registered, Veteran
Joined: 2/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,898
Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)
|
Mick would be right I doubt if even the metal reinforcing bar under the bumper cover is damaged.
Even the boot garnish is undamaged so its definitely outside of the rear rails.
If at first you dont succeed then skydiving is not for you. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Veteran
Groups: Registered, Veteran
Joined: 22/05/2005(UTC)
Posts: 1,384
|
I have repaired about 10,000 cars, and I would agree with Mick and Jim above last two posts. If it is written off, it would be a repairable writeoff. You would get a cheque for $3800 less your excess, and less the current value of the damaged vehicle. So if you have a $400 excess and the vehicle is deemed to be worth $1000 in the condition it is in now, then you will get a $2400 cheque and your current insurance policy cancelled. Another option if it is written off is to get the $3800 less excess and put it in your pocket and buy another car. Or they may deem the repair to be able to be done, but want budget price, McPanelbeat cheapo style. Anyway suck it and see, and wait for your insurance company to work on it. I pay what I feel is good for service for my car insurance and get next day assessment on repairs. If it is old or rare - Cut it! http://www.ehlimo.com.au/ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Veteran
Groups: Moderator, Registered, Veteran
Joined: 2/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,898
Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)
|
Here are a couple of photos. In true www.thereifixedit.com style I tie wired the hanging rear bumper up and screwed a trailer light to the remnants of the tail light (after removing its bulbs) and plugged that trailer light into the towbar wiring.  
If at first you dont succeed then skydiving is not for you. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Veteran
Groups: Moderator, Registered, Veteran
Joined: 2/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,898
Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)
|
They probably would have assessed it earlier because when it happened I told the insurance company that the tail light was smashed to pieces. They offered to tow the vehicle away immediately as it was unroadworthy.
I have told them that their recommended repairer that did my Falcon 18 months ago was not to even bother quoting on this one they seem cool with that.
Yes the car is going to get a wash before it goes in for assessment.
If at first you dont succeed then skydiving is not for you. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Veteran
Groups: Registered, Veteran
Joined: 22/05/2005(UTC)
Posts: 1,384
|
That is about a 10 hour job with remove and refit a new quarter panel and a new quarter panel and lower tail light panel, new bumper bar and a second hand bootlid. Then there is paint, and the refit. That is charging out the 8 hrs at $88 per hour. So My estimate is about $3000 min to $4000 max. If it is old or rare - Cut it! http://www.ehlimo.com.au/ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Veteran
Groups: Registered, Veteran
Joined: 22/05/2005(UTC)
Posts: 1,384
|
A quick bash, bog and shell be right rough as guts and it could be done for $500. It would look like it too. If it is old or rare - Cut it! http://www.ehlimo.com.au/ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/07/2008(UTC)
Posts: 342
|
Who you insured with Jim?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Veteran
Groups: Moderator, Registered, Veteran
Joined: 2/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,898
Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)
|
AAMI on this car I changed my Ford to Shannons a few weeks ago.
Suppose its lucky for Shannons that I didnt change this one too.
Mick yes I am thinking of buying the wreck and re powering the Wifes Valiant ute. The V6 would wipe the floor with the gutless 265 that is in there now.
If at first you dont succeed then skydiving is not for you. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Veteran
Groups: Moderator, Registered, Veteran
Joined: 2/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 3,135
Thanks: 1 times
Was thanked: 35 time(s) in 33 post(s)
|
Is that so the next time she backs it into concrete the vehicle will sustain little damage? :)
Cheers,
Mick
_______________________________________________________________
Judge a successful man not on how he treats his peers, but on how he treats those less fortunate. |
Cheers,
Mick
_______________________________________________________________
Judge a successful man not on how he treats his peers, but on how he treats those less fortunate. |
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Veteran
Groups: Moderator, Registered, Veteran
Joined: 2/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,898
Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)
|
Well she did mention that she had done the same in her old Regal and it came out unscathed. The Commodore did when she hit the towbar on one of these pillars a couple of years ago.
If at first you dont succeed then skydiving is not for you. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Veteran
Groups: Moderator, Registered, Veteran
Joined: 2/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,898
Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)
|
They are going to write it off. In fact they have already trucked it to Pickles so I have to go there and remove the plates and the one personal item that she forgot to get out.
Bought a gen 2 Subaru Liberty which she likes but already misses the power of the V6, the cruise control and she will miss the central locking over time I reckon.
I can buy the wreck for $365 which is a bargain considering that the back tyres are new & the battery is in good nick too. Not to mention those groovy wheel caps that came off my Falcon and got placed on the Commodore with lion stickers over the Ford logo in the centre 8-) at least they dont fly off like the original VP1 items did regularly.
Ill have to work on the Wife to let me have the wreck over the weekend. Wish me luck.
If at first you dont succeed then skydiving is not for you. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/07/2008(UTC)
Posts: 342
|
Good luck.
The guys over at AAMI are pretty good. I used to buy a few wrecked cars off them. Mostly cheap standard cars that would be lucky to get $200 at auction but usually had good tyres and mechanicals and were a cheap easy fix. Half my family ended up using those cars as good reliable runouts. When the tyres and rego ran out it was usually cheaper to buy another one than buy new tyres.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Veteran
Groups: Registered, Veteran
Joined: 3/08/2007(UTC)
Posts: 1,902
|
JIm!.
i will buy the rear LH door off it, as its the same colour as a VP i have which is dented.
WANTED:
-2 14 x 9.25 CSA style Centrelines.
-2 x 15 x 8 Dragway centrelines |
Old holdens brought on the spot, quick decision, cash paid. |
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Veteran
Groups: Moderator, Registered, Veteran
Joined: 2/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,898
Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)
|
Wife wont let me take the wreck home. Adam the freight across the country would be a killer. Pity you dont want a right rear door as I have one of those stashed in my shed. Obviously I dont need to keep Commodore spares any more.
I went and removed the plates this morning, some nice person has opened a door on a white car and dinted the LH rear door. This damage was not there a week ago.
If at first you dont succeed then skydiving is not for you. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Veteran
Groups: Moderator, Registered, Veteran
Joined: 2/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,898
Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)
|
Best looking car in next Thursdays Pickles auction: http://www.pickles.com.a...emid-1-402060445/lotid-0 Worth buying just for the rear tyres and 2 1/2 inch exhaust system all of which are near new.
If at first you dont succeed then skydiving is not for you. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Veteran
Groups: Moderator, Registered, Veteran
Joined: 2/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 2,898
Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)
|
Well I went and observed last week. A local scrap metal yard has a standing bid on all cars of $150 each and a lot of reasonably good cars were destined to be towed around the corner to SimsMetal. A friends Pintara with relatively minor rear damage went straight to Sims I saw it on the scrappies tow truck the next day.
The Commodore started at the obligatory $150 and immediately there was a $200 bid on it and straight after that it was sold (real quick). So in short it was one bid off being scrap metal. Someone got a bargain.
If at first you dont succeed then skydiving is not for you. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.
