Smashed TVR :-(

[zorro]

OK finally gone and done it..piled the 400SE into a lamppost trying to avoid a f*&%$£g tractor in the fast lane and some guy pulling out of a side road.

The lampost went right thru the front end about halfway up the bonnet, the sumps gone,windscreen smashed and the wheels are badly damaged..I know it''s very difficult to say without photos but I was wondering if anyone knows if my car will be written off or not. Also I have a personalised plate..what do I need to do about that.

At least I''m still in 1 piece

Many thanks In advance

Be careful guys..and gals

Edited by Hilts on Sunday 24th June 00:42

[britzman]

Sorry to hear your bad news John. As far as the insurance company is concerned, don't let them walk all over you. I smacked my 4.3BV Griff on 28-Jan (or rather it smacked me :-) and am hoping to pick it up from the coachworks tomorrow (yes it took *that* long to repair it). The insurance company tried to tell me that it was only worth 12K when I paid 18.5K for it last August, claiming that they'd done market research into the current price of the car. I did my own research and found only 3 or 4 4.3 cars for sale, only 2 of which were BV and they were for sale for pretty much what I'd paid for mine. I wrote them 2 pages of A4 type-written evidence of this, listing all the cars I found for sale on-line along with teir URLs, detailing the extensive work I'd had carried out on it since, and pointed out the car's near classic status. The TVR Centre even wrote me a quotation for replacement of the vehicle at 18-19K a copy of which I enclosed with my letter. I heard nothing back from the insurance company, but heard from the coachworks that they had been authorised to spend up to 12K on repairs. I saw the car last week and it is now looking absolutely beautiful, just a few electrical problems to sort out. I guess that 12K of repairs (bodywork, fans, lights, new alaram/immobiliser, suspension and steering) on a 18K car is a borderline write-off but I'm dead chuffed they went ahead with it. To be honest it's the first insurance claim I've ever made but shows that you have to be firm and stand your ground. I don't know what your 400SE would be worth or how much the repairs would be but if they're less than 60% of the car's value and you want to keep it then be firm with them. P.S. Sorry guys! I might be single handedly responsible for your new insurance premiums!! Oops!

[zorro]

Thanks very much for that, that info should come in handy when I make my claim..as much as I loved that 400SE, in a way I'm *secretly* hoping it's written off cos I'm after your car, well your type Griff 4.3BV or 4.5BV

Edited by Hilts on Sunday 24th June 00:43

[ozzie]

I am afraid a similar story with me.....remember it very well...on the 21st Jan this year I slammed my 97 450 Chimp into a traffic light in CAmbridge doing 30ish. It hi the nearside wheel the catipulted the car back into the TL. Because the wheel took all the force the trailing arm was ripped off the chasis and the nearside body work had to be replaced. The insurance company paid up 16K for the repairs which took just over 4 months (at Mole Valley TVR) having just got it back last Friday. The car is now beautiful and drives like a dream (unlike before!). The reason why I tell you all this is that any mark or deformation of the chasis requires it to be replaced under TVR "rules" (only sensible seeing the power...and if the insurance pays for it...why not!). This means that the old chasis is sent up to the factory to be relaid/jigged and aligned as they insist on doing it, thus a lengthy wait but also the body shell will take 4 weeks to be rebuilt and painted....all in all your car (as mine is now) will be pratically new except the engine, transmission, wheels (etc.), cockpit(seats etc.). The only problem is the dented ego...but to be honest I am glad I had a crash, 1) I respect the car now, 2)works/steers/brakes properly for only 1K excess!, but is amazing, and most importantly 3) am a safer driver. Hope this helps...keep smiling and trust me the wait is worth it!

[britzman]

Zorro, I just got my car back today, and it's looking better than the day I bought it, so you can't have it :-). If you want to keep your car, then stick to your guns with the insurance company.

[graham]

Zorro if they do write it off. let me know. as i have a mate looking for a restoration project ( he has the skills and facilities to rebuild one, but not the cash to buy a running one). this wouldnt be a dodgy rebuild and sell on it would be a slow carefull one and then probably keep for ever....

[zorro]

Britzman, glad to hear you have your BV back just in time for the summer :-)..enjoy. Just been(with a clearer head!) to see my 400SE and the damage isn't nearly as bad as I first thought..I've taken a few photos and I'll try and rig them up on a temporary website for some more opinions ie repairable etc..I also took some pics of a written off 911..what a mess..that guy wasn't so lucky.

[britzman]

Zorro, my crash pics are at www.programmatica.demon.co.uk on my "website". I'll be posting some of the repaired car in the next few days.

[britzman]

I finally got a pic of the repaired car online, check out my profile.