Xmas day blues......
Discussion
Ok picture the sceene: Its xmas day morning, the girlfriend had stayed over, we'd exchanged pressies and are both full of Christmas cheer 
Anyway the time came to take her home and spend the rest of the day with our respective families. I'm reversing into her drive, when suddenly there is a horrible crunch from under the front of the car (they have a piece of metal coming up from the middle of the drive for gates to shut onto), this has not happened before, I guess I could have been cocky and gone in slightly to quick! THe girlfriend asks "What was that" (with a worried expression), I shrug it off as just being the number plate catching on the metal gate shut probably no worries.......HOWEVER, getting out of the car reveals two pieces of fibreglass sitting on the drive around this gate shut thing 
I was very calm, after all sh*t happens, but inside I was gutted. Her whole family were very apologetic and her grandad went to get a pick axe to dig the thing out LOL We persuaded him not to... Driving to my parents my xmas day cheer had somewhat subsided I tell you!!
The Damage: Basically an 8 x 6" piece of FG has been ripped of the underside (off side) of the front clam and a small crack/tear can be seen coming up the front, unless pointed out nobody would notice. The bad news is that the piece that is missing had a fixing bolt hole in it, so now the lower front part of the off side front clam wobbles, will have to fix ASAP!!!
Question (+ point of post): Just wondered if anyone has had any similar kind of damage? If so how easy was it to get fixed, I'm really hoping some FG expert will be able to sort it rather than going to a dealer for new clam etc
Thanks in advance guy's ;-)
Happy Xmas & Have a great new year!!
Turks
Ps: Its an 05 Aubergine Purple 111R and I'm in the Tunbridge Wells area
Anyway the time came to take her home and spend the rest of the day with our respective families. I'm reversing into her drive, when suddenly there is a horrible crunch from under the front of the car (they have a piece of metal coming up from the middle of the drive for gates to shut onto), this has not happened before, I guess I could have been cocky and gone in slightly to quick! THe girlfriend asks "What was that" (with a worried expression), I shrug it off as just being the number plate catching on the metal gate shut probably no worries.......HOWEVER, getting out of the car reveals two pieces of fibreglass sitting on the drive around this gate shut thing I was very calm, after all sh*t happens, but inside I was gutted. Her whole family were very apologetic and her grandad went to get a pick axe to dig the thing out LOL We persuaded him not to... Driving to my parents my xmas day cheer had somewhat subsided I tell you!! The Damage: Basically an 8 x 6" piece of FG has been ripped of the underside (off side) of the front clam and a small crack/tear can be seen coming up the front, unless pointed out nobody would notice. The bad news is that the piece that is missing had a fixing bolt hole in it, so now the lower front part of the off side front clam wobbles, will have to fix ASAP!!!
Question (+ point of post): Just wondered if anyone has had any similar kind of damage? If so how easy was it to get fixed, I'm really hoping some FG expert will be able to sort it rather than going to a dealer for new clam etc
Thanks in advance guy's ;-)
Happy Xmas & Have a great new year!!
Turks
Ps: Its an 05 Aubergine Purple 111R and I'm in the Tunbridge Wells area
Sorry to hear about your woes. Know how that sort of thing can take the edge off a nice day.
Haven't had the same problem, but can recommend givign Fibreglass Services a call (01243 554422), they are back in after the New Year I think. Great for an honest appraisal of the cost and what is actually necessary. Good rates and won't rip you off. They are in Arundel though, which isn't that close to T Wells, probably a 1hr 45 minute trip - if you do decide to go down.
Good luck getting it sorted. Andrew
Haven't had the same problem, but can recommend givign Fibreglass Services a call (01243 554422), they are back in after the New Year I think. Great for an honest appraisal of the cost and what is actually necessary. Good rates and won't rip you off. They are in Arundel though, which isn't that close to T Wells, probably a 1hr 45 minute trip - if you do decide to go down.
Good luck getting it sorted. Andrew
Unlucky big-guy, front clam damage with this kind of scenario is fairly common so all the fibreglass places should be able to help out.
Firstly I'd suggest getting some duct tape on the 'flappy' bits to try and stop it pulling apart any further. Looks rank but may save you a bigger bill.
Absolutely no idea about cost, but would guess at a minimum of a few hundred to fix and paint.
Local-ish places to try:
- Maidstone Sports Cars in Headcorn (speak to Andrew) www.maidstonesportscars.co.uk/aboutUs.asp
- Sinclaires of Romford (speak to Wayne, Gill or Mark)
www.lotusrepairs.com/
- Or if you don't mind a bit of a drive, Miles @ Fibreglass Services in Arundel
www.fibreglassservices.co.uk/index.html
Firstly I'd suggest getting some duct tape on the 'flappy' bits to try and stop it pulling apart any further. Looks rank but may save you a bigger bill.
Absolutely no idea about cost, but would guess at a minimum of a few hundred to fix and paint.
Local-ish places to try:
- Maidstone Sports Cars in Headcorn (speak to Andrew) www.maidstonesportscars.co.uk/aboutUs.asp
- Sinclaires of Romford (speak to Wayne, Gill or Mark)
www.lotusrepairs.com/
- Or if you don't mind a bit of a drive, Miles @ Fibreglass Services in Arundel
www.fibreglassservices.co.uk/index.html
...and while we're at it, how's about seeing you boys out for a bit of a run and some beers in the new year? FFS, we live practically in each others laps and I've only ever seen Turks flying up and down Mount Pleasant in TW.
Get your arses in gear and get to a Kent Lotus or PH meet or get in touch with me and lets get some beers in. There are a few Lotus boys n gals in TW and around the area.
Maybe we can get ourselves in gear to go visit the BoLOC's in Spring or Summer?
Get your arses in gear and get to a Kent Lotus or PH meet or get in touch with me and lets get some beers in. There are a few Lotus boys n gals in TW and around the area.
Maybe we can get ourselves in gear to go visit the BoLOC's in Spring or Summer?
sorry to hear.
Same happened to my wife last summer. She drove over a 3" stump in the ground. Ripped a rather big flake (8" x 10" ) off the underside of the front clam and bent the front undertray. The undertray was 60 GBP. Fixing and painting the clam was 250 GBP.
And keep the broken pieces of the clam, because that makes repairing easier/cheaper.
>> Edited by chouca on Thursday 29th December 13:58
Same happened to my wife last summer. She drove over a 3" stump in the ground. Ripped a rather big flake (8" x 10" ) off the underside of the front clam and bent the front undertray. The undertray was 60 GBP. Fixing and painting the clam was 250 GBP.
And keep the broken pieces of the clam, because that makes repairing easier/cheaper.
>> Edited by chouca on Thursday 29th December 13:58
Not exactly yhe same issue, but had a someone drive into the front of my car and then dive off. Nice crack in the FG behind the number plate and an even larger crack at the top of the air duct to the rad.
Took it to a Caterham specialist, who repaired it for £250.
Its not as bad as it seems honest. I was initially quoted £1700 by a dealer. Told it was unfixable and needed a new Clam. Glad I didnt take their word for it.
Took it to a Caterham specialist, who repaired it for £250.
Its not as bad as it seems honest. I was initially quoted £1700 by a dealer. Told it was unfixable and needed a new Clam. Glad I didnt take their word for it.
S Works said:
...and while we're at it, how's about seeing you boys out for a bit of a run and some beers in the new year? FFS, we live practically in each others laps and I've only ever seen Turks flying up and down Mount Pleasant in TW.
Get your arses in gear and get to a Kent Lotus or PH meet or get in touch with me and lets get some beers in. There are a few Lotus boys n gals in TW and around the area.
Maybe we can get ourselves in gear to go visit the BoLOC's in Spring or Summer?
Yes I know I keep going on about it but I promise I'll make it over in the new year. Supposed to be going out with Turks in Jan sometime - Beluga bar which was Davs? Suggest a blat that day perhaps (weather permitting). Had the most fun drive of the year this morning coming into work - any more than 1,5000 revs in 3dr or 4th and the back just slid out. All the way down the A22! I haven't laughed so much since grandma died
tpit out of principle I'm afraid mate. The people that run it are a bunch of bell-ends and the clientele is questionable at best. Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff