Vauxhall Combi fails to spot a Chevrolet Astro ...

[Electron]

So a Vauxhall Combi driver managed not to spot my Chevrolet parked (legally) on a straight piece of road ....

He hit it at nearly 40mph and pushed it 50 yards down the road and into a wall ...



It was a 4x4 variant and he also smashed all the transmission ..

I can't find another 4x4 for sale anywhere ... has anyone got any ideas how to find a replacement as it was brilliant in the snow .... ???

[chevy-stu]

Surely his insurance will have to pay the full cost of a replacement 4x4 transmission from wherever it needs to be sourced from.. ?

[Electron]

Stu,

Unfortunately it's a write off. Bodywork plus radiator plus the new gearbox has taken her well over the repair costs.

The trouble is because the Astro 4x4 drivetrain seems to be an unknown no one knows the repair costs.

I've gone looking for similar Astro 4x4's to show the insurance company what it is worth but can't find any ??

I guess the 4x4 Starcrafts are a little rarer than I initially thought.

Ta

Chris

[balls-out]

OK there are a couple of things here. I am not a lawyer, but find the area interesting and have looked into the matter when I was driven in to.

1) I would advise you claim directly on the person's insurance who hit your van. This means that your rights in law are clear. If you claim on your own insurance policy, then you are bound by the small print of the policy/contract you signed with them.

2) as a 3rd party, you are entitled to be put back into the position that you would have been in if the accident had not happened. If you cannot find a 4x4 in this country then you are entitled to expect them to pay for any import costs. You shouldn't be the worse off because of the accident. when you talk to his insurance company they will try and mislead you (well they have tried to with me). Don't be fobbed off with 'market value', that isn't their legal obligation to you as a dammaged 3rd party.

It might be worth talking to companies that spcialise in Japan imports and see if they can find you one.

You may have a fight, and its up to you if you can be bothered to get what you are legally entitled to.

Might be worth talking to CAB.

Good luck.

Edited by balls-out on Wednesday 25th August 09:55

[Electron]

Thanks .... you confirmed my thoughts.

I've just put a call into the engineer who will inspect the van to get him to record it's a 4x4 and for him to base his valuations on similar vans and not two wheel variants.

I have another car so can take time on this one ...

Can anyone recommend a good importer of Astros ??

Ta

Chris

[Electron]

Thanks .... you confirmed my thoughts.

I've just put a call into the engineer who will inspect the van to get him to record it's a 4x4 and for him to base his valuations on similar vans and not two wheel variants.

I have another car so can take time on this one ...

Can anyone recommend a good importer of Astros ??

Ta

Chris

[balls-out]

Make a note of all the time you spend on this. I did this and when the insurance company got difficult I threatened to charge them for it all, unless they stopped wasting my time. It might have been coincidence, but they gave up giving me the run-around. This was the only way I could see to incentivise them to sort me out in a reasonable manner. Threatening to sue large insurance companies didn't seem a smart move.

I don't know any importers, but there have been a few day vans on ebay from people who claim to imported several. Probably worth a trawl through 'sold items'

[Roo]

balls-outs advice is very good.

Had it a couple of times through work where the only way of getting a sensible conclusion is to look at the replacement import cost. Not forgetting import duty, VAT, clearance fees, handling fees, light conversion and everything else involved.

[KevF]

Chris,

Not sure if it helps but a mate of mine has this for sale when he returns from holiday. Do not know much about them but it has AWD (or is it 4WD) on the side...







If you need more details mate then drop me a PM. Hope you get it sorted.

Cheers

Kev

[chevy-stu]

Just to reinforce what others have said...

Claim from their insurance not your own. They are liable for full repair, replacement or whatever it takes if their policy holder is at fault..

They also owe you a courtesy car till it's sorted and any other associated costs until you're happy..

[balls-out]

Heres an AWD:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1996-CHEVROLET-ASTRO-VAN-/13...

also why not give the replacement spec to a company like this and ask them to find you one
http://www.astro-land.co.uk/index.php

Edited by balls-out on Thursday 26th August 15:49

[Getragdogleg]

I am breaking a 95 astro 2wd, its got no rust at all but no engine and gearbox.

What is broken in your transmission ? they are fixable as they are very common boxes.

While you are thinking about it register on www.astrosafari.co.uk its great site with loads of help available.

Edited by Getragdogleg on Sunday 29th August 23:55

[eliot]

Also dig out Anniesdad here on PH - specialises in sorting out messy claims like this. Highly reccomended.

[Getragdogleg]

Now I am awake and not fresh from the pub I can post sensible stuff.

The body damage looks fixable, the trans on the other hand can be pricy. which bit has the accident ruined ? you have the main auto box, then bolted to this is the transfer box that takes drive off via a viscous unit and sends a small propshaft forwards, then you have the front diff, this is offset and takes the drive from the prop and sends it out to the front wheels.

If it is decided it is scrap make sure you buy it back, the engines are worth really good money and the rest of the odds and sods you can sell from it will be very worth it.

I have a 4WD 95 Astro and a spares 2WD astro, I could make a decent amount of money from the spares one if I put the parts on ebay, I just dont want to as I know what I sell i will need !

PM me if you want, I know a lot of people in the Astro circles who can help.

[LeighW]

Sorry to see the van meet a nasty end like that. I hope you get a decent payout for it, decent vans are few and far between.

If you do decide to buy it back to break, there would be loads of people (myself included) on astrosafari.co.uk who would be interested in parts.

[astro74]

Hello Electron,

I can also recomend astrosafari.co.uk great site for astro owners,

If you are interested I can recomend dealers for you to stay well clear off
Email me through the piston head forum and I will put you straight,

This will easily save you thousands!

Hope to speak to you soon.

[BlueMR2]

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...

[Electron]

So the van is written off and I get my formal offer on Friday. My insurance is Agreed Value so if they pay what is in the policy I'll be happy.

Driving past my local Jap importer I spot a low mileage 2002 4x4 in black !! Like a moth to a lamp I've been sucked in !! The interior is nearly perfect and showed my old van was getting tired.

"Sticker Price" is a fair bit more than my 1995 one but to be honest you can easily spot the difference.

My original van was in Park when it was hit and when we came to move it you couldn't select Drive at all ... but reverse works... not sure if this gives any clues to the damage.

The engine is a funny in between 95 variant as I had trouble getting the right PCV widget for it and I had to make sure I had the chassis number to buy the correct air filter. I think CMFI injection from memory ..

The house already looks like Steptoes with the projets so I will not buy back the salvage.

If anyone wants me to find a price for the salvage let me know ... the van has four brand new tyres on good alloys - engine is good - transmission obviously dead - all the seats were very good but some of the interior fittings were tired .... all the panels that aren't damaged are good/excellent - brand new electric mirror on the passenger side - one of two front brand new side lights is still ok ! - brand new door seals.

I'll put up pictures of the replacement if and when I do a deal ..

[Getragdogleg]

Offer it up on www.Astrosafari.co.uk someone there will buy it from you/salvage i am sure.

I got quite a few PMs there when I bought my spares van, its a shame the wheels and tyres on my spares van are not good.

PM, sent !

[Electron]

Thanks

Put it up on the Forum to see if anyone wants the whole thing to break with a listing of good/bad etc