Tarmac_Terrorist Posted May 11, 2006 Report Share Posted May 11, 2006 Sorry to learn of your misfortune Hibbsy - at least you weren't going any faster, it could have been much much worse. It does look like a write off to me. However, if the insurance co decide to repair then don't let Direct Line do it at their own bodyshops - heard many bad reports on simple repairs. Best to specify a VW authorised repairer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhs Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Written off cars like this usually go to trade-only auctions of written off cars. Trade buy them either to renovate and sell (UK or export) or to scrap for parts. For further information see linky If written off and repaired yours might be category C or D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhs Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Definitely agree with Tarmac Terrorist - don't let Direct Line repair at their own network repair shops. If they suggest this then tell them it is a new car in warranty and VW have advised that this would be void if repairs done outside network. Also as this is an upgraded model this needs to be done in dealership with all relevant tools - VAG, tracking etc Insist on VW repairing it - this will put the price up - and that will make a write off more likely. The last thing you want is a bodged repair on a high performance vehicle done by underpaid muppets more used to repairing scapes on Corsas, Fiestas etc Having said this, remember that not all VW dealerships are equipped for body repair and paintwork and they may send your car to just the same bodyshop as Direct Line Based on where you live you may just want to ring the service depts at the three or four nearest VW chains and find out where they get their repairs done - VW UK helpline is an alternative - and then indicate to Direct Line which is your preferred VW dealership..... If and when the vehicle insurance inspector comes to see the vehicle you can also seek his advice and give him your views Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbetts Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Firstly - Hibbsy glad you and everyone else involved is OK. Secondly - It might not be a write-off... they could re-shell the car... the cost of this might be cheaper than a replacement... Best of luck to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhibbin Posted May 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 thanks nhs and Tarmac Terrorist. I called VW helpline, found a VW authorised retailer with bodyshop and told Direct Line that I want them to do the work. They have agreed and told the independant place to just hold the car. Great advice. VW were really helpfull and to be fair Direct Line also understood and agreed to my request to pick a different estimate and bodyshop. Hopefully I can get this sorted so that its either repaired properly or written off. Neck is stiff today, not something want to repeat in a hurry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 It's good to hear that progress is being made....The sooner you know what the future options are, the sooner you'll be able to put the incident well behind you. In response to others saying that DirectLine's accident repairers aren't up to scratch, I disagree. When some idiot went into the back of my BMW, DirectLine had it repaired at an Accident Repair Centre which happens to be the same bodyshop that my VW dealer uses and they have won awards for the standard of their work. I know the manager of that bodyshop and I would not hesitate to use them for my GTI. In fact they fitted my Holly Valance and aftermarket reversing beepers etc. So, just as VW dealers vary in their standards, so do bodyshops and it's too strong a generalisation to tar all those that DirectLine use with the same brush imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy_Driver Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 Hibbsy, Glad you are OK, cars can be repaired or replaced but a written off Hibbsy would be a different problem! Chase up the weight restriction limit - HGV drivers work under their own laws a lot of the time and if you can find anything at all then you might have a case. Insurers are always looking for the fastest way of getting it sorted - be it to your advantage or to theirs. Regards Paddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oli Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 In responce to a lot of peoples questions and statements; You can have your car repaired anywhere you like, you insurance company may tell you different. They will say you must have it repaired at one of their recommended repairers, but in my experience this isnt the way to go,. usually they are massive organisations with no control over quality, also they will mention courtesy car, but any body shop will give you a car, usually a micra, corsa or fiesta. I would speak to a few people and find out who has had their vehicle repaied where and how they found it? Getting it repaired by a VW repairer will not put the price up, as an independant engineer will inspect it and they all work from the same Thatcham repair times, and use the same genuine parts. Looking at the pics you have submitted it looks pretty bad as the roof, A pillar and sill are badly damaged, but like some one has already said it is usually about 50% of the total value before they will write if off, however as someone has mentioned if the lorry wasn't supposed to be there and it goes under their insurance(very unlikely) you can ask for a new car, and stand your ground on this, At the end of the day you were not hurt and it is only a car at the end of the day, which can be reapired, by the right bodyshop, to a very high standard. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhs Posted May 12, 2006 Report Share Posted May 12, 2006 OliH - the parts are the same and the repair time is the same, it is merely the hourly rate that may be very different! Overall the price of spares and time may be the same but the overall quotation may be different. Some insurers will pay a maximum rate, but rates differ from location to location (London vs Devon etc). As Robin says, some independent repairers are outstanding and are used by VW On the other hand dealerships can be poor and also you can end up with shoddy work from independents - which has happened to me in the past My experiences have been that usually VW dealers have to satisfy you in the end and you have VW UK to mediate if there really are problems OR if later on a fault develops and there is an argument about whether it is a warranty issue or a failure of the repairers to put things right/they've damaged something else. When I had a problem with an independent repair my insurers weren't that interested in the problems I had (which only showed up about driving down the road from the repair shop - when the car went over bumps it was evident the suspension strut hadn't been correctly specified/installed). By then I had already signed a "collection" note indicating I was happy with the repair -it looked fine, but drove like once off the repairers forecourt. They claimed it drove fine when they tested it..... the insurers couldn't care and said I'd accepted the repairs to the car and it wasn't their responsibility now (Admiral)..... Took forever to get sorted (well another two weeks anyway) Thus in equal circumstances with a near brand new car that is still running in, I'd recommend a main dealer/main dealer approved workshop (via the VW dealership) for peace of mind Hibbsy - good luck and I hope you get this sorted out very very soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oli Posted May 13, 2006 Report Share Posted May 13, 2006 [ QUOTE ] OliH - the parts are the same and the repair time is the same, it is merely the hourly rate that may be very different! Overall the price of spares and time may be the same but the overall quotation may be different. Some insurers will pay a maximum rate, but rates differ from location to location (London vs Devon etc). [/ QUOTE ] I run a bodyshop and we all have to work to the same insurance apporved labour rate, usually about £28 per hour + vat, unless it is a specialist supercar bodyshop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 14, 2006 Report Share Posted May 14, 2006 ....But the Mk5 GTI is a "supercar"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhibbin Posted May 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2006 oliH> Hope you don't mind me asking but I'm trying to decide the best place to have my GTi fixed (assuming not a write off). The insurance company has rescued the car to this place: http://www.abcrush.co.uk/ They say they are VW approved but VW helpline has not heard of them. Although it seems the dealers approve the bodyshops from what I can see there is no official VW UK approved list. My next nearest alternative is : http://www.summersmotors.co.uk/ They appear to be the VW bodyshop for a dealer in Tunbridge Wells. VW helpline seems to confirm. To be honest the insurance recommened one looks the best on the web site, letters from customers etc. Any advice on which looks best? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhs Posted May 14, 2006 Report Share Posted May 14, 2006 Well the workshop with the previous model Audi S4 saloon as its premium model on the website's home page, together with a whole load of letters dated 2000 doesn't necessarily inspire confidence regarding how up to date it keeps its website! Has the business changed hands since 2000? The other web site isn't much more informative either...... I haven't a clue - OliH - any clues? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pa55aT Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 A B Crush are also RAC approved, why not pop down and see them, I am sure they would be happy to discuss the repair with you and expalin what they will need to do. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhs Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 Yes, you could certainly visit the one where your car is parked first to see if they think it can be written off.... and if they are sure it will be repaired, then you can also visit the other one and make your mind up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oli Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 I would ring them both and ask if they have any testimonies for their work quality. Explain that your car is you pride and joy etc and gauge their reaction Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted May 15, 2006 Report Share Posted May 15, 2006 Having seen a 04 DPB R32 getting a new roof (due to a pedestrain bouncing off it), new glass new wing and new bonnet I'm not sure that this will be writen off. If write off is 50%+ that means a claim of £10k, looking at the photos I would imagine an approved repair facility could sort it for £6-7k including parts. Shame really, if would be better to write it off and start again. Glad you are ok, that the most important thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt R Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 [ QUOTE ] oliH> Hope you don't mind me asking but I'm trying to decide the best place to have my GTi fixed (assuming not a write off). The insurance company has rescued the car to this place: http://www.abcrush.co.uk/ They say they are VW approved but VW helpline has not heard of them. Although it seems the dealers approve the bodyshops from what I can see there is no official VW UK approved list. My next nearest alternative is : http://www.summersmotors.co.uk/ They appear to be the VW bodyshop for a dealer in Tunbridge Wells. VW helpline seems to confirm. To be honest the insurance recommened one looks the best on the web site, letters from customers etc. Any advice on which looks best? [/ QUOTE ] A B Crush are very good, I supply them all their parts, They also do all the transit damage vehicles from Sheerness docks for the whole VAG group, don't have any worries about their work! I already have the details for your car and pricing it up as we speak! Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 The power of TSN!! You're a star, Matt . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt R Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Its being repaired! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhibbin Posted May 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Thanks Matt amazing TSN !! I found this out yesterday from my insurance company and yes I have also come the the conclusion that this is the best place for it to be repaired. The long and the short of this is that regardless of what you paid for the car, insurance companies will base their new replacement policy on 60% of the UK list price (so £22K ish for 5dr DSG). My repairs will cost around £10.5k so sub 50% thus no replacement. An economic write-off is 70% of market value which is worse still since a 3week old 5dr DSG GTI is still worth 95% of what I paid for it. So no matter what it has to be a repair job. This means a new bodyshell (Matt R : assume this is what you are pricing . Would love to know the full parts list (if you could PM me). Now here comes the tough bit I have a meeting with AB Crush to see the car etc and I'm still very worried. Buying the GTI was a fantastic decision but not an easy one financially and I don't want to feel that for the rest of the time I have it that I don't really have a great GTI but a substandard patch up. Thats nothing against AB Crush and their experience but rather just my own gut feel based on the following concerns: 1. Everything and I mean everything has to come out of the old body. My fear is that all that trim etc that used to held in place by 12 little plastic clips will be held in place by 8 or 10 (after a few snap) in the new body shell. You multiply this effect over 100s of parts and hey presto its not the rock solid product it was at new. 2. That tree stump did something to make the two front wheels point in opposite directions and the left one did not respond to any stearing...this sounds really bad, I hope this can be fixed perfectly. 3. How fragile is the DSG gearbox ...it was quite a bang under the car 4. Can the chassis really not be damaged ? I understand that a whole new body shell is better than a part replacement and in theory it can all be made "as new" but right now I just have a bad feeling that I'm going to have a car that looks like a new GTi but will never feel like one again. One last thought, since the whole car is being ripped to bits can I get an armrest and a highline ...always wanted these and willing to pay for them just never got the choice from Motorprovider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhs Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Could soon be the time to trade it in for an MY07 model I suspect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhibbin Posted May 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 I have considered this ... my guess is a £4K cost of change. ouch !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt R Posted May 19, 2006 Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 Bodyshell is around £5000 with transport costs! Hibbsy will PM later!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhs Posted May 19, 2006 Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 Alternatively start saving now for the £k10 for the MY08 car! Or the TSI 2 litre, whatever that will be called (?GTI) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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