Oh dear...

crazy88

crazy88

Loving the anonymity
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Got a phone call at work today from mrs crazy88 who was rather upset at having done this to my beloved. It is already at my garage who need to provide an estimate for the insurance company. Apparently they reckon it's a close one as the seat belt tensioners have gone. Luckily no air bags have gone off though, which will help as I really don't want it writing off.

I am wondering about trying to source the parts for cheapo from elsewhere. It's my uncle's garage and they're aware of how much I want to keep the car. Writing it off is such a ball-ache and I love this car so really don't want another.

Anyway, here is my miserable pic for the day...right proper sad face now!!! :crying:

4408547585_32dc0a3eb7_o.jpg


Feel my pain people, and all suggestions welcome!
 
oh mate thats a real s**t one...as above what appened
 
sorry to see that mate on the up side it looks like it will go back on the road iv seen a lot worse go back on.
from the pic looks like bumper light bonet and a wing all bolt on so that will make it easyer with out seeing it you may need a slame panel too.
again sorry it happend to you though.
 
I don't fully know the level of the damage. I literally arrived to the car as soon as the dude came to pick it up as i had to rush back to hudds from manchester. We had a quick look under the bonnet, and it appears to have just missed going back into the engine. I am almost certain it'll need a new slam panel, possibly both wings (def 1) and bumpers. There was leaky leaky from it, but it was all clear so hoping it's only the radiator. I don't really know a lot about them though, so not too sure what other problems it may have caused. Like i said earlier, so glad that the airbags didn't go off though. I have heard that seatbelt tensioners are expensive...is this true? Wonder if pjmspeedy can get parts cheaper than my uncle, ha.

As for how, she got distracted I think, and the car infront stopped rather fast. As she looked up she attempted to stop which helped as she slowed the car at least. Just eagerly awaiting insurance company's decision now, and crossing everything I can in the hope that they don't write it off. I don't care about the other costs, I just loved my car! And just ordered some new wipers too...what a waste of money that'd be! haha
 
What age and spec is your car?

Hopefully if it's not rammed the fan thru the rad and into the block or anything, and it's just external coosmetic damage then it shouldn't be too bad. There's always the buy-back option if the worst comes to the worst....

Your wipers wont be wasted ;)
 
oh man im gutted for you. first thing is the mrs ok? letshope its not a write off oryoul have to start over. if so get her stripped of everything you can retrofit to another motor just remember a car is replacable.:icon_thumright:
 
Yeah the wife and daughter (17months old) are fine luckily. That's what I keep telling her as she has spent the day beating herself up about it. I am hoping it's cosmetic quattrojames also. It's an '02 130TDI, with 130k miles. It has a full service history (only last two are not audi, but they're audi/ volkswagen specialist also) so hopefully that'll help too as it ran perfect! Would be such a shame to write it off.

I am gutted as it was perfect for us. Large enough for when we expand in terms of family, easily fit my bike in, and in my opinion perfect colour (despite a white avant that is, haha)

I will keep you all updated.

Oh yeah, can't remember if i said, my uncle said there was a kink in the wing that he was dubious of until he could take it off (monday). They only got the car at about 3pm on a friday so I doubt the mechanics even looked twice at it yet, lol.
 
quattrojames said:
What age and spec is your car?

Hopefully if it's not rammed the fan thru the rad and into the block or anything, and it's just external coosmetic damage then it shouldn't be too bad. There's always the buy-back option if the worst comes to the worst....
Click to expand...

was going to say the same, tbh, it may work out cheaper for you if they write it off and you buy it back and repair it yourself ( your uncle) as then youll be saving money by being able to fit second hand parts. plus with the insurance pay out, have a bit of spare cash for other things
 
The most important thing is mrs crazy and baby crazy are ok,as for the car insurance companys are all too quick to write things off nowadays, when i hit a deer last year my body shop told me if the damage is 75% or more of the value of the car they will write it off, if they do see what they offer and if you can't get one to the same standard of yours don't be affraid to stand your ground and insist it is repaired,
I've got my fingers crossed for you.
 
You let your wife drive your car! man my fionce wont go near that one.

if you can go see the car and get a better look at what is broken. if it were me i would let the insurance write it off as i wouldnt trust the car again. You say the airbags not going off is a good thing, that would rattle in my mind as a bad thing.
 
Nutkin said:
You let your wife drive your car! man my fionce wont go near that one.
Click to expand...

Of course I let my wife drive my car! (She is my wife after all, ha)

Nutkin said:
if you can go see the car and get a better look at what is broken. if it were me i would let the insurance write it off as i wouldnt trust the car again. You say the airbags not going off is a good thing, that would rattle in my mind as a bad thing.
Click to expand...

Yeah I did wonder that, but then I just thought that it must have not been that bad. They're not designed to go off unless necessary. There is no structural damage to the car, it's all cosmetic.

On a side note, my insurance company told me my car is worth 'market value'...so guess what my next question is :)

What's a rough guess on market value for a '52 A4 Avant SE, 130bhp, 130k miles, and full service history. It's good condition, but not mint (although apparently they never visit the car, so will never know the condition). I'm hoping that it's obviously high enough that they'll just decide to repair it rather than the hassle of buying it back after its written off. Any views/ guidance on a rough ball park figure would be great people!!
 
to be fair when it comes to them paying out if your not happy with there offer find some cars you like of the same year as your old one and as close as pos
then forward them web links or the adds from papper and so on just 3 or 4 and they have to match it.
as its not just how much you paid for your car its how much it wil cost to replace it thats what they have to pay you or you can say put my old one back on the road.
or you can buy it back but before you do so get the hights price for fixing it as you can that way when they agree you have money in the bank too. done this with 2 older cars of mine.
 
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Sorry to put a downer on things, but I'll reckon they'll write that off. The belt tensioners have gone, and there may be other damage behind the scenes. Insurers seem to write anything off these days if it has seemingly minor damage, but good luck either way.
 
I don't mind if they write it off as long as I get a decent amount. Plus, I will probably buy it back anyway as I love it too much and would rather have the car I know back than the hastle of a potential lemon if I buy a new one.

Thanks for replies
 
sure all will be okay mate and i no what you mean better the devil you know :rtfm:
 
Well, as an update, the car is a write off! :( There is still the option of a contract price, i.e. trying to find a donor car and repairing it from that.

On a side note, the insurance company have given me a figure of £4100 what they will pay out, but I think it's worth more than that as I have been looking around autotrader, and am struggling to find the same car for similar money. What do you all think? Any advice would be very very very much appreciated regarding what you all think it's worth.

Thanks again
 
sorry mate as for the price they give you knock it back and say you cant buy one of the same spec and year for that also add you will emaill or send some of the adds proving this
it should make them offer you more as it is there job to put you back in the same as you lost. not less
 
Don't be too downhearted mate, it's all part of the game these companies play. They always make a silly first offer (which plenty of people probably accept), just keep turning their offers down until they eventually come up with one you at least find 'acceptable'.

With the best will in the world, A4's aren't rare cars - so just keeping searching all the usual sites, Autotrader/ebay/Pistonheads etc etc and put together a file of cars that are worth more than their offer.

52 plate Avant with 130k and FSH yeah?

EDIT Parkers value it at £5780 Good condition private sale with 80k so thats a good price to start, mileage doesn't affect the value of these cars like some others.
 
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i know this is of no real help but i had my tdi sport with 139k on the clock falued by a local garege and it come out as £5500 so from what myself and james said
they are off price for sure.
 
Thanks for the replies people! Don't forget it's an '02, so perhaps a few years older than yours though. I am definately going to knock back the first offer, as just trying to find one the same spec is proving hard. Yes it has FSH, all dealer until last two, and they were audi specialist.

I am also being drawn to the dark side slightly...BMW...RWD...oh dear oh dear!

Thanks for the bartering tips too, there's some really good advice there!


:)
 
mine is 52 plate mate so only 6mths newer oh dear bmw ha love these smiles :asskicking:
 
Ahhh, thanks mate! Hopefully I can get more out of them, I will create a car list over the weekend and then ring them on monday with my car prices! :)

and yeah, the smilies are ace on the forum!
 
if they give you a good pay our looking to buying it back i did it with my old car got a pay out of 2500 and the car back put it on the road for 650 job done
 
They are wanting 1500 to buy the car back!!! Plus, finding a donor front end is nigh on impossible as most front end crashes end up in a write off, and most other crashes seem to get repaired. I am all up for repairing it, but just think it's going to be too much work to try find the parts for a price that makes it viable.
 
TBh even buying it back at that and buying new panels and a front end re spray will prob cost less than you are due from them, with the potential to maybe upgrade some of the front end parts while you do it.
It's what we did on our A3 TQS
 
It's pretty gut wrenching when your 'pride and joy' gets damaged but I'd have to say that getting rid of it would be the best option, assuming you can get a decent amount from the insurance company that allows you to buy something comparable.

Girlfriend had a prang in a car I'd owned for years and I was gutted. Fortunately no other parties involved and I paid to have the, relatively minor & cosmetic, damage repaired (didn't put it through insurance as fortunately cost not too high to warrant paying excess and loss of NCD etc). Even though repair was done to a high standard I have to say that I never felt the same about the car again and it ultimately became the catalyst to selling it (it had become a second car that I had previously been unable to bring myself to part with!)

Also, if you went down the repair route, doesn't the fact that it has been an insurance company write off get logged with the (DVLA) history of the car? This could well put off potential buyers in the future, which might mean having to lower the price and make the economics of repairing it even less attractive?

Sorry to be negative, but I'd say chalk the episode up to bad luck, at least your wife and child were not hurt, and take the opportunity to have the fun of getting another new car!
 
Byzan A4 said:
TBh even buying it back at that and buying new panels and a front end re spray will prob cost less than you are due from them, with the potential to maybe upgrade some of the front end parts while you do it.
It's what we did on our A3 TQS
Click to expand...

The quote for parts is 3500, and labour is 900, she pranged it pretty hard, and caused a fair bit of internal damage too. It's worse than we first suspected, hence why i'm just thinking of getting rid of it now.

It's 1500 to buy it back, +900 labour, leaves me with approximately 1500ish to repair the entire front end in parts (official audi quote for parts totals 3500)...in my eyes, that's just not worth the hassle. It's such a nightmare, as it was my first car I actually enjoyed.

As AJB Audi says though, maybe it's just time to move on and enjoy the purchase of a new car. I am really considering a similar age 3series, 320d. Similar car really, boot looks a bit wider which is handy for the pram/ bike etc. And, as mentioned, it's RWD also, fun times!
 
I didnt mean for you to pay to get it fixed bar the respray. Maybe it is time to move on if you can get enough to replace her.

If you get a beemer we can all wave at you as we pass you in the snow,lol
 
Byzan A4 said:
I didnt mean for you to pay to get it fixed bar the respray. Maybe it is time to move on if you can get enough to replace her.

If you get a beemer we can all wave at you as we pass you in the snow,lol
Click to expand...

Yes indeed! But I will wave as I travel sideways everywhere with a smile on my face, lol.

And as for fixing it, did you mean for me to do it? I don't have the time or know how, so that won't work ,lol
 
Id take the Payout - Not that one though, like they say, keep telling them and refusing till you get a better offer you happy with!
You need to change your sig to " I DID like my new car" :eyebrows:

So how come you want a Beemer now then? Is it the nightmare you been through with the A4 that has put you off? or was you not sure about the Audi in the first place??
 
mate each to there own but
id not tuch a bmw 320d i looked into them before my a4 tdi and the bmw was no where near as good a car as the tdi`s are for reliability
and have a factroy default of the swerlflaps coming off in the manifold killing the engine witch is very common.
plus you will lose all the smiles from off here :nyah:
 
Apart from the RWD I am not really diggin the BMW. It was a blip in my car desires. I have searched autotrader and the likes, and just can't imagine another car than an A4 avant, so I am thinking of getting one again.

Just to get sorted on how much I think I can get from the insurance company. I reckon if i got 4500 i would accept, as there does seem to be some around this mark. Just going to be a pain trying to find the perfect colour again, as I loved the grey.

Oh, and as a rough guide, how many offers do you reject before it just sounds like you're being an ****? ha.
 
i think if you reject the first one and give them the price you need along with the proof thats how much they are going for ie links of adds or cut outs.
they should meat your price on the second go if they are still way of tel them to find you the car that matches your last one and you will buy it for the money they offerd you.
or they can put yours back on the road
 
Just as an update, I managed to keep the car which I am so pleased about. I know that some of you think I should have bought another one, but I loved this one and with the FSH (owner known by my uncles garage who i bought it from) it made me want to keep it even more. So, with a contract price agreed, I am still just waiting to get it back. All being well I collect it next wednesday. It could probably sooner, but i'm off work that day anyway, so it makes sense to just get it then.

Here is the latest picture of the car. It's actually progressed further from this now. The wing on the engine is already painted, and ready to go on, as is the bumper etc. At this stage they were just waiting for a few bits to fasten everything together. (most likely the velcro to hold the bumper on :p )

4524830979_8c41cb42c1_o.jpg


4525460460_72290685a7_o.jpg


My mate said he could hardly see through the windows as it was so dusty/ dirty! And it's been under a sheet for the majority of the time too! I am so excited to get it back all fixed and shiny.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and another thing! The car I have been using since then is an '02 (so same age as mine) vectra 2.2dti, and it's awful. Has about half the miles of mine, and feels so tired. Only good thing is that it has HID's whereas mine doesn't! So glad to be getting my a4 back.
 
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One thing I have noticed in that picture is just how HUGE the engine looks. My previous car was a 306 (1.9tdi) and the engine seemed nowhere near this size. I think my engine bay will also need a real good clean when i get it back too.
 
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