Scottish Elises

So on the way home from a long day at work today, sitting in traffic, a young lady looses concentration and drives into the back of my pride and joy . Many tears and apologies later and we've swapped details and are on our way (tears on her part... and definitely apologies).

My questions are basically this. Before I go to her insurance company and start the process of making a claim, what should I be ready to ask or tell them to do with my car?

The damage doesn't seem too bad; the rear clam is split though just above the lower crease above the exhaust grille bit. Also some spider fractures in the paint around the offside light clusters as you can see in the pics. Would I be asking too much to insist that the car is taken to a lotus specialist for repairs? Or any recommendations on somewhere in Aberdeen capable of making a good job? I'm guessing it’s probably a new clam job really, I'm not sure I’d accept a paint and filler job, or am I being too fussy?

There doesn't seem to be any other damage on the surface, might get under it tomorrow and have a proper look.

What do you guys think?

Best get a new clam, as the cracks will also be under the paintwork. I know there is a very good bodyshop in Keith. Not far from you. Also ask Tut, as he had a great job done on N1.

If the result of your insurance claim is to repair the clam/respray then make sure you do nothing for a good few weeks - these cracks will spread.

If you do push for a new clam and get one, make sure you find out what's going to happen to the old clam - plenty that would get that repaired, e.g. in the LOTRDC series ...

Cheers,
Robin

Whatever you do dont let the insurer talk you into using their repairer. Insist on somewhere thats dealt with Elises before. Castlepark Autobody at Ellon are probably a good bet.

Not wanting to scare monger but I seem to recall posts on seloc saying that replacement clams were on back order - not sure if it was front or back, elise or exige.

Bit of gaffa tape meantime to reduce water ingress in case it is a repair instead of replace.

neil wrote:Whatever you do dont let the insurer talk you into using their repairer. Insist on somewhere thats dealt with Elises before. Castlepark Autobody at Ellon are probably a good bet.

Fully agree.

Be aware that you are entitled to use any bodyshop you choose. I only found this out last year when my insurer tried to send my car to Arbroath! A reputable chap down the road got the business, all my insurance said was "OK, but the work won't be covered by our warranty".

Said warranty possibly would be pish anyway.

This was repaired just over 3 years ago and has been fine, insurance would not autherise a new clam so Steve Walker carried the repair.

neil wrote:Whatever you do dont let the insurer talk you into using their repairer. Insist on somewhere thats dealt with Elises before. Castlepark Autobody at Ellon are probably a good bet.

Any advance on those guys? I'll tell the insurance to use them if they are good. They are already trying to send it to arnold clark

Stevenzop wrote:

neil wrote:Whatever you do dont let the insurer talk you into using their repairer. Insist on somewhere thats dealt with Elises before. Castlepark Autobody at Ellon are probably a good bet.

Any advance on those guys? I'll tell the insurance to use them if they are good. They are already trying to send it to arnold clark

Wrong way round - get your preferred repairer to look at it - give them the insurance details, and they'll do the rest, deal direct with insurance etc.

Castlepark are a very good bodyshop and fine guys to deal with too. Our Elise is there at the moment and is where we had our car painted before. They are the only bodyshop we trust, and are insurance approved. They're used to working on Loti too!!

PM me or my hubby (Gourlay83) if you want any more info on them.

Don't let the insurance co put it to Arnold Clark!!!

There's a lovely 1965 TVR there just now. Doing a fantastic paint job on it.

They are 5 minutes walk from me and not heard a bad thing about them

Might have a wlak down tomorrow and have a nose at the S1 Jen/Alan

If is a non-fault accident I wouldn't even bother myself with all the hassle of dealing with 3rd party insurers. Ring Accident Exchange, they'll arrange for the car to go to a bodyshop of your choice, deal with everything and drop of a like for like courtesy car while it's repaired (even while clams are on back order).

I was sceptical at first but was recommended by my BMW dealer over Xmas after someone rear ended the wife's X3 on the motorway.

If the insurers haven't already offered you this, they're taking you for a mug and hence why they're pushing their own repairers. If they really want to keep costs down they should stop insuring clowns.

Mikem7709 wrote:
If the insurers haven't already offered you this, they're taking you for a mug and hence why they're pushing their own repairers. If they really want to keep costs down they should stop insuring clowns.

Yep they have already offered me a like for like replacement, should have it arranged by the end of the day today apparently! With you on the clowns comment, this is the second numpty to use me as a bump stop in the last year! Last one was a bit more spectacular though.

Thanks for all the advice guys, much appreciated. The ball is in my court now, they have admitted that they're own bodyshops cant deal with fiberglass bodywork, and they would prefer if i find a garage and send them the quote. A bit of leg work for me but fingers crossed ill get a better job done in the end.

So... Castlepark will get a call today, sounds like a good place to start anyway.

Tell them the Gourlays sent you!

Davie, no probs, it's only been primed so far though! OT but do you and Michelle fancy coming to the SE dinner on Sat? Stevenzop too?