Great start to 2016 - I've binned it

[jimbo]

So, great timing. I'm due to start my new job come Tuesday, commute will be 15 miles away each day, and I've just dropped it coming off a roundabout. Clean through a lamppost, head-on. Gutted. And thoroughly pissed off.

It drove home again surprisingly well, think the tracking might be a bit out (!?) I'm hoping it's just destroyed the clam, grille and light, but I doubt I'll be that fortunate. Obviously it would be best to get it down to Craig for a good looking over but no idea how I'll get it down there.

What's the going rate for a new front clam? I'm hoping to not have to claim it from my insurance but that'll all depend on what's wrong.

[j2 lot]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune, hope you get it sorted. AA / RAC recovery to get to CMC?
Clams are hard to come by so potentially not going to be a quick fix.
Careful if you've damaged a lamppost as you need to report damaging 3rd party property & will be liable so probably best to let your insurance know & let them deal with it. Last thing you want is a knock at the door for failing to report......

[jimbo]

Yeah interesting point that, as the cops said I don't need to report it to my insurance. They said that while I may end up being liable for it, given what else the council have to pay for round Aberdeen just now they might not bother pursuing me. They also said that because I don't have to claim my own car if I don't want to, I don't need to let them know about the lamppost and I might be lucky and not have to pay for it.

[j2 lot]

Does your policy cover a loan car ? What will you loose (NCD ) by claiming?
Repair is probably going to cost a couple of £k (?) if you need a new clam and despite what the BiB have said the Councils are cash strapped and will pursue if they can. The Police are obviously aware so no issues with ' failing to report' so you've got time to get estimates/ sort your options but I reckon insurance must be the best option unless it is a simple GRP repair.

Hope you get it all sorted, don't beat yourself up over it, see it as an opportunity to get some refresh work or upgrades

[captain]

Ouch, sorry to hear that.

Seen these?

https://www.eliseparts.com/products/sho ... dy-kit-v2/

[jimbo]

Ouch, sorry to hear that.

Seen these?

https://www.eliseparts.com/products/sho ... dy-kit-v2/

Yeah seen those, was one of the first things that crossed my mind. Need to see what other damage has been done first.

Don't want to claim it as I might be able to pull in some favours and have it repaired and sprayed for mates rates (if it's even remotely repairable). Plus I don't want to pay my hefty excess, and then still be paying for it with a higher premium for years to come

[jimbo]

My heads actually all over the shop just now

[Mikie711]

Sorry to hear and hope you are OK.
If your insurance company looks at repairing the car and it needs a clam likely it'll need a crash structure as well. If it was a head on then the crash structure is directly behind the clam and will most probably sustained some damage. An insurance company would look to replace both along with any other subsiquent damage. They won't go for fibreglass repair unless you sign off on it and convince them to do it. So it will probably get written off which leave you with couple of options, take the cash and buy something else or buy it back and repair it the cheaper way, clam repair rather than replace. Crash structure repair/replace as required. Probably the quicker way to do it TBH as the insurance won't be able to source a clam very easily. Also you isn't a standard colour, didn't Mark paint it some Aston colour.
The basis for this is that the 111R I bought had less damage, was worth more and still got written off likely because of the rear clam. I could have put the car back on the road for £850, rear clam in the correct colour was £500, rest was a wheel, tyre and a toe link.
I might be able to help get it down to Craig's if your stuck and the new electrics pack for my Navara cures my towing issues.

[tut]

You can not get it collected or taken down by the AA, that is for breakdowns not accidents.

tut

[jimbo]

Thanks for the info Mike, appreciate it. Is the crash structure expensive? How should I best assess the damage, other than the obvious front clam? It's weird because it seems to be driving ok, the lights still work, the clam itself doesn't seem to have moved, as the gap to the bonnet seems the same and the doors both open as normal

[jimbo]

Yeah it's an Aston colour. I might be able to get a repair and paint through kinghorn, friend of a friend type thing

[mxvx]

Hope you can get her fixed up without too much issue...these might help if you need them:

http://www.aberdeen-vehicle-transport.com/
http://www.flyingbluedog.co.uk/
http://www.cartrans.co.uk/quote.htm

[j2 lot]

You can not get it collected or taken down by the AA, that is for breakdowns not accidents.

tut

Think you're right through normal breakdown policies but they do have a vehicle transport service:

http://www.theaa.com/move-my-car

Still not sure if it covers accident damaged though

[jimbo]

[pete]

Yeah that won't buff out.

Look I don't know how old you are or what your insurance costs are at the moment but this is pretty much what insurance is for. LEt them sort it out for you, that's why you pay them hundreds (or in Tut's case, tens) of pounds a year. Yes your NCD will take a hit but you might be surprised how little a difference it actually makes.