96 replies to this topic

[jackturbostage4]

It's gonna go for stupid money

[TheRealVXed]

Whats with the black tape everywhere

[Claws]

Whats with the black tape everywhere

Is black tape not standard issue?

Edited by Claws, 21 January 2013 - 11:45 AM.

[TheRealVXed]

Maybe on a LY actually... they seem to stick it round the windscreen on them for some reason. god knows why!

[flash]

What are the other issues you have been having with the car?

Nothing out of the ordinary really given its age.

The main problems and anticipated maintenance are:

• Heater broken - needs a new heater box which costs silly money. Granted the vx220 heater is virtually useless anyway but try telling that to your feet when it's -4 degrees outside. A halfords ciggy lighter job would probably be a good investment.
• Heater/vent ducting is missing. Chamis to the rescue! A 2 minute job if you can get the right diameter but it is pretty unusual. Treat it to a new stocking while you're at it.
• Yellow light of doom (EML) has been on since the Summer, probably one of the Llamda sensors as it has been driving fine and fuel efficiency hasn't been impacted at all.
• Corroded brake lines. The nearside has just been replaced but the offside needs doing too.
• Corroded coils and shocks as per MOT advisories.
• Roof seals are starting to perish. Again, Vauxhall want over 1k for a bit of rubber and they can fcuk right off. Having said that, they were replaced under warrranty, they are the newer turbo seals and they are pretty watertight still, even after heavy rain.
• Roof cable, rear one went ping back in the Summer and was replaced, the front one is still the original and will probably go ping soon. Again a 2 minute job and 20 quid basically.
• Roof, there is a small superficial tear in the middle of the roof where someone tried to break in.
• The aging VDO Dayton stereo needs replacing unless you enjoy an endless loop of 90s dance music on the CD that is jammed in to it. It only got stuck after the accident otherwise I would have had it replaced. I had a temperature and speed sensor fitted so I could enable the temperature display and speed-variable volume. Nothing worse than being deafened at traffic lights....
• Engine mounts were done in 2007. Will probably need replacing again sooner rather than later but they are holding tight for now.
• Tyres from memory about 1/2 to 2/3 worn all over.
• Discs and pads again from memory both about 2/3 worn. I would expect to replace the discs when the pads are next done.
• Battery, alternator, belt and tensioner - replaced in 2008. Still holding plenty of charge at the moment.
• Track rod ball joints replaced 2008.
• Expansion tank #4 installed 2012.
• All recalls done.

MOT is here:
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=F4BF167AA5F95392!12058&authkey=!ABzHEfg01emcVjs

[flash]

Maybe on a LY actually... they seem to stick it round the windscreen on them for some reason. god knows why!

Haha! And it bubbles up almost as badly as the paintwork.

Actually, it was the muppets that collected it that couldn't find any metal to stick their magnetic trailer lights on to.

[TheRealVXed]

[TazN]

How can it be written-off and not put under cat class? Silly small amounts of damage to write them off :/

[TheRealVXed]

Not worse than mine which they repaired in the summer

[Mangham54]

How can it be written-off and not put under cat class?

Silly small amounts of damage to write them off :/

I suppose the insurance company always have the right to just say "fcuk it, give them the money and sell it to the scrappers as is".

Though I know nothing about how that system works.

[Sutol]

Just seen this. Absolutely ridiculous to write it off. Looking at the list of anticipated maintenance would come to more than the clam repair then all you need is a second hand light.

[flash]

Just seen this. Absolutely ridiculous to write it off. Looking at the list of anticipated maintenance would come to more than the clam repair then all you need is a second hand light.

Ridiculous for who? I've offloaded a car I'm done with and don't need to worry about the Stack lighting up like a Christmas tree when I come to sell it. Winter also being the worst possible time to sell. Especially without a heater. The insurer saves by not paying the extortionate repair costs the garage quoted for and someone gets a bargain on Copart...who may or may not be able to carry out the repair for 800 quid*; but that's their problem.

It's crazy I know but still win-win-win for everyone and unfortunately it's the way a lot of insurance claims are going now.

I blame:

Greedy garages wanting to max out the work, charging 45/hr; 10 hours to replace clam and 10 hours to paint it.
Greedy manufacturer's wanting to milk it for parts that they cannot even supply without being held on back-order.
Greedy scavanger's parading as Accident Management Companies hiring replacement cars on overpriced credit agreements to charge back to the third party.

The whole industry is rotten to the core.



*And I'd love to know where these cheap 2nd hand headlights are that everyone keeps mentioning? Just saying....

[Claws]

Surely the insurance didn't save, unless they paid you less than the repair quote, which is a bit of an insult. Headlights come up all the time, Cliffie is/was selling a pair for £350 this week, if that's not cheap, then I really don't know what is. Just saying.

[TheRealVXed]

£860 plus VAT EACH from Vaux

[Sutol]

Just seen this. Absolutely ridiculous to write it off. Looking at the list of anticipated maintenance would come to more than the clam repair then all you need is a second hand light.

Ridiculous for who? I've offloaded a car I'm done with and don't need to worry about the Stack lighting up like a Christmas tree when I come to sell it. Winter also being the worst possible time to sell. Especially without a heater. The insurer saves by not paying the extortionate repair costs the garage quoted for and someone gets a bargain on Copart...who may or may not be able to carry out the repair for 800 quid*; but that's their problem.

It's crazy I know but still win-win-win for everyone and unfortunately it's the way a lot of insurance claims are going now.

I blame:

Greedy garages wanting to max out the work, charging 45/hr; 10 hours to replace clam and 10 hours to paint it.
Greedy manufacturer's wanting to milk it for parts that they cannot even supply without being held on back-order.
Greedy scavanger's parading as Accident Management Companies hiring replacement cars on overpriced credit agreements to charge back to the third party.

The whole industry is rotten to the core.



*And I'd love to know where these cheap 2nd hand headlights are that everyone keeps mentioning? Just saying....

Most peeps come on here when their cars been bashed saying, "I hope they don't write it off, boo hoo". Makes a change to see someone apparently glad it's been written off.

Now if I got my car wacked with as little damage as your car and some insurance assessor writes my car off I would be totally gutted. Your car being written off just sets a president for others and puts insurance premiums up. £45/hour is the going rate for Lotus/VX experienced workshops and they wouldn't take 10 hours to get a clam off even if every bolt was seized.

The whole industry isn't as you say rotten to the core just your experience of it has made you think that way.

[flash]

Of course I was totally gutted to find a big hole in my car - who wouldn't be? I've had it from new and it's been an absolutely amazing car to drive over the past 11 years. I just had a full respray last year. I loved the bloody thing. But moving to London meant that I would have to have sold it in the Spring so there was no point in me repairing it only to sell it straightaway.

How can it be setting a precedent when it is standard industry practice? It actually keeps insurance premiums down. If I had gone the usual route, I would have taken a hire credit car from the AMC offered to me at 109 quid a day, it would have been at the garage for two months while the clam was on back order and repairs carried out. Total hire costs: 3270 quid. Total repair costs 5400+25/day storage. Total costs = 9420. Instead the insurer has paid about a third of this once the salvage value is taken into account. Even if the insurer only got 50% of the PAV from the salvager they have still made a significant saving.

AMC's are not good for insurance premiums.
£1000 is not a reasonable price for a light.
10 hours to replace a clam is excessive, especially when it is a specialist charging specialist rates.

IME the whole car insurance/repair industry is dysfunctional. YMMV but the OFT seems to agree with me and has launched an investigation:
http://www.bbc.co.uk...siness-18268650

Edited by flash, 21 January 2013 - 05:15 PM.

[Zoobeef]

They wouldn't of gotten anywhere near 50% You could of bought it for £2k or less and either sold it straight for £3k profit or repaired for £500 and made £4k profit. You've missed out

[Claws]

They wouldn't of gotten anywhere near 50%
You could of bought it for £2k or less and either sold it straight for £3k profit or repaired for £500 and made £4k profit. You've missed out

You didn't HAVE to take the hire car either, but even if you did, 3 months is a bit ridiculous is it not.

Also, as there was no third party involved, you could have thrown about £1500 at the car which would have fixed the damage, sorted the niggles and bagged you a handsome sum in the spring when you sold it. Now there is a LY floating about with no HT, which was one of the main features of the edition as I'm sure you know.

Hopefully Luca gets it and gives it the treatment it deserves, rather than being banded about getting various bodge repairs carried out so someone can turn a quick buck

Edited by Claws, 21 January 2013 - 05:36 PM.

[flash]

Surely the insurance didn't save, unless they paid you less than the repair quote, which is a bit of an insult.

Headlights come up all the time, Cliffie is/was selling a pair for £350 this week, if that's not cheap, then I really don't know what is. Just saying.

They get money back from salvage so they save.

Cliffie's were damaged, although the drivers side was presumably ok. Still a bargain though and I take your point. It's just whenever you're looking for a driver side front light you are guaranteed to see dozens of rear/pax lights and not the one you want!

I think if I was still owning one I would be looking at stock piling relevant spares now as and when I could find them as OEM prices are getting silly.

[LY_Scott]

They get money back from salvage so they save.

Cliffie's were damaged, although the drivers side was presumably ok. Still a bargain though and I take your point. It's just whenever you're looking for a driver side front light you are guaranteed to see dozens of rear/pax lights and not the one you want!

I think if I was still owning one I would be looking at stock piling relevant spares now as and when I could find them as OEM prices are getting silly.

Yep, people on here are already hoarding including lights

If you'd put up a wanted ad for a light and said your car was damaged and OTR because of it I'm sure something would've been offered.