124 replies to this topic

[G-Bob]

The best way to ensure it keeps its price and reputation, do a built thread on here and take lots of pictures. Most people who buy a VX come here, and if the car has a bad reputation it will never sell later on and this thread will constantly get brought up. Its happened before and will happen again.

[j1akaj1]

When you come to sell it, make sure you tell whoever you sell it to that it wasn't properly inspected. They need to know that it could still be damaged and potentially quite dangerous

I will make sure the car is safe! not gonna drive a death trap that would be silly!! ive taken shed loads of pics so far and will take loads more through the repair, ill make sure when i sell it the folder will make a good story about the car, i would sell it as 'dangerous' again that would be financially silly! if the insurance has assessed it as a cat d it is only cosmetic damage and not structural, that is where the cat c vosa inspection is needed to ensure the car is not 'fudged, i have repaired a good 20 cars and not one of them has been short cutted at the cost of safety!

[G-Bob]

if the insurance has assessed it as a cat d it is only cosmetic damage and not structural

Wrong! Insurance assessors have no idea as they haven't seen many vxs and don't know them. Many cat d cars have ended up being completely bent and cars classified as cat c that are fine and nothing more than fibreglass. I would never rely on their classification when it comes to these cars. Many have been found out to be scrap just by people posting the odd picture on here people noticing things. These cars could have even been non cat cars. That's why I said to post a build thread and put the pictures up. I'm not trying to p*ss on your parade and really hope you have a good one to enjoy, the forum has just seen this happen a lot over the years.

[j1akaj1]

they must be in the wrong job then if they dont know how to class a car

[slindborg]

Eg mine was (said to be but never recorded) a cat c for simply cracking a rear light and scuffing the rear clam..... Sod all damage really.

[j1akaj1]

weird then? not sure does the assessment also take into consideration the whole accident cost? this is a complete new thread title here

- what makes a cat D or a C !!

[G-Bob]

If you crack a headlight you can write off a car. The headlights are stupid costs and if you take the lead time into consideration and the fact you would have a hire car for that time (potentially 3-6months) then you can write off a car.

[slindborg]

It's percentage of pre accident value to repair that dictates in most cases...

[anz3001]

It used to be

 

CAT D, uneconomical repair but no structural damage

CAT C, uneconomical repair with structural damage

 

BUT I'm not sure that is the case these days

[ArticMonkey]

I know you meant price but not sure i wanna let that go!!

 

Turboluca makes his pocket money from buying and selling crashed VX's. So he's after a price to help his personal gain.

[slindborg]

Probably how long the repair will take and how much the hire car would be that dictates it now Could be a cheap part but if its a 3month lead time they would write it off.

[anz3001]

And to be fair, RE the repair, there is now a huge question over the integrity of the crashbox. considering the reduced cost bodywork you are getting, youd be far better trying to source a crashbox, it will make it far easier to sell in the future

[Gedi]

We're definitely not trying to be dicks and undermine you or your car, and I hope it doesn't come across that way. We're trying to help you and make sure the car is safe for both you and any future owners.

 

Insurers have no idea what they're doing with these cars. As Bob says, we've seen Cat D cars on the forum which should have been scrapped (chassis damage), and we've seen Cat C cars which have minor scuff marks.

Here's a recent one which at first just appeared to require a new door and the front clam patching up. However closer inspection revealed that this car needed to be destroyed. http://www.vx220.org...a-drunk-driver/

 

What worries me about your car is the impact to the radiator. It must have taken quite a hit to have damaged it like that. I'm not saying there's certain to be serious damage, in fact there probably isn't, but you need to know for sure.

 

Considering the position of the radiator, the impact could have damaged the crash box. In fact, to get through to the radiator in the way it has, it'll have destroyed the radiator housing, which sits on the crash box itself. Even a tiny dink to the crash box means it'll need replacing. Thankfully that's a replaceable part, however you need to make sure you replace it with an OEM part. Definitely don't get one from ebay as they're not manufactured to the same standards and likely won't protect you correctly in a collision.

 

Secondly, the radiator sits on the chassis and although unlikely you need to make sure there's no deformity of the chassis caused by the impact. Unfortunately any deformity of the chassis will most likely make the car scrap. Our chassis' are non-repairable.

 

Here's a pic of the crash box people are talking about :

 

Edited by Gedi, 11 June 2014 - 07:56 PM.

[turboluca]

I know you meant price but not sure i wanna let that go!!

  Turboluca makes his pocket money from buying and selling crashed VX's. So he's after a price to help his personal gain.

Lol ye pocket money especially after you buy the front lights then it is . I usually buy off forum or copart , have bought from Combeleck salvage but that was a type r . Wanted to know so could compare from copart as there getting daft prices these days.

Edited by turboluca, 11 June 2014 - 09:15 PM.

[j1akaj1]

Gedi I'm happy for all posts and replies this is my 1st vx and you all know more than me on them, I've sourced a crash box through a local back end writ off one, if needed I will get it, the rad has split through the fibre glass housing it but should jig back and get re fixed. As stated until the clams off any damage is being guessed/assumed. If so this is the forum I know I'll get help so thankyou to all for help/posts

[Pidgeon]

When you've taken all you need, do let us know the location of the local write off

[Kieran McC]

Gedi I'm happy for all posts and replies this is my 1st vx and you all know more than me on them, I've sourced a crash box through a local back end writ off one, if needed I will get it, the rad has split through the fibre glass housing it but should jig back and get re fixed. As stated until the clams off any damage is being guessed/assumed. If so this is the forum I know I'll get help so thankyou to all for help/posts

 

Just be careful as you cannot or should not jig a Aluminium chassis

[Gedi]

Just be careful as you cannot or should not jig a Aluminium chassis

 

 

Or weld it, or heat it up, or try to alter it in any way. Basically if it's damaged, it's scrap.

 

On a lighter note, there's a guy on SELOC called Chris Randall who works at Hofmanns. He's one of the few people who believes it's possible to fix the elise chassis if you know what you're doing, and he certainly seems to. I know he's fixed chassis' before, even in extreme cases where the suspension mount points have been ripped out.

 

If I were ever to require any chassis repairs, I'd be on the phone to him before considering anything.

[Kieran McC]

 

Just be careful as you cannot or should not jig a Aluminium chassis

 

 

Or weld it, or heat it up, or try to alter it in any way. Basically if it's damaged, it's scrap.

 

On a lighter note, there's a guy on SELOC called Chris Randall who works at Hofmanns. He's one of the few people who believes it's possible to fix the elise chassis if you know what you're doing, and he certainly seems to. I know he's fixed chassis' before, even in extreme cases where the suspension mount points have been ripped out.

 

If I were ever to require any chassis repairs, I'd be on the phone to him before considering anything.

 

 

 

[TazN]

I also believe there was a thread on the 'other' forum where someone had lotus looking into a possible chassis repair.