My "new" combi could be a write off

[Def-fid]

I have only had it for 6 weeks, fitted new cam belt, water pump, starter motor, battery and seats, and on Wednesday while stopped at roadworks an Audi A3 hit me from behind. The Audi is now a foot shorter, total write off. My little Peugeot was hit very low down square across the back. The RHS chassis rail is crumpled, and the o/s rear wheel arch has been pushed forward, but with a judicious push with my boot, the wing moved enough to clear the tyre. The rear hatch seems ok, but the rear bumper panel took most of the impact.  I was able to drive home, which could not be said for the Audi. I was thrown up and forward, but I saw the car coming and braced myself with the wheel. Hit my forehead on the parcel shelf(modutop), and had a bit of whiplash to the neck and back. My hand got bent by the wheel and is the worst of it. Never let anyone say these cars aren't tough! Everyone is amazed at the difference in damage. The whole front of the Audi is now flat, headlamp to headlamp, and everything is pushed back into the engine.
The insurance will probably write off my car, no doubt I'll have a battle to get my money back. I paid over the odds for it because it was low mileage for a 55 plate -57,000. Very fed up!!

[polar]

You could negotiate a pay out and buy the vehicle back as probably a cat c right off then get it repaired. As long as it passes an MOT you do not even need to get it repaired - just drive it, i have done this before just drove them round for years with moderate accident damage. Tell you what no one want to park next to you!

[Johny555]

I have only had it for 6 weeks, fitted new cam belt, water pump, starter motor, battery and seats, and on Wednesday while stopped at roadworks an Audi A3 hit me from behind. The Audi is now a foot shorter, total write off. My little Peugeot was hit very low down square across the back. The RHS chassis rail is crumpled, and the o/s rear wheel arch has been pushed forward, but with a judicious push with my boot, the wing moved enough to clear the tyre. The rear hatch seems ok, but the rear bumper panel took most of the impact.  I was able to drive home, which could not be said for the Audi. I was thrown up and forward, but I saw the car coming and braced myself with the wheel. Hit my forehead on the parcel shelf(modutop), and had a bit of whiplash to the neck and back. My hand got bent by the wheel and is the worst of it. Never let anyone say these cars aren't tough! Everyone is amazed at the difference in damage. The whole front of the Audi is now flat, headlamp to headlamp, and everything is pushed back into the engine.
The insurance will probably write off my car, no doubt I'll have a battle to get my money back. I paid over the odds for it because it was low mileage for a 55 plate -57,000. Very fed up!!

Put a claim in on his insurance for your injury's whip lash is a bad thing leading to back pain ect,

[Jed Clampit]

Bad luck Dif-fid hope it all goes well for you the A4 is a right off did you call the police.

[V6BOY]

Sorry to hear about your accident just annoying after fitting all them new parts it could be a write off,main thing no one was hurt.

[Johny555]

Put a big claim in on his insurance,,whip lash,back pain,ect,his fault for going into the back of you,,that will buy you a brand new car,

[dieselj]

before my berlingo I owned a toyota carina. on a k plate (22yr old) and with only 76t thou on the clock, ran like a dream proper minter, till the head gasket went. the car was an executive model. very tidy. 
the car wasn't worth anything to anyone except me. the cost of doing the head gasket, an oil seal on the rocker cover and might as well throw a cam belt on, and the clutch was also getting ready to change............with labour. £500 ish. 
drive it out of the garage and someone runs in the back of it and kills it..............
well, the insurance wont pay out on the £500 ive just spent!! 
and I would probably get scrap value for it. 
I hate insurance companies!!

It was with great pain I decided to put my hand in my pocket and spend some money and buy my berlingo. 
A decision well made.
But also a very sad decision to see my beloved carina off to the scrap yard.

now ive got a one owner, full service history car with 96 thou on the clock and I am once again starting to do little jobs and make a even better car, even though i know if anything happens i will not get back any of my money !! 

I also own a very tidy isuzu bighorn (trooper) also a minter, well looked after and after 15 years of owning it, still looks as good as the day I bought it. 22 years old and still pulls my caravan like a .......well, a trooper! 
but once again, if owt happens to it, the insurance could not repair it. or find me anything to replace it. 
same with my berlingo. 
they are very quick to take your money. 
but pay out!!! 

and!!!  

you will be penalised with your insurance now because you will have to declare that for the next five years, even though it was 100% someone else's fault!!!

If it means anything. Im fed up for you as well.  I hate reading about this sort of thing. even if you get the car back, its never the same. 

proper gutted for you. 

[dieselj]

Put a big claim in on his insurance,,whip lash,back pain,ect,his fault for going into the back of you,,that will buy you a brand new car,

yes, its the only way to get some of your money back!

[Def-fid]

They have declared it category D, so I'm going to buy it back and repair it. The damage is limited to the rear quarter and hasn't affected alignment, I think the chassis section with the crumple zone may even be bolt-on, not sure. The Audi is cat B!
I had a real row with the so-called engineers who valued the car well below what I could buy a similar low mileage Partner Combi for, even if one was available. They kept quoting the ombudsman, so I rang the ombudsman. The lady was really helpful, she looked up the book retail value, which was £255 more than the offer. I think the whole process of valuing damaged cars is a national scam. My insurance says that I am entitled to like for like, but the valuers won't accept trade adverts for evidence of value. The ombudsman said they should take into account local market forces and adjust accordingly. So I have appealed against the value. The car was in excellent body condition and perfect mechanical condition prior to the accident. I pointed out that given two apparently identical cars, one has no history, one with evidence of new parts and maintenance, then the latter is the car that has most value, it's not just appearance. So-called independent engineers? They are paid by the insurance industry, their true role is to minimise the cost to the insurers, not to give fair market value to the owner. Try arguing with them? It's like talking to a wall. A complete waste of breath. It's about time we had a national association to look after the interests of drivers, to stand up to the insurers and politicians, cranks and general nob-ends.

[Jed Clampit]

Go on face book or one like that put up your grievance name the insurance company the assessors and what their trying to do see how long it take's for them to get in touch .