dinkus

Yeah it's not gonna get scrapped, don't worry! I can take the front wing off myself and it'll make it easier to change the serpentine belt and tensioner that needs doing anyway while I'm in there. The rear is a bit harder, but I'll relieve Crazymarcel's mate of his rear panel which should lighten the price. The sunroof also rattles and the seats need a proper clean, so I could take the roof lining and all but the drivers seat out first as well. I'll see what the elephant approved place quotes for just the insurance claimable damage first, then go from there. I don't mind arguing with the insurance company, it's just the time it takes cos it will delay getting the car fixed.

MoonlightVR, It's actually underwritten by Admiral I think, but they're part of the same company. Scott, well that seems a bit ludicrous valuing it at £3.5k, because surely if they are going to write it off the would then have to provide a new car of equal spec. There's no way under the sun you can do that for £4k, even if you were a dealer royally screwing over someone with a decent car you'd still only get one for £5k. I've already got 10 ads off autotrader printed out with lesser specs for £5.5k... it's all good ammo. Edit: Although... if I can come to an arrangement with the bodyshop that the bill to the insurance comanpy doesn't exceed £1,750 or somesuch then I pay the rest it could all be ok. But the more the insurance company pay for the better.

Thanks for all the advice MoonlightVR, it's a big help. I'm with elephant.co.uk cos they were cheap :roll: so this could be interesting. However, the other body shop that is known to be good round here is actually elephant approved. So I'm gonna take the car to them on Monday to see what they say. The total price so far of £2.5k includes VAT as well as all the extra bits that I'm sure the insurance company wouldn't pay for. So I know the labour rates would be higher for insurance work, but they wouldn't pay VAT either. With any luck not claiming the additional work on the insurance will bring the price down under £2k and make it claimable without writing the car off. I can then get the workshop to add up the extra bits and charge me separately for them. As far as car value goes, I don't actually have a receipt for the car, but I will start gathering ads for it. I reckon with all the options and wotnot it was worth £5.5-£6k, but if anyone wants to give me other suggestions, please do. I'm not going to settle for them giving me a value less than that, I'm sure they will say something rediculous like £3.5k value, so we'll hacve fun and games trying to get a real value out of them. I did have to put in a value of the car when I applied for the insurance though, so hopefully that will count for something.

Hmm interesting thread on Vortex, I hadn't realised the replacement panel went round the back of the car as well Edit: Oh ok looking at that ETKA pic, it doesn't.. so what's that new piece of metal in the workshop then? Edit edit: ohhh gotcha, it's a corner of another C and they're taking the panel they need off it. Clever. Just got the quote this morning and it's £2,555 to do the whole shebang (inc. fixing the scratch on the spoiler, scuff on rear bumper and parking dings in the drivers door - all weren't anything to do with me!). It says all parts will be charged at manufacturer's list price... Front wing - £190! Rear panel....wait for it.... £442! both plus VAT! (so actually £223 and £520) Bit expensive, but I was guessing for around the £2.5k mark, so luckily not entirely shcoking. I'm going to try and take it to another place today to get a quote from them as well, see what they say. It makes the insurance claim issue a little interesting though... what % of the car's value makes it a write off? Or is it just up to the indivdual assessor?

There are 2 - one for the ECU and one for the MFA (trip computer), which one do you want to replace?

People are doing the same with the Mk1 Elises now :D Edit: Then promptly wrapping them round a tree *ahem*

You can do what you like to a Mini, but it's still a Mini... Get a properly designed chassis instead :D http://www.daxcars.co.uk - go take a look sometime ;)

Do you keep it in bubble wrap as well? ;)

The Hybusa Dax Rush has won by miles in it's race class...and actually finished in first place even when racing cars in the class above, so err it's a bit quick to say the least. Something like 600bhp/tonne. Scruffythefirst (who'se building a Cossie engine Rush) got taken out round the streets of Harlow in the 'busa Rush and I don't think he stopped grinning for about 3 weeks. :D

It's been talked about many times before on here, so a search for spoiler AND speed AND change or somesuch and you'll find it. Basically, all you have to do is change a couple of resistors and the speed settings change.

Indeed it is ;) Would you be able to send me some photo's of it?

Yup, that's what I'm thinking. No point in saving a few quid to get cheapo steel now, only to need it re-done in a couple of years time.

The body shop knew exactly what was involved in replacing the panels needed. I suggested MoonlightVR's idea of cutting and welding on below the swage line and the guy almost had a fit... he said you *can* do that, but usually you would cut across the smallest possible width area and weld there instead, as you are more likely to be able to get a good finish then. He said cutting across under the swage line would actually involve just as much effort/time/welding as putting in a whole new panel. But we shall see what their quote is first. They're not cheap, I know that, but they do a damn good job.

Do you reckon I could get them to pay for maybe the front only damage and I pay for the rest? Rather than them saying it's a write off? It would be better for them as they would end up paying out less money, than giving me the money for a new one.

Car modding doesn't cost the earth... the labour does though. If you can do it yourself you're laffin :D

I think it was only US spec ones that had air bags (none of them wear soddin seat belts...) But it might have been an option in Europer? no idea tho

Aye, it is a bit soul destroying, but I'm not letting it die. I am gonna get it repaired, but it's just a matter of how it's paid for. If the insurance company want to write it off then I'll try and firstly make sure they have the value of the car right, and if that still doesn't work, see if they'll pay for some of the repairs and I pay the rest. We shall see. I'll almost certainly have that panel off you though. I'll call my friendly $tealer and find out how much they are and make you an offer.

Well if you know of one going cheap, every penny counts and all. I'm deciding whether I should go through the insurance or not, my dad knows a few good body shops in the area that are used a lot by the insurance companies, so I can probably get a good job done there. The issue is whether it's a write off or not though... can I ask to claim, then if they say it's a write off just get money out of them instead?

If ya could :D

No idea on mpg, but you feel a definite drop in power when the compressor kicks in. I actually have my air con on quite a lot because it dries the air as well, so it's good for wet days to clear the mist. (if you turn the heat up with the air con on, you just get dry warm air, you don't have to have cold air coming out)

I lost it coming off the roundabout outside the Audi dealership :roll: 'twas bloomin slippy and it has cheapo budget tyres on it. Still pretty shocking though cos we really weren't going fast at all. It would have made me feel slightly better about it if I'd been doing 50 or so, but it was more like 20. I went to get a quote just now and they said they can start work on it Weds next week if I want. They've also done a few Corrado's before, including a Storm that went in twice last year for a full front rebuild! So hopefully they know their stuff, but I gotta see what the cost is going to be. I had a check under the car, it all looks fine and there's no oil patch under it. There's a small piece of tree lodged under there though lol. I am a little worried cos when I stopped it after coming back from the bodyshop it made a strange sucking/gurgling noise coming from the passenger footwel type areal... there doesn't appear to be anything leaking out (although the car was soaking wet) any ideas what it could be?

Trust you to lower the tone :D

My standard fit AC is bloomin cold, as G60Jet says, it's proper walk in freezer temperature. You do have to faff around with the temp to make sure you don't freeze, but it sounds like G60Renshaw is thinking of putting together a climatronic kit for the C to retrofit to your existing air con system... http://the-corrado.net/.archive/forum/viewtopic. ... 4&start=20 That way you still get the icy cold of the standard air con system and temperature controlled too!

Well it's nice to see that your C made a full recovery. And it sounds like the highly recommended local body shop could start on the work next week. Just need to get a wallet damage estimate now. Thanks for the support guys and sorry to expose you to such a horrid sight. That rear quater had quite a few parking dings in it anyway, so it's not the end of the world that it's going to get replaced. Hopefully it'll be good as new soon. I'll get the rear bumper and spoiler re-sprayed so I can get rid of the scratches on there as well.

Nah I don't mind doing mechanical stuff, but I'm not touching bodywork. Mechanics either works or it doesn't, bodywork is an art form! I'll see what the damage is at the local bodyshop... Thanks for the diagram though, should come in useful