Accident damage/ write off

[RobSarah7]

Unfortunately I’ve just had a major crash in my cherished k series roadsport and she’s currently at the recovery yard . The assessors from the insurance company ( Adrian flux ) are due to take a look soon , if they say it’s a write off do you think it’s worth buying it back and getting ‘ repaired’ or is this just going to be a nightmare to organise ? Any recommendations for crash repairs around Bedfordshire would be appreciated. 

[Alan Bowler]

Assuming this is the car pictured on Facebook, with its blue and white nose under some armco, looks very fixable to me, as per the comments on there. Search for "Long Front" on here, Arch Motors will fit, and will be good or better than new. I assume engine is ok.

In Surrey (not too far) I would recommend Tech 7 (Andy Belcher) or PGM.

The 7 Workshop in Hertfordshire repaired mine many years back. Took a while, but ALL the organisation was handled by them. 

Looks like a scary crash, but very fixable to me...

[garybee]

Sorry to hear of your accident, hope you are uninjured.  The answer to your question depends very much on the extent of the damage and how much the insurers value the damaged car at.  It's not really possible to answer at this point.  

What has been damaged (as far as you know)?

[Golf Juliet Tango]

From Beds, your best options I would suggest are Ratrace in Potters Bar (Rob Morley) or The Seven Workshop in Whempstead (Chris Wheeler).

Obviously both would strip back enough to send it back the Arch Motors, then rebuild.

[RobSarah7]

Yes that was mine on fb 

[RobSarah7]

As far as I could see both front wheels were wreaked plus front suspension radiator crushed bonnet slightly crumpled and back suspension didn’t look to good and steering wheel was a bit bent too . We took a hefty hit into a concrete central reservation before ending up in the opposite armcos 

[Ian B]

Sorry to hear this.

There's two aspects to whether it is a write off, and neither relate to the actual damage.

The first is what they value the car at, and the second is what they estimate the repairs will cost. These are two numbers they put into their calculator, and the resultant number determines whether it is a write-off. A fairly small change in either number will result in an opposing "result". 

First, do some research now and take copies/screenshots of similarly spec'd age and mileage cars for sale.

You may get an engineer who knows sevens and values it properly, but most of them don't and do a quick google and value it base on the cheapest one they can find.

second, take as many detailed pictures as you can and ask one of the specialists, even CC, to provide and estimate for the repair costs. 

Then when you get the two above figures from the insurer (you may have to insist on them), you can see whether they are in the right ballpark.

Of course, it also depends on whether you want it repaired, or whether yo might want to seek an "improved" spec car.

If replacing it you'll still want to get the best valuation from them if you're taking the money; or accept the worst valuation and offer them something to buy it back; whatever happens don't just accept the first valuation/offer you receive.

 

[Ian B]

Out of interest do you have an LSD, and did it suddenly spit you off into the barrier while maybe accelerating?

[SM25T]

Chris at the Seven Workshop in Whempstead handled everything on my 7 when I was rear ended on the M1 last September. Liaised with insurers, stripped the car, took it to Arch for chassis work, then to TSK for painting, then reassembled it. Yours looks ok from the photos I saw on FB.

[RobSarah7]

Yes and yes 

[RobSarah7]

Thanks for all your comments and concerns, That will give us great help and a few options. 

[Andrew Gilbert]

I'm just going through the same thing, although mine is definitely a write off. No question really but we're going through the motions and just waiting on repair estimates and valuation figures, but unlike yours I'm struggling with the equivalent cars so am looking to rely on the the likes of GP sevens etc to give information.

But I'm retaining salvage and we'll look to rebuild subject to actual costs OR it'll be broken up and parts sold (sad face if thats the case)..

[CharlesElliott]

Sorry to see the accident, am glad you are OK.

It's hard to know from the pics whether the wishbones and/or tie rods broke and the chassis is broadly OK, or if there is related chassis damage. Replacing wishbones, rack, radiator, nosecone etc. is all pretty simple and low cost. Pretty much everything at the front end is easy - including minor chassis tweaks like the steering rack bridge bending. If the chassis is significantly damaged then you will a long front which will add a few thousand to the bill to strip the front and engine out, have Arch replace and then put everything back again.

[Northantsbedsbucks AR]

Hi Rob and Sarah

Really sorry to hear this but glad you are both OK.

I can’t really give any more advice but I know that Chris at the 7 Workshop has managed the repair of many apparent write offs and I would certainly trust him to give the best advice,

All the best

Graham 

 

 

[BigCol]

Another happy customer of Chris Wheeler (aka Uncle Albert) of the 7 Workshop here...

He repaired my seriously hail-dinged car taking care of all the conversations with my insurers, getting the car to/from Arch and Tony the Brush at TSK.

He also did the odd bit of upgrading whilst the car was with him and, at no extra cost, promised not to tell The Speed Limiter about it!

Top bloke!   

 

[RobSarah7]

It looks like my best bet is the 7 workshop then :-) thanks all for the information. 

[Molecular--Bob]

Another happy 7 Workshop customer here, he looked after my car after it was stolen / vandalized / recovered, at the time it wasn't the fastest process, but he was upfront and accurate with his time estimate and kept me informed along the way, unlike BAT who it went to when it was crashed, got close to turning up with a trailer and reclaiming it.

[RobSarah7]

After all the glowing recommendations for the 7 workshop I rang Chris to see what the options were . He’s picking the car up from the recovery yard today ( Wednesday) and taking back to his workshop to assess what we can do and liaise with the insurance assessors. :-)   

[SM25T]

A good start.

[Scotland North AR]

Hi, six years ago I had the same thing with my 1800 k-series, LSD and slightly damp road. Low speed accident but a lot of cosmetic damage, a new front chassis would have done it I think. The Police attended and were extremely helpful, car in field at this point.

I was insured with Adrian Flux.

My crash happened on a Saturday morning up near Aberdeen where I live and found it impossible to get any sense out of Flux, they wouldn't recover the car. I used my breakdown to get that sorted.

I now check my policy to make sure the claim and recovery procedure is crystal clear - insurance is now with REIS.

I spoke to Kenrick Motors (Wales, not the North of Scotland), sent them plenty of photos and they said they'd have my car race fit in a week from the info provided (I didn't race it) or road and cosmetic fit in six weeks. The issue would be getting an insurance assessor in the North of Scotland who knew what a Caterham was to properly assess it for repair or write off. The assessor wrote it off.

I had paid my £25 for agreed value cover so getting the cheque to replace the car took two weeks which was fine. I have normally gone for insurance with agreed value subsequently.

Flux increased my premium from £300 to £1800 subsequent to the accident, obviously I went elsewhere but could only get it for £900. It took 3 years to get it back to normal levels.

My mate in Middlesbrough (i.e. not the North of Scotland) saw the car on the back of a trailer coming out of a breakers in Hartlepool. It had been on Ebay from the breakers and was sold for £7,600. It had a six speed box, LSD and a few other bits and pieces. It would have been repairable for well less than the £25,000 agreed value but I guess it is a percentages game.

Best of luck with your repairs.

 

 

 

 

[Jonathan Kay]

If it happened to me I'd be very relieved to know that there are experts who will handle the repair and help with the administration and are recommended by Members.

Hope you're back on the road soon... any upgrades in mind?

Jonathan

[RobSarah7]

It’s definitely a big relief having good information and recommendations about what to do in a situation like this and we are very grateful to everyone . The cars now with the 7 workshop ( Chris) who picked it up  from the recovery yard this afternoon, he’s had a quick look at it and it’s not looking too good tbh . Engine has moved 50mm and gearbox casing is cracked .