General Purple Panda crashed by 'joy riders'

[Bougainvillea Rosso]

Totally devastated. I've been away this week and got a message from the other half with the bad news. The Panda was found just around the corner from our house crashed into a silver Fiesta. In truth it's probably a write off because of the amount of repair work that will be needed but we're not quite ready to admit defeat just yet. The O/S front is caved in. New headlight, bonnet, windscreen, wing and the intererior front panel is badly pushed in. Ignition ripped out as well of course. Worst of all it looks as if the front shell has twisted because the N/S wing has also moved and the O/S door won't shut properly. I think we're looking at somewhere between 1,000 - 2,000. It's at a salvage place now and I've been and taken all of our stuff out of it and took a few (poor) pics. Going to mull it over this weekkend and maybe try to get someone to look at it early next week. I fear the worst though.

The pics don't look that bad and I was expecting worse. The dmage has not got as far as the engine. Trouble is when it all adds up it may not be worth it. Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated.

 

[Eklipze3k]

First thought would be fingerprint the steering wheel, find the little monkeys that stole it and chope of their feet and hands so they can't ever drive again! That must be devastating though, I'd hate to lose my car to some other idiots recklessness!

My opinion on the matter though? If you have the space and are willing to put in the money and effort to restore it, definitely do it!

 

[Bougainvillea Rosso]

sorry. some photos but they won't tell much. I couldn't manage to get the bonnet open.

 

[Alan.D]

On initial thought it doesn't look that much, I'm not happy with the bend in the A piller and not sure if it would protect you in the future if that was repaired? If you are advised that it could be safely repaired I have a brand new front panel and front wing you could have, I could even let you have willies old bonnet with all the advertising on it (there is a slight dent in it but would do you till you find another) So you would just need a new light and the inner wing repaired and possibly pulled. I even have a front grille if that is damaged/cracked at the side.

You'll probably find that when the front wing is removed it will relax the other parts so the door will be OK. I don't think the damage is bad enough to have twisted the chassis but would just check obviously to make sure.

Just let me know what is happening and if you want what I have I will see the best way to get it to you.

 

[Bougainvillea Rosso]

Thanks for your kind offers Alan. They are very appreciated. I forgot to mention that dent in the pillar - it does worry me too. I am definitely going to get someone to look at it and if it can be fixed then I'd be really pleased to take you up on your offers. My fears about the costs are labour and spraying. We had a new bonnet a few years ago and I was surprised at how cheap it was. I'm goign to scour ebay for a headlight. I think the grille was OK but would need to look closer. Needs a new bumper obviously.


The police have already taken some good prints apparently.

 

[Rockbottom]

Sorry to be a bearer of bad news but surely that's a right off... bent A pillar and inner wing, plus price of parts + spraying (decent paint jobs don't come cheap) will send the price well over £2000 IMO.

 

[Plug]

Gutted for you BR, terrible to see your car in that state.

Must have been travelling at quite a pace to have done that much damage, I know Pandas wouldn't fare too well in an NCAP test but that's still bad.

All we can hope for is that the thieving scumbags who took it hurt themselves (badly, for preference) when they crashed it.

It's probably not much consolation - I know how much we all get attached to our cars - but at the end of the day they are just pieces of metal and worse things happen in the world.

All the best,

Plug

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Nooooooo. I come home to this. I really feel sorry for you. If it's any help, if you need one I have a headlight and grille you can have.

I really feel. Is she covered on the insurance side, or is she just TP?

Hope the little gits are found and delt with! I assume the police are involved? I hope you can repair easily.

Jon

 

[FuzzyPanda]

Gaz Wrexham's getting rid of some bits, check the classifieds (or his link in Panda's for sale/eBay). Shame about the damage, there's some real idiots about.

 

[Charlotte]

That's terrible!!!!!!

Hopefully your car can be restored to it's former glory again. I'll have a dig around in the garage see what I have if I can help out in any way I will do

Floyd says "Get well soon BR"

 

[Bougainvillea Rosso]

MEP. Thank you! I may be in touch.

Thanks for being so generous guys.

The insurance is fully comp but it will only scratch the surface if I try to get it fixed. They've already been trying to get it towed off to the scrap yard. As far as I can see that's what they enjoy most. We've not let them get it officially writen off.

Why do we get so attached to these things, it's too painful

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

MEP. Thank you! I may be in touch.

Thanks for being so generous guys.

The insurance is fully comp but it will only scratch the surface if I try to get it fixed. They've already been trying to get it towed off to the scrap yard. As far as I can see that's what they enjoy most. We've not let them get it officially writen off.

Why do we get so attached to these things, it's too painful

That's what we're all here for.:hug:

As far as insurance goes. Let them write it off (offically) but make them fully aware that you want to buy it back! They will then give you what its worth (or not as is usually the case) Minus about £40-50 which is what the salvage yard would give them for it.

It will then be your to do what you see fit with

It will either be written off as a Cat D, or probably a Cat C because of the age.

Cat C will mean before she goes back into the road, she'll need whats called a VIC (Vehicle Identity Check) where they basically check the car matches all the plates and that she's not a cloan (will about about £30) and then she can go back onto the road

Cat D means it's been written off because its an uneconomical repair, Cat C the same, but will need the above done

Jon.

 

[Nuova500]

Oh no, that is awful... I really feel for you and hope things work out.

 

[Alan.D]

Thanks for your kind offers Alan. They are very appreciated. I forgot to mention that dent in the pillar - it does worry me too. I am definitely going to get someone to look at it and if it can be fixed then I'd be really pleased to take you up on your offers. My fears about the costs are labour and spraying. We had a new bonnet a few years ago and I was surprised at how cheap it was. I'm goign to scour ebay for a headlight. I think the grille was OK but would need to look closer. Needs a new bumper obviously.


The police have already taken some good prints apparently.

Re the A pillar as mentioned by rockbottom that is really the crunch matter, if bodywork says no go I just wouldn't take the chance.

I'll see if I can have a chat with a mate in Leicester to see if he knows anyone re pulling the car and inner wing if it's necessary and attaching the new panels. Paint etc can be done whenever as it's non metalic, matching isn't as much of a problem so only need the area's painted that are new.....if you want to keep the car, get the parts replaced, strike up a deal with the ins comp and use that to cover the paint.

If finances are a concern I bought the brand new panels (wing and complete front panel) for £4.99 from ebay last year and wouldn't be looking for profit, the bonnet you can have for free (returned when you find another and it won't need painting as it's vinyl covered with the dealer stickers) as well as the grille so most everything you need with exception of the fitting will be £5 OK so i've added a penny

Don't let the ins company rush you, you pay them so they can act on YOUR behalf not theirs, remind them of this if they get pushy. They seem to think that they are doing you a favor and forget they are a paid service, an obligatory one, but a paid service all the same.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I'm not sure if it makes much of a difference, but the A-pillar damage looks to have been caused by the bonnet hitting it, rather than through stress of the smack, so hopefully its repairable

 

[mightysisley]

Nooooooo. I come home to this. I really feel sorry for you. If it's any help, if you need one I have a headlight and grille you can have.

I really feel. Is she covered on the insurance side, or is she just TP?

Hope the little gits are found and delt with! I assume the police are involved? I hope you can repair easily.

Jon

My personal opinion is that the little f**kers are found and dealt with but not immediately by the police if you catch my drift whether that a pillar been done by the bonnet as im inclined to agree with or through shock through the inner wing, its a possible diy repair if your any good with a welder and measurements. Dad patched our last 4x4 up when the pillar rotted due to a radio aerial being badly mounted in it, he did this by cutting a section of the pillar from a donor panda and using it to replace the affected section on our panda.

 

[Alan.D]

Good point never thought of that till I looked again and saw the hight the rear of the bonnet is sitting. I've now looked long an hard at those pics. The side panel is not affected at all below the pillar but is being pressured by the fold in the wing which will affect the door. The angle of the shunt possibly hasn't affected the inner wing by much if at all and may not need pulling. The bonnet won't open due to the side pressure on the latch so get someone to pull the bonnet lever whilst pulling the bonnet up it'll probably give.

If it was willie I would save him, no doubt in my mind at all.

With everything in mind you will be looking at labour with negligable parts cost.

 

[Bougainvillea Rosso]

I think you are right about the A pillar. It was my impression that the dent was caused by the impact of the bonnet.

I am going to get in touch with a body man this morning who has been recommended to me. He left a message last night so got back quickly, which is usually a good sign in my experience.

Money is and isn't and issue. I am prepared to spend more than 'the car is worth' obviously but it would seem silly to spend thousands. Thanks for all your support, it is giving me optimism

 

[Charlotte]

Any more update BR?

 

[urchin]

thats terrible!! i hope you sort it. have you got the car back yet? if i would you and if you have room id get it back from the insurers asap because in my experiance more damage can happen in those places and it may even dissapear you know the sort of thing "we thought you had been paid so we weighed it in guvnor" . when my dads seicento got vanderlised last year they only had it 5 days but left it out in the rain with no windows:bang: to dry it out i had to take all the seats out to remove the carpet so i could get the wet soundproofing out not a major job but i job that could have been avoided. they also have a habit of moving cars by fork lift im sure you can guess what that can do.