Last Thursday, whilst I was out walking in Hardcastle Crags, the Panda was broken into. The area is isolated moorland for miles around, so it seems like a quick opportunistic attempt.


Thankfully, nothing was taken (there being nothing left in it, on show or otherwise, to take). However, in order to ransack the Panda they smashed the privacy glass of the rear window on the driver's side -- glass fragments everywhere, but thankfully no other damage.


I'm not going anywhere near the insurance, as there are too many excesses to pay. My local independent garage are going to order the replacement window and seal from Fiat and fit these for me. The cost estimates I've been given are £40 for the glass and £30 for the seal, plus fitting costs for both. I'm expecting the total to come in at well under £100. We shall see.


The panda was the first major purchase from my last job (8 months' wages). It annoys me that those who broke in have probably never done an honest day's work in their lives and obviously don't spare a second thought for the victims of their actions.


Anyhow, what's done is done, and Alfie will soon be back on the road.

There scum mate, but at least its a quick and reasonably cheap fix.

Aload of cars were keyed in Bmth last Friday during some protests, including alot where my wife works. There looking at some big bills to get the damage fixed.

These muppets should be locked up.

Just tell insurance company that a stone broke the window. Then Just pay the excess.

I know it won't help but it would have been worse if they'd have popped the lock. New lock door, painted door skin and separate coded keys=a lot more than a piece of fitted glass.

Sorry to hear that, hope it isn't too expensive to fix. I was down to the tune of £250 last month due to somebody hitting my car and driving off.

Sorry to hear about your recent trouble.

With most comprehensive insurance policies, the windscreen cover actually applies to all the glass on the vehicle, on the same terms (so no loss of NCB) - but in this case I suspect you are so close to the excess, it isn't worth the extra hassle.

gtidriver said:

Just tell insurance company that a stone broke the window. Then Just pay the excess.

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The glass excess on the policy is £150, so getting it fixed locally is a lot cheaper. Plus, although I wouldn't lose my no claims bonus, I'd bet the insurers would put up my premium next time simply because I'd made a claim.

unlucky ...I had my company megane broken into some years ago via the same method...I don't think it cost me anything thinking back, it was covered in the policy, or the excess was super low...I hate the insurance industry, they have people all ways - paying their premiums and then afraid to claim in case it affects their 'record'...stinks!

FYI Glass claims NORMALLY don't harm your No Claims Bonus.


Bad luck though, I hate it when I have to leave the car in places like that (walk the dogs alot) so I have now turned to taking the company car, I couldn't care less about it, strangely people must be able to tell, as it gets left in the worst places imaginable and for some reason never gets touched.

Golgarth said:

...I have now turned to taking the company car, I couldn't care less about it, strangely people must be able to tell, as it gets left in the worst places imaginable and for some reason never gets touched.

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The scroats probably think [if they can perform that process] that it's a 'bait' car!

My previous Fiesta's have had dead-locks although I fear that someone would smash the window first and then discover that they couldn't get the door open

Golgarth said:

Bad luck though, I hate it when I have to leave the car in places like that...

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There are similar car parking areas in the Peak District (used by climbers & walkers) where the problem is so bad the recommendation is to remove everything from the car & leave the doors unlocked.

Last time I had a car broken in to it was some years ago when my Tipo Tds was parked at Taunton station just before Christmas. It had been driven for about forty miles - the police reckoned it was just someone getting home and taking the radio to pay for whatever turned them on - the terrifying thing was the force they applied to the steering column to break the lock - they bent the column itself - a piece of steel the thickness of your thumb - presumably if it had been an pensioner holding on to her handbag they'd have bent her in just the same way. Despicable a------es.