Umair said:
Hi all,
yesterday morning while waiting at mini roundabout, my car was hit from the side by a car coming from the 3rd exit as the driver lost control.
body damage is quite extensive
I think the insurance company will write off the car, its a 06 plate diesel with 97K. I've had the car for 7 years.
What are members thoughts on buying it off the insurance company and repairing it myself privately, or should I take the settlement and purchase a similar age honda accord. I'm not that keen on 8th generation accords, as I think the i-cdti is more refined.
The last option is to get a new motor 3-4 years old, (mazda, avensis, mondeo etc)
thanks
Umair
Sorry to hear about the accident... I'm currently in the middle of repairing my Accord Tourer EX after a minor accident in July... side damage to the front drivers door and wing.
Yours looks more extensive and I'm 99% certain the ins will write it off... bumper, two doors along with paint from the rear quarter to the A pillar... if the cost of repair is more than 60% of the cars value they will automatically write it off.
Mine is a little older and higher miles, they gave me £1700 for it, after paying my excess and buying the car back I was left with around £1400. I've bought all the parts I needed of ebay, wing was £48 in B507P, door in B507P for £50, engine under tray was £50, various fixings and clips another £30. I also refurbished 2 wheels for £132 and needed a new tyre as I picked up a nail when I went up the curbs onto the central res... so another £70 for that.
I could do with a new front bumper but can't find one at a sensible price that doesn't need repairing and painting.
I got very lucky with the door.. they're normally much more expensive.
***uming that the A/B/C pillars are undamaged, ten you could just replace the doors... try and find them in the same colour and you might avoid having to repaint. The rear bumper may be repairable, or you may need to replace... Either way add at least £150-200 for paint on the bumper... more if they have to strip it down. Easier to pick up another and leave it with them already stripped, and swap it over when done... However, seeing as the rear quarter will need paint too and I think the side skirt... might as well let them do that at the same time.
Parts inc a new bumper shouldn't be more than £250-350 and if you get lucky, cheaper and won't need painting. Doors can be swapped over easier enough as can the bumper... So best case scenarios... you could do it for less than £500 and an 06 if the cat C of cat d it... probably another £400 or so to buy it back.
Repairing those doors will not be cheap... I was quoted 300-400 just to do the drivers door and yours are more damaged than mine is. Cheaper to find one in the same colour.
Keep an eye out on ebay, and check the forums to see if anyone is breaking one in the same colour.. also look out for entire cars going cheap spares or repair if you've got room to store it at home and strip what you want for it... then sell on other parts to try and recoup some of the cost of buying it... I missed out getting one as it ended the day before I found out if mine was worth putting back on the road.
I'd expect the ins to pay out in the region of £2000-2300.. maybe more if the car is (was) in exceptional condition. They tend to compare like for like on auto trader so make sure to search through there for same spec/year/mileage and be prepared to argue with them over the value... I got mine raised by £300 that way.
My scrap value for the car was £238, yours will be higher as it's a little newer.. so theoretically you could end up buying and repairing the car for £1000-1300.. I'll get mine done for around £800, but it has less damage.
The car will also be either a Cat-C or Cat-D, and as such worth a lot less than before... Keep a detailed account of repairs and take plenty of pictures, so you can show any future potential buyers how slight it was and that no structural damage was done (providing no A/B/C pillar damage).. you'll spend about the same amount as the car will be worth afterwards... but you'll have some cash in you pocket at the end of it too.
