Rear ended, settlement too good to be true?

Lum

Difficult to say on that light cluster, it may be that the patterns on that first layer are to diffuse and spread the light so that it is visible from the required angles and/or not blinding someone sat directly behind.

However since it's only that corner that's damaged it's pretty unlikely that there is anything seriously wrong with the car, so I would definitely take the hammer and angle grinder approach (and maybe a scrapyard bumper if I wanted it to look a bit better) to repairing it, no way is that going to cost a grand to fix unless you care about it looking immaculate.

Do you have a picture from the side, is the rear quarter section (ie the metal around the wheelarch and rear side windows) damaged at all?

Sirbendy

That looks like a crumpler bumper...might be worth either taking it off and beating it out, or possibly (and I have NO idea if it'd work) putting some screws in it, then pulling on those with pliers to try and pop the dent out.

DrScotsman

Lum wrote: »

Do you have a picture from the side, is the rear quarter section (ie the metal around the wheelarch and rear side windows) damaged at all?

Would you believe I never took a good side image? This is the best I have:

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h115/DrScotsman/12052009774.jpg

It was crumpled in a bit on the wheelarch, but I just took it to someone who made it stop rubbing against the wheel for £20 (I am now going to permanently avoid the garage who charged me £20 to TELL me that the bumper was wearing on the tyre). It now properly arches around the wheel again. Still looks a bit naff (yeah I'm too lazy to go and take pictures), but all I care right now is that it's road legal (so when I cba I'll look into the lights) and that I get my settlement.

Thanks for all of your advice people, especially you Lum

Lum

Well from that picture it looks like the metal part is intact, which is good. Looks like some of the paint is chipped right in the corner though so you may want to spray that with something to stop it rusting.

But see, £20 with a hammer (ok I said £50, but I suspect you're not complaining) and you have a perfectly good car, and £1800 to spend.

Depending on what car it is (Pug 206?) you could probably get a scrapyard bumper in the same colour for about £60 if you really wanted it to look nice.

asbokid

clear the boot out.. and examine the floor pan... the impact might just have transfered to the rear suspension somewhere.. does it drive alright now? no sense of it pulling to one side or jittery?

jeannieblue

DrScotsman wrote: »

Yeah I know, I don't like it when people don't name and shame either...and considering I'm not even shaming But something stopped me from doing so. Broker Assist gave me the offer, they're acting on behalf of Royal Mail - it was one of their vans that hit me.



Someone else is telling me to do that...my Dad however suggests I just get someone to cut off the bumper so it's not scrapping the tire, which obviously wouldn't cost as much.

I think I'm going to phone up and accept their offer (well, I mean get the terms of the settlement). Thanks for your advice guys

Ah... royal mail

When you get hit by one of these types of orgs - they have professionals on hand, which is why they have not 'fart arsed' around and pretty much done the deal. It's called being professional.

I'm glad that they have dealt with it quickly for you. Saves you alot of hassle and toing and froing.

DrScotsman

Lum wrote: »

(Pug 206?)

Renault Clio, but good guess.

(Seriously, I don't know why I'm so reluctant to include all the information)

asbokid wrote: »

clear the boot out.. and examine the floor pan... the impact might just have transfered to the rear suspension somewhere.. does it drive alright now? no sense of it pulling to one side or jittery?

It seems to drive alright, didn't drive it for too long though, so watch this space. (It's harder to tell since I got used to my hire car; Corsa with stupidly light power steering and not finding the gas pedal instantly responsive. I'm fine with that kind of feel with my parents' people carrier, but not from a manual 5-seater!)

Lum

DrScotsman wrote: »

Renault Clio, but good guess.

(Seriously, I don't know why I'm so reluctant to include all the information)

It was the shade of blue, looked like one of Pug's, but then they're the same company really so that would make sense

It seems to drive alright, didn't drive it for too long though, so watch this space. (It's harder to tell since I got used to my hire car; Corsa with stupidly light power steering and not finding the gas pedal instantly responsive. I'm fine with that kind of feel with my parents' people carrier, but not from a manual 5-seater!)

Well the Corsa is a pretty terrible car, and Vauxhall really do love the whole drive by wire feel.

The £1000 estimate you had, did you get a breakdown of what the work consisted of.

Might be worth getting a 4 wheel alignment done, see if that wheel is obviously off now.

Lum

Just spotted something else. The colour filter for your indicator is very yellow and the cover over the top of that is red to give the required amber colour, with the outer layer gone your indicator will be the wrong colour.

Also the reflector bit may be missing too. It's hard to tell as it's very hard to find a picture of an old Clio with standard rear lights fitted.

Inactive

Lum wrote: »

It was the shade of blue, looked like one of Pug's, but then they're the same company really so that would make sense



.

Renault and Peugeot are not the same company.

Peugeot and Citroen have the same parent company.

Renault are in a parternship with Nissan.