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MG MGF Technical - write off

Please help me. The insurance want to write off my beautiful MG. I ran over a rock,which was in the middle of the road (I thought it was road kill) and it has damaged the underside of my car. It is a limited edition wedgewood blue in really good condition. I have been told it will cost around 2400 to fix it and as it is 'apparently' only worth 2700 they wont fix it. They want to take it to scrappers. I said no. Is there anyone who might be able to fix it cheaper than that. I believe the damage is rear subframe, exhaust, catalyst. I have already replaced the coolant pipes.I live near York. Thanks
t metcalfe

mmmmmm I really love the SE wedgewood cars they are my favourite.

I think by the sound of the damage that it will cost a fair bit to do a reasonable repair. 3 things could happen.

You will be paid out for the car and the car will go for salvage. From there it could be sold to someone who will do a cheap repair and put it back onto the road. They have to pay a fee to remove the write off from the car which is always annoying. However your car will be written off as a uneconomical repair so not too bad.

You could not even bother with the insurance at all and simply get the car repaired by a local backstreet which can be fine and reasonably cheap.

Sometimes the insurance company will pay you out and allow you to buy from them the salavage (Your car) thenyou can simply use the money to repair it and get the write off removed.

You will need to make up your mind and then negotiate, wish I could buy it from the insurance company, I would be well pleased.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

The repair costs quoted for insurers is usually inflated - plus it includes "extra" costs they would have to pay such as a hire car. If you can do as Bob suggests an buy the car back after settlement you will likely be able to get it repaired cheaper than £2,400. Keep in mind that you will have a written off car and the resale value will suffer as a result - however it sounds like an emotional decision (as they often are with cars) so you may not be worried about that!

Good luck,
Tim
T Jenner

Thanks guys, you're right it is an emotional decision. The car is beautiful and I don't want to part with it. I can't believe I now have this decision to make because of a rock that looked like a dead badger!

Thank you Bob for the advice, I can't bear the thought of the car going to the salvage yard so I will def go for one of the latter two options. I will have it repaired no matter what.

Thanks again
Tracy
t metcalfe

Hi Tracy,

Can you negotiate a figure with your insurers which also allows you to keep the car - as opposed to having to purchase it back as a write-off? E.g. £2400-00 plus car. Find a good MGF specialist and tell them you are paying for the job yourself, no insurance company involved. Hopefully the car will not be classed as a write-off by the insurance company.

Good luck, and bargain hard. Any stupid offer they give you - sling it back. They will try and get away with paying out as little as possible.

willyphixitt
W A Nixson

Hi Willy,

That's a great idea I think I will give that a go, If it is classed as a write off by the insurers am I better to accept a good offer and look for another MGF?

Thanks again

Tracy
t metcalfe

Probably not Tracy, if you have owned it a while and know (most) of it's faults, you would be better off saving it. But there are some shockingly good cars out there for rubbish money at the moment if you want to start again.
Bloody badgers - get it with the wheel next time - much cheaper.
If you are in North Yorkshire Mike Satur should be within striking distance and can do absolutely anything/everything with MGFs.
Charless

Good luck Tracy. I've gone down the 'buy it back' route a couple of times - not regretted it. We saved my in-law's ZS120 this way - and all that needed was a new wing and a couple of new bumpers (mind you, we've still not found a rear bumper for it, so if anyone knows where to get a facelift rear bumper for an '04 ZS five door, please let me know...)

Body work repairs almost certainly going to be less than what the insurance assessors are quoting. Get some local body shops to quote - you might get away with some panel bashing and some new paint...
Rob Bell

tracey

you can tell the insurance company that you do not want the car written and that you will take a payment in lue. A friend of mine done this with an R reg saab that the insurance company wanted to write off. they gave him £1000.00 he kept the car and it was not written off. He then found a small back street garage to strighten out the wing and he sauced part from the internet.

If i was you I would go down that route.
M Carr

This thread was discussed between 20/10/2009 and 29/10/2009

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