Car Crash

[Mark Olive]

Well, I've only had it since December, and now it's pretty messed up (see attached pics)

It'a pretty impressive that I wasn't hurt at all, but the bodywork's a mess. Looks like it will need at least two new wings, a new bonnet, new front and rear bumpers and a new left hand rear quarter.

I'm hoping that it's not a write-off (it cost £10,750 in December) but from the pics what do you guys think?

[Al J]

I know nothing about Celica's other than I wish I had one so I'll leave it to those with more knowledge to come along and talk costs. Won't be cheap though obviously.

Just glad you're OK.

A well used phrase on this forum "cars can be replaced, people can't".

[dawesy]

were the airbags or pre-tensioners deployed? if yes then its a write off.

if not then it should be repairable.

your ok thats all that matters

[Mark Olive]

One of the side airbags went off, nothing else.

[DefiantFrog]

Hmmm, thats a few grands worth of damage... Probably border line as to whether or not its a write off... What happened??

And glad your ok though, as is mentioned (all too frequently) cars are replaceable, people aren't...

[Devil-ish]

Ouchy!!! As they say glad you is OK

[Paul748]

if the airbags go off it dont mean its a write offin most cases but damage on front and rear a whole new rear quater looks like it needs replacing and judging on celica models the frame will have taken a knock the front should be ok subframe and front crumple zone will be changed if thats a 10 grand job then id be suprised

[dawesy]

10 grand no but as its worked out at 60% of the cars value......

are the side airbags in the seat? if so then there is a new seat for starters.

i was quoted over £300 just for a cover on my T2 D4D and thats plus fitting!

also there will be the airbag itself and the relevant control module and impact sensor (these should never be reused for safety reasons, as should seatbelts)

so as you can see if the airbags go off it significantly increases the cost of repair, imagine how much a new IP (instrument panel/ dash) is complete with new airbag!!)

if you want the car repairing you'll need to push them. dont accept their first offer too, make sure you get a reasonable sum

[Paul748]

who needs airbags anyway the slow down the car lol

[Moh]

My sympathies go out to you man! I've had a Gen 7 Celica for just over 5 weeks now and I hate to think about crashin it...but every1 is right about the main thing being your own condition!

Hope the car gets repaired and from my limited knowledge...doesnt look unrepairable physically or financially so hopefully you'll get it sorted.

Good luck mate

[Yaris SR Kid]

OMG glad your ok, lovely car aswell.

I would prob want the money as car would never feel same again!

[Mark Olive]

Well, I'm still waiting to hear from the garage. They're not the fastest in the world (they claim it will take 1-2 days for an assessment) but they have at least given me a hire car in the meantime.

I spoke briefly with the engineer and he said it all depends on what condition the frame is in. If it really is just bodywork I should be ok. Hopefully.

Now I just have to phone someone to let them know why their garden wall isn't there any more...

[Mark Olive]

Sadly it's toast. £9500 of damage according to the assessor

Looks like I'll be Celica shopping again as soon as I get the cheque from the insurer. Unfortunately, I think it's unlikely I'll be able to find another black gen 7 with such low mileage for under 10K

[GIDDLEPIN]

Maybe you won't get megga low milage but there are loads of Celly's HERE

But I'm sure you've looked already

Les

[dawesy]

dont take their first offer. make sure you get what you paid for it.

youve only had it 3 or 4 months and if you brought from a dealer would have been priced appropriatly <SP>. look around for gude prices, internet, autotrader , parkers etc to prove your cars value.

BTW its not easy but technicaly they cant keep your car, they are paying out for the damage not the car, so you can always get it back and go else where for a repair. most places will charge less fo private repair work than insurance.

[yellowchinaman]

9K is a lot! I think they're most likely going to pay out rather then fixing the car howver are they going to pay out the full value of the car?

[Mark Olive]

I've asked a few people about this (and checked with the insurer) and insurance companies consider a car to be a total loss if you do more damage than 60% (sometimes 70%) of the car's value. If you include labor (I recon that much damage would require 2 man-weeks of work), that would mean that for my car I could only have done a maximum of £3,000 of damage. And as we all know, Toyota parts can be expensive!

As for how much I'll get back, my insurer (Elephant) told me that they just use Glass's guide, so I can easily check how much they should be paying. The current dealer price for mine should be around £10,500 so I'd hope to get an offer around that. But of course I'll lose my insurance excess (£350) and I'll also have to get new insurance (they cancel the policy from the moment the car is considered a write-off) so I'll be looking at a car in the region of £9,500 unless I can find some spare cash.

[DefiantFrog]

My 51 plate, with 63k may be up for sale before long... Just letting u know...! ;)