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M25 this morning in stop-start traffic; I stopped; she didn't and pushed me into the back of the Landrover I was following. Didn't appear to do any damage to him but trashed my bonnet and front bumper; she trashed my rear bumper, nearside quarter, rear slam panel, and boot floor. Possibly also the boot lid and front slam panel, I haven't tried to open the bonnet yet since it took three of us twenty minutes to shut the boot after opening to get my paraglider out.

I fear this one's a write-off and I am less than happy about it; I shall do my best to get it back on the road and failing that I want the wreckage; I've just put eight hundred quid's worth of new parts on it...

Nobody hurt which is good news

Neil

Gutted for you Neil, at least your alright!

Gad you're ok but gutted for you, careless drivers make me so angry!

Bummer...

...it can just be so easy to lose concentration for a moment

Always worried when I sneeze!
I fear you may be right about the write off but fingers crossed.

Ah no that looks a bit of a mess Hate to say it but write off for sure

Sorry to see this Neil. It does IMHO look like a write off. I hope that whatever happens it doesn't put you off cooping after your glorious 10 year run. Maybe time to get a 20VT?

Brewster

Gutted for you mate - it does look like a write off in my opinion as well

Glad to hear there were no injuries - although I'd get yourself checked out for whiplash just in case

Thats so sad Neil

Glad nobody was hurt.

you got whiplash,you got whiplash, you got whiplash, you got whiplash,

And that's the main reason why insurance premiums are so high and increasing

NU are putting up all premiums by 16% next year to cover PI case lawyers' fees as well as uninsured drivers and staged accidents...40% for young male drivers...won't be long before all other companies follow suit

Neil - gutted that one of the very first Coupes seems to have met its maker (at least no people did). This had to be one of the best examples - 1 owner, LOTS of TLC, and unusual to find an early 16v as well looked after (most 16vs tend to be owned by people who just like the car for how it looks, rather than an enthusiast amongst all the ubiquitous 20VT owners)

The folds in the rear quarter panel means its a write-off.

My 20VT shunt in 2002 was far less severe that that, but still got written off.

The good news is that book prices are so low for Coupes in general that your buy-back salvage price should be very low.

On the assumption that its a gonner, are you going to stick with 16v non turbo or are you finally going to give in to all that peer pressure?

Sorry to read this thread and see those photos, real downer Neil.

Pete

Really sorry to hear this Neil, but at least no-one was hurt.

She does look like a write off I'm afraid to say, would you re-build?

Sorry to hear that Neil.

At least your okay.

i had similar damage to the front of mine required a new bumper, bonnet and spraying them all came to around £1,500 through the insurance, throw int he back damage and it's unlikely that a late model 20VT would survive so your early 16V is in trouble.

If you can buy it back, strip and sell the parts and use the all the money to buy a 20VT. Unless you are particularly partial to the 16V/T. Glad you are safe, the car can be replaced, good luck sorting it all out.

Sorry to hear about the possible demise of another Coupe, especially one with so much history . Glad that you are OK .

Phil

Well at least no-one was hurt............unless you assualted the bimbo? Yeah, I know, before the howls of protest start, never lift your hands to a woman (use yer feet ).
Truly gutted for you Neil, truly.

Hope you get something back in recompense and find another good coop very soon.

Mind me asking: who are you insured with?

Insured with Egg. I've informed them, of course; it's still possible that the Landrover guy will find a problem and he will claim off me, which I will claim from the woman. Funny thing, she was almost in tears, oh thank you for not shouting at me

As to what to do next... I dunno. I wasn't planning on buying a new car at this moment. Hmmm, CarlT has a shiny 16v IIRC for three grand - but I'll bet the book on this one is somewhat less in spite of its rarity - first customer car, one owner... gotta be a classic but ah well.

So probably I'll end up looking for a tidy, few as possible owners, 20vt, early, *no* mods, black for preference, no sills or silly bumpers, not lowered, to tuning tweaks (strut brace excepted), no aircon, never raced or rallied

Let's see how it goes. I should be able to get it into the shop for an estimate Monday. It's possible there's going to be lots of bits for sale...

Neil

I've only ever good things about Egg insurance so you should be sorted out okay. That's a relief. You must be really gutted though. Yeah, I guess you can't really kick a girl when she's down and crying (works every time in my book, but never for me!).

There is a 16v in bannana yellow on ebay at the moment but miles are 100k and its in Hull, ends tomorrow IIRC. Maybe worth a punt and swap all the bits over?

keep your chins up and have a few packs of plain chocolate hobnobs

And y'know what? I was looking forwards to posting 'miles = 123456' sometime next month

Neil

Gutted for you Neil - Glad your ok though

Chris

You still could. Is the car is driveable? Any underbonnet damage?

Sorry to read this Neil.

Funnily enough I know a garage where there's a red 16v for sale. Went past it earlier, it's up for £1995. Let me know if you want me to take a closer look.

Not nice, sorry to hear this neil.

Gutted, That coop was a one-off. Well the coop wasn't in itself obviously but got to be the only one-owner 16v in the UK?

I got a rear end in ink black.


3 hrs on the jig would pull that. Im sure a self organised repair and paint would be sub 1k.

A crying shame, all the best end up like that.

But im sure your a sentimental bugger, so i'd consider having it back and a quick repair.

You will be quids in and your car back with less stone chips!

Glad you're ok, but gutted for you about the car

How about a bonnet?

I may well be seeking a quote...

Neil :

You just missed the bonnet, theresa lifted it for 250, in ink black too.

I could sort you another, probably in colour.

Then just the rear end, but thats not much, the shells always go there.