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Message |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
Soarer Limited UZZ31 V8
Posts: 2627
Reg: 11-2005
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Hmmm looks like another lovely soarer will soon go down a sad path to death.
Had an impact into the right rear 1/4 of my Soarer Today, some Cop in his Ford Territory was not paying attention and went straight into the side of me as I was turning, he was pulling out of the street I was going up, but failed to give way! Oh dear..... I said!
It's quite bad the damage, I've been to two places moments ago and they have both said its probably a write off as the insured value and cost of the repair just don't weight up. Could also be some suspension damage too as the wheel was hit, it drives well still but who would know.
Heres some pictures. Looks just lovely...
Hmmmmmm, what a pity! It doesnt look too bad but its in such a bad place to repair - Involves cutting that out and welling a new panel in! EXPENSIVE!
I'd say if repairing it becomes a difficulty price wise, it would be best to have it written off and buy it back from the insurer. Could have a few exiting things for sale then if I sell it for parts like the Harry L ecu - Such a nice upgrade on a V8.
If it comes to that I might look at another Soarer as they are cheap as chips really.... A FSG TT Soarer might fit the bill. We shall see!
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Mark Donovan
TryHard
Auckland
Soarer V8 Limited
Posts: 329
Reg: 07-2005
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damn, Mike! Sorry to see that, after all the effort you put into your cars.
My advice is to start drinking heavily for the next 12 hrs, until you can look upon this philosophically! |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
Soarer Limited UZZ31 V8
Posts: 2629
Reg: 11-2005
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It's a shame alright.
But still I guess it can happen to anyone regardless of how they look after their cars.
Annoying as lately, Ive been driving so carefully to avoid anything like this happening - then this happens - I was minutes from home too, had been at Mitre 10 getting some tools to try loosen the cat bolts from the headers as I was wanting to get rid of them!
Unfortunately the nature of this collision was I that couldn't do anything to stop it, It happened so fast!
It was quite a hard hit too, my soarer swung around at least 90 degrees from the impact!
Upon closer inspection, I took the tyre off and its quite clear the top aluminum control arm is BENT - so the suspension will need attention if to be repaired! |
Mark Donovan
TryHard
Auckland
Soarer V8 Limited
Posts: 330
Reg: 07-2005
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was the Territory badly damaged? Pleasesayyes pleasesayyes pleasesayyes |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
Soarer Limited UZZ31 V8
Posts: 2630
Reg: 11-2005
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Hardly at all!
A slightly scrapped front bumper and a hanging out fog lamp.
The man which was also a high ranking cop in the firearms department said it was his pride an joy.... A Ford Territory! Hmmm please!!!
At least he was good about the whole thing, knowing he was at fault for not giving way.
I'm going to get another opinion tomorrow morning on the damage repair, my guess is it's still a write off - its just too expensive for the value of the car sadly - So stupid!!!!! |
Darryn Dewar
DieHard
Gisborne
UZZ30 Soarer
Posts: 1000
Reg: 09-2005
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Looks like mine did, except they fixed it instead of writing it off  |
Peter Nitschke
Junk Filterer
South Australia
UZZ30 UZZ31
Posts: 10151
Reg: 11-2004
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Then he turns up in court and says you failed to give way to the right.  |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
Soarer Limited UZZ31 V8
Posts: 2631
Reg: 11-2005
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Haha, that wont be happening as he was at a give way sign, so I had the right of way.
I've driven that same route 100's of times and its the first this has happened.
Oh well. Ill see what these other panel beaters have to say tomorrow. |
Evan Kaio
TryHard
The Hutt
'91 UZZ31
Posts: 264
Reg: 01-2007
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Sorry to see this, Mike.
  will not help. |
Evan Kaio
TryHard
The Hutt
'91 UZZ31
Posts: 265
Reg: 01-2007
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Mike Beck wrote on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 06:40 pm:Oh well. Ill see what these other panel beaters have to say tomorrow.
Yes, give a bit of time and make a decision. |
Ben Lipman
DieHard
NSW
Soarer TT manual
Posts: 961
Reg: 04-2006
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Evan Kaio wrote on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 06:46 pm: will not help.
Yes. It will.
Seems insane to write off a car with so little damage. I had a gemini involved in a head on crash, replaced nearly every panel forward of the roof, radiator etc and back on the road a few (well ok-15) years ago. The car cost $3500, repairs $3000 with no paint. |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
Soarer Limited UZZ31 V8
Posts: 2632
Reg: 11-2005
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Yeah thats the problem with this massive pool of cheap Japanese cars, because they are sooo cheap, its not worth it to fix them, your better off to just get another.
I guess thats the problem with these once 100k cars that are now in the sub 10k bracket!
If it's a write off because the repairs are worth more than its insured value, Ill buy it back and get another Soarer, swapping all the parts over to that, then selling the rest. I think if that happens I'd go for a FSG TT. They are the only Soarer I haven't had so may as well wait for one to come up if I need to make that choice... need to wait though as theres just junk for sale at the moment. |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
Soarer Limited UZZ31 V8
Posts: 2635
Reg: 11-2005
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Hmmm well it maybe fixable, I'll get it fully assessed later this week at my designated repair shop to see whats what.
From my observations the panel is stuffed, I'd be impressed to see anyone that would be able to repair it with out replacing it. Considering I'm fussy I know for a fact it wouldn't be perfect again - its just such a curved part of the car that if it has a fault in the lines, its quite visible.
Then theres the matter of getting that metallic paint colour matched and faded and the dent in the door sorted which has impressed into the steel reinforcing bar inside the door - Id be interested to see how that would get fixed under a budget...
The suspension is quite an issue, the top rear wishbone is clearly bend so the impact in the wheel was substantial, I can't see if anything else is bent but I wouldn't be surprised if the subframe mounting points are a tad out of place... luckily the wheel was okay, no fractures or punctures! So that repair could bump the price up substantially - who knows!
So far estimates to repair it are around 3k+, just for the panel work at a estimate, then you need to add in the mechanical damage. Considering that the repair cost would surpass the purchased value of the car and be approaching its insured value I don't think its logical to fix it really - seems silly when you put it on paper.
I like the car obviously, but I'd be probably more happy to write it off, and buy it back from the insurance company, then I could strip it and sell the many desirable parts from it that a lot of people would be after, interior bits, non bleed a/c LCD, low km repaired dash, clean headlights, electrical parts etc, the exhaust system that would bolt onto another V8 directly ( ehh only had it for a week! hahaha)
If it came to stripping the car, I'd actually be most keen on using the motor/ECU/gearbox to custom fit into another car as a new project over summer. Hmmm!
Shall see what happens later this week - having the insurance claim processed currently... next will be the assessment.
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Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
Soarer Limited UZZ31 V8
Posts: 2636
Reg: 11-2005
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For your interest, heres the bent wishbone arm, I put a spanner over it level with the rest so you can see where the bending point was... not good!
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Chris Stephenson
Tinkerer
west harbour
soarer 4.0 v8
Posts: 8
Reg: 08-2008
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a real shame to see damage on such a lovely car... but has been proven that nz police can't drive.......lol |
Dave Rose
DieHard
wa
uzz31 v8
Posts: 541
Reg: 03-2007
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Mike.....sorry .....i feel sick looking at it. |
Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo
North Island
JZZ31
Posts: 3845
Reg: 10-2005
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Just spotted this Mike, that sucks! Same damage to my Soarer 4 years ago was a write off on agreed value of $9500, but it was a bit worse than yours as the guy was doing over 50 when he hit me, and he spun me into oncoming traffic so the front was damaged too.
The panel is definitely useless - it will be far too stretched and stressed to ever come even close to being the right shape again.
Heres a thought, buy the car back and use the difference to get the parts you need and a second hand mig unit - take a welding course and have a crack at fixing it yourself! Worse comes to worse and you aren't happy with it, you can still sell the Soarer or part it, and you'll have welding skills. I can't weld but if you need a hand with the suspension work or whatever I'm happy to help.
Another option is to get a payout from the insurer and hit the cop up for the extra money required for a professional repair. If he's a decent bloke he'll stump up with the cash.
What street did it happen on? |
Evan Kaio
TryHard
The Hutt
'91 UZZ31
Posts: 268
Reg: 01-2007
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Matthew Sharpe wrote on Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 06:19 am:Heres a thought, buy the car back and use the difference to get the parts you need and a second hand mig unit - take a welding course and have a crack at fixing it yourself!
Repco have a cheap MIG welding set a the moment, gas/gasless. Check out there latest flyer. |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
Soarer Limited UZZ31 V8
Posts: 2637
Reg: 11-2005
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Haha, welding, that would be last thing I'd consider doing.
Actually not a bad idea... but I would have no hell in chance getting it perfect and Im a fuss pot with this sort of thing.
If the assessed repair cost goes over the value of the car and it becomes a write off I'd be keen to buy it back from the insurance company & strip it for parts, would be a shame but Im not to worried as theres a fair bit of value in separate parts etc, could make some of you happy! Plus I'd be keen to reuse the Engine and gearbox for something else.
It happened on Ladies Mile and Pukerangi Cres Matt. One of my routes home for years! |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
Soarer Limited UZZ31 V8
Posts: 2638
Reg: 11-2005
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Ah well yay, looks like its going to be fixed, I find out what the go will be on Tuesday with the repair details and how long it will take.
Pleased about that as it would have been sad to pull the car apart! |
Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo
North Island
JZZ31
Posts: 3848
Reg: 10-2005
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Thats good news. Doesn't look like there is any chance of the body frame being warped so it should end up good as new. |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
Soarer Limited UZZ31 V8
Posts: 2660
Reg: 11-2005
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Yeah, actually just on my way there now.
I look forward to the repair results. |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
Soarer Limited UZZ31 V8
Posts: 2662
Reg: 11-2005
|
Oh god, I got a purple Rav 4 as a courtesy car.
One of the worst things I have ever driven......
My Soarer feels like gold compared!
NO COMPARISON.
Still its a car! |
Don Bagnall
Moderator
New Zealand
Mercedes Benz SLK230 Kompressor
Posts: 7156
Reg: 05-2005
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Sorry Mike, I only just saw this thread.
STINK!. Bugger me, you had the UZZ30 backed into by some tool, and now THIS!!.
Still she should be repaired nice n' straight.
The assessor probably realizes that YOUR Soarer is WELL above the average clapped out, dung-box ones that are TradeMe.
And, hey, at least the RAVioli is a Toyota  |
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
Soarer Limited UZZ31 V8
Posts: 2665
Reg: 11-2005
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Thanks Don, Definitely unfortunate but nothing is invincible!
Interestingly enough, I flipped out more about that small dent door on the UZZ30 than this.
Guess I've just grown up a bit and gotten over the 'super mint' thing - anyhow its getting fixed and I'm having the boot resprayed as well as debadged... looking forward to that. Should be pretty mint then.
Definitely a decent soarer I saved from going down the drain, its actually a really nice example when I see it parked where ever I go, especially thanks to my efforts over the last few months.
Ha, yes its a Toyota - rather sad one though - if it was manual it would have been fairly good but autos in these type of cars dont work in my opinion.
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