Stolen

[paul2508]

And how exactly did he ram the cop car?? Sideways?? Something strange afoot there, looks more like the cops car rammed him.

was thinkin the same myself.

[Dragonheart]

Are those photos taken as she was found? I'm sure I see a cop van in the background of one of them?

[ultrakupra]

Man is not too bad,just some dents and stuff,you can repair it.
Hope the insurance cover all,good luck man.

[Wildhound]

Yeah it's definitely not looking as bad as it sounded but there's still a good grand's worth of visible damage there. Hopefully I'll have her back soon enough! It's painful to look at

[Wildhound]

DH: He said they were taking the photos yesterday but that doesn't make much sense to me since that looks nothing like a towing yard. Garda van being there doesn't mean much since they've been doing examinations on the car.

Certainly looks to me like they bumped it, rather than the other way round.

[Dragonheart]

Ya I was just putting 2+2 together, the location doesn't look like a yard, looks more like a place where some fella drove a car and then ran from it. With the van in the background I was thinking it was the scene of the crime so to speak, that they were there. Looks more like a road in the background as opposed to a yard. Could be wrong, doesnt really make a difference at the end of the day I suppose.
Plus even if the cops did admit they rammed it its not as if they're going to pay for it, they'll simply say would you rather they got away and burned it out, or would you rather they actually prevented them getting away by ramming it. Even if they still technically got a good bit away after the ramming then it wouldn't make a difference I'd imagine. Can't see why they'd lie about it though, but it does look like a side impact rather than a frontal one which it would be if you rammed someone you'd think.

[Wildhound]

Car has finally been released by the Gardai. The Quinn assessor recommended one of their garages on the Long Mile Road which I'm a little dubious about given the experience I had the last time I went to an insurance company's recommended garage.

I gave Paul Nolan a bell. He was very helpful, but he's away this week. He suggested that if I don't want to be waiting a couple of weeks I should let them take it to their garage and then send it to him to give it a look over and make sure they've done it right.

[Mustang]

And how exactly did he ram the cop car?? Sideways?? Something strange afoot there, looks more like the cops car rammed him.

was thinkin the same myself.

It could have been a side by side shunt -i.e. both cars side by side and one swerves damaging the side of the car. It is quite plausible. I guess when the term ram is used you imagine it to be a head on collision.

Is the back of the car ok? Stolen cars often 'ram' garda cars by stopping and allowing the persuing car to hit the back of them or reversing into the front of the persuing car (same net result). The idea being to damage the radiator/ engine of the persuit car, leaving the 'get away' car damaged at the rear but drivebale.

Hope it's not too serious, doesn't look too bad in the photos. Not to pour salt on the wound, but keeping a car like that in Dublin (or anywhere for that matter)without alarm or immobiliser is asking for trouble.....

[Wildhound]

Well, the bad news arrived today. Looks like she's only good for breaking.

The garage has quoted €3500 for the bodywork alone, not counting ignition and other interior damage so naturally it's "uneconomical" for them to repair. He told me that I am entitled to have the car back and that they will find the current market value of the car and subtract from that what the car is worth in it's current condition to find the sum I will be paid if I choose to keep it.

*sigh*

[Dragonheart]

€3,500?? Presume thats a quote off their own 'reliable' garage is it? Get it off your own garage and see what they quote to repair. Gauranteed it wont be half that figure, bearing in mind you can get parts second hand off lads here as opposed to going direct through Mitsubishi.

[Wildhound]

Well that's something I'll do if/when I get her back. See how much I can get it done for myself. If it's more than what they pay me, I'll have to break her. Just moved in to a new place so I don't have the cash to spend much on repairs.

[shellier46]

Well that's something I'll do if/when I get her back. See how much I can get it done for myself. If it's more than what they pay me, I'll have to break her. Just moved in to a new place so I don't have the cash to spend much on repairs.

do you want a replacement pannel for the front only thing is its white

[Wildhound]

Ok, the insurance company finally got back to me with settlement figures and I have to be honest, it's not as bad as I had expected. They'll pay out and give me the car back. It's a category C write off so the car can go back on the road.

The assessor reckons there's no mechanical damage. Haven't seen the car yet but it looks like I need to sort out the ignition and replace the cowling, get a new stereo and console surround, replace the driver's side door and wing, and the quarter-panel is damaged but repairable.

Now the big question is do I break or repair? I think the money they're giving me could cover a repair (and two people have already offered me panels), but I don't want to start it and then realise the car will never be the same!

[Mustang]

Now the big question is do I break or repair?

Would be a shame to brake a car that is mechanically sound and only needs minor cosmetic repairs.

Furthermore do you mean sell it for breaking or do it yourself. If you are going to do it yourself you need
-private space
-suitable tools
-a lot of time to break.
-then you need to market the parts and distribute them (trips to the post office etc).
-Then finally you'll need to dispose of the remainder.
Not quite the easy money some would have you think.

[Wildhound]

Very true, I might be able to find somewhere to put it, but I don't have much time on my hands to do the work.

You're dead right it would be an awful shame to break it. I'm just trying to think with my head rather than my heart for a change. Any money I put into it is dead money, since the car is essentially worthless now having been stolen, recovered and written off.

If I choose to repair it, it means keeping it until it's scrap anyway. Now that would be fine with me, unless I can't get it back to the condition it was in before. And that's the worry, how much will it end up costing me to do that...

[Mustang]

Very true, I might be able to find somewhere to put it, but I don't have much time on my hands to do the work.

You're dead right it would be an awful shame to break it. I'm just trying to think with my head rather than my heart for a change. Any money I put into it is dead money, since the car is essentially worthless now having been stolen, recovered and written off.

If I choose to repair it, it means keeping it until it's scrap anyway. Now that would be fine with me, unless I can't get it back to the condition it was in before. And that's the worry, how much will it end up costing me to do that...

It's a sh!ty predicament alright. Once you drive an old car, even a minor scrape will right it off financially.

[Kace]

....it looks like I need to sort out the ignition and replace the cowling, get a new stereo and console surround, replace the driver's side door and wing, and the quarter-panel is damaged but repairable.

Sounds like just replacing the ignition and locks will have you back on the road. Then you can decide how much you want to spend getting it back in tip top condition by doing the cosmetics inside and out. All depends on how 'perfect' you want the car to look after that.

Personally I have been driving my car with the few dents and some decent enough supermarket pillar scrapes for years and years now. For me it just isn't worth spending 600-700 bills fixing these things - I can live without perfection with my FTO.

[optical illusion]

Who are you insured with? Nice outcome.

[Dilogoat86]

I think Kace is spot on there;

Repair the locks and internals, give the car a once over and then get the panels done in the mean time. Also get an alarm and immobiliser fitted, get the radio and then you're good to go again. Don't need to worry about insurance since it'll be paid in full and then you're only thing left is the expensive stuff. Mitsumaniac's mate in Blanchardstown is a quality sprayer.

There's a place in Dun Laorghaire that does up rattle cans for €20 of colour codes. 2 cans did my entire engine bay in the mini so that should do the door and wing. It comes out perfect too. Just key the paint with 1200 grit and you'll have it done in a few minutes. Finish it with another 1200 grit rub down and another coat and it'll look great. Spraying is silly expensive in Ireland.

[Sebastian]

what's the update man ? did you put her back on the road?

[Wildhound]

I have the car back but can't get it started. It turns over but not even a splutter. I have no idea what's wrong.

[Dilogoat86]

Just to add a bit more info;

There's fuel,
NO ignition barrel,
Learned to hot wire and I've got everything to work in the order it should during the 3 stages of ignition,

I'm wondering where the fuel cut off switch is incase that's what they used to turn the car off.
I can see an imobiliser fob thing and I'm wondering how to get around it if it is engaged. (Colm might be able to shed some light here)
It turns over beautifully and everyting works so short of Wild taking it for a drive to check for other problems it looks like it could be brought back to it's previous condition.

Need list:

D/S Door (It's not actually badly damaged, looks to be just scrapes.
D/S Wing (Unrepairable)
D/S Rear Quarter Panel (Same level of damage as the door)
Inition barrel
Igntion barrel housing
Ignition switch (This would make hot wiring A LOT easier)
Steering column cowling.

Who has?

[colm_mcm]

Immobiliser was never wired up! It's under the carpet on the drivers side.

Might have been an idea to wire it up...

[Sebastian]

I have the plastic trims around the ignition gimme a shout if you're stuck for them

[steelroe]

I reckon I have good wing and door in the colour you need. Save you a fortune on spraying. Aslo would have everything else you need except for centre console.