Chris5-0

Well its happened! After 13 years of claim free driving i've gone and smashed the scoob up! Driving home from a very long night shift this morning i did the classic doze at the wheel, only to 'wake' to see a very large traffic island throwing itself in front of me! No amount of braking swerving got it out of the way, it obviously wanted to die!!

Needless to say i hit it quite hard. Getting home i see both offside alloys are ruined as are tyres, the brakes are not working as they should shall we say, the offside front wheel looks suspisiously well back in the wheel arch and the rear view mirror is bust after flying off and hitting me on the head!!

Seriously though what sort of damage am i looking at, brakes, suspension, alloys, tyres etc? Car is a MY97 so not worth millions, think they might write off?!? No bodywork damage at all (just the mirror!) Insurance said garage will use Subaru parts as well so have to put that into equation.

Helps folks!!

GC8

Chris; if they write it off then Id look at retaining the salvage and having it repaired yourself. It shouldnt be too expensive as chassis parts arent expensive to buy, even from a specialist breaker; see that its put on a jig and measured and youre away. You should be able to get them to agree not to record it/V23 it too (but get them to confirm this in writing). You could end up a few thousand pounds up with your car as good as new. ..

Simon

jods

Unlucky one, It's a bit of a shock when that happens. Hope you are alright

So you hit sideways on then ?
Did the airbags pop as that adds 1000's (Approx £2500 to my repair bill)
If you could drive it home then hopefully it's not terminal.
Can you post pics ???

Chris5-0

No, caught if full on forwards!! Remember coming round a roundabout about 300 yards away and next thing was the traffic island! Thinking about it if i'd just swerved right i'd probably have missed but think subconsciously i was worried about oncoming traffic. Hit the tall kerb full on with offside alloys really giving them a whack. The main worry i have is the offside front is sitting about 6-9 inches further back in the arch than the nearside and the brakes were grinding like mad when i limped it home! Think the rear is off as well but aint really checked that yet.

What sort of cost are new suspension bits, what is gonna cost the most and do you think there's a chance it's all out of line, think i was doing about 30-35 when i hit.

jods

My Guesstimate is £2200

Chris5-0

The alloys are worth 1500, that change your estimate!?!

vindaloo

Sorry to here about the bump.

'ang on a minute, it can't be 6-9 inches further back, it'd almost be in your lap.

ISTR that the wishbone is designed to bend rather than the suspension mountings but if you've hit it hard enough....

<ghoul mode>
got any piccies
</ghoul mode>

J.

GC8

Assuming that the wheels are covered, rather than simply declared, then I stand by my original post Chris. Buy used suspension parts from a specialist breaker and get it measured on a jig. The salvage value will be dictated by the repair cost to some extent; but you can usually get a very good salvage deal as its much easier and cheaper for the insurance company...

jods

Yep - adds 1500 to it

Sheesh that's a bark mate. Hope it get's sorted.