Help please and a warning to all

[Yoda]

Had an accident the other week in the Clio, everyone ok, car was driveable, not my fault, but going through as a 50-50 AFAIK.

Body blow today when got a message saying it was a write-off! Damage to passenger side between the axles but am shocked as the coachworks thought it wouldn't be.

The kick in the nuts is when I spoke to engineer/assessor bloke, he said its a write off because I don't have agreed value (though we all put a value in when we take out the insurance, it is effectively worthless) but as the value of the car is approx £3750, thats that.

He said the value was an average of Glass's, Parker's and one other, that I didn't hear but could have been auto trader, that was the value and tough spit. PistonHeads and specialist sites like this don't count as ads are posted above market value and don't sell at that price according to them.

I've looked at Glass's & Parkers and believe they are wrong as they value the top end for other 55 182s at £3000. These prices I mention are as per retail, not privately. My car is immaculate. I've looked at autotrader, and the cheapest T is £4000, going up to £7000, the average being £5000 and that includes the ones that a dealer typically says are immaculate, but when you look has damage as per a 7 year old car and hence priced lower than the private ones.

I conservatively value my car at £5500 as it is unmolested and the register has posts recording it is an excellent example.

SO, help please. Does anyone have any articles that value the T compared with standard 182 fare? I know of the evo buying guide and will try to find it tonight as I should have it. There was also an article in evo about cars that can be driven effectively free for a year because they don't depreciate, and the T was in there. Any others that you know of. I basically would like to gather proof that the guides are inaccurate for specialist models, and other rules they have such as Renault dealer servicing is worthless compared to specialist servicing.

The warning to you all is to check your policy and make sure you have an agreed value, otherwise it could be you being hit at a roundabout and being £2000 out of pocket.

Thanks

 

[marrow]

There are a few dealers who specialise in hot RSs, they may be happy to provide something in writing as to what they would value a car of your condition.

 

[hodgy21]

Sorry to hear that buddy, looks like we will not get to have a meet after all. Until you get the next one! Good luck with the insurance thing, I'm going to check mine this weekend.

 

[Jonc]

Insurance companies always try it on and pay as little as possible. Never accept the first figure they give you. As long as you can support and backup with examples ie, in Autrotrader of how much it would cost to get a similar spec to your written off Trophy in terms of age and mileage they should offer more. You have to negotiate the market value of your Trophy with your insurer. I went through the same situation years ago, they gave me a rubbish figure until I gave them loads of examples from Autotrader of how much it would cost to get the same model car of similar condition. I took it to the point where I would have to go through their appeal process. I don't think the insurer wants to go down this route as it would cost them more and would (in theory) just pay out. Having said that, it was still slightly below the market value but a lot better than the first figure they gave me. You just gotta push them.

 

[sjparker]

Had a similar thing with Focus 1.6 I had, Parkers lowest price(Private, Poor) was £3500! Admiral offered me £500 when it was written off!! Managed to argue the price to £2500. Wasn't 100% happy but I just decided it was too much hassle to pursue further!

 

[Sir_Dave]

Firstly, dont accept the 2nd offer, secondly, post pictures of the damage so we can offer some advice as to how to get it fixed.

Then you can get a payout, buy the car back & fix it back up for a pittance.

Clio parts are soo cheap!!

 

[Beef-Mc]

Speak to Luke on CS he recently went through something like this so may be able to provide you with some additional help.

 

[Carbon Chaos]

Thats just unfair ! Ask your insurers to find you another car with the same mileage/condition for that price and see what they come up with.

Have to agree with others about not accepting low offers this is going to be a long draw out process im afraid so be patient.

Where are you based ? as im in the trade and could offer mates rates

 

[Yoda]

Seeing it again, it doesn't seem much at all. Had a PM from someone that has bought the car from salvage. Nice to know that I won't be repairing it myself now.

Had no time to sort out the valuation stuff yet, but still nothing within 10% of their valuation. Looks like the car guides are a problem, they stand by their valuations but offer no evidence to support it.

 

[.Stevo.C.]

Really doesn't look that badly damaged to be a write off to me.

 

[hoolio]

Really doesn't look that badly damaged to be a write off to me.

Same as but there is probably more going on under the side skirt to the sill, any damage to that there goes a lot of your chassis strength.

 

[matt lehec]

I've bought it and the damage to the sill was minor, fitted a new door and pulled out the dent in quarter and sill within a hour.
Whats ridiculous is the insurance company sold me the car when they have'nt even paid Yoda out! I think this should give him some serious leverage! Either citizens advice or call the insurance demanding your car back as we they cant do it so should make them up their offer or call them asking why they have sold your car for just over £2000 damaged and are not willing to pay your requested amount?

 

[Yoda]

And so it ends

Sorry to bring back an old thread like this, but thought I'd round the issue off as I've just heard from the financial ombudsman and got his recommendation.

After 2 years and 4 months, hundreds of hours of research and document generation I have been offered an extra £300. That makes the market of an excellent condition, average mileage, unmodified Trophy £4000 as at the time of the crash instead of the £5500 I was expecting. Despite having bought it for £6000 18 mths previously, evidence of condition from independent specialist, EVO mag valuing Trophies at well over £5k before and after the accident and seeing my car as a Cat D, advertised for more than I was offered for it as a mint example. Apparently it is normal to get 50% discounts from dealers. That is the ombudsman's explanation for how a car advertised at over £6k today equates to a book value of around £3k today

I shouldn't be surprised at being screwed by the insurance industry and motor trade but I hoped common sense would prevail. The crux of the valuation is that the ombudsman as well as the insurer rely on the trade guides for valuations as they are independent. But, the guides are wrong, I as close as possible proved they are wrong, but it didn't matter. It also doesn't matter that the guides say they are not to be used for insurance valuations, and also don't have to justify their values. Case closed.

Lesson learned is to get an approved valuation.

 

[ldubl]

We should get together & lobby Glass guide as they have admitted they don't include the Trophy, it's a std 182/cup etc that is half the price!

 

[Yoda]

I think that none of the guides should include the Trophy seeing as they are so wrong in their valuation. Glass's used to have a valuation which was just as low, maybe they have withdrawn it due to low sales volume or even my complaint.

 

[olliep]

i had issues when my first trophy was written off (199) getting them up on price. my only advantage was it was being used as a part ex on my new r26 so i sent all the paper work through to my insurance showing what Renault had valued it at a part ex. The part ex figure was still 1500 below what they were feting at the time but it was about 1500 more than they had offered and enabled my deal could still go through.