Dear all,
It's a sad little tale. Got our new Mazda 323F 1.8SE (2001 Y) just after christmas. Nice car, 70k miles, all working, really liked it. From a dealer in Maidstone, gave us a cracking trade in for Mrs APM's MX5, although we did pay a little over the odds (£3400). Mrs is pregnant, due August, so change in lifestyle beckons, change of car one of the first steps.
Anyway, early Jan, the Mrs, bit hormonal possibly, bumps a guy in a micra at a roundabout. Damage looks minor- bent bonnet. On inspection, however, seems the damage is more extensive- bonnet, bumper, rad (although it's not leaking), ac rad (although this is working too), sundry other things bent. Official cost to repair is about £2800, too close to the value of the car for ins co to pay. They've offered write off value (IRO £3200ish) or £2k as payment in lieu, car isn't written off- very reasonable I thought (impressed by Admiral generally- really helpful & understanding, actually).
Anyway, we're having our trusted local garage have a look at what the 'real' cost to fix would be, ie not an ins job, should know tomorrow or weds what this will be.
Here's the thing. I like the car very much, it ticks all of our boxes, would like to repair & hang onto it. The Mrs, however, is wary after all that's happened, and doesn't like driving it, even though it's perfectly safe to do so (Garage have reassured on this). I'm not sure if she will want to drive it even if it's fixed up properly- she's saying she's happy with our £600 150k volvo 940! If we take the cash, one problem is, the 323 of that era is rare, the SE even rarer- we'd be lucky to find such a nice one again.
So questions are:
1. Anyone been in a similar position? Is the wife likely to change her perception once the car's fixed?
2. If we can't find another 323, what are the alternatives (same size & age, japanese if poss)
3. Would we be mad to use a 15 year old Volvo estate as a baby car?
4. Depending on answer to 3, would it be worth hanging on to the damaged car post payout, using it until MOT & kicking straight what I could to keep it going?
Advice gratefully received!!
Many thanks,
Alex.
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1. It's personal :)
2. Nissan Almera/Honda Civic/Accord/Toyota Corolla etc. should offer you similar value.
3. I think sometime back Fifthgear proved that old Volvos aren't that good for crash protection.
4. Can't comment.
Edited by movilogo on 18/02/2008 at 13:18
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Your first question is entering my ex professional field ( now retired)
Responses to an unpleasant event such as you describe will habituate (reduce) in time, will be stronger in the vehicle in which the accident occurred and at the location.
There will likely be some generalization to other cars and to driving in general, but over time it should all reduce.
Fact is though with your wife expecting, you would be well advised to get another car, that will remove a stressor that there is no need to have.
Regards
Edited by oilrag on 18/02/2008 at 13:40
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Just noticed that you`re a Psychologist, have I just written a paradoxical injunction for you ;)
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Thanks chaps!
movilogo- interesting re the volvo- will see what I can find out. Seems intuitive that a big lump of Swedish metal is going to protect you, but it's far more complex than that I know. Good suggestions re replacement, will look into.
Oilrag- I appreciate your comments- I am a psychologist, but academic as opposed to the counselling/ therapy kind. I like to think of it as looking at the macro as opposed to the micro :0)
I understand your reasoning- she was wary at first of driving at all, but seems to have overcome that. She has even been ok with driving across the same roundabout, past the scene (well-worn route to a friend's house). Still unsure about the car though. On the one hand I'd love to take the Mazda out of the equation & remove a potential cause of stress, but I'm wary of acceding to avoidant behaviour! Will discuss with her this evening. She's also a psychologist (family therapist now), and understands all of the theories etc. Always hard to recognise in yourself & stay objective when it's a loved one!
Many thanks for your wise counsel,
Edited by Webmaster on 18/02/2008 at 19:08
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movilogo- interesting re the volvo- will see what I can find out. Seems intuitive that a big lump of Swedish metal is going to protect you but it's far more complex than that I know.
Swedish Folksam crash results pre-date the Euro NCAP and were based on occupant safety in real life accidents, not tests.
The Volvo 900 series was/is rated "above average": snipurl.com/1zv8t . Better than a lot of cars from the same era and newer, but with reference to the 5th gear test, things have moved on and current car design can call on an extra 15 years of crash research since the 940 went on sale: snipurl.com/1zv94
As Altea Ego pointed out last time I mentioned this, 12 years of wear and tear and corrosion could have reduced the crashworthiness to some degree.
(Wouldn't stop me driving a Volvo but thats just my personal viewpoint). ;o)
Edited by Rich 9-3 on 18/02/2008 at 15:02
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Thanks Rich- some wise words.
For what it's worth, the revised estimate was still pretty high, and the ins co have made a decent offer, so we've decided to write the car off and take the settlement. Seems sad- the Mazda is sitting outside on the drive looking very sorry for itself. Still, life goes on.
So, we should have about £3k for the payout, and can put in a bit more ourselves, so prob talking about £5k tops. I've had a look around, and there seem to be a selection of Almeras (lots), Corollas, Civics and Mada 3's about. The CBCB seems to suggest that none are terrible, but anyone have experience of which is nicest? I'm also lobbying for adding a little more and looking at a Leon Cupra, since I used to have one and absolutely loved it! I know HJ is very keen on these, and it was the car the wife and I courted in, so might get lucky (just got a promotion at work, which will help too)... Any problems come up with these as they age? I know about the coilpacks & cambelt changes, but any other issues?
Thanks in advance (again),
Alex.
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