Last week my wifes 2005 fiesta which we have owned fronm newwas invoved in a serious accident (not her fault).he entire side has been smashed including the windscreen post and floor is bent. The car has only covered 6000 miles from new.
The insurance companies "approved repairer" has given a quote of £3300 to repair it. This is about £2000 less than the car is worth prior to accident.
I am not comftable with the idea of them repairing such extensive damage.
Will the ford warrenty both body work and mechanicals still be valid?
It is not currently at a ford delaear- can I insist that it goes there?
Can I claim the reduction in value from the other driver as I will be left with an extensively repaired car rather than a pristine one (which we have had from new) so is worth less when resale comes to be considered.
Quite frankly what ever they do I am going to sell the car immediaatley upon its return as given the extent of damage neither my wife or I would feel comftable travelling in it.
Any advice please?
{typo in subject header corrected}
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 20/03/2008 at 12:39
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Ouch. Hope the occupants are OK.
Suggest you speak to your insurance company as they may have an approved repairer who is a Ford dealer. They MAY even take it as a trade in whilst damaged etc etc if you buy your new car (then at least they cant blame you /devalue it for any repair standards!).
I had a similar with a Vauxhall a few years back, albeit only minor damage, and likewise wanted it repaired so as warranty not affected - turned out that the main dealer was also an appro'd repairer although the insurer hadnt offered me them. It still took several attempts & re-visits to get the job about right.
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wont the cars logbook show a catagory of damage or something that will make it harder to sell?
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Ever so slightly off the query but how would such extensive damage, no matter how well repaired, effect the selling price of the car. I know for one that I would walk away from buying such a car PROVIDED that I had been informed of the repair.
Surely the value of the car would be less than an uncrashed car--and could you claim this loss on the insurance?
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Exactly
because you would quite rightly "walk away" the car is woth less.
Before this idiot jumbed a set of lights My wifes car was a one owner undamaged car with a mere 6000 miles with full service history.
It appears that i will get back an extensively repaired car with no warrenty- which one would you buy?
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Your insurer will normally guarantee the quality of the repair for a period - typically 3 years.
I had a 2 week old car and somone ran up the back of it. 5 years later the insurer had the tailgate resprayed at their cost.
The original Honda body warranty was not vaild with a repair being done at the insurer's preferred repairer.
So the moral of the my story is get your car repaired at a Ford garage and then you should have 2 guarantees - one from Ford & one from the car insurer.
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The ford Warrenty for bodywork is 12 years!
So We have 9.5 years left on that.
Just checked with Ford dealer who has confirmed that a repair by anybody else other than a franchised dealer invalidates the body warrenty on the entire car!
Do not suppose that the insurers "approved repairer" will guarantee his repairs for 9.5 years- also dont suppose that they will guareantee the rest of the car!
Going to insist on a Ford dealership doing the job to maintain warrenty on basis that any other course of action will not put me back in the position I was before accident- when thay finish repair I will px it!
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I don't know what the exact legislation is, but I'm aware that the owner of the car DOES have the legal right to say where it goes for repair.
My car (a Corsa) recently got damaged and as it is over 3yrs old I've asked for it to go to a good local repairer that I've used before (for the same car when it was younger) - they're not an approved repairer, but offer a 'lifetime' guarantee on their work, for as long as you keep the car. My insurance company first tried getting me to go to their approved repairer, a Ford dealership in Merthyr Tydfil. This was a no-no, as said Ford dealer "repaired" my 5dr 2001 Fiesta back in 2002, and came back to me with over 21 faults to the work including extensive over-spray, under-spray and the doors badly alligned. (point being a Ford dealer repair demonstrably doesn't guarantee good quality). I even had to get them to correct these faults before I could sell the car as one salesman opened the bonnet and was greeted with silver overspray (slight giveaway!).
BUT, upon the basis of what the engineer said that inspected my car last week - a manufacturer dealer repair should safeguard your warranty. I'm sticking with my choice of repair centre, but my insurers' engineer did try to tempt me with their approved Vauxhall dealer for repair upon the basis of keeping my perforation warranty in tact (my car is now 4yrs old and has over 60,000 miles on it, so no longer under mechanical warranty). As the paint warranty on the car from new was only 3yrs, and I'm looking to change in 18-months I'm happy with my decision.
I'm not sure what the score is for trading in an extensively repaired car (I'm aware I've had to declare my car hasn't had this when trading in before), but I'm guessing the insurers are unlikely to pay this - IMO their responsibility is to ensure the car is returned to its original condition. As for the safety of the car, I can understand your concerns but if you take it to a reputable centre I'm guessing all should be fine. Assuming you decide to go to a Ford dealer, you may well get a visit from an engineer from your insurance company validating the extent of damage and the quote that you get.
Hope this is of some help!
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Done a bit of research on internet...
Apparently i will be able to claim "diminution" from other drivers insurance in respect reduction in value.
Genrally that about 20% of value so it seems.
This is what I dont understand...
Car value prior to smash £5500.
Repair cost £3500+ diminution claim £1100 (20% of £5500) plus hire car costs totals about £4750, only £750 short of cars value- time you take into account value of salvage (no idea but surely must be more than £750) then would they not be better off writing it off?
They probably are not expecting diminution claim.
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"They probably are not expecting diminution claim."
Oh yes they are but they are not expecting to have to pay it to you.
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Probably because very few people know about it.
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