33 replies to this topic

[Wise Old Elf]

Glad you are ok.

 

A bit sad about the RSP but I am sure you will resurrect it. On the bright side you should be able to get some new metal and paint on it and it will come back shinier than before..

 

Jason

[surfblue63]

Tanya

 

That does look nasty, especially how close the rear panel is the door. I hope the floor is not too twisted. 

 

It is good to hear that the other party has verbally accepted responsibility and that you have been able to place Tommy with someone who knows how to repair him properly.

 

Also it is good to hear that you have only got a neck ache.

 

Hopefully Tommy will be restored to full fitness again and will still feel the same as before. I had an old Alfa once that got damaged and repaired. It was not the same when done and was soon sold on.

 

See you Sunday.

 

Stuart

[Ethel]

Here's my girl lindsay I lost 2 years ago, got rear ended in the snow feb 2012 was a 90s golf left with little scraches and a broken headlight thats all, gutted was an understatement! insurance companies are just a bunch of useless pen pushing pricks, tried to buy her back but they wanted over 2700 to do so, apparently that what covered the repair costs, how does that even make sense? still you learn and grow from your experiences it's now 2 and a bit years on and I'm back in a Mini Cooper :)

I'm puzzled by that, insurance companies have no power to enforce a settlement, if you're making a 3rd party claim against someone else you're entitled to the repair cost, or the cost of replacement with like for like, whichever is lower. If they pay for a replacement they can deduct the salvage value if you keep the car, all of those values & costs would have to be demonstrable in a civil court, which is always your option if they don't make a fair offer. If that £2700 was the lower figure that what's they should have given you, along with the car.

[zony]

Tanya, I hope everything works out ok for you. Tommy means a lot to you, be positive.

[Pitcrew6464]

Poor minis get those 3rd brake lights fitted people £5 mod from eBay !

[Tanya]

Thank you everyone for your kind words.

Sadly I don't think a third brakelight would have made the slightest bit of difference in this case. We were crawling in slow rush hour traffic and his foot slipped off the brake, I'm assuming straight on to the acclerator literally launching him into Tommy

Aviva, his insurer called me yesterday and accepted liability. While this is obvious, it's still good to have it confirmed. They asked me if I wanted to claim directly through them but I said no as I was going through my insurers who would claim it back.

My insurers have been efficient so far and other than annoying me by telling me that they would supply me with a hire car equivalent to Tommy (when they offer a Eurobox), I'm happy with them. I don't mind that they only offer a Eurobox, but just please don't ever compare it to Tommy in anyway!

I told them that Tommy was going to Palmer Brothers and that wasn't up for negotiation. Thankfully they only put up a minor protest telling me that they couldn't warranty their work as they aren't one of their approved repairers which I told them was fine with me.

So it's all arranged for Palmer Brothers to collect him on 16th July. I do feel much better knowing that I have a good plan to make Tommy better.

My neck is still a bit stiff and achy so I've had it checked by the doctor who says it just a muscle thing and should recover in a few days - nothing more serious which is good. I think I was lucky as we'd swapped Tommy's usual RSP seats for the John Cooper Garage seats which are considerably more substantial, offering better support for the neck/head. However, the force of the impact caused the passenger front seat to come of its subframe.

Tommy will be at home with us in our garage until Palmer Brothers collect him. However, I still can't bring myself to visit him and say hello

Edited by Tanya, 06 July 2013 - 08:00 AM.

[Tanya]

We have some good news!  Tommy is to be saved (and won't be a Cat C either)

 

His damage is extensive (I knew that!) but given his excellent pre-accident condition, low mileage (around 25,000) and that RSPs with a genuine S conversion hold their value, along with Kev Palmer's assessor negotiating skills, he will live again   

 

I am so pleased and relieved  I think it will be a couple of months before he is back with me (missing the summer ), but the main thing is that he will be back!  

[BronkoMini]

Oh good

[mrfmini]

Excellent news :) my Jasper is more than a car to me too, always say good morning/night to him lol madness I know but that's the bond I have with my mini

[MrBounce]

That's excellent news

[Spud_133]

Woooo

[rally515]

Ahh this is great news Tanya, glad its all worked out and hope to see pictures of his freshen-up soon

 

Cheers

Cliff

[Tanya]

Thank you for all your kind words - I'm just so pleased!  

 

All my cars are considerably more to me than 'pieces of metal'.  I chat to them and like mrfmini, also saying good morning and good night to them!  I guess it's also the people that you meet through them.  For example with Tommy, his first owner was the MD of Westover Motors in Bournemouth who had him for approximately 18 months, from March 1991 to September 1992 (for some reason Tommy was registered late, possibly sat in the showroom waiting for the S conversion to become available).  He was then moved on to his second owner who used him until 1998, when unfortunately for medical reasons she could not longer drive him.  It look her son many years to persuade her to sell him, and finally in July 2011, I bought him.  She was too sad about him going to deal with the sale or face him leaving, but she was very pleased that he had gone to someone who would love him.  I gave her some flowers (via her son) when I picked him up and send her son regular updates about how Tommy is getting on which he shares with her and they both enjoy.   For all these reasons, this is why Tommy can never be just 'a piece of metal'.  

[Tanya]

Fantastic news. I am so relieved. I was on my travels when this happened so was unable to send my commiserations. I dared not tell Tommy’s sister, my RSP S, because she would have been distraught. They were at the same nursery (Westover) back in 1990.

Here is my picture again of them together with mine, behind and left, looking very envious of Tommy’s new seats. Happier days.

One challenge you will have is restoring the Cooper S decal on the boot as this smaller than the side decals and not one that Roger has. My decal is not original and I would like it to be correct.

 

 

Yes, I know we are going to have challenges along the way.  However, as you know the RSP Register is fab, Rog is so helpful so I'm sure between us all we'll get him sorted.    Then we can have some more happy photos!