friend crashes my frontera

[jmc]

I have lent my workshop and frontera to a friend so he can fix his omega suspension for the mot in Jan.
Imagine my horror when about 5.45 just as we'd got back from London,he rang to say he'd just run into the back of a broken down Espace on the slip road going onto the A2 at Barham on his way home to Dover.As he was phoning me a motorbike came round the slip road and clipped the back of the frontera and crashed into the espace.
Ive just got back.The police insisted the frontera got recovered, and I managed to get the recovery guy to get it back to my workshop.
It looks awful,the crash bars are very bent,the bumper was touching the wheel so I had to bend it out to get the wheel free,the wing is right back and the bonnet ie bent.
My friend is keen for us to fix it ourselves and with any luck we can source the bits locally,but before I committ days of labour I think I ought to get it looked at by a bent car fixer for an assessment,in case there is more wrong with it than first looks.
My friend is only covered by third party so I dont think his insurance will cover it.
Would it fact be better to scrap it and get another?
I had wanted to be at home this week doing diy and being with family.
What do you think I should do?
Thanks.
More importantly although the motorcyclist got collected by an ambulance he said he felt fine.

[Drift]

Depending on the damage, do you have pictures?

[Road Hog]

Does his Third Party cover him to drive your car ?

[Drift]

I think when you can drive other cars on your policy most insurers only cover you third party on the other vehicle, worth checking your policy though as some insurers are with holding this at renewal's and not saying anything or burying it in small print.

[Rifleman]

[Road Hog]

[jmc]

thanks guys. I can take pictures tommorrow and can also check with his insurance.I suspect it will be that his will cover for the damage done to the espace but not to mine.
Its such bad luck he is the most careful driver.The weathers been awful for drivng in today we took it very easy on the way back from London.

[jcv1968]

Post some pics please. Theres an A series at Bobbing breakers with both front wings and bonnet, also one at Milton Regis in Sittingbourne.

[gregster]

Sorry to hear of your cars misfortune JMC....but at least everyone was Ok....
I wouldnt do anything too dramatic to your car for now...it could be that if the espace was left in a dangerous position or illegally that the claim would go against them...but in reality any claim would result in your fronty being a write off...

Not sure what colour your car is but I have got some bits that might help you our... a green Lwb front bumper, a white lwb bumper, a white o/s front wing, a white bonnet (with a couple of small dinks) and the lightly dented nsf wing off the chevy in grey and a grill and a o/s head light which is ok (but the reflecter has seen better days), if I can help you out getting it back on the road...
Might have some indicators that the outer lenses have fallen off, but still work...
All these bits are off the car, so would save you hassle taking bits off in breakers etc...and I am not a million miles away...

Let me know if I can help you mate...

[N1ova]

Hi hope your car aint mangled to badly.I have a pair of headlights in mint condition available.Hope you get it fixed soon.Cheers Adrian

[Sir-Doris]

Glad everyone is alright and Best of luck with the repairs.

[Alfie]

Glad evryone was ok. Top bloke gregster. Hope the repairs all go ok

[jmc]

thanks jvc for the local info on the breakers in Bobbing and Sittingbourne. And thanks so much for the list of parts gregster and the offer of help, I may well be in touch.I am picking friend up tommorrow morning and he should be able to get his omega back together in a morning.This will give me time to have a look at the damage and think about what to do and go and get bits in his car.He wants to fix it himself as he has a few more days holiday. The reality is that I probably will end up doing as well as its easier with two
I will take pics and really try to post them as smiffy was kind enough to pm me steps through doing it.
thanks all for the support and offers of spares.

[Roo]

Hi JMC
Sorry to hear about your car

If it were my car I would take it to a garage and get a damage report just in case the structure of the car were unsafe and if you do all this work on it, then it goes for its MOT then it may fail on the structure of the car..

Usually if a motorist goes into the back of a car then its usually their fault, I may be wrong here.

Didn't the law change whereby insurance companies wanted to know who would be driving a vehicle that didn't belong to them, I could be wrong here, wouldn't surprise me

All the very best to you & good luck in your choice what to do

[Rifleman]

[jmc]

The steering won't go on full lock to the right and stops an inch short of the stop. The radiator is ok but it looks like the engine has been pushed back an inch or so. Any ideas? I've got a mechanic coming to take a look tomorrow. Thanks.

[Drift]

Not looking good if the engine has moved, could be mount or could have twisted chassis

[N1ova]

If the engine has been pushed back,id assume its time to get another frontera.

[gregster]

Doesnt sound good....might be worth having a look at the chassis rails just behind where the front suspension attaches....I have known fronties to bend there if they take a wack on the suspension/wheels, which in effect pulls the suspension backwards and in at the rear....so the tyres will toes out and full lock wouldnt be achievable...
If its bent there it is repairable by cutting the chassis rail, and using a ram to push the rail straight with a bit of heat, against the frame the other side, and then rewelding and plating when in correct position..

As for the engine moving back...any deformation of chassis rails behind the mounts may move the engine, but it wouldnt move far because of the transmission mounts...

I've got to admit, without having a look at it, if its gonna need panels, possible straightening of frame etc then finding another with a ropey engine that is accordingly cheap may be be the better bet and then swap the engine into it out of yours, to try and make best financial use of your one...

Personally...I would sell it to your mate for what its going rate is as a working car, for say £600-£700 or whatever you think it was worth.
You can then buy another one....and then he can do what he likes with the stuffed one...
Sounds harsh maybe but I always have the attitude that if I borrow someones car and wreck it that its my place to replace it, either on my insurance or if not covered then out of my own pocket!
Fact is he drove into the broken down car, he can argue it wasnt his fault and was a grotty night etc, but the fact is the only person whose fault it wasnt was YOURS!!! and yet you are left with the busted car and all the messing trying to get it sorted...
Let him take the fronty and get some prices on getting it fixed...then I reckon the idea of buying you another one will seem easier for him to swallow once he's seen a couple of estimates...
If you are feeling generous you could offer him a couple of hundred for the remains of your one for spares, once he's bought you another...you are being good already to him by not hiring a replacement car in the meantime at his expense!

[jmc]

Just got back. Thanks drift, n1ova and roo for all the responses and suggestions.Gregster you are absolutely right, I would do exactly the same, replace the car. My friend was a mechanic in the airforce and worked for several years as a mechanic so was hopeful he could fix it but as soon as the steering problem came to light he that wheels wont go to full lock he started talking about another one and even took me to local forecourt to look at what was available. I think the best bet is to get another frontera its just a shame as I have got to know this one and have got fond of it.
I hadn't thought of selling the crashed one to him so thanks for that thought.
I'm off to look on ebay and autotrader unless anybody has a diesel 2.3 or 2.5 one to sell.
Thanks for the support.