How Much Will It Cost to Fix Our VW? Pictures Included

[Deactivated] on 28/09/2016 - 17:31
Last edited 28/09/2016 - 17:43 by 1 other user

Hi OzBargain,

The Wife had an accident in her 3 month old car the other day.

Driving on the M4 and turning a corner at 100k's when there was a pile up of cars on the other side. She was checking her blind spot and looked back to see the pile up but realising it was too late to stop she hit the side barrier.

We have insurance but just thought I would ask the question of how much damage you think was done?

Picture 1:
Picture 2:
Picture 3:

You can see damage to the front bumper, Major damage to side panel, damage to passenger door (can't open), damage to quarter panel and scratches on bumper. The light has also been scratched.

Automotive

Comments

  • kasumi on 28/09/2016 - 17:37
    +3

    Wait, what? She was turning the corner at 100km/hr? At an offramp or a just bend?

    • [Deactivated] on 28/09/2016 - 17:43

      The M4 is a highway - 100 is the posted speed.

      • kasumi on 28/09/2016 - 17:46
        +1

        I know. So i assume it's a bend in the road then as there isn't any sharp bends on the M4 (except for exits/offramps)

        Anyway, you'll just be paying the excess which would be less than what you would have to fork out yourself if you were inclined to pay for it yourself and save your NCB

      • kerfuffle on 28/09/2016 - 17:49
        +3

        Technically it's 80 between Parramatta and Strathfield due to roadworks.

        • Mysterious Laptop on 01/10/2016 - 14:27

          Yeah between Parramatta and Strathfield, did it occur to you OP was travelling outside of these zones?

        • kerfuffle on 01/10/2016 - 15:24

          @Mysterious Laptop: Did it occur to you that they might not have been? They did call the M4 a highway, not a motorway. It's not 100 on the M4 until near the Light Horse Interchange.

        • snook on 04/10/2016 - 11:35
          +1

          @kerfuffle: You're wrong. It's 100 out of Wenty to the lighthorse interchange and then 110 after it.

          The M4 Western Motorway is a motorway in central Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was formerly known as F4 Western Freeway. Wikipedia

        • kerfuffle on 04/10/2016 - 12:05

          @snook: I know it's a motorway. If you read I said that the OP called it a highway.

  • Banana on 28/09/2016 - 17:47

    Do you have insurance?

    I rear-ended someone a few months ago and that small dint was going to cost me 5k. I went with my insurance instead. The damage on that Polo looks much bigger than the dint so I assume it will cost more than 5k…probably how much you paid for the car itself…

  • tonyjzx on 28/09/2016 - 17:47
    +3

    She brushed the side barrier.

    I'm guessing there's no change from $7,500.

  • nomoneynoproblems on 28/09/2016 - 18:02
    +6

    Lol so she turned her head to see the accident and veered into the barrier?

  • oscargamer on 28/09/2016 - 19:03
    +9

    about the same as on whirlpool

  • oscargamer on 28/09/2016 - 19:03

    "She brushed the side barrier."

    No, she hit the side barrier

    unless brushed is cheaper than hit………..which i think it's not

  • rajendrarao on 28/09/2016 - 19:32
    -3

    Hey mate! You are looking at $8590 . If you have an insurance where they replace with new car, go for it after paying your excess. Good luck.

    • spackbace on 28/09/2016 - 19:38
      +4

      replace with new car

      That's only in the event of a write-off, not just an accident…!

  • [Deactivated] on 28/09/2016 - 19:49

    If you shop around for 'private' quotes, you can probably get it done for <$2500. The key will be finding a wrecker who has a same model/color available to strip for parts. Luckily white shouldn't have any matching issues.

    Run a few insurance quotes to see how much your premium increases by, if you have a at-fault claim and make a decision. If you end up making an insurance claim, make sure the repairer is going to use genuine new parts, rather than parts from a wrecker or generics. Also check which panels will be replaced and which ones will be repaired. Repairing panels involve using putty/fillers which don't wear well with age.

    Does your insurance company give you 'choice of repairer'? If so, most repairers will waive the excess.

  • [Deactivated] on 28/09/2016 - 19:54
    +3

    Don't worry at least you have insurance. My neighbour swiped the entire left side of her two day old Toyota Kluger (brand new) as she was going down our car park ramp. She didn't have insurance because she thought that she had "plenty of time." The bill for the panel beater was ~ $10000.

    • kerfuffle on 28/09/2016 - 20:03
      +5

      This is why you have insurance before you drive your brand new car out of the dealership! Your neighbour is a numpty for thinking she had plenty of time.

      • Randxyz123 on 03/10/2016 - 05:06

        This! The salesperson is actually meant to make sure you have it OR you have to sign a waiver saying you don't want it or have it otherwise it's the dealers' problem if you crash while driving home.

    • TheOneWhoKnocks on 28/09/2016 - 22:44

      I cringed so hard reading that.

  • hell0 on 28/09/2016 - 20:40

    It does look like around 4k of repair cost with my limited repair experience. Time for insurance to take over…

  • altomic on 28/09/2016 - 21:00
    +2

    several options (as outlined above)
    a) insurance
    b) backyard repair boys
    c) DIY

    personally I'd go the DIY option. (i've messed around with cars for years. also Youtube is great source of information)

    with that rear panel damage you could probably leave it and just buff it out.

    the front panel is some what screwed as is the front bumper. the door could be partial hit out and buffed. (it will look like a dint).

    a quick guestimation of a second hand bumper and front panel would be ~$1000

    start ringing around/emailing wreckers and check ebay and gumtree

    now, if your wife could live with an imperfect panel and bumper then you could try panel beating/bogging them out your self and then spraying them. wait a couple of years until that model of VW polo is older and wrecker have more of them and then source replacement parts then.

    • resisting the urge on 28/09/2016 - 23:07

      +1

      It is not hard to replace a panel, though pull it off to see if anything underneath is bent out of shape badly first. It is very unlikely looking at your pics. That said, you could source a new panel (used from a wrecker is best), even if the wrong colour you could roll into a panel shop and simply get a quote for painting it, once you are done changing it over and lining it up so the gaps are all even and neat. buff the bumper and the rear and wait till someone hits you again (or one of you hits something else… it's bound to happen so why keep it perfect anyhow?

  • JimmyF on 28/09/2016 - 21:14
    +2

    More than your insurance excess…… So just lodge a claim!

  • NotJustChickenDinner on 28/09/2016 - 22:35

    is that your wife in the 2nd picture …in the reflection?

  • voiletmay on 29/09/2016 - 07:42

    Make an insurance claim. The job will be done properly then.

    Came back to my car damaged by a tow ball once (someone backed into it and drove away). Damage was a small dint, didn't look like much, so I left it. Six months later I went around to a few panel beaters who said it was a big job and there was lots of damage underneath. So went insurance claim and it was great, got a hire car for the time, done really quickly. Excellent service all round.

    Just get the job done properly. That is why we have car insurance.

    • kerfuffle on 29/09/2016 - 08:26

      With that information in mind, be aware that not every insurance policy/smash repairer has a hire car for use.

      • voiletmay on 29/09/2016 - 11:16
        +1

        Yeah, we pay extra on our car insurance to get the hire car included. Really worth it, have used it a few times now.

        • kerfuffle on 29/09/2016 - 11:25

          Same; had to use it twice in the space of four months

  • TransportPosters on 29/09/2016 - 08:35
    +1

    I'd go with insurance and just wear the damage to the driver's rating. Four panels plus possible headlight replacement, possible adjustments to other panels pushed around, labour to remove trim and other components, etc.

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