Back from the dead

[timmoss10]

Hello folks, I'm Tim, a huge fan of Peugeots in general and the 205 in particular and even more so the Gti and Cti.

After a long and enjoyable rolling restoration of my Cti and 2 years of trouble free and deeply satisfying driving, I was rear-ended on a country road by a Porsche driver near Petersfield. The driver immediately admitted liability and gave me his details - we had a witness also.

Luckily, not much apparent damage ensued - the rear valance, bumper and accessories were destoyed, the boot base was crimped and the spare tyre holder was bent out of shape, but absolutely no problems with any panels or the exhaust - it missed by inches.

I was contacted by his insurers - Churchill - a few days after the incident and they offered to take the car to one of their local approved garages. In the interests of keeping costs to a minimum, I agreed. It was over a month before I heard from them - after me badgering them on a daily basis after 2 weeks - and their engineer then told me that because the car was otherwise in such pristine condition, it should be fixed. However, after a further 2 weeks of toing and froing, the engineer decided the part required was not available and therefore the car was unfixable.

You can imagine my disappointment.

I sent them details of Peugeot 205 specialists with no joy. Bizarrely, despite declaring the car was unfixable, they offered me a settlement sum (not enough) for getting the car fixed myself! How on earth they can quote for a non-existent part is beyond me. I complained by telephone to Churchill who told me that they should never have taken such an old car on and don't know why it was done. You can imagine my frustration at this.

In some disgust, I reaquired the car and took it to a highly recommended bodyshop (DB Accident repair in Walderslade, Kent) near home for a second opinion. They gave me a quote for fixing it within 3 days. They slowly stretched it on a jig and all of the other accoutrements such a bumper, lights, etc. where bought from ebay or Peugeot.

This came to under £1500 (probably less than the damage to the other car). The quote was sent to Churchill and my insurance company have still not heard from them after 2 weeks! Eventually Churchill refused to pay any more than the £1200 they had originally quoted.

I begrudgingly accepted, made a complaint for how I have been treated and got some money back, which I have donated to charity.

Please be warned - don't trust the other side's insurance company, use your own to badger them and as a matter of course call them on a daily basis - it is the only way to get them doing anything. If you make yourself into a pain for them, they will want to get rid of you asap.

Since getting her back, she's had a few aches and pains with the 3 month lay off - her battery was flat and moribund and she was misfiring slightly, but after treating her to a top whack Bosch battery (highly recommended - she loves it!), cleaning the dizzy cap contacts and rotor and treating her to a set of sparks and a new filter (all for less than 25 quid on ebay), she is back to her brilliant self.

I love this car - I have owned loads of other makes and none give me as much sheer driving pleasure.

Cheers!

[Piston Broke]

He drives a Porker and he's insured it through Churchill? That's a good 'un!

Mind you, some years back I dealt with a lady who'd had her £70,000 Cayenne stolen - she'd only insured it 3rd party!!!

[frodo]

Many insurers offer to take your bent car to a repairer of their choice. This immediately sounds suspicious? Better to enquire locally for word-of-mouth recommendations, not least so that you don't have to travel miles to this 'preferred repairer'. Especially for a car of advanced age.

I haven't had to do this often, but a few years ago I foolishly smashed the screen of my 306 into a metal barrier, with some damage to the bonnet. My insurer wanted to use a place 30 miles away, but I asked my local indy (who works in the pits on race tracks, so bends plenty of cars) and suggested one in the next town. No problems, and a very decent repair.