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R4 vandalised

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ojwk

Enthusiast
Messages
8
Hello all,

My R4 GTL was quite badly vandalised in the early hours of Friday morning. It was pushed onto its side in the middle of our road and all the doors/panels on the driver side are quite badly damaged.

I've contacted the insurers but I'm not really sure what to do. I think they will tell me that its too costly to repair. I don't want to get rid of it though because it was my parents wedding car and still holds sentimental value for my mum. Also I enjoy driving it as its a lovely little car.

I was wondering how much the panels would be to buy (even if they can still be gotten hold of) as I don't think they can simply be bashed back into shape. Also I guess the cost of respray etc.. Not shown in the photos is some similar (but less severe) damage where the rear wing was kicked in and along the door as well.

Best,

ojwk

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwLmpnL_YPMwandBTHp6SkpLNkk/edit
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwLmpnL_YPMwT0JTdHRDVFBIYWs/edit
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwLmpnL_YPMwam1BdkF3YW1aYXc/edit
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwLmpnL_YPMwZDVuaWo2a3lZRjA/edit
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwLmpnL_YPMwRHl5MXRacnJSZkE/edit
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwLmpnL_YPMwTVA3X0RRVnZsWjQ/edit
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwLmpnL_YPMwdk9oYkVSMFNyeDQ/edit
 
Sorry to see that, we can only hope those responsible get whats due to them :twisted:

As far as the car goes, personally I wouldn't bother with the insurance - they will write it off and whilst you can probably buy it back as salvage it probably isn't worth the hassle.

From the photos, the rear wing looks worst. You should be able to pull it out a bit and new rear wings are available at relatively little cost.

Its difficult to see the rest of the damage but it doesn't look too bad. Personally I'd wait for a s/h pair of doors to come up although you can get new rear doors IIRC.
 
It is sad how some people behave. I don't understand the mentality behind random vandalism like this.

But the damage doesn't look like it would be beyond a body shop's capability?

I can't see how badly the sill is damaged but overall the car looks perfectly repairable.
 
Complete and utter Bassa's people like that, Hope one day they have something they care about and somebody smashes it up for them,
If the law was an eye for an eye they would think twice, :mad:
 
Argh sad to see this ! :(

By the look of it tho, from the pictures I saw a bodyshop should be able to fix it.

Regards,
Andrew
 
Really sad to see that indeed! But the damage is hardly worth the burden of your considerations. The car looks like it's in good shape so buy a new rear wing, the old one should come off pretty easily, buy yourself some new doors and fix it! Make sure you do the fixing right (like a nice neat seam between the body and the new rear wing etc.).

Otherwise: take off the old wing, buy a new one and let a bodyshop do the rest, if you can't do it yourself or don't want to. The a-panel is the worst thing: that will take you some plastering.

So: this is very easily fixable and it would be a shame to scrap it just because of this (especially if you see what wrecks some people, like me, restore and how irrational that is economically).
 
It really makes my blood boil what some people will do with no respect for others. My 4L has been tipped on its side twice and I think you're lucky to have so little damage. You may need some new panels and doors but as Rutger-peer says the A-panel will take the most work to repair.

Do check inside for any dangerous spillages like fuel or battery acid and rinse them off as soon as possible to avoid any more damage.
 
regarding the insurance, if you have a comp policy I would make a claim, the car will be written off but YOU have the right to buy back the salvage, do not allow any body to remove the car for quotes or storage, the costs of which will prob be more than the writeoff claim and you will land up with very little. the 'log book' will of course be stamped as a write off and so will reduce it's re-sale value but so what. I was an insurance adjuster for a long time and suggest this is the best way to go..
 
Thanks for all your replies guys, very helpful.

I will see what the insurance people say when they get back to me.

Forgive my ignorance, what is an A-panel?

I'm glad to know the damage isn't as catastrophic as I first imagined. I think I might garage it for a while and see about repairing it with my own money. The trouble with my insurance is that I'm 21 and its only just starting to become affordable so if I claim on it I'll lose my no claims and have to pay a ~£350 excess etc..

Strangely someone drew the letters '4L' in the snow on the bonnet the other morning. The car has had more attention (good/bad) in the last four days than in the last four years!!

As I say, definitely want to keep it and luckily the garage is empty so it can sit there a while as I save up some cash!

Thanks again,

ojwk
 
damn, why do people do stuff like this, I've had work mates pull at my R4 when i took him to work, damaged the wipers and got me pulled over because they covered the number plate with a rude sign.

http://www.franzose.de/en/Renault/ if you can find pockets deep enough.

But go on what these guys say. Wings turn up from time to time has I have a complete set ready for my long delayed rebuild of my R4

Just hope your engine is ok.
 
Ive had a couple of minor vandal incidents,its always been on a Friday night,when people are out walking home fromt he pubs and see a car that isnt another grey box and think its funny to wreck it

I dont know whereabout in London you are but theres a local bodyshop ive used for the last 10 years who are great and wont charge the earth to fix it,you can do some of the work or just get it all done,they will even repair and paint it at a later date if money is tight,
there im chessington surrey pm me if you need any more info
( i dont work for them )
Matt
 
I can't understand the mentality of people who would do something like that. And why the pick on the R4? There are plenty of small, and presumeably light, cars on the road but I've not heard of other cars being flipped on their side?
 
Its because they are morons. Thats all.

I've heard of the same happening to 2CVs as well. Sadly its just a case of it being a relatively unusual car that stands out on a row of moderns and attracts unwanted attention.

That and a modern supermini weighs as much as the moon and is probably near on impossible for a handful of cheap lager fuelled morons to move.
 
It's really unbelievable people do such bullshit. But for the rearwings, they are pretty easy to come by here in the Netherlands.
 
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