Parked car written off, recommend a replacement please!

[neilrr]

A couple of nights ago my daughter's fiancé's VW GTI was written off after some drunk ****hole walloped it when it was parked outside on the road. Doesn't look terrible in the photos but it was pushed forward nearly 5 yards & all the bodywork in the rear & rear suspension are noticeably out of whack. Insurance co have written it off & settlement negotiations are proceeding. Despite the ****hole being falling down drunk and driving away the police refused to come out. Daughter's man followed the trail of fluid from the hit & run car to his house just around the corner where, eventually, the door was answered & a grudging admission given.



Anyway, they are in the market for a replacement. New, fancy, expensive are not on as it'll be living on a London street exposed to the general population. Got to be ULEZ compliant, a car big enough for a cocker spaniel in the boot regularly & occasionally 4 humans in the seats, petrol (circa 8,000 p.a. so not worth messing with a newish diesel I think), reliable & all the usual stuff people are looking for in a car.

Budget around £10-11K.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Why isn't she getting another GTI ? Or GTD or GTE if she needs to spend less money.

Or more normal GT Golf? (If the Spaniel isn't into fast driving any more). The GT goes just as fast as the GTI inside the M25, if you press your right foot down a tad more.

An obvious question that needs asking.

 

[neilrr]

They've had the GTI for 3 or 4 years and fancy a change, it's excessively quick for their needs & location these days.

 

[Skd884]

c63 204 estate, you're welcome.

 

[st13phil]

Not quite as nicely finished as a Golf, but nevertheless a very good drive and good reliability record (as long as you avoid the 1.0 EcoBoost engine) is the Ford Focus.

 

[neilrr]

I've got a video (about 11 videos actually) from neighbour's CCTV, door bells etc of the ****hole hitting the VW & leaving the scene but can't get it to load.

 

[Riva811]

Excessively quick is never a problem. Perhaps an A-Class but I think the Golf looks better

 

[ALFAitalia]

Is he being prosecuted? Hopefully.....

 

[neilrr]

I hadn't thought of a Focus but now you mention it I recall hearing good things about them.

Final 2018 incarnation? What engine.

Is it an issue they aren't making them any longer?

 

[Riva811]

I hadn't thought of a Focus but now you mention it I recall hearing good things about them.

Final 2018 incarnation? What engine.

Is it an issue they aren't making them any longer?

Suspension can become very wobly on a focus. Doors dont shut when frozen. Doors dont open when frozen. Maybe it was just the one we owned

 

[neilrr]

Is he being prosecuted? Hopefully.....

No. The police wouldn't come out & there has been no police involvement. Any contact with the police was over the phone.

They were more concerned with the fiancé being outside the bloke's house, fearing an incoming disturbance in the peace.

 

[Wearsthefoxhat]

a nice B class; surprisingly spacious, a C wagon of some description or Ford C Max,

 

[Jukie]

No. The police wouldn't come out & there has been no police involvement. Any contact with the police was over the phone.

They were more concerned with the fiancé being outside the bloke's house, fearing an incoming disturbance in the peace.

Disgraceful. I cannot think of any valid reason why they would not attend. Quite frankly, any report of a drunk driver should be treated as an IR and officers should be attending on blues and twos., Met or no Met.

 

[Diana1990]

Driving away from a crime, idiots.

I've have several different hatchbacks over the years but by far I'd say Is the A Class. All I'd say is don't rush into it, find a car you want and feel comfortable driving. Any idea hiw long it'll take til payout comes?

 

[Darrell]

No. The police wouldn't come out & there has been no police involvement. Any contact with the police was over the phone.

They were more concerned with the fiancé being outside the bloke's house, fearing an incoming disturbance in the peace.

This is crazy.

I’ve just received a letter from Bromley magistrates court telling me that because I was driving at 24 mph in a 20 mph zone at 7.15am on a bright Sunday morning in April they are going to relieve me of £574 and give me 3 points in return!!

 

[Darrell]

Disgraceful. I cannot think of any valid reason why they would not attend. Quite frankly, any report of a drunk driver should be treated as an IR and officers should be attending on blues and twos., Met or no Met.

Should have told them that they said some hurty words. They’d have been straight out.

 

[Diana1990]

This is crazy.

I’ve just received a letter from Bromley magistrates court telling me that because I was driving at 24 mph in a 20 mph zone at 7.15am on a bright Sunday morning in April they are going to relieve me of £574 and give me 3 points in return!!

Something tells me the police need to sort their priorities out...

 

[Darrell]

Driving away from a crime, idiots.

Not so in this case.
The driver had just got away with drunk driving and leaving the scene.

 

[Will]

This is crazy.

I’ve just received a letter from Bromley magistrates court telling me that because I was driving at 24 mph in a 20 mph zone at 7.15am on a bright Sunday morning in April they are going to relieve me of £574 and give me 3 points in return!!

How come - for 4mph over you’d surely be offered a fixed penalty notice (£100) or one of the online courses (2-3 hours on a computer and a similar cost but no points)

Crazy this went to court unless you challenged it or something?

 

[markjay]

No. The police wouldn't come out & there has been no police involvement. Any contact with the police was over the phone.

They were more concerned with the fiancé being outside the bloke's house, fearing an incoming disturbance in the peace.

My advice is to find out who's the other-party's insurer, give them a ring, and log a claim directly with them, claiming off the other-party's policy.

This will work especially well if the other-party already reported the accident to his insurer (as he should), and accepted liability whem talking to them.

Your daughter's fiancé should then notify his own insurer, making it clear that it's 'notification only', and not a claim.

I wouldn't involve an accident management company. The other-party's insurer will provide your daughter's fiancé's with a rental, if he needs a car to drive around.

If the other-party's insurer want to have the car repaired (unlikely), post back here and I'll advise further