[KANNURAN]

Guys,
Its unfortunate that my first post on Team-BHP has a negative note to it, regarding an accident I suffered.
My Swift VDI met with an accident in Mid Jan and the following damage was reported:
Bumper and grille
Turbo, Intercooler, Radiator
Bonnet and Side Fender and lately ...
Apron damage (they stated they are waiting for new Apron)

Accident pics are enclosed and I request your valued opinion on if I should keep the car or sell it. With the kind of damage noted, is it normally possible to return the car to its normal (safe and drivable) state. I am particularly worried about the apron. The car is being repaired in a garage which (I suspect) DOES NOT have the modern chassis repair equipment.
Many Thanks

[lambdaplus]

how old is your car? and, aren't you getting it serviced in maruti authorised service center?

My opinion is that you could use it after repairs for some time and check for any difference in behaviour (like vibrations, some background hums\sounds that weren't there before). If you notice something fishy, you can sell it off... otherwise, you can use it!
the repairs are pretty decent these days... since, they replace whole components\ parts (under insurance)... so, unless you notice some difference in the driveability and feel, I'd say you can use it!

but, if you are able to afford another car, then, its a whole different story!

[libranof1987]

That is an unfortunate accident.

Are you considering selling the car just because of the accident? Any way, you'll have to repair the car, right? Why not wait until the repairs are done and you get a feel how well it has come back to original.

Hope you are getting the repairs done at a A.S.S.

Meanwhile, have a look at this :

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...on-bent-3.html

[Surviving Brain]

Welcome to Team BHP!

Why did you opt not to hide the license plate of your car? If I were in your position that would have been the first thing that I would have done before sharing the pics of the car in this state.

Would you mind sharing thr exact plave where this accident took place? For me, the place seens to be very familiar.

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[sierrakamat]

with apron damage even if you get it repaired you will have a tough time selling it as professional dealers can spot it regardless of where you get the work done .just check the before and after value and sell the car asap

[esteem_lover]

Seeing the pictures, first get the car repaired, claim the insurance and sell it off. It is not worth holding on to it anymore after all that frontal damage.

[KANNURAN]

Thanks Lambdaplus.
Its 2008 Dec. Luckily, in Dec. 2010, I shifted to Tata AIG, and upgraded the insurance package to include depreciation reimbursement. As advised, I will see the state of the car and decide if to sell it. The only catch is, the Swift VDI has a 3 month waiting list and for the ABS version, the local dealer estimated it to be as long as 7 months.
Thanks anyways.

Thanks, SurvivingBrain,
You are right, I should have blotted out the reg no. The accident took place on the Kannur - Koothuparamba Road and was towed to Popular Autos Workshop in Kannothamchal.

[dhanushs]

With the Apron bent, there is 99% chance that the car will have alignment issues throughout its life, hereon. Hence uneven wear of tyres, and high speed stability issues. This should affect suspension components and steering components, making them wear out faster. Better to sell it off. But, with the Apron bent I doubt if you can sell it off unsuspecting. Resale value, will take a heavy beating.

[Arkin evoisrevo]

Pardon my ignorance here, but is it possible for Kannuran to opt for voluntary total loss, if the repair costs borne by insurance are considerable??? What has the insurance company's estimate, Kannuran?? Hope everything goes about well for you. All the best.

[dhanushs]

Originally Posted by Arkin evoisrevo

... but is it possible for Kannuran to opt for voluntary total loss, ...

Its not possible for him to opt for Total Loss unless the repair estimate reaches about 80% of the IDV. In this case, for a Dec '08 car, the IDV will be very high(4L?), and the repairs will only be a small %. I guess it may be just about 1 -1.25 lac rupees (If done at A.S.S).

[jigbarai]

One thing I do not understand is this suggestion about 'sell it off' !!?

If the car is in a drivable state (which most likely it would be, after proper repair work is done), it should be drivable/usable by anybody - be it the current owner or a new owner.

If it is not, then the car is not 'road worthy' at all (which i dont think is the case here).

Dont know what is the purpose of 'repair and get rid of it' mentality here.

It is like passing on a problem (if there is one) to someone else and taking a financial hit because of that. But the problem still remains and is a generic 'risk' on the road.

If you are fixing it - do it WELL and USE IT thereafter.
No point going thru the trouble of repairs and selling it off for a cheap value.
Else, get rid of it in current state and save yourself the agony/time.

[libranof1987]

With the kind of damage suffered, I hope it is being repaired only at an A.S.S.

Originally Posted by jigbarai

One thing I do not understand is this suggestion about 'sell it off' !!?

If the car is in a drivable state (which most likely it would be, after proper repair work is done), it should be drivable/usable by anybody - be it the current owner or a new owner.

If it is not, then the car is not 'road worthy' at all (which i dont think is the case here).

Dont know what is the purpose of 'repair and get rid of it' mentality here.

It is like passing on a problem (if there is one) to someone else and taking a financial hit because of that. But the problem still remains and is a generic 'risk' on the road.

If you are fixing it - do it WELL and USE IT thereafter.
No point going thru the trouble of repairs and selling it off for a cheap value.
Else, get rid of it in current state and save yourself the agony/time.

Extremely well-said.

All said and done however, there exists a market of people who wouldn't mind buying a defective product because:
1) they get the product; and at it's original price, they wouldn't afford it.
2) they don't find the defect significant (however important that may be).

[sagarpadaki]

Pardon my ignorance,what is this APRON? how is it determinental in deciding the handling? Also if its damaged,cant it be replaced like other parts?

[Hashim]

Originally Posted by sagarpadaki

Pardon my ignorance,what is this APRON? how is it determinental in deciding the handling? Also if its damaged,cant it be replaced like other parts?

Please check this link:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...ack-shape.html

The two big metal parts getting welded in the engine compartment of esteem are the apron.

@ O.P. Swift is a good car, get it fixed properly with genuine MGP parts and most important MGP apron and you will have no issue driving the car for rest of its age. Make sure that the welded area of apron is sealed with silicon sealant properly otherwise that area will rust soon.

[dhanushs]

Originally Posted by Hashim

@ O.P. Swift is a good car, get it fixed properly with genuine MGP parts and most important MGP apron and you will have no issue driving the car for rest of its age. Make sure that the welded area of apron is sealed with silicon sealant properly otherwise that area will rust soon.

Originally Posted by jigbarai

Dont know what is the purpose of 'repair and get rid of it' mentality here.

jigbarai, almost all cars I have known with apron damage have alignment issues, high speed stability issues, and hence early wearing out of tyres, suspension, steering components. The thing is 99% A.S.S cant repair the car to a level of perfection which we get whist on a factory assembly line. He should be mighty lucky to be in the 1%.

Originally Posted by jigbarai

No point going thru the trouble of repairs and selling it off for a cheap value. Else, get rid of it in current state and save yourself the agony/time.

After the repairs, he may be able to sell it to an unsuspecting customer at a decent price.