Ooops...

[InvaderGIR]

...there goes my 1 years NCB and arrives my 2nd accident...no chance of getting a decent car for a while now...

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

...goes to MS paint (actually photoshop) and does the obligatory image...

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

I take it you hit something else which is going to claim off you, rather than a random bit of scenery.

MS-PAINT!! (Photoshop...but worse skills than paint)...

Red block is a White Van (Don't I pick 'em), and the blue thing is my 205.

The road was a 50, then dropped to 40, so I did. The van overtook me, so I 'waved' as you do. Only he decides to stop, I think...'poo'...white van, somerset...this could be bad. So I think, I'll just drive round him and be on my merry way...but I don't pull out far enough, and wang the car into the van....balls.

I finished my manoeuvre. Got out, walked back to his van, and whilst almost dropping a brick in my trossies 'cause he's a big block and shouting for a fight, I calmly say I'm sorry, it's my fault, and the insurance will sort it.

He calms down after a bit of talking, and he has a go at me 'cause he was on the way to pick his wife up 'cause she's ill...blah blah blah, I then say I'm on the way back from my mate's funeral (100% true, I was on the way back from it...and feeling crappy), at which he instantly stops being a nasty Somerset man, and is nice.

Swapped details and he should be calling me later...and if he decides not to go through insurance (to sodding late I called mine ). I'd rather be honest with my insurance company than some idiotic van driver (I too am idiotic, but am a car driver, so it's ok ).

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

well at least thats 1 more pug off the road

Not likely. A 'new' wing and it should be good as new. RAC guy looked it over, and basically all I did was wreck my bumper and passenger side front wheel.

Oh, must have happened at like 10mph max.

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

unlucky mate, at least no one was hurt

£10 bet says the van driver and his 'passenger' were hurt too and will be claiming 'compo' any day soon

And I'll tell him to sod off and claim it all from my insurance...that's what it's for is it not.

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

well hes not going to want to claim it from you, itll be about £2k per person and not many people have the money laying around for that

Especially not poor little students like me.

As far as I'm concerned, these things happen, you live and learn. I'm just glad nobody was actually hurt. He was stationary and likely handbrake on as he appeared to be thinking about getting out (opening and closing his door), which is why I tried to run away.

Still, it'll teach me not to 'wave' at drivers, especially white van men.

Oh, and I'll get a daylight pic tomorrow of how RAC man fixed it...indicator is GENIUS!

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

So you flicked the bird then rammed him?

if you did fllp the bird then ram him, then you are owed serious kudos/dare points

I just laughed sooo much, cheers lads.

By waved I mean 'open fist' (maybe 'loose fist' fits too) I don't want to say just what I did or it's meaning due to the family friendliness of the forums. I most certainly did not extend a finger or even two (I'm guessing that's what flicking the bird means anyway).

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

Go and watch Top Gun, now

Don't have a copy of it...sorry.

Ah, you inferred to the other driver that he was an onanist

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

hmm, yes, my question also, did he hurt, offend or cause you any great danger by overtaking you? Or were you just telling him off and saying "shouldnt be doing that you naughty naughty boy" ?

Telling off. As I said to him afterwards, I hate it when people overtake me when it's a proper limit (NSL doesn't count ), so doing like 50mph in a 40mph limit really irritates me. He was up my bumper all the time too in a previous limited area, such a nice fellow...

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

Just because you hate it doesn't mean you should take any action.
Let other people drive how they want to and avoid them if necessary.

Hopefully you've learnt your lesson though, and you can get your car fixed.

I didn't try to take action, just the general irritated gestures that people do. I did NOT mean to run into him, and he should not have stopped in the middle of the road (especially as he is local and knows its a very busy road) due to some person making said gesture...especially as he said he was in a rush, if that much of a rush, don't risk anything, just keep on going and ignore it.

Anyway, doesn't matter, it's done now. I don't care what people think of me on here, just thought I'd share my New Year's bad luck, mate's funeral, then this, get off the high horse, please.

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

He stopped just because you waved at him?

Yup, and had a go at me for it as he was in a rush. Now this confused me...you are in a rush, so you stop...well, that makes sense...

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

Not meaning to sound funny but sure all you need is a new wing and bumper?

You might wanna check your subframe if your gonna fix it.

I want to take the wing off to check the damage to the actual structure of the car. I've been informed that the wing is bolted on, and also bonded, so removing it could be a right pain.
The drive gear works fine, nothing is damaged on that front. The RAC bloke that came to help checked it over, and we drove it a short way to check it was ok. I then drove it 60miles home with no problems.

So running-wise it is fine, but structurally at the moment I do not know.

EDIT - and as yet the van driver has not contacted me. Which is interesting as he said he would, but my insurance company may have contacted him. I'll phone them tomorrow to see at what point the whole thing is at. If he isn't going to claim (don't see why he wouldn't) then I'll see if I can stop my company from removing my 1ncb and my half of my 2nd ncb.

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

Yeah, my fault, I know, and admitted it at the scene.

I have people gesture at me sometimes, or flash lights etc. but I just ignore it, much simpler and safer.

I certainly won't be waving or gesturing at people in the future, that event really showed me I'm a right arse behind the wheel really. In a way I'm glad it happened, but also it's well annoying that it did.

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

Why is everyone crashing!

Well it wasn't on purpose.

cos the winterz are here and the roads are cold and wet

DSC, ABS, ABD, EBC, KYB, GAF etc for the win, otherwise we are all going to die

Well I had none, and didn't die.

So this thread is basically the result of you being a silly boy?

Yes, as most accidents are. I just thought I'd share my stupidity with the masses, as most seem to do that here.

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

I've got to be honest, this is one of the few accidents i've seen that are the result of sillyness.

Lots of ones through stupidity, negligence, inatention etc etc etc.

I didn't write a link?

Sillyness/Stupidity, the same thing really.

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

You are telling me you are confused, what are you on about?

I've seen lots of accidents from the other things, is what i'm saying.

Nooo, at the top of the quote of me you did, there is a web address, I didn't write one.

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

If I read it correctly he did stop and then tried to pull out round the side and hit him whilst pulling out.

Yup. Completely stupid error on my part there, didn't pull wide enough. Effectively I hit a stationary/parked vehicle...even if it was in the middle of a busy road.

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

After my brother kindly removed the outer wing and beat the car back to shape I could have a proper look at just what is needed to fix it. Only a cheap car, but it can and will be fixed, and I'll run it for a while, but hopefully not too long as I want to get something newer and safer (did anyway, but a low speed bump/scrape and this thing is damaged, want something that won't be quite so bad).

Anyway, on topic of the car...I'd smashed the indicator, removed some of the bumper, lost a spring from behind the headlight and snapped the pipe out from the washer fluid bottle clean off at the pump.
This means I needed a new pump, a new bumper, a new indicator and a spring/some wire/a cable tie.
My brother has lots of 205 spares, and I was lucky enough that he had a passenger side indicator, so that's sorted now.

I went to my local car breakers today asking after a bumper that was in one piece p), went to the main one in town and they said they didn't have any (I saw one on a 205 out the front, but it was ontop of another car (stacked up) so didn't mention it). He said that he could get me a new one, and was trying to get me to buy a front skirt too at a total cost of £38 inc VAT.
Now I may look like I have no clue about cars etc. but honestly, that there is a rip off, £40 to fix a 1988 205 nonGTi. I said I'd think about it, and look else where, then get back to him if I wanted it.
Went on to my fav local breakers (out of town down some tiny lanes), asked if they had one. There was a 205 near the entrance, MOT failure or something, completely sound body (well just glancing at it, no crash damage). He said he'd take the bumper off it, and it'd be £15 and to come back in an hour. I figured, £15 for the bumper, hour's wait, not bad really.
I come back an hour later and another bloke deals with me, and was like 'well we got it off, but im sorry, part of the bumper has broken', I look at it and a T bolt has pulled itself through the bumper (common problem with 205's bumpers that I've seen), so it'll be £10 instead. I'm not really fussed as it's an easy fix really, so not that big a deal. I look at it, and it's still got the skirt and front driving lamps on, I figure they were just waiting to make sure I wanted the bumper before removing it, apparently not. I came back home with a full 205 DTurbo front bumper and skirt. This includes front fogs/driving lamps with glass/plastic stone protectors on, not something you usually get for £10...result!

I not just have to refit the old outer wing, beat it a bit and then remove the driver's side light so I can wire in these front lamps, remove the old bumper and skirt, attach the new one, refit the lights, remove the old bit of pipe from the washer fluid pump, put the new pump in and I'm good to go.
Although I am slightly tempted to go back to the breakers and grab the wing off their car, only problem is it's black and my car is really light blue.

I also have to find a spring for the lights, or rig up some form of cabletie/wire arrangement for the light to stop it point at the sky when I go over a bump.

I'll get some pics tomorrow when it's light and I'm sorting it, today my phone's battery was low so didn't bother with pictures.

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

205 wings are very very hard to get off without bending them - it's almost impossible.

New ones are cheap though.

Mine's already bent prior to removal Seriously though, the actual wing ignoring the part that contacted the van is pretty much fine.
Problem is, I need the car for Sat at the latest, else I'd not be so fussed about getting a proper new wing in.
Out of interest, how much would a new wing be inc painting etc., do you know?

InvG

 

[InvaderGIR]

I was referring to you taking the wing off the 205 in the scrapyard - it won't be much use when you bend it taking it off

I'm lazy so they do it for me...actually I just ask for parts and they ask when I want them/tell me when to come back and it'll be ready, well nice blokes.

If you urgently need the car just bash your wing semi straight using lengths of wood and a lump hammer. It won't look nice but it will work.

Done so far, I had fitted the lights and was then informed by my brother that I'd need to fit the wing first...he likes to tell me these things after I've done them, and claims I should know...strange. Gives me something to do tomorrow in the cold and wet...hate that he has all five and a half of our garages full with his cars.

No idea on spraying costs but a pattern wing is about £20

Ah, not too bad then, may look into it once I've sorted the car if it looks really bad, but on the other hand I may get a newer car...the 205 is great fun, just not really all that safe.

InvG