Idiot !!!!!!

[DaveP]

Doesn't look nice I'm afraid...I'd reckon on a write off myself....

If it is, I'll have the mirrors off you

[Ian_C]

Gutted. One of my friends suffered a similar fate in his old Cavalier when some lass drove into his boot and it bent the entire back half of the car. Sounds like yours has buckled too. Hope the ins pay out is fair and you source a similarly beautiful misano replacement.

Cavalier - RS4 ??? Not quite the same thing, or am I missing something?

Sorry, I did not explain myself very well at all, what an unintended insult. Even though the damage on said hatch was minimal, all the damage was underneath, absorbed by the chassis. A bent spare wheel well and boot floor, warped roof, rear arches shifted forward, doors misaligned and their locking mechanisms forced open. Very similar to this poor Audi Avant. A write off looks a distinct possibility. A mint late low miler seems a good place to put your settlement if this is indeed so. Agree with you Tarmac T' that someone will do a rebuild then sell it on.

Ian C

[Brooner]

God gutted for you it's hard to emagine that a Ka could do so much damage hope you get things sorted or find a replacment

[viffer]

You must be gutted.

Re your question about age of the youngest RS4, here's a press release from Audi from 1 August 2001 announcing the end of production.
http://www.audiworld.com/news/01/080201/content.shtml

Of course it will have taken a little while for them all to be shipped, registered and sold. Eg mine was reged 1 Sept 2001 (in the UK). So I reckon you're in with a chance of a <3 year old if you're quick.

Cheers, Richard

[andnik]

I think that the rules here state that is is from the date of manufacture not the date of registration...so It looks like I am stuffed at a second hand import......I will get the facts tomorrow and keep you posted.

nik

[viffer]

...so It looks like I am stuffed at a second hand import...

bummer
still, new B6 RS4 must be available soon surely???

Keep smiling. Cheers, Richard.

[RS4_STEVO]

I would say that is a write off i'm afraid, the main area that is a concern is the door checks, for the door not to be shutting correctly either the chassis or door checks must be bent, and i'm sure with it being a RS4 they wouldn't take chances on a repair! sorry to hear about your pride and joy!!!

[bjacks]

I'd personally say that the car will be repaired unless the roof is creased - which could push it over the edge. The doors don't shut because the rear quarter panels are damaged and have been pushed in and down. They can be replaced, as can the boot floor.
The repair would have to cost more than €20k to write the car off I would have thought, and that’s a hell of a lot of money.
You must be really gutted mate, but I’m sure they’ll repair it and get it looking like new again. If not, my parents own a bodyshop in the UK so I’ll give you their number

Cheers

Ben

[itaplikeabiatch]

i think its gone.
high resale value??? we in australia saw them at $165k brand new and now they can be had for $100k, actually one was purchased for $86k with 19k on the clock (it was apparently at wholesale price). so i don't think they are holding their value that well.
and we only got in 40 or 50 of the cars (depends who you ask), and they only came in black and silver here

[Golich]

Well, I reckon it's repairable. I straightened worse. But as some the guys say it the hidden damage that hards to tell. Unfortunatley It depends on its value tho, and the insurance companies cut off. ie. 60% of value?

On the good side a car like the RS4 has a high residual value. Assuming the worst - a new shell + rear panels £8K, £800 for a tail gate, £400 for a bumber + £2K for incidentals and there is four weeks worth of work i.e. 160 hrs stripping and changing out old into new at £70/hr thats approx £22K. 0.7*£32K=£22.4. Who knows? Its certainly worth arguing with the insurance company.

I hope its ok, let us know how you get on.

[CupraRmaniac]

I am really sorry! There are really imbecile in the world!

[ianw]

did you manage to find out about the import rules or if your's is written off. mine, genuine swiss car misano 25Km's is still for sale (not trying too hard to sell it ) or I see that elite garage still have a new unregistered one at list price (probably german import)

search their webiste.
www.elite-zuzwil.ch/docs/

[kiwi_mtm]

I'm pretty certain that your car will be written off I'm afraid.

Mog

Why would they write that off ? You guys must have some pretty tight repair laws ?

With our down under standards, even if the Chassis is slightly bent, that can be straightened or a new rail inserted. Its an expensive car, and thus worth the labour being spent on it. I guess our labour component is cheaper here though...

[Golich]

This is good question for our resident insurance guru - Jon. What is the basis for writing a car off? I've understood it to be a simple cost of repair exceeds ?% of the value. That's why I did the VERY rough estimate above.

[Scotty]

I never understood the supposed old rule of thumb of 50%. Surely that was costing the insurance companies mega bucks.

When my TT had it's off-road trip at the Nurburgring, they spent £15k on it. It was probably worth £20-22k.

To my mind that means they saved about £5-7k on just my car. I imagine all the other claims added together would be a huge amount.