So, after the crash in September (!!!!), I finally got the car back last week. Here's a little story:
At every single point in the process there was problems - my insurer, my underwriter and his insurer all had no idea what was going on - multiple calls and emails, every interaction was like the first call, explaining what happened, what I wanted and how we should proceed. I ended up getting paid twice, one cheque I cashed (from his insurer) and one I tore up (my insurer - who I told, again, I wasn't claiming from... Next months renewal will be fun, as I'm sure they'll have recorded a claim). Suppliers of replacement parts let me down, to the point I had to open a claim on PayPal, which I didn't expect from MK Sportscars, since they're one of the biggest players in the kit car scene.
Rewinding a little, the car had failed its MOT in July, with a few simple fixes required: engine tune, rear brakes sorting and a suspension arm. I sourced and fitted the arm myself, since it was an easy job. With the MOT, I'd also booked new tyres, ordered from Blackcircles and due to be fitted before the MOT since the old tyres looked new, but were fitted in 2003 when the car was built. The garage decided not to bother fitting the tyres and they told me they didn't want to work on the car either: "Come and get the car, we don't know what it is and we don't touch carbs". Fine, no problem. I arrive to find the car sitting out in the rain, on its original tyres. "It's OK, bring it back once it's done and we'll put them on for you". Hmm, not ideal but also not a massive issue, unless it fails the re-test because the tyres are old and cracked.
At this point I'm a bit pissed off because I have a failed car and nobody wants to look at it because it's a bit specialist and old school. This is when I looked around on forums and found a place in Cardiff called Du Croq Slip, who appeared to be the perfect place - their website had kit cars, classic rally cars, hot rods and all sorts of cool stuff. It was all looking good, they agreed to sort what needed sorting, but there was a bit of a waiting list because they're popular. Fine by me, I'm happy to wait for the right place.
Mid-September I was booked in for, two months after the MOT fail. I rushed home from a meeting in London on the day, ready to fire her up and slowly cruise over to Cardiff (After all, the brakes were bad and the tyres similar to the plastic ones found on children's toys). Rolling out of the garage I turned the key, hoping for a roar from the exhaust that's basically firing directly into my ear. Instead, I get the tick of a dead battery and the squelch of a slightly flat tyre. Undeterred, I rolled down the hill, trying to bump start it. I got a few chugs and was hopeful. At the bottom of the hill I got out and pushed it back up half way, jumping in again to try and fire it up a second time. More chugs this time. One more and it'll go I reckon!
The third time was not lucky either. I rolled to the bottom again, more chugs but not enough to get her going. Fourth time, perhaps?
I jumped out to push it up again. As I got out, I saw an Ibiza with its reversing lights on, coming towards me - fast enough that it clearly wasn't going to stop. Crunch. Broken wing, damaged headlight. Nothing else obviously wrong, but it's hard to say without having it all measured and properly inspected. The insurance company refused to inspect it, instead they suggested that I drive it to a garage. I suspected the steering rack was damaged due to a loud squeak when turning the wheel, the brakes definitely weren't great, a tyre was fully flat by this point, one of the wings was smashed, one of the lights was damaged... and they said I should drive it to a garage for inspection.
Anyway, I ended up taking a look myself as best I could. Nothing looked bent, it all seemed OK other than maybe the rack and some of the cosmetic parts. I battled both insurers and the underwriter for months, they wouldn't take my word for it but also wouldn't pay for my car to be inspected. In the end, Du Croq Slip agreed with my assessment and gave me a quote to send to the insurers, which was finally agreed and paid in December. It was a bit of a risk because the chassis could have been bent, but I was fed up with arguing and just went for it.
Between the time of the MOT fail and the insurance payout, I had a call from the original garage who informed me that they were closing their tyre bay and I needed to go and collect the tyres. "We can't fit them, you'll see why when you get here". I arrived that day at lunchtime to find that they were indeed closing the tyre bay. In fact the tyre bay wasn't even there any more. It was rubble. I had to put the car on four axle stands and head over to Newport to get the tyres fitted, which was annoying because I'd already paid for fitment in the price originally, plus the hassle of taking the wheels off and spending three hours of a Saturday getting them swapped over.
Fast forward to March this year and I have all the bits I need. I fitted the carbon wings myself because the fitment is personal preference and I knew where I wanted them. I also fitted the new headlights, because it was a simple job and I was bored one day, awaiting delivery of other bits. Mid-March comes around and I have the car ready for Cardiff - there's a bit of a wait again because they're busy. No problem, I've waited months already so a couple more weeks is not a big deal.
Two weeks later, the garage is ready and I'm waiting for the transport guy to arrive. Lunch time comes, but a truck doesn't. I send a quick message to see when he's coming, since I have meetings in the afternoon. No reply. I contacted the garage to tell them I was being ignored and not to expect the car today, since it was now half four and the guy hadn't showed up or contacted me.
Missing my slot meant waiting a couple more weeks because the garage was packed. At this point I'm wondering if I'll ever get to drive the car. I bought it in June and it's April, so I'm approaching my anniversary with it - at least I haven't added many miles to the clock...
So, congratulations if you've made it this far. Here's the good bit for me: the car is done and I'm enjoying it!
I was hoping to insert photos in the right order, but it seems all I can do is attach them. So, the one on the country lane with the blue sweeping wings is the day I bought it home. The odd looking headlights are to show the difference between the two - the smaller ones are what I fitted to replace the damaged ones. They're far more modern looking and much brighter. The next photo shows the new headlights and the carbon wings fitted. And then finally, the last photo is how the car looks now.
And to prove that it moves, here's a quick video I filmed yesterday - just some fly-by action (And yeah I know, I should rev it harder )
