So, some idiot decided to fall asleep at the wheel the other day drifting into the opposite lane towards my wife and kids in the Sport. Thank god that she managed to swerve out of the way at the last minute, otherwise things could have been somewhat different!





Although the damage doesn’t look too bad, the rear wheel took the brunt of the force - snapping the rear axel, suspension and worse still bending the entire frame of the car - gutted , but thankful my family are still alive!

The vehicle has now been sent to a specialist “approved land rover repairer” as the damage is so extensive main stream dealers can’t sort it. Also it’s likely to be off the road (assuming they can repair it) for 2-3 months.

Couple of questions for you all:

1) Given the above damage, do you think that this will be repairable and would you want the car back after such repairs (ideally I would like it written off).

2) Would you expect any of the Air bags to be deployed in such an accident (side impact) because they didn’t!!

3) If repaired, do you think this will effect the residual value?


My initial “Fag Packet” maths suggest that the entire claim will come in at about 35-40k once you add up the bill for the damage and hire car etc etc.


Any advise/comments all welcome……


Oh, you should have seen the state of the 3rd party, holly these Range Rovers and built like tanks!!!

Wow, thank god your family are all safe - that is the main thing.

The first thing I'd recommend is finding someone other than your insurance company to deal with this. I used a specialist accident management company when I had my last (and only) no fault accident, they are geared up to take advantage of the fact you have been wronged and should lift a finger (i.e. like for like hire cars and every little detail taken care of).

I wouldn't want the car back after that significant amount of damage and it sounds like a write off to me (but others may be far more clued up on it).

Do you have a GAP policy?

Yeah, I have GAP Insurance, and have the Land Rover Dealer sorting the claim at no expense to me whatsoever being a non-fault claim and all that.

I asked about the likelihood of the car ever been the same again i.e. production line quality (although some of you will probably laugh at that comment) to which they have said that no expense will be spared to make the car perfect, but experience tells me the vehicle will never really be the same again.

I've seen cars with less damage being written off,,,I cannot see that being the same car it was after being repaired.

Andy. Andy.
21 Ford Ranger
Gone but not forgotten
Focus RS Red Edition
2015 RRS AB Fuji.
2014 RRS SC Santorini
2016 VW Amarok
2014 RRS AB Fuji
2012 RRS Red Edition Fuji
2015 Nissan Navara
2012 RRS SE Santorini
2008 RRS White
2007 RRS Santorino

Thank god you and your family are safe.
I would think it would be written off considering the damage, although I am no expert.
Do not think I would want the car back if it was repaired, would always be that nagging doubt in my mind.
I presume the repair will be recorded against the car and affect resale value. MY13.5 Autobiography, Santorini Black, Privacy Glass. Gone
Driving a milk float for now.

How old is the car? Less than 12 months then it will possibly be replaced with a new one. Problem will be the lead in time and the other party's willingness to supply an equivalent loaner for that long. Do remember that you NEED a capable 4x4 for work as a loaner otherwise you may get fobbed off with a Mondeo or Focus from a rental fleet............ 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

I would think it will be written off especially with that much chassis damage, be prepared to be f... about by insurance and any claims company also you will probably be hounded by every accident management company in the uk bottom line is you should be put back to exactly where you was before the accident

My initial thought is that it doesn't look too bad....two new door skins and a rear bumper corner.. The wheel has travelled back and probably snapped the lower wishbone and tie rod..... The other vehicle has deflected off it.... It will be interesting to see whether the carriers are bent and hence going to an approved repairer is best.

The airbags will only deploy if the impact force is severe. They also have g force sensors to detect lateral movement...I.e.the car being t boned... The fact that they haven't gone off shows the lateral impact was not sufficient.....

Airbags are designed to fire off as a result of sensors in the car detecting a severe impact from numerous directions. They are extremely sophisticated things and can also deploy in stages....
They won't all fire at the same time unless it is one mother of an accident!

Thank God you and your family are ok and all walked away ...I would be feeling truly blessed today

As close shaves go they don't come much closer than that and not a lot more impact could have been catastrophic ...

Great reactions from your wife 2014.5 SDV6 AB Dynamic ... Fuji /Santorini Pan roof and 22's
2013 Porsche Boxster S 3.4
2014 Audi A3 S line Quattro
---------------------------------

Glad your all ok . If the repair cost is 30k and another 5k for hire car the insurance company are down 35k , if they can pay you out 75k for the car all they need to do is sell the salvage for a penny over 40k and there onto a winner.
I bet they right it off as a uneconomical repair, sell it as a cat d and we will see it on eBay in a month or two .
There is probably a good argument for refusing the car if they do offer to repair as " you won't have the confidence in the car to use it as the manufacture intended "
If all else fails and you do get stuck with it , trade it in and keep quiet about the repair.

As everyone has said,, glad your family are OK, but on another note I couldn't think of a better car to be if such a situation was to arise 2010 RRS, TDV8
bali Blue / colour coded
side steps / flappy paddles
black perforated leather
22" overfinch
heated everything, TV,fridge ...... now with gold calipers and mud flaps !( black mud flaps that is) !!
Many years ago,,,,, 1955 series 1 landie , sometimes wish I had kept it

First, the most important thing is that your family are safe and kudos to your wife for steering away. What looks like a glancing blow could so easily have been a head-on.

I think it's reasonable that the air bags did not deploy because the main driver is very rapid deceleration which probably didn't happen in this case.

As for the car, much will depend on whether the hard points have moved - suspension mounts, door hinges and so on - and to get an accurate assessment, it needs to go on a jig and be measured. The quality of repair work will be key because otherwise, you will suffer all the problems of a repaired car out of true - gaping panel gaps, uneven shut lines, uneven tyre wear, weird driving behaviour, electronic gremlins and the rest.

However good a repair, it will show up at resale time and inevitably affect your car's value. There will also be the feeling that some report after a stolen car is recovered that it's not yours any more and I expect you would change it in short order.

So, I'd be pressing the insurance company to write the car off and make use of your gap insurance.

Good luck. Mark

SVR in Estoril Blue

Thought I would give you guys an update on this.

Well, after 3.5months my insurance have finally decided to write off the vehicle. God only knows why it took so long, but as expected the hire vehicle charges (circa £30k) and a potential new body shell probably had something to do with it.

How these people add up the numbers (or not in this case) beats me, but with a respectable pay out and a claim going in for my gap insurance I'm in a good position to buy something new again.

Some good deals out there at the moment, especially on a new FFRR - likely due to over stock and/or the 2017 facelift changes coming in next year across most models.

3.5 months and £30k hire charge

Hope you get sorted now but that's a disgrace  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

I think you are well out of it TBH and good you had gap insurance... Mark

SVR in Estoril Blue