Luckily the missus works in the same insurance company who insured it (Had no idea it was the same one!)
They've told her that they will not write it off if the cost to repair is 75% or less than the value. They've valued it a little low for our liking (£4500) and they've quoted £4060 for repair - only panels, lights bumpers etc, nothing structural.
Our next step is to try and get them to re-value it and they've let us try and find someone else to quote for the work.
They've noted the car was in very good condition, just slightly high mileage compared to others on the market. The car had a report done by KWE in 2009 which said it was the best maintained XJS they'd seen in the country. Obviously a lot can happen in 5 years but it might help us. The fact that its previous owner was a "celebrity" apparently doesn't count towards anything!

 

You could try and source all the bits online yourself, that may reduce the overall cost although not the labour of course which will be the killer.
These guys did a good job on mine and they are at 3 Legged Cross which isn't a million miles from you; might be worth a call.
Dorset Sports Cars - Dorset Subaru - Dorset Jaguar. Sports Car Servicing Bournemouth - Jaguar, Porsche, Aston Martin independent specialist. Three Legged Cross Wimborne Dorset

 

Thanks Steve, although we took the car there earlier this year to get serviced and they quoted £1200 to service it and price up any other work that may be needed!

 

Crikey, that's not cheap; it is a few years since I have been there (moved away) and then they mostly did Jags.
Now they seem to have gone upmarket with the Porkers and Astons so I guess that the prices have gone up to suit.
That E Type has been for sale for at least 2 years as far as I can recall.
I'm currently using Alders Classics near Norwich (which is miles away from me never mind you!) to do restoration work on my XJR-s and their bodywork is very good and they will collect the car on a trailer (for a price of course).
I've had the front suspension rebuilt, bodywork done, engine work and gearbox swap for not a great deal more than what I was quoted by the local independent just for the front suspension work.
Might be worth a call, ask for David.

 

Total loss is an economic term, as opposed to a mechanical thing. Roughly, the cost of repair exceeds the value of the car.


Claim persons need values to determine the economic loss.


1. The actual cash value (ACV) of the car immediately before the loss.
2. The cost to repair the car to the state it was in just before the loss.
3. The value of the car after the loss, unrepaired.


Therefore, if 2. is greater than 1 less 3, it is a constructive total loss.


An insured has every right to receive 1 minus three , less any deductible and retain his/her property.


Salvage titles are where things get unnecessarily murky. If an insurer pays the acv less deductible, it gets to reduce it's loss by sale of the "salvage". Now, a "junk yard' can part the car or resell it. However, if it does, any buyer can only receive a salvage title.


A couple of reasons.


1. Protect the publid from chicanery or a poorly repaired unsafe car.
2. Prevent crooks from using the VIN to "clean" a stolen car.


I'd say the car may be fixed properly. Used parts, shopped for judiciously. A collision shop doesn't have the time to do that. So, strip off the bent stuff. Get a panel banger to repair the damaged rear quarter. Hang the new/used parts. Take it back in for a spot paint. As the paint is new, the patch should match pretty durn well.


Actually, the car is a "running total". although MOT in the UK might mess that up.


Although auto claims were way down on my favorites list, In fifty years I did a few.


Kinda boring and I hated to hear men and women cry over their appliances.
We used to say that after an accident a man was concerned with three things. His car, his job and his wife. In that order!!!


Carl

 

When you think about it, Carl, a guy's car represents investments in time, effort and money, and is a symbol of his self worth.

Jobs are hard to find and sometimes harder to keep. So if a guy has a job, even if it's not ideal, he wants to hang on to it.

A wife though, is often considered little more than an expensive hobby with some fringe benefits especially if there are no children. The dog frequently comes in ahead of the wife. Besides which, women are more abundant than men so hunting is usually good.
(';')

 

Well after many back and forths with the insurance company we persuaded them to let us find someone else to do the work and allow us to use used parts so they have removed the Cat-C write off and given us a chunk of cash to get it sorted!
Visited an XJS graveyard yesterday and picked up all the bits I needed for less than £400 so I should be back on the road soon...

 

Good result.

 

this is just sad. I hope you can get her back on the road.

 

I'm glad to hear that you found a way to keep your car on the road. The insurance companies have far too much power, when they can dictate that purely superficial damage to a classic car isn't worth repairing. It's a sad testimony of the times in which we live.

 

Yeah, unfortunately they aren't charities; what does annoy me though is dealing with some twonk who wouldn't know an XJS if it ran over them.
Preferably twice.

 

Glad to see it will be "One more XJS back on the road"...

 

nice to hear a happy ending

 

This is Excellent news!
Yes indeed!
(';')