The very good times and the very bad times (My first few days of owning a landy)

Hi all, new landy owner here from Bucks!

I picked up my defender 90 Friday, I have been on a few RTV's in it before and when I found out my uncle was selling it for a 110 I knew I had to have it! It's been my dream car for as long as I can remember, here she is;


IMG_0728 by t4bby1, on Flickr


IMG_0734 by t4bby1, on Flickr

Saturday was spent driving it around all day having the time of my life! I can't believe how fun it is, it more than makes up for all the mod cons that I have sacrificed for it

Sunday I was awoken by a crashing sound, my heart sank as soon as I heard it. I walked outside and a blue suzuki swift was sprawled across the road next to the landy. As it turns out some old chap (86) was driving along merrily and didn't see the 90 and drove straight into it, I don't think he even touched the brakes. I called him an ambulance and the police arrived too, as it turns out he had been advised by the dvla twice that he shouldn't drive due to his poor eyesight but never actually had his license taken away. Luck would have it that the chap who lived oposite had cctv installed and got the crash on tape;

My Landy Crash - YouTube

And here are some pics of the damage to the landy;


IMG_0736 by t4bby1, on Flickr


IMG_0737 by t4bby1, on Flickr

I have been pretty ****ed off most of today, just my luck that I finally get a landy and it's smashed up the next day! I suppose at the end of the day the poor old chap was OK besides a bit of shock and whiplash and thats the important thing, although I really hopes he decides to give up driving now.

So does anyone know what sort of cost I am looking at to fix this up? I really hope the axle isn't bent, the steering wheel now faces left when you are going straight and if you take your hands off the wheel it pulls to the right. I will be so gutted if it's a write off, I guess we will have to wait and see.

Cheers

that's a shame m8

nightmare, gutted for you mate.

Hope the chassis isn't bent but if the insurance do right it off don't let them take it from you, buy it back off them, it will make a good source of spares for the next one

barmatt said:

nightmare, gutted for you mate.

Hope the chassis isn't bent but if the insurance do right it off don't let them take it from you, buy it back off them, it will make a good source of spares for the next one

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Yeah thats the plan, I really liked this one though!

That's relatively easily repaired, but would cost more than the value of the vehicle if done professionally using new, genuine parts.
A couple or three hundred quid and a couple of weekends would see it done if you DIY.

That sucks fella. I hope it hasn't left such a bitter taste that you regret buying it.

Defo get it checked out by a mechinic or mot tester. You want to know if there's any damage to the chassis or drive train, and why it's pulling to one side. I can't imagine it would be a right off. These things are like mechano sets and everything is fixable.

Why should it be a write-off?
I honestly don't understand this.
Someone has damaged your property, you require him to return your property to the condition that it was before before he damaged it. If he wishes to claim from his insurance then that's his affair. If his insurers try to abdicate their responsibilities by offering less than it will cost to repair your property then you sue the other driver for the outstanding amount.

From those piccies I cant see the chassis being damaged from that. But yeah, get it checked. Hope it fooked his car

The same thing happened to me. Mine was written off, but your damage looks less extensive.

mundungus said:

That sucks fella. I hope it hasn't left such a bitter taste that you regret buying it.

Defo get it checked out by a mechinic or mot tester. You want to know if there's any damage to the chassis or drive train, and why it's pulling to one side. I can't imagine it would be a right off. These things are like mechano sets and everything is fixable.

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Definitely not, from the one day I had driving it I thought it was fantastic and I cant wait to get back in it!

I didn't even consider that it might be a right off until the policeman mentioned it either way I will not give up! Even if it's not this one I will be back in a defender soon.

stick your heels in don't let them right it of agrue that you want it fixed they only right off vech. on cost of repair but the other person was at fault should be fixed replaced. If you fight they will give options of second hand parts or we will pay scrap value keep car.

as your not at fault fight it but by no means let the car out of your posseion it will be turned into tin cans before you no it. As for value start looking for what same landies are selling for and keep print off adds to arguement.

Looks like he's knocked the wheel forward from those pics, may have bent the trailing arm putting the axle out of line, hence the pulling. Any visible damage to A frame or suspension etc? Do feel sorry for you though, hope it all gets sorted quickly.

D90mitch said:

From those piccies I cant see the chassis being damaged from that. But yeah, get it checked. Hope it fooked his car

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His was definitely a write off! Hopefully he won't get another one, god forbid a pedestrian had walked out in from of him or if there had been a cyclist.. He shouldn't be on the road with eyesight like that.

you'll have to get it checked professionally I'd imagine there's a chance the chassis is twisted - f**k the old man, if he's been advised twice then its his own bloody fault.

I think there should be some form of law/legislation that if someone is incapable of driving due to age related illnesses they should be banned

Dogsbody has a point, all this should be paid for by him (his insurers, no doubt).

I can't imagine that that small amount of damage would affect the steering in any significant way. If you had bought if off anyone's other than your uncle, I'd say it's likely that the steering issues were already there. But with it being your uncle, I guess it was sound whe he sold it to you and you know it's history.

The only thing that concerns me is that the close up pic of the damage looks like the rear cross member may have been bent. Either that or it's a dodgy photo.

mundungus said:

Dogsbody has a point, all this should be paid for by him (his insurers, no doubt).

I can't imagine that that small amount of damage would affect the steering in any significant way. If you had bought if off anyone's other than your uncle, I'd say it's likely that the steering issues were already there. But with it being your uncle, I guess it was sound whe he sold it to you and you know it's history.

The only thing that concerns me is that the close up pic of the damage looks like the rear cross member may have been bent. Either that or it's a dodgy photo.

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I didn't notice if it was pulling or not when I drove it yesterday, but the steering wheel definitely faced forward when the wheels were facing forward, but now the steering wheel is turned 90 degrees left when the front wheels are facing forward.

It's definitely a bad pic but I think the rear cross member is bent.. I will take some better pics tomorrow.

Cheers

That don't look too bad I wouldn't think the main chassis is bent probably the radius arm or perhaps the bracket is bent if the steering is now out, If they write if of make sure you buy it back. If you can do some DIY it looks like you will end up with a nice 90 that didn't cost you much.

Similar thread on here not so long back.
bit of a ballsache but he ended up with a nice new galved chassis fitted by the other parties insurance

was bluehaze, if i remember right.

3.5 efi said:

was bluehaze, if i remember right.

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Surely worth a "SEARCH" i should of thought