Hi everyone,

Had my Freelander 2 s TDe 4 in Alaska white for 7 weeks. I had a crash on Wed this week, I collided into the side of another car at approx 40-45 MPH (Both airbags have deployed), everyone is ok but my car . I'm really gutted and I'm worried that the insurance may write it off and that will open the doors to hell as they will go through thick and thin to avoid paying me what I paid for the car £15,200. The car has the side steps, 19" wheels, parking sensors as optional extra. It also has leather interior which is not an optional upgrade for this model so I'm unsure why it has it?

Tell me what you guys think of the pic in my gallery.

Poor you, I think it's going to be a write off. At least you are ok.

If it does get written off, don't under any circumstances accept what the insurers offer you. That's just their opening gambit. Get some documentary evidence of the top prices similar cars are being sold for (Autotrader is good for this) and a letter from your garage saying what excellent condition the car was in prior to the crash. Any photos you have showing interior and exterior will help here. Tell the insurers that you'll only accept an offer that enables you to replace like for like. Keep your temper (difficult at times) and be businesslike with them. If they see you won't be fobbed off and do know what you're talking about then they will give.

Worked for me with LV a few years ago when they eventually almost doubled their original offer for my written off Pajero, admittedly nothing like the value of your car.

Hopefully they'll pick up the tab for repairs though - but the damage does look pretty severe in your picture. The main thing is that you're OK - everything else can be fixed. Ours - 2008 Stornoway Grey HSE Auto
Tricia's - 2006 Royal Blue Beetle Cabriolet Auto
Mine - 2014 Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport Matt Black
Ours - 2007 White Bailey Pageant Champagne

Take RJC's advice, prepare for battle with them.

Given the airbags deployed and belt tensioners triggered it becomes an expensive job to repair, whole new dash and all the labour that goes with it.

In all honesty it didn't really feel like a battle, just an open negotiation. They made their opening bid, I made mine and we settled somewhere in between. Mind you, I think LV are excellent insurers, most importantly when you really need them. Ours - 2008 Stornoway Grey HSE Auto
Tricia's - 2006 Royal Blue Beetle Cabriolet Auto
Mine - 2014 Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport Matt Black
Ours - 2007 White Bailey Pageant Champagne

Bit of a mess that one, least all occupants safe and yes, insurance when you need it is in place. Airbags deploying and seat belt tensioners is an expensive repair. Plus damage that you cant see that has been done to the chassis etc.

Just wondering, were the 19" wheels, side steps etc on it when you purchased it or were these put on since you've owned it? Point I'm getting at is does LV know on paper/computer these are fitted as optional extras? They will do ANYTHING possible to squirm out of not coughing up for the slightest variation or anomaly to your policy - just watching your back for you Nombie

My daughter works for one of the big insurers and some of the things she tells me would frighten you off driving for life.

Thanks for your opinions advice people.

The alloys are 19" landrover alloys and side steps which were on the vehicle when I purchased it in January. Really haven't a clue about the interior leather. It doesn;t appear to be an option for that model and I did notice the leather trim had white stitching on black leather which did look good but probably not what Land rover would offer.

I'm no expert but to me it's a write off.

Some insurers are ok, when I bought the Evoque I specified 19" alloys rather than the standard 18s, told my insurer but they said it was ok so long as it left the factory with them on there is no need to inform them. 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

Comming from a bodyshop background i would say it would be borderline repair.From the insurance point of veiw to right it off would cost them 15k minus what they recover from salvage ( would say around 5k ish) so that gives them 10k to pay for the repair.
Anything less then a 10k repair and costs i would say repair anything more it would be a right off.
What you can do in a lot a cases if you wish and would like to keep the car is you buy it back from the insurence as a right off so instead of a 15k pay out you get 10k and keep the car then get it repaired yourself.
I know of a few people that have done this over the years then repaired the car useing good used parts where they can(New where needed) in return saving a few grand to put in the bank.

Let us know how you get on

Ouch, looks nasty I would expect that to be written off, normally the case when the air bags have been deployed as they have to replace all the dash and wring.

Where did it happen?

Seats sound like someone has covered them, are they heated?

Jon Freelander 2, 2014 Dynamic SD4 Santorini Black

Top of the A66 at the new ASDA crossroads as if your heading to boro from redcar. Seats aren't heated, the leather does look superb compared to average black landrover leather seats in the HSE etc.

I hope you have informed the insurance about the side steps? I have heard them refusing claims due to undeclared mods.

Doesn't look good for the car, but credit to the girl - all that damage and the light is still on.

This was written off for me

Click image to enlarge

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Difficult to say - as an example - my wife has just done £3200's worth of damage to her car, got it back last week and she decided to sell it - best offer £2,800, I was convinced they would write it off so I had the arguments ready from Autotrader - a list of 10 "for sales" between £3.5k and £4.5k - seems a pity it wasn't written off now! Tony

npinks wrote:

This was written off for me

Click image to enlarge

My guess is so will yours

Thats not because of the damage it was because its a Kia :rolllaugh:

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  Now - 2017 BMW X3 M Sport Carbon Black
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