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They had one on 'Wheeler Dealers' - it was a knacker, I think they lost money on it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io5YK2ZlZIg
Pigmy Pony
10-11-2025, 07:40
I think Lotus' approach was less weight rather than more power. So they wouldn't be exactly built like tanks. And it seemed reliability wasn't top of their 'to do' list, hence the LOTUS acronym.
Back in the early 80s I chased a Lotus Elan between Keswick and Grasmere on my Suzuki GS750. I couldn't keep up with it. Damn thing didn't seem to slow down for corners, stuck to the road like shit to a blanket.
My Caterham 7 has similar cornering capabilities. ;)
When I was looking for a "new" car a few years ago, I looked at the new Lotus Europa.
I don't think they made many of those
Only just seen the news that Quentin Willson has passed away - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2lpww7pw72o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss - I always liked him on the various shows he was on. RIP.
Yes, he was a good presenter.
Pigmy Pony
10-11-2025, 23:08
Hope he got in one last Halloween party, where he would no doubt have gone as Dracula ;) He always came across as a proper gent, who managed to keep things interesting without having to resort to daft stunts.
Yes, he was a good presenter.
And a darned sight better presenter than Clarkson! RIP Quentin.
Return of Jensen?
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/a-forgotten-british-brand-is-back-with-a-new-v8-sports-car/ar-AA1UhXdM?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=697c6450ef9b493f900c637713d98888&ei=87
Pigmy Pony
30-01-2026, 08:39
Return of Jensen?
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/a-forgotten-british-brand-is-back-with-a-new-v8-sports-car/ar-AA1UhXdM?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=697c6450ef9b493f900c637713d98888&ei=87
Arriving at the cinema, just in time to see how the film ends :doh: Still, I wish them well.
Ali Tait
30-01-2026, 14:09
Return of Jensen?
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/a-forgotten-british-brand-is-back-with-a-new-v8-sports-car/ar-AA1UhXdM?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=697c6450ef9b493f900c637713d98888&ei=87
Yes had seen that. A mate's dad used to have an Interceptor, a beautiful thing, powder blue with a cream leather interior. He took us out for a spin, was doing 130 down the road, you could see the fuel gauge going down lol.
Yes had seen that. A mate's dad used to have an Interceptor, a beautiful thing, powder blue with a cream leather interior. He took us out for a spin, was doing 130 down the road, you could see the fuel gauge going down lol.
In fairness you could see that in my dad's Austin Maxi 1750 and he wouldn't exceed 75 even on the motorway :)
Hopefully they've kept the wraparound rear screen. Not that I'll see any round here as I'd guess it will be 200 grand or more.
Ali Tait
30-01-2026, 17:45
Yeah probably. :-)
Went car shopping (well, "short list whittling") today - not for me or Sue, but my 17 year old daughter who has her test booked in June and really needs to be practising... Shortlist is VW Beetle (the later "reboot") - relatively rare on the second-hand market for the spec/engine we want, a Mini of some description (plenty of choice) and the Fiat 500 (the perennial "1st girls car"). I think we have knocked the Fiat out of contention, and so far a Mini we looked at last is the favourite. I must be honest, I was blown away by the quality of it, feels so well made. (It's about 10 years old.) My wife wants her to get a convertible - so she can pinch it on sunny days I reckon! I am now fancying a Cooper S for myself, too!
Someone round here has the Fiat 500 Arbath in black and gold, looks really cool.
Obviously never buy a French or Italian car that goes without saying. Beetle reboot was just a Golf in a dress.
The "early" Cooper S with the Supercharger was a fun car.
Pigmy Pony
15-03-2026, 08:34
I think a Mini would be a better choice for a first car - plenty of choice as you say, more manageable size for someone new to driving, parts plentiful and cheaper, probably better fuel economy, cheaper insurance.
I wouldn't necessarily discount French cars, not these days - German marques have got so bad in recent years imo, there really isn't much in it. My daughter recently bought a Citroen C3 to replace her ageing Corsa, and it's a really nice thing. As for reliability, time will tell.
For trouble-free motoring, Japanese is the way to go. Summat from Mazda or Honda.
I think a Mini would be a better choice for a first car - plenty of choice as you say, more manageable size for someone new to driving, parts plentiful and cheaper, probably better fuel economy, cheaper insurance.
I wouldn't necessarily discount French cars, not these days - German marques have got so bad in recent years imo, there really isn't much in it. My daughter recently bought a Citroen C3 to replace her ageing Corsa, and it's a really nice thing. As for reliability, time will tell.
For trouble-free motoring, Japanese is the way to go. Summat from Mazda or Honda.
It's not so much a reliability thing more that they have their own idiosyncratic way of doing things so when they do need fixing it's unnecessarily difficult.
This is from working in the trade and having many conversations with mechanics.
Friend of mine her father is retired Ford mechanic. When she was looking for her first car she fancied a Citroen but he told her 'Get a French or Italian car if you want, but it goes wrong, don't bring it to me to fix!'
Chief mechanic of the Ferrari Owners Club advised me 'Never buy a Ferrari!' I mean chance would be a fine thing but let's face it, if anyone would know then he would.
Totally agree the Beetle is “a Golf in a dress” which is part of the appeal, to be honest. My preference would be the Mini, but we’ll see - the insurance doesn’t seem to be much of an issue - if we go with a “black box” policy the mini we looked at (which is a Cooper S, 200bhp, 0-60 6.9 and 140+mph) is coming in at £969 versus a 1.2 Beetle (104bhp, 10.9 to 60 and 112mph) at £851 - so it looks like the fact that the car is monitored and whatever it is if it is driven badly/fast then they get penalised rather than purely on the base car.
Not driving a Cooper S fast? :scratch:
Is it a Turbo or Supercharged car? 200 BHP in a first car?
Not driving a Cooper S fast? :scratch:
Is it a Turbo or Supercharged car? 200 BHP in a first car?
I know, crazy that they would even quote, and I would add that I am not seriously considering it for her first car, but does suggest they rate based on telematics rather than just the car. (I think it is turbo, but not 100% sure).
Yes, it is interesting.
The Turbo would probably be better for a beginner. ;)
dave2010
25-03-2026, 12:07
Tomorrow is going to be a challenge. Up here in the frozen wastelands we have to do a round trip to Pitlochry tomorrow. In the summer it should be no problem, but we're not there yet - nowhere near.
It's a bit more than 200 miles there and back down the A9, and so much for all the hoooh hah about widening the A9 and providing EV charging points at convenient locations it's not looking great.
We are going to the Festival Theatre at Pitlochry - and given that it's an attraction [of a sort] one might imagine it would have EV charging points. I phoned to check - NO!
Really places like this which function as attractions should have EV charging points.
We might just do the whole thing if I use the pre-conditioning before we leave in the morning - with a very full charge overnight.
Otherwise we'll probably have to stop for 20 mins or so at Aviemore on the way back. We could stop there on the way down, but that shouldn't really be necessary - unless I need a pee!
We finally got rid of our last ICE car a few weeks ago - and I'm glad to say that it's still being used. We made a bit of a loss on that, as it was costing money to keep it without using it, and we needed the space in our garage.
I had some work done on it last year, but then unfortunately one of the windows got stuck down, so I had to move it inside. The new owner has apparently managed to fix that issue on one side, though created a similar problem on the driver's side - though at least the window is closed - it just doesn't go down. Peugeot 207cc - was quite nice while we had it - though it's now around 18 years old.
Gone really dark here now.
'What's the weather like Centurion?'
'Hail, Caesar.'
Pigmy Pony
25-03-2026, 14:56
Tomorrow is going to be a challenge. Up here in the frozen wastelands we have to do a round trip to Pitlochry tomorrow. In the summer it should be no problem, but we're not there yet - nowhere near.
It's a bit more than 200 miles there and back down the A9, and so much for all the hoooh hah about widening the A9 and providing EV charging points at convenient locations it's not looking great.
We are going to the Festival Theatre at Pitlochry - and given that it's an attraction [of a sort] one might imagine it would have EV charging points. I phoned to check - NO!
Really places like this which function as attractions should have EV charging points.
We might just do the whole thing if I use the pre-conditioning before we leave in the morning - with a very full charge overnight.
Otherwise we'll probably have to stop for 20 mins or so at Aviemore on the way back. We could stop there on the way down, but that shouldn't really be necessary - unless I need a pee!
We finally got rid of our last ICE car a few weeks ago - and I'm glad to say that it's still being used. We made a bit of a loss on that, as it was costing money to keep it without using it, and we needed the space in our garage.
I had some work done on it last year, but then unfortunately one of the windows got stuck down, so I had to move it inside. The new owner has apparently managed to fix that issue on one side, though created a similar problem on the driver's side - though at least the window is closed - it just doesn't go down. Peugeot 207cc - was quite nice while we had it - though it's now around 18 years old.
Do they still have 40mph limit for HGVs on the A9? Just tuck yourself behind one for a bit of slipstreaming and you should be ok :)
Pigmy Pony
25-03-2026, 14:59
Just got back from York, where it has been sunny but a bit chilly. Stayed like that till we reached the Saddleworth junction on the M62, then it was like driving into a wall of water. With an advisory 40mph limit due to strong winds.
Back to blue sky and sunshine here now.
Well the forecast threat of rain here never materialised, not that I'm complaining. And like Martin says: "back to blue sky and sunshine".
Tomorrow, there is a 10% chance of rain for most of the afternoon.
Tomorrow supposed to be sunny all day, no rain, wind at normal levels i.e windy but not stupid.
Temperature goes down to zero here before dawn.
dave2010
26-03-2026, 23:02
Do they still have 40mph limit for HGVs on the A9? Just tuck yourself behind one for a bit of slipstreaming and you should be ok :)
There is a limit - but it's now 50mph. Somewhat bonkers really - as it messes up some cruise controls which detect the limits from the signs, so as cars are allowed to do 60mph in some cars we just have to ignore that and go at around 60mph anyway.
The other thing - which has really caught me out - and surprised me in the past is this - following a really big truck doing 50mph, but often when those reach the double carriageway they streak off - often well above 70mph even going up hill.
Maybe they are empty, and have more than enough spare power to do that. Seems they are only restricted to 50mph on the sections where cars can do 60mph.
The trip today was OK. I bumped the battery up to 100% last night - not recommended for everyday use - and did the preconditioning before setting off.
Actually did the complete roundtrip - with 4 inside after a pickup in Inverness - and had over 10% left on our return - but a warning that as the weather is cold it should be plugged in ASAP.
So now it's on charge with the cheap rate tariff.
This was a first in over 5 years - a round trip of 216 miles according to the trip report - with no stops to charge on the way, and no need for rest stops in either direction.
There are also long stretches of average speed checks now on the A9 - as well as the many sections of road works.
There is at least some slight evidence of progess being made in one part, where there are many sections of prefabricated concrete beams on trailers waiting to be deployed in that section.
Pigmy Pony
27-03-2026, 07:51
It's a few years now since I last drove up the A9, going to Ullapool, but back then it was 40mph limit for HGVs, and I remember thinking at the time it was a recipe for disaster, with car drivers taking sometimes mad risks to get past the trucks. There are plans to make the Perth-Inverness section dual carriageway, but the completion date keeps getting put back and is now expected to be 2035.
https://www.digbybrown.co.uk/news/why-is-the-a9-so-dangerous-and-what-do-motorists-need-to-be-aware-of
Of course reckless overtakes are only part of the reason why the A9 is so dangerous (reportedly 35% of fatals are due to overtaking), driver fatigue and confusion over speed limits play a part too. Time was if you wanted a brew or just a break from driving you could just stop at one of the many small towns and villages that formed part of the route. These days you'd have to leave the A9 to access these places (assuming they even exist any more due to falling custom), and so many drivers will just plough on tired. Needs some services.
But it won't be putting me off, we plan to go up there this summer. I'm more bothered about the midges :)
Just seen a DeLorean in the car wash at the end of the street.
We need photos - or it doesn't exist! :D
Didn't have my phone on me.
Pigmy Pony
26-04-2026, 11:41
Just seen a DeLorean in the car wash at the end of the street.
Travelled back from the 80s to modern day Stoke :ner: Though really the logical thing to do would be to go to the day after the car wash, save yourself the trouble and the cost :)
Travelled back from the 80s to modern day Stoke :ner: Though really the logical thing to do would be to go to the day after the car wash, save yourself the trouble and the cost :)
Like Bill and Ted said, only the winners get to go back in time and change stuff.
Pigmy Pony
26-04-2026, 15:54
Like Bill and Ted said, only the winners get to go back in time and change stuff.
It's another time traveller's paradox! I really should watch Bill and Ted.
It's another time traveller's paradox! I really should watch Bill and Ted.
Most excellent....
Well it sold, so I guess the honest approach to car advertising worked!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260520/1a37e2e0b2900ebbb0c7144b8442ecbe.png
Just had to pull the front bumper off my Superb.
The charging actuator flap stopped working properly. I managed t9nblock it in the closed position so that I could drive the car without an annoying warning.
New part was about €25, but it took me just over an hour to change, as the part is screwed on from the back.
Gemini suggested you could remove the charging dock without taking the bumper off, but I do jot see how. So rather than break something, I did it the safe way.
Daughter passed her driving test yesterday afternoon. Great news for her, bit of a worry and expense for me, plus unfortunately I won’t get to listen to her car stereo as much now which despite being rather gimmicky “Fender” branded is actually very good!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260625/4d36329fc3bb1d42f2f1c3c203d10d0e.jpg
We found the car back in early April but I didn’t want to jinx anything by posting until she passed!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260625/8f03b72f9ad8c0c87d556819a2a8ebfb.jpg
As you can see, she loved it from the off!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260625/40f08f392a063e8b977d46100bac4a14.jpg
As they say in the US of A - fully loaded - aside from the Fender stereo someone had fun with the options list adding full leather and panoramic sunroof amongst other things.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260625/5c8758fc514ed0d7aeae7f33e110b6f0.jpg
2.0 TDi Sport, 72,000 miles and full history, it’s the best car in the family! (Insurance now she has passed £1,340 which i didn’t think was too bad.)
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Wonderful and not a bad first car too - congratulations to her.
Retired at the end of March so decided to treat myself to a new car. Last car was a company car which was a BMW i4 so I knew that electric was for me.
Bought a 3 month old Audi e-tron GT Vorsprung which I have had now for nearly 2 months and absolutely love it.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/38ffab8c-5ede-4a0c-9e9c-4c4e66dbcf8a/96b3043f-47b1-40aa-bbed-40a625db451d.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds
https://hosting.photobucket.com/38ffab8c-5ede-4a0c-9e9c-4c4e66dbcf8a/72d09110-91d7-4a19-a533-44d77c910311.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds
https://hosting.photobucket.com/38ffab8c-5ede-4a0c-9e9c-4c4e66dbcf8a/15865042-adfb-4b48-9be4-dae1e0d56548.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds
Manages around 330 miles on a full charge and a full charge at home costs around £12
Very nice Andy. I suspect with diesel prices now I would get 33 miles for £12!
Very nice Andy. I suspect with diesel prices now I would get 33 miles for £12!
Thanks Alex and I hear you on the price of fossil fuel although it has come down over the last few weeks.
I was going to buy a van to convert to a camper but the prices of diesel at the time made me think twice.
Now it has started to come down, it may be on the radar again.................
rmcin626
26-06-2026, 13:00
Retired at the end of March so decided to treat myself to a new car. Last car was a company car which was a BMW i4 so I knew that electric was for me.
Bought a 3 month old Audi e-tron GT Vorsprung which I have had now for nearly 2 months and absolutely love it.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/38ffab8c-5ede-4a0c-9e9c-4c4e66dbcf8a/96b3043f-47b1-40aa-bbed-40a625db451d.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds
https://hosting.photobucket.com/38ffab8c-5ede-4a0c-9e9c-4c4e66dbcf8a/72d09110-91d7-4a19-a533-44d77c910311.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds
https://hosting.photobucket.com/38ffab8c-5ede-4a0c-9e9c-4c4e66dbcf8a/15865042-adfb-4b48-9be4-dae1e0d56548.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds
Manages around 330 miles on a full charge and a full charge at home costs around £12
Very nice car Andy, would have loved that a few years ago but now still very happy with my Q5.
Very nice car Andy, would have loved that a few years ago but now still very happy with my Q5.
Thanks Robin - not too shabby a car is the Q5.
I have had 3 other Audi's over the years ( 2 x A8 4.2 v8 and 1 x TT 225 MK1) and have always enjoyed the experience.
Another happy Audi driver here.
I have just had a weekend of car maintenance that I don't want to repeat.
I changed the front (DCC) shock absorbers on my Skoda Superb. I had planned for about 6 hours to get the job done, but it is really a two man job at times, so I had to struggle tonget it done. It was going well until I came to to the front left strut, where the driveshaft did not release cleanly from the hub, and over extended. This meant cutting the CV boot clamp in order to get the tripod bearings back in place before I could start to refit the hub.
I ended up spending eight hours onnthe job, and I still have to fit a proper clamp on the cv joint.
I am getting too old for this crap, but I saved a heap of cash doing it myself.
I also changed out the windscreen washer pump this morning, as the rear washer connection was leaking. The seal was OK, so it had to be the pump.
Job is done, and there is no leak. Access was t8me consuming.
Time for a beer.... or three.
Firebottle
05-07-2026, 19:44
I am getting too old for this crap, but I saved a heap of cash doing it myself.
Time for a beer.... or three.
I hear you, I gave up working on cars a while back, too knackering. Although I have fitted two reversing cameras (wired ones) in the last 3 years.
Enjoy the beer. :cool:
Been doing all sorts on my bought from new but now 12 years old Boxster.
Ripped out the door card as the top was delaminating from its frame and glued it back together.
Also removed the clogged up water drainage ducts as there's a known design flaw with end caps of the drainage pipes.
Also the driver's side window and side mirror electrical switch was replaced with a new unit placed into the door card as the old one wasn't working that well.
New cigarette lighter placed into the centre console.
New truck and bonnet struts inserted.
Rear view mirror came away from the glass. This was a real bitch of a problem to solve. I thought window glues were the answer, but no. High strength double sided 3M tape does the job well.
Current garage rate is £240/hr.
Only the rear view mirror was undocumented anywhere I could find. The rest is all covered by YT videos.
Most of this stuff is MUCH easier to do than garage labour rates imply.
Also, its recently had fresh spark plugs and coils, new shock absorbers, a new air/oil separator, some Textar low iron content brake disks (amazing much better than Porsche's Sebro standard fit) and a new motion sensor which was causing all sorts of issues.
Passenger side door is also delaminating, so that's next.
The car sounds like a disaster. But it is driving superbly after all the work. Better than new when it comes to the brakes and suspension. 112K miles.
This thing is not gonna get sold. I absolutely love it. And they have stopped making them.
I walked into the Porsche garage a few months ago and a base Boxster was £77K - no thanks! OK it had quite a few extras but then so did my car. Essentially the same car with 2 less cylinders and a turbo.
Last two pics show today's activity. The removed drainage plugs are on the pillow.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260707/4970432ac0e4c4f29106ec00bd84a577.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260707/e971f9c5a87f924763abe219d8d8ad5f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260707/1cb64b4784737e1cc461aebb085c6900.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260707/96301b1d57b88041e667181080706131.jpg
This is an interesting video on the difference between Boxster/Cayman and 911 Porsche cars.
A 911 is basically a Boxster with the engine in a worse position. I've driven 911s and I just don't like them because of it. Just my opinion but the 911s do generally get the better engines. Or the same engines detuned.
https://youtu.be/z8RDTsr9POA?is=Rbpydie5xgCuJri0
Pigmy Pony
10-07-2026, 06:03
Bugger.
For the first time since before I took my driving test drive back in the 80s, I've been told that I mustn't drive.
Two days ago I experienced what I would call a "funny turn" for the second time this year, so Anita took me down to our local Urgent Care, where I spent a fun afternoon with various tests to determine whether it was a TIA (transient ischemic attack) with FAST test, blood tests, ECG, CT scan, where they found nothing.
But they're not giving up - they're setting me up with an MRI scan next, which I think is like the 4K version of CT. I'm dreading them finding something because then my driving licence will be toast. It's only 7am and I'm bored already. And I'm not really built for life as a pedestrian, or God forbid a cyclist. So I'm keeping everything crossed.
I'm looking outside at my new (to me) car on the drive that I bought last week and thinking well that might have been shit timing :(
I suppose they already ruled out side effects from the pills?
Sounds worrying Steve, but I'm sure the docs will be able to sort you out.
Pigmy Pony
10-07-2026, 08:48
I suppose they already ruled out side effects from the pills?
I thought it might have been that, but they have all that information and it wasn't mentioned. And now they've added aspirin to the pile of stuff to be taken daily, as well as something to stop the aspirin upsetting my stomach... these I had to get from the hospital pharmacy. 30 minute wait for these! I went to the counter to cancel this, saying I had aspirins at home, but they were insistent. And moved my prescription to the front of the queue. Like going private, but cheaper :)
Pigmy Pony
10-07-2026, 08:58
Sounds worrying Steve, but I'm sure the docs will be able to sort you out.
Cheers Barry, I'm sure they will. It's just the 'no driving' thing that's concerning me. Still, Anita has left the house and won't be back till teatime, so apart from 30 minutes of tasks I'll have the house to myself, to let the stereo stretch its legs a bit :)
Hope you're feeling better soon, Steve. I know a few people who have had TIAs (it's common in our age group - probably always has been, just never diagnosed in the past) and they are all fine with the right meds - I think in a way its a good thing that they've found it before it develops into something more serious. And on the positive side, enjoy those tunes whilst you can!
Pigmy Pony
10-07-2026, 10:16
Thanks Alex, you're right of course - spotting stuff early before it becomes a thing, is key. And yes I can still enjoy the tunes, my hearing is no worse than it was before :) Though I think Anita was hoping my music tastes would improve with the new speakers, and it really hasn't :D
Pigmy Pony
10-07-2026, 11:26
More car-related drama:
A couple of years ago, a landscape gardener we'd took on to sort the back garden and patio told Anita about his hitherto successful business being ruined by a company he'd done a big job for going bust, owing him thousands. On top of his diagnosed Crohn's disease. Also his house was two weeks from repossession, so Anita went to court with him to plead his case, and got a stay of execution, and some benefits he didn't know he was entitled to.
We had a spare van doing nothing, so we put him on the insurance and lent it to him while he got back on his feet. That was over two years ago.
Then last week he sent a message on his family group chat saying he loved them, then disappeared. Later that day the van was found on Tesco's car park locked up. His brother could see through the window three empty boxes of paracetamol, so then someone (we haven't been able to find out who) smashed the window, then took a crow bar to the sliding door to check he wasn't in the back. He wasn't.
The police could see from Tesco's CCTV that he had left the van and headed towards the train station. Further enquiries revealed he had taken a train to Preston, and from there the trail went cold. Until they found he had taken himself to Royal Preston hospital feeling unwell.
He's recovered now, but his head isn't in a good place. And there's still the Crohn's.
We got the van back to our house, and sorting through all the papers in there, found countless final demands and a repossession notice from his mortgage lender. While we feel sorry for him, it's his family (wife and kiddies) who have our sympathy. They had no idea, he'd kept it from them.
Meantime we have a claim going through with the van insurers, no idea how that will go. But small potatoes compared to what that bloke and his family have ahead of them.
However bad you think things are, there is always someone worse off than you
You are to be commended for being willing to deal with the insurance company. Well done.
I’m saving up for the second roller skate
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260716/4f22bbbacb261a1b3a00271488b4b3e9.jpg
Pigmy Pony
26-07-2026, 08:57
However bad you think things are, there is always someone worse off than you
You are to be commended for being willing to deal with the insurance company. Well done.
An update on the events of earlier this month:
Our landscape gardener who went off the rails is back home and being looked after by his family. Mine and Anita's first thought when the drama unfolded and his family rallied to find him (and trash our van) was, where were they while all this crap was going on? Turns out he was very good at hiding the problems and no one had a clue... while we sympathise with his health issues, his family who now have to pick up the pieces, including reimbursing customers who shelled out deposits for work that never materialised deserve our sympathy more.
As for the van, well, the insurance wrote it off (not by inspecting it, but just by looking at photos we supplied). And they've written it off. We had the options to give up the van, or 'buy it back'. The difference was only 200 quid, so we chose option b and will get the repairs done and then sell it. The insurer's lazy reluctance to collect and deal with the van is very very much to our advantage financially, as they paid out more than we were originally going to sell it for pre-damage, which is nice. Future premiums will go up a bit though.
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