Scrap it?

[Neophyte]

I've read Pascal's post but this is more general than technical - I hope?

Disaster. Dear Wise Ones- I’ve crashed my car (It is a 1992 - J-plate (catalytic converter) 190 2.6.) No one hurt luckily but I’m only 3rd party and my own stupid fault – I lost the back end accelerating too hard in the (just) wet – (a bit greasy I think ) and over-corrected it into one those concrete bridge protector things – I drove into the curb which blew the front passenger side tyre and also smashed a chunk out of the alloy – (my big fear is that I twisted the chassis).

What to do? it looks like I’ve twisted my chassis (so a mate says having looked the car over – he’s no mechanic though) –I’d like to repair it If possible?

The damage it has is - at the front end - smashed alloy and indicator, bonnet popped and will not shut as the car isn’t 'square' ? - the front seems to be twisted? . At the back an indicator is broken and the rear panel between door and boot area is badly dented - a rear passenger door is also slightly damaged. That's the total of the damage as visible. Still starts and runs as sweetly as ever.

I’m obviously totally gutted as I love the car but I’m at a loss as to what to do? I’ve been offered £200-300 by a merc breaker (mercman) – I emailed them, as I want to know my options. This seems like too little.

Help! (I’m feeling very sorry for myself)

Any advice (apart from dont do it again!) is would be really appreciated.

Thanks

 

[mike65]

Ricky sees a bargin!

I'd think long and hard, can you sourse another body with a shagged engine/no engine? Mercman might have the answer there, then check how much to do a transplant. The cost of straightening your car plus all the other bits and pieces is'nt worth it. Other other possiblility is sell the good bits on ebay!

Mike.

 

[tom7035]

Hi Neophyte.
First, my comiserations. Time to cut your losses I feel, but another WILL come along sometime at a good price. Breaking it yourself would be the only way now to get a fair return, but of couse the downside of this is you would have to have the time and facilities to break properly and store for a period. As you well know, demand for spares for this marque is there.
Don't be too depressed, we're not talking a life or death sum of money here!
Just like myself, you had this in mind when insuring it, and you've had fun & enjoyment - just pick youself up, dust down and do it again! (Not the crash, the enjoyment etc. I mean!) The most important thing here is as you rightly say, no-one was injured.
If breaking yourself is not feasible, maybe Mercman will 'up' his offer a little? Other breakers such as Mercland in the same area might be worth a call?
All the best, Tom.

 

[Neophyte]

Cheers gents (esp. tom for the kind words!) I'm gonna call round some other breakers and see if they can best the offer I've got. I've got it in my garage but I dont fancy/ aint that capable of doing much mechanically (ie dismantling) - I could do it en extremis but I'd rather not. Might put the whole car on ebay and other for sale places to see if anyone's interested. The engine alone must be worth a few pennies to the right person!

I'm already looking for something else (get straight back on ya horse!) but there dont seem to be too many decent 2.6 190s.. E260s also ****** rare. Something a little bigger's looking tempting (an E300..?) although if I cant handle a 2.6....!! a bit worried about stories of E300 cylinder heads cracking...? I've also read that E280s have problems with their wiring looms... ?

Ah, I've got some decisions ahead!

Maybe I'll get a cheap runaround and wait for a good 'un to appear..

Cheers

 

[tom7035]

Life would be such a bore if one never had to make decisions, even wrong ones sometimes!!

 

[Jim Gallagher]

Take it to one of these driving schools and brush-up on your driving skills