mensch

Fully comprehensive market value with same insurer since I bought her in 1990. Unfortunately even 10 years back when I enquired insurers wouldn't insure an old car for agreed value. Seems to be a relatively recent thing I wasn't aware of.

I am understanding this. If any smash repairers appreciated old cars she could be fixed, but they're all so busy with their fleet repairs etc they can't be bothered. No appreciation for quality. What is the difference between a non-economical write-off and a write-off?

Valuer just left. Fingers crossed but not hopeful based on his face. Showed all my receipts of work I've had done to her, examples of other cars for sale like her. Not sure if it made any difference. If they come back and want to write her off, as she still drives well - I've spent a couple thousand on her mechanics over past few years - how do I arrange to not have her deregistered so I can get her fixed myself or at least sell her registered to someone who wants to fix her...? To questions about damage, the iSuzu truck hit her rear left corner high, so has slightly impacted the chassis. Rear left corner above headlight all dented, bumper bar pushed in, boot askew. Worst damage she's ever copped as other accidents were just bumper or panel related as only cars hit me, not trucks. I'm pretty sad right now.

Was rear ended by a truck 4 weeks ago and going through the very slow insurance claim process. This is really emotionally traumatic for me, as I bought my car in 1991, she's my first and my only car I've ever owned. I actually love my car. She has supported me through tough times. I am really nervous about the upcoming valuation and smash repair quote. I have no idea how to handle the concept of a write off or how to navigate these waters. Also just feeling really raw and vulnerable. Any advice on how to handle this process, where to find parts in Brisbane, and any understanding smash repairers around Brisbane, who I could use if I get the opportunity to fix her?

Post deleted as very old.

I can vouch for Tony at the Gabba being a really pleasant guy anyhow. When I had my accident a while back, and was trying not to get my car written off, he spent a good while doing up a quote for a reasonable price. Ended up not using him though as the RACQ approved the more expensive quote and I thought I'd be best off getting the repairs done by their approved repairer for warranty purposes. Thinking of seeing Tony in the near future to get some replacement locks and some rust work done...

I recently got a quote to have my corolla painted by a smash repairer and he quoted $5000 MINIMUM! "P

Nooooo, don't tempt more southerners to come up here. There's no bloody room!!

That's a really sweet car. Definitely keep the tape deck; I wish mine still worked. You could always just pretend your car is kind of done in a rainbow paintjob...as in, pink to orange lol. I can't get over what excellent condition the interior is in. And you picked that up for $500??? Tell me if it passes its roadworthy test...

I was wondering how there was a girl on here with such an in-depth knowledge of cars. It's uncommon for women...I'd really like to learn more about cars, to be able to do all of this by myself. You're right about the flames, especially if you live in Redcliffe. You really don't want to attract attention, as the police tend to pull over anybody who looks like their car could be fun from Redcliffe down to around Burpengary. You're thinking of painting it black? Really? Why not red :yes: I would LOVE to paint my Corolla like the car in Starsky and Hutch: tomato red with white stripes. But can't afford the $5K I've been quoted for the job.

I went to the place you recommended at the Gabba, and he quoted around $800. I'll see what RACQ says when I get my car assessed, and if they still want to write it off, I'll let you know. Thanks for the offer of help guys.

Unfortunately I don't have a fracking clue how to take off a panel or put a new one on etc etc. I'm fine with fuel, oil, changing tyres, filling up my radiator, getting my car serviced...but beyond that. Anybody have any good recs for a night class in panel beating? lol

Condensed milk & Jagermeister?? *shudders* What's up with people lately? It seems like every week I hear of someone being stabbed or attacked. Ah, too easy to reminisce about the days when the Valley was just full of goths and gays and we all looked out for each other, especially when the corrupto Qld police would come to rough us up. Back then, you could walk from the Valley to Milton at 4am -- two girls alone -- and nobody would hassle you. Now, people are just dickheads. Or the drugs are worse. Who knows. I just feel sad some days that Brisbane's turning into shite.

Well, thanks for all of your help / advice / opinions. I'll let you know how this ends up :P

I would agree that West End is the hippy hang out. But the Valley isn't full of drug f@$ked people. It tends to be full of musicians OR people who pretend to be musicians (mostly the latter) OR girls who think that stripping in a sleazy bar is burlesque (they're wrong, just in case you don't know the difference) OR yuppies on crack. That is, until you drive down toward New Farm, in which case you're sure to see genuine prostitutes by the side of the road. Around Bardon, there's mainly rich kids acting alternative...which they're not. Well, as long as your mummy and daddy pay for everything you do, I wouldn't call that 'roughing it' or living an alternative lifestyle. I've never understood the unshaved armpit thing. Some girls at uni used to do that when I was studying Marxism and the effects on developing nations of consumerism...yeah, I know you're probably really interested, but I'll stop there.

Isn't Wet n Wild for kids?

I'm female. I don't think anybody realised until I changed my profile pic...

Frankly, I couldn't care less. And if you're looking for interesting things on Facebook, try Stephanie Rice's public Facebook profile pics that were flying around for a while there. Steph does police woman Girl, if you're in the public sphere, at least set your damned profile to private...what a bimbo.

Women in their 30/40s driving 4x4s in inner city carparks; yes, if I choose to be anally raped by paying $27 to park in the Myer Centre, I WANT to take 30 min following one of these women to get to my early bird parking spot. They probably never drive them off road and it's mainly for bragging rights when they take their 1.75 children to football / ballet / drama / swimming classes. They drive SO slowly and no matter how many times they enter the same carpark, they always think they're going to hit the roof. Gen Y girls. Most of them. They annoy me. People, usually Gen Y girls, who talk on mobiles at the top of their lungs while you're at a music festival trying to hear a band you've paid $120 to see. Case in point: Tool at the BDO one year. Girl standing beside me for 20 min talking on the phone to her mate: "Hey mate, I'm at the BDO. What band is on? Hey mate, what band's this? Tool? Oh yeah, Tool. Mate, Tool's on. Where are ya mate? Oh mate, that's f@$kin' hilarious!"...etc etc ad infinitum ad nauseum we don't want to hear your ph conversation you silly twit. People who run into my Corolla because they're too busy chatting on mobiles or not looking where they're driving. Have yet to be at fault for an accident (knock on wood) and yet, each day, I have to honk my horn every time I'm on the road or some dickhead would drive straight into me. People who drive down one way roads the wrong way or down the wrong side of the road and expect you to move. People in marketing and comms who think that the show Hollow Men shows the way they should behave and speak in the workplace. It's a spoof, people. The fact that I have to pay $80 to find a bikini top that fits because everything is made for flat-chested wonders. Hmm. Am sure there's more that irritates me, because quite a lot does lately. I'll put it down to getting old and cranky at society :D

And they won't let you cover it for a set price if your car was made prior to 1985 or so. So I can't insure it for purchase price. It's market value...which is probably what, around $800? lol

Well, I was going to post an amusing video of a French bulldog, but most of the videos that popped up in the search are of them...well...you know...with themselves...and that's a bit sick... So...in lieu of that, one of my favourite videos is where someone has overdubbed a dance scene from Saturday Night Fever with NIN's song, Discipline. Brilliant. Also found this one of a car exactly like mine with...flame throwers on the exhaust??

Yeah, I never thought of it in a purely materialistic / commercial sense before. That if a smash repairer mainly does insurance work, and they're going to get $10,000 to fix a Merc or $1000 for fixing mine, they will just price mine out to be written off to avoid the work so they can get more expensive jobs in. It SUCKS. I feel like becoming a panel beater / mechanic who specialises in old cars and won't touch anything built after 1985. And I don't know why I bother with comprehensive insurance...I should just set up a slush fund for my car. Nobody cares that my car is 100% reliable and wonderful. They're just greedy. I wouldn't care if I had to spray the car myself. I'm a painter. I could do that...

Dammit. My 2c worth was too late. Typical. The one topic which I am confident discussing...

Ah, someone who shares my taste for Tasmanian goodness. I concur with Taz. Ninth Island Pinot Noir is a lovely, light red great for summer. Jansz is divine...the only sparkling I like. If you're after whites, go for the pinot grigios from the Marlborough region in NZ or again, from around the Tamar in Tassie. Beer? I like Stella for a light and Newcastle Brown Ale if I'm going for something with substance.