"Sorry mate, my foot slipped off the clutch and I just shot forward", the driver of a Peugeot Expert van said to me. My mint GT3 was parked outside my home when it was shunted from behind by a van driver who was attempting to park. The brakes were off of the GT3 and it was propelled forwards in to the car in front. The black plastic 'spoiler' (?) that hangs underneath the rear bumper was broken-off. The front bumper has a horizontal split in it about 12 inches long. I've uploaded photos. My insurance company, Admiral, have been good so far. They gave me the option of going through themselves or being dealt with by a company, 'Auxilis', who only deal with non-fault claims. I instinctively felt I should stick with just them, but my £500 excess would then be taken from me upon completion of the repair, although they would be "...fairly certain of reclaiming it back from the other party as the circumstances are so straight-forward". In the end, I chose to go through their 'Auxilis' partner, whereupon I will never have the excess deducted at all. They will compensate me for time off work when I drop-off the car or collect it, and provide a courtesy car for the duration. So far, so good. They listened to me when I said there are probably only half a dozen places in southern England (I'm in Southsea, Hampshire) who can properly make the repair. They took on board my comments regarding composite construction and the non-availability of COTS parts. They first asked me to take it to SJ Sportscars in Devon when I said it has been there before for mechanical work. I have only half a day's leave available from work (until 1st July) so that was out of the question.
They came back to me requesting me to take it to Hendy Accident Repair in Poole instead. I was instantly mortified at the thought. I imagine it will be less than five minutes before I receive a call from them asking me how to un-latch the bonnet and how to release the hand-brake. I asked them to quiz Hendy regarding their experience. They came back to me saying "Hendy say they have repaired many Lotus, including ones as old as the Elan, and that they are experienced with "fibreglass bodywork" and composite construction."
I'd like to ask the Forum for their views. Should I instead ask that the car is low-loaded-away instead of me driving it there? Should I insist on a garage that we would recognise as a Lotus repairer? Does anyone have any experience of Hendy Accident Repair in Poole (in regard to their Lotus)? What repair solution should I be expecting/requesting ie should I be expecting new bumpers to be made/procured, painted and fitted, or should I expect that they will repair the existing ones, prepare and re-paint?
TIA.
Kind regards, Nick.