jamesm

Welcome, nice looking car you have just got yourself.

For anything main dealer in Central Scotland, I'd recommend Ian Grieve in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Falkirk.

Off to Glasgow Audi. Had the same assessor look at it as you had, but he came down to Greenock under protest. Problem with mine was the fact it would be cheaper to cut off the bent bit and weld a new bit on. Both me and the estimator were in agreement that it was to be straightened which is apparently more labour. Assessor agreed.

Elephant Insurance offers the following advice to avoid accidents. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> "On arrival at a corner, slow to walking pace, proceed at this pace around the corner to check that there are no stationary vehicles, objects, cows, elephants or anything else blocking the road. Then drive away safe in the knowledge that you can be no way held responsible for the 10 car pile up that has just occurred behind you. On reaching the next corner repeat the above." [:S] Their claim assessor openly admits this is wholly impractical but they won't fight the claim in case they lose and it costs them too much money. Equally, they don't like authorising works at reputable repairers because they cost more. The old saying that things are cheap for a reason springs to mind. At least it is now finally booked into get fixed and will be done by the end of the month.

Looking good [] I noticed that Gary and Lesley's car was sporting a nice set of gold alloys in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Greenock yesterday. Temporary swap to avoid the eyes of the dreaded Elephant assessor perhaps? <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Got the joys of the man from Elephant myself next week, but at least he knows about the STI wheels. Why can't they just authorise the work and be done with it? [8o|]

Amazing the difference a postcode makes. I have a MY02 standard WRX, with tracker, parked on drive in Houston. 5 years no claims (protected). Just renewed with Elephant for £694, with my girlfriend as a named driver (reduces the quote by almost £120 [*-)] ) If I still lived with my parents in and kept the car in Cumbernauld, the price would be another £100 less. Excess is £400, and I have just had to claim! Now where did I put that credit card?

Gutted for you mate. Looked quite a heavy impact. Harder than mine anyway. At least you are ok and things can be replaced. Hope you are back behind the wheel soon.

Got caught up on Lugton Road yesterday afternoon, but didn't know what had happened. Puts things into perspective. Cars and body panels can be replaced after all!

Cheers Stephen. Got the hang of it now. Pretty obvious where the bumper made contact with the wheel of the van!!

Hello and welcome. Brilliant looking car there.

Having had my car 4 months, I discovered that icy weather plus Renfrewshire Council's gritting abilities equals danger, and I ended up in a hedge. [:'(]<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> On the way to work and was on the back road from Langbank to Port Glasgow as the A8 was solid due to an accident there. Road hadn't seen a gritter and was driving along carefully behind a van. The van disappeared round a corner and the next I saw of him he was spinning round. I braked but it made no difference at all and I hit the side of the can with the front of mine before ending up in the hedge. These things ain't half built like brick lavatory houses, assuming the worst it came out the hedge under its own steam and damage appears fairly minor. Amazed really as it seemed a very big bang. Not sure if anything worse underneath that I can't see though. I managed to wreck the van, a cheap French thing, and it had to be taken away on a lorry. As there was another car involved I had to tell the insurance so may as well get it done at a main dealer. Pretty gutted though as it was such a mint car, but I know I couldn't have done anything. Needed a wash anyway!! Still can't seem to be able to post photos. Do you need to be a full member or something? Just waiting for that to come though. http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q67/jwmccoll/DSCF0013.jpg http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q67/jwmccoll/DSCF0011.jpg http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q67/jwmccoll/DSCF0010.jpg http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q67/jwmccoll/DSCF0008.jpg http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q67/jwmccoll/DSCF0005.jpg

Ouch. Who ended up paying for that one? The dealer that didn't change it footed the bill. Wasn't as bad as it could have been as the belt went ping when I started the car, rather then when it was being driven. But it went away for 2 weeks and never had a problem after it came back.

The Astra I had before the Scoob was bought from Arnie Clark and sales wise I couldn't fault them, once you get a salesman who will actually listed to what you want! The servicing etc was the problem. Two incidents that means I will never use them again, the service they charged me for, didn't really do, before sending me home with defective brakes was the first one. The second one came after I swapped ends and walloped a van who pulled out in front of me, the Insurance sent it to Arnie for repairs. Couldn't believe the state it came back in, there were bits of trim they hadn't even bothered to attach to the car and it came back with dents it didn't have when it went in! Having said that, it once got serviced by a non Arnie Clark Vauxhall dealer, who 'forgot' to change the timing belt. It was on the back of a lorry within 4,000 miles after the thing broke!

Welcome. I have a TSL Group N back box on my otherwise standard 2002 WRX and it give a nice burble without being too loud.

Car is brilliant Gav. Loving every minute of it.

Welcome. Black Bugeyes are the best!

I think Gav must have a knack for finding cars! He found me a 52 plate Bugeye with just 15,000 on it. [Y]

Looking good there mate. Wheels really set it off!

Hello and Welcome.

Hello and welcome. Got any pics of your car?

Hello and welcome. Enjoy your motor!

Hello and Welcome.

I have had my 2002 WRX for about two months now which is used as my only car, so it gets used to commute in and to travel about locally for work. This works out at about 8000 to 9000 miles per year, with my non work mileage working out at another 7 or 8000 on top of that. The commute is a mix of a potholed B road, quick blast along the motorway and then stop start into town. Despite working out what I thought the mpg would be before buying it, it seems to be going through petrol at quite a rate and I am slightly worried at the ever increasing fuel bill.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Now, I never bought this for the fuel consumption but given the amount it uses I was thinking about alternatives. Also, whilst the knackered B road didn't bother me in the old car, I am now less than impressed with the Scoob having to rattle over it twice a day. I have tried a couple of weeks commuting on the train but it takes twice as long and it isn't direct. So I was thinking about getting a cheap runaround and only use the Scoob evenings and weekends, which is what the previous owner did. I am sure there will be a number of you who run cheap second cars and my question basically is - is it worth it over a period of say a couple of years? By the time you take in to account buying something, insurance, tax, servicing etc would I see any difference other than keeping the miles off the Scoob and not running the risk of leaving the suspension in a Renfrewshire crater? Budget would be an absolute maximum of £1k. Have seen a decent 96 Polo and 98 Colt in a quick search for that sort of money. Daewoo's, Hyundai's and similar seem to come in at about £600. But would something like that just be a never ending run of expense as things break and fall off?

Where abouts do you stay mate? I am 27 and with Tesco by default as I had my previous car with them and changed three quarters way though the policy. I have a 2002 WRX with tracker and cat 1 alarm, 5 years no claims and have legal protection and hire car. The renewal is next month and they want not far off £900 with £450 excess [:@] <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> The best I can find anywhere is £700+ depending on excesses etc.

Really sorry to hear that. Scum of the earth in my opinion. Only a couple of miles from Paisley myself, sounds like we all need to be on our guard!