Damaged GTi

[jimGTI-T]

Well.  With the benefit of hindsight, I shouldn't have leant the GTi to the missus yesterday afternoon 

She hit a pheasant doing about 75mph in a national limit (we will be having words about this).

There is now a 4 inch crack in the front bumper and the fog light surround popped out.  Ill try to get some pics up this weekend.

Also, when braking afterwards (she was a little bit shaken up) she then proceeded to bang the front left Monza into the kerb, cue a large 'chunk' removed.   

Does anyone know whether the bumper can be fixed / glued?

I have phoned VW and they said the price of a new bumper would mean an insurance claim.

Also, does anyone know a good Monza refurbishers in the South East?

  Such a shame as I love her so much...


The GTi that is, not the missus....

[maxamus]

Has your car got 17" or 18" monza's?

The 17" can be refurbished but sadly the 18"'s are very difficult because of their polished finish. I've only heard of a minority of places which will even attempt to refurb them. Im not sure that the finish can be matched......

Not sure about the bumper. Sure someone will be able to help.

[winrya]

check ebay for bumpers.  Might even get lucky and get one in the correct colour

[jimGTI-T]

Hi Mazamus,

Really sorry to hear about your damage woes too, makes mine seem like a stone chip!!

They are the 18" Monza II's...pah.  Replica's but with the similar polished, grooved finish. 

I could always just buy a new set, but with an impending house purchase in London of all places, its unlikely that ill be able to afford them for a while!

Would anyone know where the 'minority' of repair places would be?

[maxamus]

They are the 18" Monza II's...pah.  Replica's but with the similar polished, grooved finish. 

I could always just buy a new set, but with an impending house purchase in London of all places, its unlikely that ill be able to afford them for a while!

You can get a set of 4x 18" Monza II's for £260 Including P&P from Rochford Tyres. I have them on my car. The've recently changed supplier and now the monza reps are a better match to the originals!

Getting it refurbished would cost atleast £80-100 and the end finish i doubt will match the original finish.

It would be cost effective to get a new set of 4 in the long run.

[MikeGTI]

Don't make an insurance claim!

The cost of a new bumper will be nowhere near what it will cost you in premiums.

My insurance drops by £480 this year, largely because I no longer have to declare the last claim I made. Given that you'll have to declare it for 3-5 years and the impact on your NCB thats far more than the cost of a new bumper.

The claim against me was only for a few hundred quid, wouldn't have got the insurance involved but the tw&t turned a broken indicator into a claim for a new wing, bumper, headlight and use of a hire car.   

[jimGTI-T]

Thanks Mike,

That was what I thought.  Id much rather suffer a little pain to the pocket rather than losing my NCB and raising next year's premium!

Maxamus, thanks for the information on the Monza II reps, it does look like that will be the most cost-effective way to go. 

Ill wait a little while, save some money, let the dreaded high kerbs in London do their worst then get a shiny new set.

(Funded by my girlfriend of course) 

[Russ.C]

Unlucky mate, know how you feel, my missis put my old R32 up the kerb where we live (while going quite quickly) and scuffed all the rim up and took chunks out of the side wall! Needless to say she only gets to drive the GTI when I've had a few beers amd am in the passenger seat! 
Good luck with the repairs, those Monza reps that maxamus mentioned sound a bargain! So hopefully won't cost you a fortune! 

[jimGTI-T]

Cheers, she definitely didnt adhere to my 'rules'.

- Dont thrash it until its warm ("until the little needle on the left is pointing straight up" is how I actually had to describe it).

- Dont go anywhere near a kerb.

- Leave it idling for a minute when you get back.

Should have added:

- Dont hit any wildlife and keep the machinery between the greenery.

From now on she is only allowed to drive her Beetle cab with the stupid flowers in the dash...although she did manage to get the hood stuck down last week...

Perhaps I should suggest that she doesnt go within 50 metres of a VW for a while, she seems to be quite adept at breaking them! 

[joesgti]

gutted, sorry to hear it!!