 | Home > Puma (Tdci) > Chassis check on a TDCi after crash |
 
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| enfield_dinosaur Member Since: 14 Jun 2015 Location: Tertius orbis Posts: 120  
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Hah, I think I can answer my own question.
The car obviously had a bad crash. But instead of letting the insurance company do all the fixing, and keep the car, the crash was apparently bad enough that the previous owner chose to sell it. So they took the sum, and invested only some of it to return it to a "sellable" state. This is now why it's half way through. So I could be lucky and get something with only minor niggles that I can fix myself. Or I can be very unlucky and get something where more stuff is hiding, because it slipped below the cost-effective line of the previous owner. |
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16th Sep 2015 9:29am |
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| enfield_dinosaur Member Since: 14 Jun 2015 Location: Tertius orbis Posts: 120
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Fozzauk, that's the voice of reason and the wisest words I have read in a while. You are right. Particulary in these days of a superheated Defender market. Many Defenders are now bought on a whim, because of a fad and because "they will be gone soon". With the first 20k inspection, the first tax and insurance bill, the rosy tints will be coming off left and right. I remember having a hard time justifying the first bills myself, and I knew what I was getting into 
I also think the TDCi market will relax for some time once a Defencer successor is presented. We'll see... |
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16th Sep 2015 9:46am |
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| Pickles Member Since: 26 May 2013 Location: Melbourne Posts: 3795  
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I think you're doing the right thing by walking away, in particular, as you have not ascertained the specific details of the accident damage / repair.
However, with respect to future values of Defenders,....who knows?....it's a long way off,... probably two years away,...there won't have been any new ones around after December,.....so, good low mileage units could command a premium? Whatever, always good to take your time. Pickles. |
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16th Sep 2015 10:20am |
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| enfield_dinosaur Member Since: 14 Jun 2015 Location: Tertius orbis Posts: 120
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Here is what I did now - I spoke with the dealer and asked for some documentation.
I requested a copy of the original repair bill, clearly stating what has been fixed and/or exchanged. I asked to be provided with a copy of the accident report Will not take the plunge unless I can transparently assess what has happened to the car. Presumably, how readily I will be provided with proper documentation will be a good indication if there's something hidden. Because other then the wobbly front floors, I quite like it. But then - why has a defender wobbly front floors if not due to impact? Let's see what happens! |
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17th Sep 2015 4:11pm |
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| o4dn Member Since: 08 Jan 2010 Location: South West Posts: 583  
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Is that what worries you? That looks normal to me, unless I miss the point in the picture. That's exactly the same on mine:  Click image to enlarge And I own this car from new, it has never been involved in any kind of accident. |
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17th Sep 2015 4:25pm |
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| X4SKP Member Since: 29 Nov 2013 Location: Berkshire Posts: 2303  
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Hello enfield_dinosaur
You are right to ask...but Buyer Beware...if in doubt Walk Away. An accident doesn't necessarily mark the end of a Defender but significant documentation should be there now for any potential buyer to see. You should not be in a position of being a 'Detective' to buy this Defender... 
So see what there is now...with little or no effort Accident Report Insurance Claim / Loss Adjuster Report Steering Geometry Report Invoice for All Work Undertaken Photographs Before and After etc... A Defender purchase will always be both head and heart... Good Luck... SKIP https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic83242.html |
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17th Sep 2015 4:30pm |
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| enfield_dinosaur Member Since: 14 Jun 2015 Location: Tertius orbis Posts: 120
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Hm, that is very good to know. I wondered why Land Rover would not fix this, if they fixed the rest. Could be simply because that's already within tolerances. If you lift your floor mat, do you also have a slightly wobbly floor panel? It might be I never saw this with my old Keswick one, because it didn't have a mirrorlike metallic surface... Click image to enlarge |
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17th Sep 2015 4:52pm |
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| o4dn Member Since: 08 Jan 2010 Location: South West Posts: 583
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Hard to tell, mine is white and there's a lot less reflection.
But those are just soft aluminium panels, they bend when assembled. And I wouldn't expect to find a single straight panel on a Defender... 
Edit: Upon reflection (no pun intended, of course!), mine is probably not as bad though. |
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17th Sep 2015 5:09pm |
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| Pickles Member Since: 26 May 2013 Location: Melbourne Posts: 3795
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enfield, As per your post 36, you are asking the right questions there.
The only other thing,...I think it's been mentioned,....photographs of the damaged vehicle,.....if they're available? Anyway, good luck with your enquiries, and please keep us informed. Pickles. |
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17th Sep 2015 11:27pm |
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| Scotm Member Since: 28 Feb 2014 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 687  
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My floor is the curled the same as was my previous 110. See my gallery for a picture.
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18th Sep 2015 8:19am |
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| enfield_dinosaur Member Since: 14 Jun 2015 Location: Tertius orbis Posts: 120
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So here is what I know now... an acquaintance coincidentally looked at the same car recently. He got some more info.
Now, brace yourselves: The car had an accident to the sweet tune of nearly � 12.000. Land Rover themselves fixed it. The roof is new, the frame of the windscreen is new, the driver's side door is new, among other parts. This still could be a good deal. If fixed correctly with all the news parts, provided the chassis is undamaged, the bulkhead didn't budge, I could still live with a crash car. It's no Fiat Punto after all. But, if you look at the windscreen hinge picture, for example - the windscreen frame still seems a little off where it meets the bulkhead. Little things, could be within official Land Rover tolerances, though. I am skeptical. So I decided, that with undamaged cars in the same price window, the dealer should better bring an extraordinary good reason to the table why I should purchase this car from him, among with hard proof. An independent certificate that everything is fine, more documentation about the accident and a considerable price reduction are probably in order. The dealer promised to call me today. Knowing what I know now, it'll be a tough sell for him. We'll see what happens next! Thanks for all your excellent insight - it's of extraordinary value to me! It's good that places such as this forum exist. |
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18th Sep 2015 12:01pm |
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| enfield_dinosaur Member Since: 14 Jun 2015 Location: Tertius orbis Posts: 120
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Scotm, Seeing you have a metallic coating, If you lift the floor mat, is the surface also wobbly, or is it clear and even like a mirror? I try to assess wheter I might be looking at damage caused by a shifted bulkhead. Compared to this: Click image to enlarge |
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18th Sep 2015 12:12pm |
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| Happyoldgit Member Since: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3471 
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You've missed out the most important bit of information - asking price! Steve.
Owned numerous Land Rover vehicles of all shapes and sizes over the decades. Current Defender: A non tarts hand-bagged Puma 110 XS USW. [Insert something impressive here such as extensive list of previous Land Rovers or examples of your prestigeous and expensive items, trinkets, houses, bikes, vehicles etc] http://forums.lr4x4.com I used to be Miserable ...but now I'm ecstatic. |
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18th Sep 2015 12:21pm |
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| enfield_dinosaur Member Since: 14 Jun 2015 Location: Tertius orbis Posts: 120
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Asking price is � 21900.
A year ago I would not even have considered this. Alas, these are the times of the late Defender. |
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18th Sep 2015 12:24pm |
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