What have you done to your mk4 (golf/bora) today?

[clark]

that sux ass.hope they pay for it

They said it wasn't their car, and because they didn't have a supervising driver with them I doubt any insurance company would cover them anyway.

I hope you called the police and had the unlicensed moron charged!!

I called the police, told him I was calling the police. He let me look at his license and get down some of the details, and get some photo's of his numberplates. I pushed my car away from the intersection and he said he was going to do the same. He got in, tried to reverse it back 5 or 6 times with the handbrake on, then put it in 2nd and just drove away. Cops hadn't turned up by then, so I rang them and said I'd just go to the station to make the report there.

I'm with NRMA and I'm insured up to $5000 if the other driver is unlicensed. But I don't know whether or not the actual owner of the other car has insurance. Either way this is going to be a massive pain to sort out. Also, I took it to my VW mechanic and he said he didn't think there was any mechanical damage to the car...but on the way home the car won't boost as high as it used to. Could the impact to the front have damaged something which would affect my boost?

[Peter Jones]

~400km round trip to Winton and back via the Melba Hwy towing the MK1 on my tandem trailer.

These 4mo Boras are amazing cars, that's a fair ask for any vehicle.

[djorkboy]

They said it wasn't their car, and because they didn't have a supervising driver with them I doubt any insurance company would cover them anyway.

...

I'm with NRMA and I'm insured up to $5000 if the other driver is unlicensed. But I don't know whether or not the actual owner of the other car has insurance. Either way this is going to be a massive pain to sort out.....

Small claims court is your friend.

If you have his address from his license and all else fails get a quote for repairs and send him a formal letter and a copy of the quote demanding he pay for the damage (make sure you send it registered post and tick the box that says the receiver has to sign for it, that way he can't later pretend he didn't get your demand). Allow him 60 days to pay in full after which time you will file against him in small claims court. You should be able to do all this without any help from a solicitor, if you have good photos of the damage and the positioning of the cars (or witnesses) you can easily take it to court and argue your own case without a solicitor.

I was involved in a similar situation and made a few mistakes, especially that I didn't send the letter of demand registered post so I wasn't able to prove that the dirtbag received it. In the end due to my mistakes I had trouble getting the money and gave up, I wish I had pursued it further, not so much for the money but it just galls me that some @sshole messed up my car and got away with it.

One thing I have found in the past too is that NRMA will only fight on your behalf with insurance companies if you push them. Otherwise they will just accept the other insurance companies version of events regardless of how ridiculous it is.

[JustCruisn]

I'm with NRMA and I'm insured up to $5000 if the other driver is unlicensed. But I don't know whether or not the actual owner of the other car has insurance. Either way this is going to be a massive pain to sort out. Also, I took it to my VW mechanic and he said he didn't think there was any mechanical damage to the car...but on the way home the car won't boost as high as it used to. Could the impact to the front have damaged something which would affect my boost?

Get the name and address of the driver, call NRMA make a claim get it fixed and move on. It will be NRMA's problem from then on.
No excess should be payable by you as you only need to identify the driver's name and residential address to make a non fault claim.
Whether the guy has insurance or not in none of your concern.
Read and understand your policy before calling them, have it handy and refer to it when you do call.


Your boost issue may be caused by the inter-cooler pipes coming loose, it sits behind the bumper right where you got hit !

[clark]

Small claims court is your friend.

If you have his address from his license and all else fails get a quote for repairs and send him a formal letter and a copy of the quote demanding he pay for the damage (make sure you send it registered post and tick the box that says the receiver has to sign for it, that way he can't later pretend he didn't get your demand). Allow him 60 days to pay in full after which time you will file against him in small claims court. You should be able to do all this without any help from a solicitor, if you have good photos of the damage and the positioning of the cars (or witnesses) you can easily take it to court and argue your own case without a solicitor.

I was involved in a similar situation and made a few mistakes, especially that I didn't send the letter of demand registered post so I wasn't able to prove that the dirtbag received it. In the end due to my mistakes I had trouble getting the money and gave up, I wish I had pursued it further, not so much for the money but it just galls me that some @sshole messed up my car and got away with it.

One thing I have found in the past too is that NRMA will only fight on your behalf with insurance companies if you push them. Otherwise they will just accept the other insurance companies version of events regardless of how ridiculous it is.

Small claims court is a last option - the dude was a kid. Even if I get judgement against him (which I would) I'm doubtful about the amount of cash I'd get out of him.

Thanks for the tip about the NRMA - they've been really helpful so far, but I haven't done much.

Get the name and address of the driver, call NRMA make a claim get it fixed and move on. It will be NRMA's problem from then on.
No excess should be payable by you as you only need to identify the driver's name and residential address to make a non fault claim.
Whether the guy has insurance or not in none of your concern.
Read and understand your policy before calling them, have it handy and refer to it when you do call.


Your boost issue may be caused by the inter-cooler pipes coming loose, it sits behind the bumper right where you got hit !

This is not how they've explained it to me. To be clear, I don't have comprehensive insurance. I have 3rd party property, fire & theft - which also covers me for 5 grand if the other driver is uninsured. NRMA tell me that if I make a claim and they can't recoup from other driver they might come back and ask me to pay my excess.

At this stage I have a claim in and the car will get quoted on tomorrow. I can always withdraw the claim once more facts come out (like whether the driver actually did know the owner of the car, etc, etc).

The intercooler pipes all look to be attached firmly to me. I took it to my mechanic this morning and he had a quick look at it and said it didn't look to be loose anywhere. The car still feels strong, boosts normally, but tops out at 15psi where in the past it would boost to 21psi. Currently, it then bleeds back to 10psi, whereas it used to bleed back to 18 or so.

Anyway, thanks for all your comments guys. I'm really hanging out for a phonecall from the cops saying that they found they guy and are going to fine him. I'd also love more details about who the owner is and whether the car is actually registered so that I can move forward with the insurance stuff. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day on that front.

[Blitzen]

Did you write his address down?? PM it to me if you want... I have a Fed Police mate, or we could keep the cops out of it and bust his knees up a bit... Don't worry, they will heal, but he will know when it's about to rain...

[drewr]

Did you write his address down?? PM it to me if you want... I have a Fed Police mate, or we could keep the cops out of it and bust his knees up a bit... Don't worry, they will heal, but he will know when it's about to rain...

Hahaha. Someone take Gran Theft auto away from this guy!

[McDub]

The intercooler pipes all look to be attached firmly to me. I took it to my mechanic this morning and he had a quick look at it and said it didn't look to be loose anywhere. The car still feels strong, boosts normally, but tops out at 15psi where in the past it would boost to 21psi. Currently, it then bleeds back to 10psi, whereas it used to bleed back to 18 or so.

If you've just got the stock turbo, I think you're imagining a problem that's not there.
This is how my turbo tapers off from 21, it drops below 10 if you redline.
If you get 17psi close to redline, you would be getting some very tasty power due to an aftermarket turbo.



As to the damage to the car, hope you get it sorted.

[dylan8]

haha yes^
That sucks about the car clark. Hope it gets sorted soon!

fitted my roof racks w/ basket and put them to use

[drewr]

Haven't seen your car with the Porsches on it yet, Dylan. Looks soooo nice!

[clark]

If you've just got the stock turbo, I think you're imagining a problem that's not there.
This is how my turbo tapers off from 21, it drops below 10 if you redline.
If you get 17psi close to redline, you would be getting some very tasty power due to an aftermarket turbo.

As to the damage to the car, hope you get it sorted.

Yeh I'm running a K04.

Dylan, those wheels are sweet!

[djorkboy]

Swapped the Euro plates from my Jeep onto the Bora

Not sure if I'm going to keep them on there but they are better than the bashed up crappy slimline ones that were on it when I got it.

[geoff_gti]

I'd say Euro plates are *slightly* more suited to a Bora than a Jeep mate lol! Keep them on there

[djorkboy]

I'd say Euro plates are *slightly* more suited to a Bora than a Jeep mate lol! Keep them on there

hehe, they did look pretty good on the Jeep though, it was an Austrian assembled Grand Cherokee, not a Wrangler. I have seen Euro plates on a Wrangler before and they look awful.

[Back Door Shenanigans.]

Technically not car related but still awesome.