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        General >> Problems >> VW Bora ran into my behind!
        
(Message started by: JohnJ on Mar 1^st, 2005, 7:28pm)

Title: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by JohnJ on Mar 1^st, 2005, 7:28pm

The damage is negligible, how do you spell that? anyhow I was sitting a traffic lights waiting for the green and away I went on the filter lane for the left turn I pulled of and two kids ran aross the busy junction, I hit the brakes and the Bora hit me!, I have a tow bar and the Bora did'nt have any steel on the front, so theres loads of damage to the bora and my tow bar is bent 1/2 an inch, it took the full wait of her car! and the Scorpio is unscratched she couldnt believe it, eighther could I, I shouted OH no damage! wayhay, oooopps sorry about yours love, she was in tears but she did hit me.

IS there any way I can reclaim my 1/2 the 3/4 inch movement forward or should I live with a sligtly bent tow bar. ::) ;D

JJ

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by Vulcan on Mar 1^st, 2005, 8:02pm

The question is do you use the tow bar? If you do and it's been hit then there could be structural damage underneath that belies the slight bend to the actual hook. When you think of the foot pounds of pressure it takes to bend these tow bars then it gives you some idea of what may have happened at the tow bar mountings. Personally I would have it checked but in the very least the bar needs replacing.
I don't know where the bar is mounted on the scorp as I don't have one on mine but I have fitted a good few to other cars helping my younger bro when he had his caravan and camper business and they are usually very well attached to the sub frame underneath and that is what will have born the brunt of the impact. Plus the bar will now be in the wrong position for attaching a trailer or caravan so you would have major problems if you did try to tow.

In brief.. have it all looked at under the back.

hth

George

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by Paul B on Mar 1^st, 2005, 8:19pm

I'd agree with George there I think.
The car may appear undamaged but I doubt very much that you've come off so lightly as just a bent towbar.
Do go and get it checked out John.

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by Eddie on Mar 1^st, 2005, 9:00pm

Thats it, I'm off to buy a towbar/ball ;D

eddie

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by JohnJ on Mar 1^st, 2005, 10:23pm

Thanks for the advice fellas. I will get it checked out!

JJ

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by Baz on Mar 1^st, 2005, 10:41pm

Mines an S reg and it costs a lot more for the towbar as it has to be "type approved" so all the ones in the scrappies with towbars are no good.!!

b****r

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by johnv on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 6:49am

i keeping away from who fault it was as this site might blow up, rather than just anoy people.
but have i got it right. the tow ball itself is bent forward, hey these i throught where so strong, they don't bend.
to do so it must have been a hell of a bang.
so if that is correct, what the others are saying about checking for further damage is just so correct, where the towbar going onto the chassis.
its like on my transit van, i had bull bars. they can save a lot of damage in most cases, but in a real heavy bang, they can cause damage to where they are mounted to.
its swings and roundabouts.
if its turns out that its just the towball, they are only about £2.99. get a new one.
The centre of the ball should be 16 inches from the road surface.

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by johnv on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 6:57am

hi baz, did you know, that on the scorpio if you got a "S" reg the towing kits are £450 plus fitting charges.
but if you are "R" reg backwards they are supplied and fitted for around £125.
That's what I have been told by two towbar fitters.
Something to do with change to axle or mounting points etc.

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by johnv on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 7:01am

Insurance. (God I just so sorry to bring that ugly word up again).
Just out of interest, who paying for what. (I won't comment on any answer that might be given,)
Did you jump out and grab hold of the kids.

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by Baz on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 8:06am

John,

the towbars are exactly the same! The only difference is that from August 1st 1998 (S Reg Day!) all cars registered after that date, regardless of build date have to be fitted with what is called a "Type Approved" towbar which is basically one that has been subjected to various tests to ensure their safety and performance.

The only trouble with getting one for the Scorpio is that because Ford had already stopped making the cars, most companies were not too keen to spend, what was a lot of money apparently, getting the bars tested.

I cannot get the likes of a Witter towbar for mine because they didn't make one type approved (I phoned them and asked!) So the only ones available are usually very expensive. I had one on my Red Scorpio for a while just to try it out and it was from a P reg and it fitted fine. But if I was towing something and got caught, I would be liable to a big fine!

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by daven on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 8:30am

on 03/01/05 at 20:19:10, Paul B wrote:

I'd agree with George there I think.
The car may appear undamaged but I doubt very much that you've come off so lightly as just a bent towbar.
Do go and get it checked out John.

I agree too - had a car written off because the tow bar took the brunt but pushed into a cross member which took the chassis out of square!

That was a White van at about 10mph! He got aggresive even though it was his fault, if he had just apologised I may have let him walk away as there was no visible damage!

Daven

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by johnv on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 9:10am

hi baz, what you say makes good sence.
what the fitter of towbars said to me that only ford make a towbar for the "S" reg and they are £450 to buy. and he gave that bit about there was a slight change to the rear of the "S" red scorpio's.
Still I understand what you are saying now.

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by johnv on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 9:30am

so it seems like luck as some bearing in these cases.
When that chap ran into me in his 206 and cracked my bumper. they checked underneath, no damage.
I wonder, if it was because I had just released the footbrake and had started to move forward that took some of the force out of it.
Without the towbar, they are saying that it might have gone forward to damage the tailgate and the boot floor or whatever it is thats behind the bumper.
But towbars are real good to have because they are bound to smash the front bumper of the other car and in his case the rad was pouring out coolant fast. Jolly good show, The B-------.
Been driving since 17 and nether in all my life made a claim on insurance. (O god, that word come up again,) and then this chap late for work, just drives straight into the back of me.
By the time I told him how much money it was going to cost him and started taking photos and shoved the camera in his face to take a photo of him, (just in case he tried later to say it was not him) he was fair shaking.
I just got to wait now for Ford to get some new bumpers made. All the stock of these as been withdrawn and returned to people who make these as all faulty.

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by JohnJ on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 4:29pm

my mate an I looked at it in some good day light and it does look like it may be only the ball hitch arm bent, it is slightly bent to the right and foward, the part that it bolts onto is exactly in the middle, I had the foot break off and she did push me...Going to get it checked underneith as there could be more damage done, she hit it with her car just under the passenger headlight putting force slightly to the right and foward motion, there not ment to take sideways force, so this may have saved the car.
I can only imagine the damage that would have resulted if there was no towbar.
Insurance, I let her go! (stu pid i Know but I could see nothing wrong at the time).

JJ

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by johnv on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 9:09pm

god JohnJ, (YOU LET HER GO) I don't want to be hard on any anyone when they had mis-fortune) but always, always, always exchange names, addresses, phone numbers and at the very least get their registration number.
On many occasions, it turns out after you got home and the next day, in the cooling off period, you will find something, even if it is slight.
Its just being on the safe side. there nothing wrong with that.
You are entitled to ask for that.
I feel an insurance issue coming on here.
I try hard not to.
If it was an insurance issue I wonder who would get the blame.
You for stopping sharply, but you got the excuse that you did not want to harm the children who dashed across in front of you.
Or the person behind who hit you, It is suggested that if someone hit you up the back it always there fault. because they should have been travelling at such a distant and at such a speed to be able to stop.
Or the two boys. you know what happens if they are under 10 years of age.

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by johnv on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 9:16pm

I always carry a camera, a packet of pens and a note book in the glove locker of my cars.
I mean you don't want to be struck there with no pen or paper maybe in the dark, or it pouring down of rain without these.
Its called be prepared.
I also carry a 11mm small spanner in with that.
Why. Well ever had a battery termial, a little loose that you engine will not turn over. just needs a half turn to nip it up. and no tools in you car.

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by Highlander on Mar 2^nd, 2005, 11:49pm

I always carry a parachute, an inflatable dinghy some flares, snorkel and diving mask, a sleeping bag, hot flask of tea, mars bars and a packet of tampons.

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by Eddie on Mar 3^rd, 2005, 3:11am

Better not ask? :o

eddie

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by daven on Mar 3^rd, 2005, 7:32am

Good for gun shot wounds - didn't know it was that bad up there! ;D ;D

Daven

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by JohnJ on Mar 3^rd, 2005, 8:19am

That spider is freaky, I can still see as I'm typing this,

Well I had it checked and a mechanic, my brother in law cant see any damage underneith, I pointed out the crack in the weld of the arm of the towbar where its connected to the car (two bolt thingy) so the weld give way, he agrees with my findings. ;D..

Stupid of me to let her away with out takeing her insurance details or address I know but there was one lane of traffic about 40 cars and I was the first, I paniced. but luckly for me there appears to be no damage. the car seems to be uneffected as far as driving is concerned. Looking up at how the bar is connected it looks as though it cant move it spreads the whole width of the back of the car and then some more it goes forward! with really thick steel, I fear if the arm didnt give way something else may have.

I regret my mistake in not getting her details but I learned from that and will not do that again.

the two kids where gone quicker than two cut cats, I was going to chase them but what about the car and the impatient people blowing the horns behind me, I was in the middle of a junction, but I know I should of asked her to pull over to the side of the road :-[. I will monitor the tires for the next couple of months for strange wear, If I dont see any I can assume there is no damage, if there is wear, I'm stupid and ignorent!

Oh I hate car insurance, even if its not your fault you are still "involved in an accident" and they will increase your premium and over here in N ireland its a joke. (the price that is)

Thanks for your help guys and its always comforting to know you all care :'(.
;D
JJ

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by daven on Mar 3^rd, 2005, 8:23am

Good news John!

Daven

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by Vulcan on Mar 3^rd, 2005, 8:35am

Yeah towbars are made from really thick material.
We fitted one to a Volvo 850 and when it was off the car it weighed so much it took two of us to lift it up to offer it to the mounting points.

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by johnv on Mar 3^rd, 2005, 1:24pm

the trouble is these kids can run so fast nowadays.
So what you going to do next time, just carry on slowing a little bit and let them take what coming to them. still they mignt cause even more damage on the front.
The trouble is we all know that if we see a cat or even a rabbit we hit the brakes. natual reaction. we act tough and say we won't but when it happens we tend to.
I had occasion to go after 5 boys who where playing truant from school, and trying to set light to a block of garages in a housing association flats.
So I went just for one, just that one left all the others and marched him back to the school where the Headmester was I was told to busy to see me because he was in a meeting to discuss his and the other teachers pay rises.
So I called the police and they soon broke up the meeting and got him out.

Title: Re: VW Bora ran into my behind!
Post by JohnJ on Mar 3^rd, 2005, 1:29pm

Bloo dy kids, wreck everything, if not accidently then on purpose!!!!!!! >:(