I thought you might be interested in my dealing with an insurance company who insured my Eunos. I recently had a crash in my eunos (J-1992). A lorry hit the side at 20mph and badly dented the front wing/door/rear wing. No other structural damage - basically a new door and panel job. The car cost me 8000 a year ago (from a garage). It is in excellent condition - a lovely car. The insurance company contacted a local garage who towed the car in. An independent engineer looked at the car and said it would be written off as it was a Japanese import (parts cost) - he said if it were an identical MX5 it would have been repaired.

The insurance company offered me 6400, with a quoted 'scrap' value of 2000. I have accepted - I will keep the car and accept a 4400 cheque. I have sourced second-hand parts and had an estimate for fitting/respray etc from my local garage. Total repair cost 1500.

So, on the one hand I am 2900 in pocket. On the other hand I have a car which a search will show was written off. I am amazed at the insurance company though - they just couldn't be bothered with the problem of obtaining so-called special Japanese parts - they would rather pay up and walk away. (11/99)

I will detail the procedure as I have observed it for a Eunos involved in an accident.

1. the insurance company will get the car taken to their recommended repair garage. This will not be the cheapest option available for repair!
2. an independent engineer will examine the car and cost the repair using all new Japanese imported parts. He will add cost for the hassle factor for the repairing garage
3. this bill will almost certainly be astronomical. In my case to fit new door, front wing, rear wing, respray new parts, check car over etc etc the estimated repair cost was 5400!!! No, that is not a typo.
4. the insurance company will not want to know - a J or K-reg imported japanese vehicle - 5400 repair bill. no way - they will write the car off without a moments hesitation.
5. they will offer you market price for the car. In my case, for an immaculate 1992 J-reg 1600 eunos with hard top they offered me 6400. They said it was 20% below the Glasses guide for an equivalent MX5 as the Eunos is not listed in Glasses.
6. they will then put your car on a widely circulated 'scrap' list asking dealers to bid for your car.
7. You can keep the car provided you meed the highest bid. The highest bid in my case was 2010.
8. I elected to keep the car and recieve 6400-2010 = 4390 cheque.
9. You now have your car and some money. You will find if you source second-hand imported bits from the places mentioned in this list you can have the car repaired locally MUCH MUCH MUCH cheaper.
10. the car is still a write off. You have to have it re- MOT'd and then send the new MOT with log book and insurance to DVLC to get the car re-instated.
11. I have not yet had a definite answer to the insurance question - do you have to notify the new insurance company that the car was written off and repaired. Some people say as long as it is roadworthy it is irrelevant. Some people say your new insurance company will want an independent inspection. All I can say is my broker re-insured my car with a new company (Norwich Union) for a lot less money that the original insurance company was quoting even though it had been written off. (11/99)