First, sorry I've not been on here much lately and not being very active. nothing personal I just haven't given the forum a lot of thought lately unless I got an email notification. I still love it here.

 

 

Anyway,

Although some of you who I talk to in none forum life already know, most don't so I thought it was time to tell people that I've crashed my black zed which I've had for years and years. It happened at the end of August.

 

I've not hit anyone else, just some railings at around 20-25mph. I'm completely fine etc etc, just gutted lol. As to what happened, if I'm completely honest, I'm not really sure, my attention was distracted for a quick second but my steering wheel kind of spun to the left. I believe it could have been the steering arm (which I knew was rotten and a little bent as I actually had the replacements for both side on my table to be done the over the next few days) broke. The wheel anded up completely sideways and pushed back towards the sill.

 

The damage was pretty much the bumper, front wing, PACE intercooler and expansion tank. Most suspension components too (MeisterR coilover, knuckle broke, lower arm bent etc). Anyway, I've already bought all the replacement suspension bits and put it all back together etc. The Antera 309 alloy wheel was shattered into a few pieces too. These bits weren't really too much of an issue and I've got all that back together. I'm very doubtful on finding any PACE intercoolers like.

 

The main issues with the car are now the sill was pushed in, the battery tray was too so the battery is now a little cockeyed. There's also a hole between through to the engine bay where there was obviously some rot anyway. I spoke to a body shop and to be honest, they don't really want the job as it's not in an easy place to get to etc and where the welding needs doing (the hole) has the wiring loom right behind it. The car seems structurally sound in general.

 

 

I'd like to publicly say thank you to a couple of our well respected traders; Lee Dent and Jimmer Thomas. I'd honestly recommend both of these gentlemen for any needs you might have.

 

-Lee has been great with parts, advice and his opinion, he let me pop down to his place, cut a few panels, out of a scrap car he had and gave me the parts I needed at a very fair price IMO. He even fed me and has been generally very helpful in giving his thoughts. Thanks very much Lee.

 

-Jimmer contacted me directly after hearing from a mutual friend about the bump I'd had. He came forward to offer help and support where needed and has given me his valued opinion on my car and the damage. Thank you very much Jimmer.

 

 

At present, I really don't know what to do, whether to try and have the car fixed, buy a new shell or just not bother at all. I think after speak to Lee and Jimmer, I've come round to the fact that re-shelling would probably be the most sensible solution. I'm just a little torn due to how much I love my black zed and sadly it'll be hard to find another in the same GL1 black. I guess it's more important to get the most solid car I can and then have it painted really. I've spent so many thousands on the zed over time, I don't really want to give up, just lost a bit of heart in it I think.

 

Anyway, I'll maybe put up some photos later on.

 

Many thanks,

Lee

 

 

 

 

 

****

Worryingly I have the same patch of rust near where the control arms bolts to the car. Going to have to have that sorted asap. Sorry sight to see mate

Anything can be fixed but that looks bad mate and the rust worries me.

Yeah, I think the rust is why I'm thinking a new shell would be the better option.

Yeah, I think the rust is why I'm thinking a new shell would be the better option.

 

It would mate.

When I weigh things up, just might be more sensible with the arches bubbling slightly (very slightly), I'm thinking it's more work / money long term

Why don't you do what Dougal did: effectively strip the car to an absolute bare shell and make it as brand new as it can be?

 

It's about the only way I can think of that you're going to have a tip-top shell, mate.

Sorry to hear that Lee - and good luck in getting back into a Zed mate....:clover:

 

At least you weren't hurt and no-one else was involved...

 

Richard

this sucks really sorry to see this on the same day i get mine on the road to, very harsh indeed

Damn you guys have a rusting issue bad! Is it from the salt on roads or climate.

Edited September 29, 20169 yr by The_Ikon

Ouch!!

Damn you guys have a rusting issue bad! Is it from the salt on roads or climate.

 

Both. Wet salty rock where it's damp or raining 90% of the year and a government who's policy on the sight of frost is to throw sand and salt all over the roads.

Damn you guys have a rusting issue bad! Is it from the salt on roads or climate.

 

Salt on the roads is a big factor that is why some of us dont take our Z's out of the garage in Winter.

Damn you guys have a rusting issue bad! Is it from the salt on roads or climate.

 

Salt, lots of it gets thrown down in winter, even on days where there's barely a frost. It's quite a damp climate too and the fact that not everyone, unlike the US have the luxury of a garage. Many homes here do not have one. First and foremost decision for me when buying a house 'does it have a garage'....a single one at that! I'd love to have a 2 car garage though!

Indeed your right Si, in fact quite a few people these days seem to be converting there garage. It seems the garage isn't a priority thing most people. Apparently it's just a junk room so I'm told. Shame really. It's bloody hard to find a house with a garage round here.

Indeed your right Si, in fact quite a few people these days seem to be converting there garage. It seems the garage isn't a priority thing most people. Apparently it's just a junk room so I'm told. Shame really. It's bloody hard to find a house with a garage round here.

 

What I find infuriating is when looking at houses for sale there is never a picture of the inside of the garage sometimes not even the dimensions are given!

What I find infuriating is when looking at houses for sale there is never a picture of the inside of the garage sometimes not even the dimensions are given!

 

Me and my girlfriend just bought my first house (yesterday actually!), and out of the must be nearly 100 adverts I looked at I didn't see one single picture of the inside of a garage. Most barely had any dedicated pictures of the garage at all, unless it was something special. I would say most had the garage dimensions, but not all certainly. You're right, people just don't care and to be honest if you're not into cars then I can see why, they do take up a lot of room.

 

But our new one has side access with pleeenty of room for a nice big double, can't wait to get my zed out from underneath the trees outside my parents house and in where it's dry! :punk::punk::punk::punk:

Me and my girlfriend just bought my first house (yesterday actually!), and out of the must be nearly 100 adverts I looked at I didn't see one single picture of the inside of a garage. Most barely had any dedicated pictures of the garage at all, unless it was something special. I would say most had the garage dimensions, but not all certainly. You're right, people just don't care and to be honest if you're not into cars then I can see why, they do take up a lot of room.

 

But our new one has side access with pleeenty of room for a nice big double, can't wait to get my zed out from underneath the trees outside my parents house and in where it's dry! :punk::punk::punk::punk:

 

Well done mate, great feeling isn't it. Wish I'd had got one with this house, unfortunately there just weren't any in our price bracket that had the other things we wanted. As you know it's a fight to get a house these days, you generally have to compromise pretty heavily.

What I find infuriating is when looking at houses for sale there is never a picture of the inside of the garage sometimes not even the dimensions are given!

 

The hilarious one is the way houses are advertised, the amount we looked at in greater detail only to find they weren't at all what was described. Off road parking is a favourite, a postage stamp you'd have to park a smart car sideways on to fit is not off road parking!

If men designed houses...

 

If men designed houses...

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]101528[/ATTACH]

 

My type of house :thumbup:

You guys haven't seen OllieZX's garage!

You guys haven't seen OllieZX's garage!

 

You gonna shoe us