Ok so who used their white E89 as a submarine?

[GP06Roadster]

I had to go and pick up the wife's Golf from Rye Street coachworks in Bishops Stortford today.

Guy at the desk says that they've had had 5 cars towed in over the past 24hours where people have tried to drive through flood water. He says "our driver jumped in a Z4 in the dark to release the handbrake and the seats were sodden!!" Definitely written off he added

Sitting in the pound on the way out was a very sad looking E89 in white, hopefully not a member here!

 

[dr_john]

not me!

 

[MickJ]

Not me!

 

[Dexter_Morgan]

Maybe the owner was thinking along the lines of this:



But forgot to put the roof up

 

[andysat]

 

[buzyg]

Oh dear

 

[Carol M]

 

[Napastar]

I manage motor claims for a large insurer and I never cease to be amazed at the number of people who admit that when faced with a large area of water, still try and drive through it when they dont know how deep it is.

If a car is caught up in a flash flood Ive endless sympathy for anyone in that situation, but why on earth would you gamble in driving you car through water that has the potential to write your car off.

 

[kat]

definitely not me, mines red!

 

[pvr]

definitely not me, mines red!

… and not an E89

 

[TitanTim]

I manage motor claims for a large insurer and I never cease to be amazed at the number of people who admit that when faced with a large area of water, still try and drive through it when they dont know how deep it is.

If a car is caught up in a flash flood Ive endless sympathy for anyone in that situation, but why on earth would you gamble in driving you car through water that has the potential to write your car off.

I think people just don't understand the risks, normally if I can't see the curbs each side of a flooded road or it looks dodgy then its time to turn back, its not just the depth but debris and potential open drain covers. It gets me also how people drive through floodwater at speed. I think many are just plain daft.

Tim.

 

[Carol M]

I had to go and pick up the wife's Golf from Rye Street coachworks in Bishops Stortford today.

Guy at the desk says that they've had had 5 cars towed in over the past 24hours where people have tried to drive through flood water. He says "our driver jumped in a Z4 in the dark to release the handbrake and the seats were sodden!!" Definitely written off he added

Sitting in the pound on the way out was a very sad looking E89 in white, hopefully not a member here!

Don't forget some people may not have a choice depending on where they live or circumstances.
They may have thought they can make it and if it's an emergency you'd do it.

 

[The hairy angler]

I manage motor claims for a large insurer and I never cease to be amazed at the number of people who admit that when faced with a large area of water, still try and drive through it when they dont know how deep it is.

If a car is caught up in a flash flood Ive endless sympathy for anyone in that situation, but why on earth would you gamble in driving you car through water that has the potential to write your car off.

I think people just don't understand the risks, normally if I can't see the curbs each side of a flooded road or it looks dodgy then its time to turn back, its not just the depth but debris and potential open drain covers. It gets me also how people drive through floodwater at speed. I think many are just plain daft.

Tim.

Week before last I had a hairy moment in my Z4.Long stretch of road with traffic lights on an island (literally) The lights were situated in a slight dip and the road was flooded for about 20 yds either side. water looked to be about 6'' deep running off the side of a mountain and pooling in the depression.No obvious other route. Cars were driving cautiously through keeping at least a 5yd gap.
I started through, keeping as close as I could to centre of road . Had almost reached the lights (deepest area of water) when a Range Rover came down the slope from the opposite direction and thundered straight through, waving cheerfully at me as he did it. Huge wave of water as he passed. what a total TOSSER. At that moment I would cheerfully have trashed his car!! I was wishing for an open manhole to wipe the smile off his face! Luckily the car survived but I would not want to repeat the experience. One gulp of water in the air intake and the car would have been toast. Will think very carefully if I see standing water like that again.

 

[Napastar]

I had to go and pick up the wife's Golf from Rye Street coachworks in Bishops Stortford today.

Guy at the desk says that they've had had 5 cars towed in over the past 24hours where people have tried to drive through flood water. He says "our driver jumped in a Z4 in the dark to release the handbrake and the seats were sodden!!" Definitely written off he added

Sitting in the pound on the way out was a very sad looking E89 in white, hopefully not a member here!

Don't forget some people may not have a choice depending on where they live or circumstances.
They may have thought they can make it and if it's an emergency you'd do it.

Your right Carol that in very rare cases people may have no choice, but how many people do you know that have only one route as a means of access. For the vast majority of cases that my teams deal with, customers have had a choice, it may have meant adding some extra time and distance to their journey, but they did have a choice - most simply risk it, then complain that there No Claims is lost when we have paid out thousands because they took the gmable and lost.

 

[TitanTim]

One thing to bear in mind which I didn't realise is if you do get stranded in flood water then your breakdown assistance won't help you or will want an additional recovery fee. I think the AA were charging £130 ontop of your normal membership fee I'm guessing this is because the car was fine until you decided to swim

Tim.

 

[Oakandacorns]

I had to go and pick up the wife's Golf from Rye Street coachworks in Bishops Stortford today.

Guy at the desk says that they've had had 5 cars towed in over the past 24hours where people have tried to drive through flood water. He says "our driver jumped in a Z4 in the dark to release the handbrake and the seats were sodden!!" Definitely written off he added

Sitting in the pound on the way out was a very sad looking E89 in white, hopefully not a member here!

Don't forget some people may not have a choice depending on where they live or circumstances.
They may have thought they can make it and if it's an emergency you'd do it.

Your right Carol that in very rare cases people may have no choice, but how many people do you know that have only one route as a means of access. For the vast majority of cases that my teams deal with, customers have had a choice, it may have meant adding some extra time and distance to their journey, but they did have a choice - most simply risk it, then complain that there No Claims is lost when we have paid out thousands because they took the gmable and lost.

Napastar, people can claim damage from driving through water through insurance? Guess it comes under accidental.

 

[Napastar]

Oakandacorns

Yes its does come under accidental damage as we take the view that no one would drive through the water if they knew for sure that it would write the vehicle off.

To be honest I have more sympathy for these customers than i do for those involved in accidents when over the limit yet we still insure this as a risk ( Although a few companies are starting to refuse own damage cover for those over the limit ie they will still pay the 3rd party but not cover the costs of their own insured if he or she is over the limit)

 

[Napastar]

Oakandacorns

Yes its does come under accidental damage as we take the view that no one would drive through the water if they knew for sure that it would write the vehicle off.

To be honest I have more sympathy for these customers than i do for those involved in accidents when over the drink drive limit yet we still insure this as a risk ( Although a few companies are starting to refuse own damage cover for those over the limit ie they will still pay the 3rd party but not cover the costs of their own insured if he or she is over the limit)

 

[Oakandacorns]

Oakandacorns

Yes its does come under accidental damage as we take the view that no one would drive through the water if they knew for sure that it would write the vehicle off.

To be honest I have more sympathy for these customers than i do for those involved in accidents when over the limit yet we still insure this as a risk ( Although a few companies are starting to refuse own damage cover for those over the limit ie they will still pay the 3rd party but not cover the costs of their own insured if he or she is over the limit)

Hi Napastar , ah thanks for the info. And agree I don't think someone would go through if they thought for one second it would write off their vehicle.

The drink thing and no own damage cover, I think I remember seeing in my policy for a few years that being under the influence of drugs rendered the cover void (maybe I misrembered and it included drink too, can't remember off the top of my head).

 

[Angie4m]

The drink thing and no own damage cover, I think I remember seeing in my policy for a few years that being under the influence of drugs rendered the cover void (maybe I misrembered and it included drink too, can't remember off the top of my head).

Correct! Just like your not covered if your car is stolen using the keys you left in the car as some people seem to do. If you phone to do a renewal or quote then this information is also quoted verbally over the phone.