Extensive hail damage

[nicandlance]

My tsi is just over a month old and has been extensively damaged by yesterdays hail storm in Melbourne. Huge hailstones have smashed the windscreen, damaged the bonnet, roof area, passenger door and rear corner panel. Bonnet and roof have sustained the worst with the surface looking like a golfball. Divets every 2-3 cm.
I am comprehensively insured, but am worried it won't be will be deemed a write-off. If it is, AAMI will replace the car for a new one, but the last thing I want is a brand new car with 4 non original panels. I could just cry!!!
Does anyone have any experience in this area and does anyone know whether the insurers are likely to try and repair the car instead of replace???

[NJAY87]

Hey Nic

I'm not far off from where you live and i guess i got lucky as soon as it started hailing, i quickly drove home and parked the R32 inside the garage luckily escaping damage !

Having worked in insurance previously but for another insurer, judging by what you have outlined, i have a strong feeling that the car will be written off as a repairable write off. Not sure about AAMI's policy but with the company i was with, if a brand new car is written off within the first two years of insurance, you have the choice of it being replaced with the exact same model or the closest match including all on road costs and it will obviously be brand new. You may also have the option of being paid out but you might want to check with AAMI. In some instances the insurer is unable to find you exact same match in which case you would get lucky and the next model up, perhaps a GTI

Hope that is of any help and if you have an other questions feel free to ask!!

[GoLfMan]

thats a real shame.

I got my car in the car port quick smart. It was a funny sight with 2 cars under a 1 car car port i tell you! That weather was intense!

[WhiteJames]

Sounds like nothing that a good 'dint buster' couldn't roll out.

No need for new panels with panel shop spray paint job creating a disparity in paint texture & thickness. Generally, the White VW paint has an orange peel texture, which would be difficult to replicate from a panel shop spray paint.

I had someone land a good fist four times into the bonnet of my GTI. Dint Buster simply rolled them out with no spray painting. Only thing that was replaced was bonnet clips. The bonnet was not even removed. Can't tell any difference from pre-malicious damage bonnet. These guys work miracles.

Requirement for rolling out dints is that dint has to be a depression into the panel, which is what all your hail damged dints should be.

Only other thing you'd require is new windscreen. Hopefully no water damage.

Cheers.
WJ

[MurphyTheElf]

.... and a healthy little kickback for the dealership. Wink wink.

Seriously though, I bought the VW insurance because it offered the best price/feature balance. Under-30 turbo owners might be out of luck though.

[Driven Threads]

My tsi is just over a month old and has been extensively damaged by yesterdays hail storm in Melbourne. Huge hailstones have smashed the windscreen, damaged the bonnet, roof area, passenger door and rear corner panel. Bonnet and roof have sustained the worst with the surface looking like a golfball. Divets every 2-3 cm.
I am comprehensively insured, but am worried it won't be will be deemed a write-off. If it is, AAMI will replace the car for a new one, but the last thing I want is a brand new car with 4 non original panels. I could just cry!!!
Does anyone have any experience in this area and does anyone know whether the insurers are likely to try and repair the car instead of replace???

Sorry to hear this news. Such bad luck. I heard Rowville was one of the worst hit suburbs. Sure was a freak storm. Best of luck with repairs etc.

[nicandlance]

I really don't want the repairs.... I'm hoping they write it off and replace it like they keep spouting on their ads. I'm of the firm belief that a car is never the same once panels are replaced etc... Who wants a month old car with 4 replacement panels? Not me....
The roof is bombarded with pelt marks and so is the bonnet.

Guess I'll just have to wait and see....

[G-rig]

Sorry to hear the news, hopefully gets sorted soon.

Hail damage looks bad but would be easily fixed these days, and a lot better than having a crash etc.

Hopefully it is a write off anyway.

[Highlander]

Sounds like nothing that a good 'dint buster' couldn't roll out.

No need for new panels with panel shop spray paint job creating a disparity in paint texture & thickness. Generally, the White VW paint has an orange peel texture, which would be difficult to replicate from a panel shop spray paint.

I had someone land a good fist four times into the bonnet of my GTI. Dint Buster simply rolled them out with no spray painting. Only thing that was replaced was bonnet clips. The bonnet was not even removed. Can't tell any difference from pre-malicious damage bonnet. These guys work miracles.

Requirement for rolling out dints is that dint has to be a depression into the panel, which is what all your hail damged dints should be.

Only other thing you'd require is new windscreen. Hopefully no water damage.

Cheers.
WJ

This hail was so intense it collapsed part of the roof on Docklands stadium. Even praying to Mother Mary McKillop won't help repair the hail damage in Melbourne yesterday and she has more pulling power in the miracle area than dint busters.

[Highlander]

I really don't want the repairs.... I'm hoping they write it off and replace it like they keep spouting on their ads. I'm of the firm belief that a car is never the same once panels are replaced etc... Who wants a month old car with 4 replacement panels? Not me....
The roof is bombarded with pelt marks and so is the bonnet.

Guess I'll just have to wait and see....

I feel for you, especially after the wait for your car in the first place.

If they do classify it as a repairable write off, maybe you can negotiate to keep it until your replacement arrives if there is not a similarly specced vehicle available in the reasonable future.

Quick Nic. Stick some GTI badges on it before the assessor arrives

On another note, Every cloud has a silver lining. It AAMI decide to replace it you will know exactly where to go for a window tint.

Keep on smiling even though it must be hard.