Modern cars too valuable to write off?

[epbrown]

Rowan Atkinson has wrecked his McLaren F1 twice in the last 15 years:






It's generally felt that the car is simply too valuable to ever be written off. That happens with some older vintage cars (Ferrari 250s come to mind), but I'm thinking that with modern hypercars that's going to be more and more difficult to say, thanks to the exotic materials and construction used (carbon fiber tubs, aluminum frames, some are held together with exotic glues rather than welds). Taking a car back to the manufacturer (as Atkinson did) is one of the most expensive routes to go and won't always be possible. What else has been made in the last 20 years or so that would be rebuilt no matter what, because it will always be worth more than rebuild costs? Would it be worth rebuilding a similarly-damaged Veyron? Haven't some Enzos and Carrera GTs been written off already?

[widebody911]

Yup, he wrecked it alright...

[ZAMIRZ]

^Actually, that's incorrect.

The Mclaren F1s that get crashed actually go back to the factory to be completely refurbished and come out exactly like-new from the place they were originally built.

[Oracle]

The problem is that everyone else is paying the Rowan A. stupidity cause insurance is all about risk and probability.. so his payments will never equal the damage.. everyone else's fees are paying for the damage and when the insurance company reviews their numbers they just increase risk and probability so higher fees for everyone..
Then some companies have the "Accident forgiveness" after 5-9 yrs so probably the guys rate never increased! :-(

[EarlyPorsche]

You wouldn't write off a wonder car like that F1. That car is in a class of its own. A Veyron may be there but the Mclaren is very much collector car status and then some.

Now Mclaren gets to make a couple bucks again installing some nos parts like a tub!

[epbrown]

I seriously think the trend in carbon fiber tubs means most supercars built since the 90s will have the risk of being written-off. That means over time, collectors will be more leery of driving them, especially for competition, unlike what you see now with 50s and 60s Ferraris and Lamborghinis. For example, can Ferrari still replace an F40/F50 tub?

[ckissick]

Was he racing this car?

[ZAMIRZ]

Originally Posted by epbrown

I seriously think the trend in carbon fiber tubs means most supercars built since the 90s will have the risk of being written-off. That means over time, collectors will be more leery of driving them, especially for competition, unlike what you see now with 50s and 60s Ferraris and Lamborghinis. For example, can Ferrari still replace an F40/F50 tub?

Pretty sure F40 uses carbon fiber for the cabin and body panels, but is actually an aluminum spaceframe, so there shouldn't be any major safety issues there.

But you are right, what's going to happen when these tubs "timeout"? They are composites after-all...are we going to see "vintage" Ferrari Enzos in 50 years being driven in classic rallies on their original tubs when suddenly the back half of the car falls off?

I know a tub for a Carrera GT runs around $130,000 + labor to move everything over (+ whatever one-time-use pieces you'll have to replace). But are they stacked up in a warehouse somewhere or made-to-order...???

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by ZAMIRZ

Pretty sure F40 uses carbon fiber for the cabin and body panels, but is actually an aluminum spaceframe, so there shouldn't be any major safety issues there.

But you are right, what's going to happen when these tubs "timeout"? They are composites after-all...are we going to see "vintage" Ferrari Enzos in 50 years being driven in classic rallies on their original tubs when suddenly the back half of the car falls off?

I know a tub for a Carrera GT runs around $130,000 + labor to move everything over (+ whatever one-time-use pieces you'll have to replace). But are they stacked up in a warehouse somewhere or made-to-order...???

FYI, the Enzo Ferrari that got wrapped around a telephone pole at speed in California, Ferrari offered to rebuild it.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by ZAMIRZ

^Actually, that's incorrect.

The Mclaren F1s that get crashed actually go back to the factory to be completely refurbished and come out exactly like-new from the place they were originally built.

That sounds like a really good reason to (or have someone ) crash your Mclaren.

[sc_rufctr]

I was thinking about this thread yesterday.... What about a 73RS?

Not so modern but surely valuable enough to repair even if a new tub is needed.
Assuming you can even get a new tub.

[gtc]

Many of the written-off Carrera GTs and Enzos are repaired.

[ZLP]

Originally Posted by EarlyPorsche

You wouldn't write off a wonder car like that F1. That car is in a class of its own. A Veyron may be there but the Mclaren is very much collector car status and then some.

Now Mclaren gets to make a couple bucks again installing some nos parts like a tub!

The F1 is twice the cost of a Veyron as well...

[porsche4life]

So essentially you buy a new one, not get the old one repaired.... I mean how much of the original car is left?

[john70t]

Grandfathers hammer.
Only had to replace the handle five times and the head once.

[gtc]

Here's an example:
Composite Repair CGT - Rennlist Discussion Forums

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Oracle

The problem is that everyone else is paying the Rowan A. stupidity cause insurance is all about risk and probability.. so his payments will never equal the damage.. (

Do anyone's payments equal the damage? And if they are expected to, what's the point of insurance? You may as well just pay for the damage when you f-up.

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Do anyone's payments equal the damage? And if they are expected to, what's the point of insurance? You may as well just pay for the damage when you f-up.

Damage is the least of it. If you are the cause of an accident where someone is seriously injured or killed you would be wiped out financially and never recover without insurance.

[pwd72s]

Ahhh, the problems of the rich...wish I had them. (not really)

[Oracle]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Do anyone's payments equal the damage? And if they are expected to, what's the point of insurance? You may as well just pay for the damage when you f-up.

Yes and no.. Under a Gaussian bell ~80% will pay more than damage in a lifetime (this is profit for insurance companies) and the ~20% is the opposite so the insurance companies will make whatever changes to your policy, contract, agreements to keep revenue under control.