Sorry Baby Roo!!!!!!!!

[Michelle]

I am really sorry to report that I smashed my beloved Baby Roo this morning, with devasting effect! I was rushing to drop my daughter to school (as she missed the bus) and hadn't let the car warm up enough. As I drove just round the bend of my road the low sun blinded me, what with an already condensed windscreen as well. I put up my arm to quickly try to clear it so I could pull over and do it properly but it was too late - I hit a parked VW Beetle (new shape)! The beetle only has minor damage but my poor car is now a total write off. First though was oh f**k what have I done, this is going to cost a fortune, my poor car. But on closer inspection it was - "God how we are not injured" and how much damage was caused to my car at such a low speed (about 15mph) we are lucky I wasn't going faster!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/michellepat12345/09110008.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/michellepat12345/09110009.jpg

[Minus Man]

Don't worry my love you and taylor are ok and that all that matters. sorry roo

[Tommy Cooper]

oh my .. spiritual object

Not a good month for BMC owners and crashes! I'm off work getting over an illness.. think i will stay in until 2007 and not drive! A large Merc nearly took me out the other day at a roundabout he didnt look at all - wish I had airhorns as even 60 seconds on my rover horn wasn't satisfying enough!

Glad your ok.. you say write off but you mean a bit of a wreck surely? Looks like "just" 4 panels a grille and paintwork.. did you bend some more important parts as well ?

[RNRMF]

As said, as long as you are all OK - bits of metal and glass can be replaced, people can't.

Shame though, Roo was looking good. Looks repairable though, now if only we had a good bodyshop round here...

[Tommy Cooper]

errmm can't resist this one..........

But Roo does seem to have grown a trunk at the front there....

[bryn]

michelle,
i'm glad you and taylor are alright!! looks mighty messy for 15mph crash!
bryn

[Kevin]

Oh no - glad you two are ok though. i can't believe the amount of damage at that slow speed!! guess thats one of the down sides of having a mini!

So are you scrapping it or repairing??

[OldYellowMiniPhil]

Good job at 15mph! :) Seriously though I'm glad you're all ok.

[Iceman]

Can't believe the mess for 15 mph anyway glad you and Taylor were ok and it wasn't any faster.
FAZ

[Michelle]

Its a total write off we think. The impact has caused the bulkhead to be pushed into the car, resulting in the steering column moving over, the inner panels pushing into the passenger side footwell and the whole front of the car shunting into the doors. So from the doors forward it would need a whole new front, radiator burst, don't know about the engine. However we are both fine and a car can ultimately be replaced. Pat's already on ebay looking at new ones - heartless my husband!

[Minus Man]

Out with the old in with the new.lol

[Tommy Cooper]

oh no !

still a good excuse for PAt to get something a little .... err slower .. top speed 10mph :cool:

[Tommy Cooper]

Pat: have looked up some local ones...

how about this nice little cooper:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=013&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=230053839223&rd=1&rd=1

or if you want something older:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1966-AUSTIN-MINI-GREEN-CLASSIC-BARGAIN_W0QQitemZ320051299600QQihZ011QQcategoryZ38 708QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

or a minty one :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUSTIN-MORRIS-MINI-1000-JAVA-GREEN-STAGE-1-KIT_W0QQitemZ140054945389QQihZ004QQcategoryZ38708Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Michelle]

We've got the second two on watching. I don't fancy the first one - i'm more a heritage kind of girl than a sporty one. I don't really want to even look at the moment, i'd rather wait and see what the insurance verdict on Roo is. Although I did pay out for an agreed valuation when she was restored so there shouldn't be any dispute about her value.

[Dave]

Mine got wrote off doing less then 15mph :( But atleast you are both ok!

[Tommy Cooper]

good job you had an agreed valuation done !

I could say its just a car..... but it's not I can imagine how sick to the stomach you are....

[t boy]

at least you are ok

[mini minx]

glad you and taylor are both ok .

[Auntie Mini]

Glad you are both ok, well watch out BMC members 2 of us have crashed in the last week and they say these things come in 3's, be safe everyone:) . Like i said glad you are both ok no doubt very shaken i know i was, but cars can be replaced!
Sam x

[MINI ME]

glad you two are ok, thats what matters!

[Kevin]

that second mini looks good

[t boy]

well watch out BMC members 2 of us have crashed in the last week and they say these things come in 3's,well i have no probs there my car is dead and less some one hits it out side my house

[Dave]

Buy my mini :)

[Michelle]

Sorry Dave its not quite my style. A bit boy racey for me! I want to wait until the insurance etc is sorted before I even think about buying another mini - however Pat isn't as patient!

[Tommy Cooper]

i like the second one... Id like to get a mini cooper in that shade of green with dark green leather interior

[Michelle]

Well she has gone.

A tow away lorry has just come and took my baby, probably never to be seen again.

[Tommy Cooper]

are you not allowed to even take any bits off her to reuse ?

Michelle can you email me a couple of large good pics of Baby Roo and a close up of the paint job on the boot as I want to make something fpr you

[Michelle]

Faz and Pat swopped the rocker cover and petrol cap back for the original ones and of course they removed the CB, stereo and speakers. However because I have an agreed valuation on the car - which includes the wheels, artwork on the boot and everything else I would be devaluing the car and possibly frauding the insurance if its not as specified. There are a load of photos on the "baby roo off road" thread in garage diaries if you want them. Quality probably isn't all that as my camera isn't that good. Thanks Colm - i'm intrigued now!

[RNRMF]

Theres also pics in the members cars section of the main website

[Auntie Mini]

oh Michelle im sorry!! I think i would cry, actually i would cry :(

[clubman brown]

blimey! that sucks about the wheels and bootlid!

im so sorry michelle, but glad everyone is ok!

we now hav you me ben steve and sam all with mini's out of action! they'll be none left soon! (please feel free to edit that list if there are any more i haven't mentioned!!!)

[Tommy Cooper]

could you trace where it goes to and buy the wheels and boot off the breaking company?

found some good pics of roo on here to do the job... have you got a close up of the airbrush artwork on the boot (finished + right way up)

[Tommy Cooper]

Pat see what you mean about the 1966 green mini .. its £1000 already and it sounds like it might need several hundred £££ just to get it on the road and through a MOT let alone in tip top condition

I still like the 1980s minty green one though :D

theres a black Mary Quant edition for sale in brighton...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1988-Austin-Mini-Mary-Quant-Designer_W0QQitemZ290053507684QQihZ019QQcategoryZ3 8708QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

and a nice mini 30 special

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mini-30-Special-Edition-thirty-years-of-Rover-Mini-Car_W0QQitemZ320053413820QQihZ011QQcategoryZ38708Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

BUY LOOK another TANGO edition mini .. FAz eat your heart out !

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Stunning-Mini-Vermiuion-1981_W0QQitemZ220051854406QQihZ012QQcategoryZ38708 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Tania]

Haven't been on the site for ages so just seen this - how sad, I know how you must be feeling - my last mini was set on fire - it is heartbreaking to seeing your pride and joy being towed away.

I'm glad you were okay - bit scary though to see the damage caused at such a slow speed.

[Michelle]

Have today spoken to the insurance company. Roo is a "categy B total loss" which aparently means there was main suspension damage and she now has to be totally crushed by a licenced salvage company! They have confirmed that as I had an agreed valuation when she was restored back in May I will get a cheque within the next week or so for the full insured amount of £3,000. So although I am obviously still gutted about what happened I know that I will have the funds to buy another half decent mini should I wish so. I am still not sure what sort I want. I would love a woody, round nose estate but they go for tons of money and are pretty rare, but I do like the more classic, older style look. Pat has his project cars, so I could just give him the money (as he paid for the work in the first place!) and let him get them done but I am not sure. Will think more about it once the cheque is in my hands.

[mikehippy666]

Glad you're ok.... even tho bobby is a mess right now i think id be gutted if he got any worse! Im just starting to get to grips with wot needs doing, and to be honest i find it quite daunting.... never ever done body work before!

[mikehippy666]

blimey! that sucks about the wheels and bootlid!

im so sorry michelle, but glad everyone is ok!

we now hav you me ben steve and sam all with mini's out of action! they'll be none left soon! (please feel free to edit that list if there are any more i haven't mentioned!!!)

Mines running... just! headlamps hotwired, bodywork newly dented, another one to sort out, rusty front, interior bit scruffy....

[Tommy Cooper]

Im sure Pat would love to get the cooper mk ii on the road with a 1275 (or bored out and bigger) on the road.

Found a 1979 mini special (italian job edition ?) on ebay for £1700

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MINI_W0QQitemZ110045282078QQihZ001QQcategoryZ18308 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

the only woody i could find was recovered from a barn !

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MINI-COUNTRYMAN-WOODY-ESTATE-TRAVELLER-FOR-RESTORATION_W0QQitemZ320057543648QQihZ011QQcategor yZ43122QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Michelle]

That woody is a rare find, hope someone restores it to its former glory.

Just to say a big thanks to Colm for my Baby Roo t-shirt as well. I now have a lovely reminder of her in better days. Thanks. xx

[Michelle]

Got my insurance cheque today - £2930.00 (£3K less £70 excess). So now Pat is itching at the bit to buy a new car, but I am willing to wait a while, until at least after xmas.

[MINI ME]

wait till you find 1 that catches your eye, cant wait till ya do.
MERRY XMAS TO YOU ALL :D

[RNRMF]

Yeah, wait until you find one you really like if you can.

It's a real shame Roo has gone but at least your insurance company have played fair.

[Michelle]

Yeah Daz, it was definitely to my advantage getting the agreed valuation on her when she was restored back in May. Thanks Faz for advising me about it. Shame Sam hasn't had such favourable news from the insurers - and we use the same company.

[Iceman]

Yeah so glad you got a good payout unfortunately at the loss of such a great car. But hopefully you will find a nice little gem and have many many happy years motoring.
FAZ

[Auntie Mini]

Theres a nice red cooper in my garden!! You can have it at a good price lol