My V8V chasis (tubs) were damaged at Firestone
#76
06-10-2016, 07:49 AM
It's definitely better and safer to use Stuart's jack pads. I have a set myself, but can't use them because they're made for jacks with a wider jack pad than my decade-old super-crappy Craftsman jack you see in that video Cattman posted. (Yes, a new one is on my list but I'm dumping all my money into other things at the moment.)
Everyone has a different opinion on why we like cars. Yes, Astons are amazing, they're art, yadda yadda. But it's still a car and most cars share a fundamental similarity in certain respects. Something as straight-forward as changing the tires isn't any different on one car vs another (with a few exceptions, like putting super-low-profile tires on donk wheels). This just happened to be one of those "learn the hard way" moments.
Based on your post, you'd probably **** a brick if you saw what I put my Aston through. I abuse it. I beat on it, rag it out, slide it sideways, hell I even threw it into the grass during a track day. They're artwork. They're sports cars. And, most simply, they're automobiles.
And despite your hostility, the rest of us have learned something from his unfortunate experience. So he doesn't need good luck with his next Aston - he's already shared it with the rest of us.
Sorry you had this experience :/. Sounds like you got out from it okay at least........
In my mind though while reading this thread:
Good job destroying the piece of art that was once your vehicle. Sorry not trying to cause a fight, but wow. I mean it's not like Aston made a ton of these vehicles and you just killed it. Many would be very grateful to even have one of these cars and due to your careless actions you ruined it. I'm reading this thread and I love how you then tell everyone else after you collected the insurance payout to take it to a dealership........ How about you just find a good mechanic that works on exotics. And even if it's a Aston Master Mechanic you watch him and point out the jack points. I mean unless you're living in the woods I'm sure that with some effort a shop would have been found. If you couldn't find one then tow it somewhere or learn how to do it yourself.
It's an Aston Martin for goodness sake! It's not a bmw it's not a merc or a toyota or a nissan or..you get it. Why would you pick a firestone? I mean what were you doing while they were jacking it up? You never told the guys 25 times over not to lift it by any spots but these (show them) or to take the manual out and at least show them from the book. You let them jack it up without knowing where to jack the car up by?? You know all these exotic cars have special jack points, right?! Clearly this was just a "car" for you. Which is a shame since it's really a sculpture on wheels. Sorry guys, honestly this is just the worst thread I've read here. I hope you don't buy another one as you didn't care about this car and you surely won't care about the next one. This is why the insurance rates are so high for these cars because of this. Tragic really.
Anyway, enough internal monologue. Good luck on you're next Aston Martin!
In my mind though while reading this thread:
Good job destroying the piece of art that was once your vehicle. Sorry not trying to cause a fight, but wow. I mean it's not like Aston made a ton of these vehicles and you just killed it. Many would be very grateful to even have one of these cars and due to your careless actions you ruined it. I'm reading this thread and I love how you then tell everyone else after you collected the insurance payout to take it to a dealership........ How about you just find a good mechanic that works on exotics. And even if it's a Aston Master Mechanic you watch him and point out the jack points. I mean unless you're living in the woods I'm sure that with some effort a shop would have been found. If you couldn't find one then tow it somewhere or learn how to do it yourself.
It's an Aston Martin for goodness sake! It's not a bmw it's not a merc or a toyota or a nissan or..you get it. Why would you pick a firestone? I mean what were you doing while they were jacking it up? You never told the guys 25 times over not to lift it by any spots but these (show them) or to take the manual out and at least show them from the book. You let them jack it up without knowing where to jack the car up by?? You know all these exotic cars have special jack points, right?! Clearly this was just a "car" for you. Which is a shame since it's really a sculpture on wheels. Sorry guys, honestly this is just the worst thread I've read here. I hope you don't buy another one as you didn't care about this car and you surely won't care about the next one. This is why the insurance rates are so high for these cars because of this. Tragic really.
Anyway, enough internal monologue. Good luck on you're next Aston Martin!
Based on your post, you'd probably **** a brick if you saw what I put my Aston through. I abuse it. I beat on it, rag it out, slide it sideways, hell I even threw it into the grass during a track day. They're artwork. They're sports cars. And, most simply, they're automobiles.
And despite your hostility, the rest of us have learned something from his unfortunate experience. So he doesn't need good luck with his next Aston - he's already shared it with the rest of us.
#77
06-10-2016, 08:26 AM
Firestone has been extremely difficult to work with so far. They did not once offer a rental vehicle until after the total loss was declared, which does not make any sense to me. I will be seeking a claim for Loss of Use compensation for the entire time the vehicle was unavailable to me (about a month). At this time, they are denying that as well, claiming they do not pay such compensation. However, after seeking legal advice, I was told that this was the law. My insurance company (State Farm) confirmed with me that this was certainly in my rights to claim against Firestone.
Double thumbs down against Firestone.
Double thumbs down against Firestone.
Like I said, lawyering up is a good thing in these situations.
Loss of use based on payments, insurance, registration, etc. Loss of value. Out of pocket expenses. There's plenty you do put into it.
In my case, I was initially offered $14xx for compensation (not including actual repairs). After months of back and forth, it eventually went up to $19xx. I sued the driver, annihilated his lawyer in court, and was awarded more than I sued for. We ended up settling after judgment so it wouldn't return to court and continue to be dragged out, but my payout was just above the 5-figure mark. So there's that.
Last edited by telum01; 06-10-2016 at 08:30 AM.
#78
06-27-2016, 02:02 AM
I only saw this story now. My car has got some damage in the same spot. Not so severe. I knew about the damage before I bought the car. I had it checked out by a alignment machine for the wheels. The aluminium struts were only dented and the tub itself is still straight. Where the struts are glued to the underside is no dents. My car run straight. Tyres worn off evenly.
I can not tell anybody that it is only small damage. Every owner feel about his car the way he feels. Sorry for the loss, however I would have kept the car, or buy it back from the insurance.
I can not tell anybody that it is only small damage. Every owner feel about his car the way he feels. Sorry for the loss, however I would have kept the car, or buy it back from the insurance.
#79
06-27-2016, 07:22 AM
I only saw this story now. My car has got some damage in the same spot. Not so severe. I knew about the damage before I bought the car. I had it checked out by a alignment machine for the wheels. The aluminium struts were only dented and the tub itself is still straight. Where the struts are glued to the underside is no dents. My car run straight. Tyres worn off evenly.
I can not tell anybody that it is only small damage. Every owner feel about his car the way he feels. Sorry for the loss, however I would have kept the car, or buy it back from the insurance.
I can not tell anybody that it is only small damage. Every owner feel about his car the way he feels. Sorry for the loss, however I would have kept the car, or buy it back from the insurance.
#81
06-27-2016, 10:23 AM
On the other hand... It is a lot of fun to shop for a new car, especially if someone else is paying for it.
#82
06-27-2016, 10:37 AM
I had an old Chevy Monte Carlo that got hit by a drunk driver. The car was smashed all the way to the firewall. They let me buy the car back. It was certainly not safe!
Me, too. If I was really worried about it I would bond a strip of aluminum over the length of the dented rails and call it a day. Make Firestone pay for it plus a few bucks for my troubles.
On the other hand... It is a lot of fun to shop for a new car, especially if someone else is paying for it.
Me, too. If I was really worried about it I would bond a strip of aluminum over the length of the dented rails and call it a day. Make Firestone pay for it plus a few bucks for my troubles.
On the other hand... It is a lot of fun to shop for a new car, especially if someone else is paying for it.
then consider that the dents in the aluminium were put in slowly by the rising jack and not high impact..If i used this thinking we would write off every Helicopter that gets a dent in its monocok deeper than 20mm
#83
06-28-2016, 12:47 AM
I understand that different countries have different laws. Me and Greg in South Africa would keep it. I am no Aston Martin trained engineer and this is my opinion. "I do not for one moment think that that car is unsafe." Still go on with the claim get a new car and keep the old one. I looked at my car again i can if i want to probably drill holes in the dent and pull it out with a sliding hammer and weld the holes shut and polish the weld marks and sand blast the beams. No one will ever know.
#84
06-28-2016, 07:27 AM
I'm no engineer either -- I bet the car is safe to drive. But it's probably not safe to crash, and I suspect that's the real issue. Occupant protection and all that.
I've seen pictures of some pretty banged up Astons and I'm always amazed at how well the cabin remains intact. This car might not fare so well?
I've seen pictures of some pretty banged up Astons and I'm always amazed at how well the cabin remains intact. This car might not fare so well?
#85
06-28-2016, 01:03 PM
I just read through this whole thread and all I can say is WOW! I've only had my AM for a couple of months and had it up twice on jack-stands. I actually found this forum searching for the proper jack-points. I use low profile jacks and hockey pucks.
Very informative but a little alarming that the frame is so susceptible to destruction in this manner.
Very informative but a little alarming that the frame is so susceptible to destruction in this manner.
#86
06-29-2016, 12:06 PM
I was at my local AM dealer recently, and asked them about this, and they took to the back where they had a few cars up on lifts, and showed me that two of them had the same damage, perhaps less severe. They said they see this on many, many cars, and were shocked to hear that someone deemed that a danger.
CATTMAN
CATTMAN
#87
06-30-2016, 12:57 AM
Good day All
Cattman I agree wioth you and the AM Dealer. I look at it like this: If the floorboard right above the beam is still straight is will be OK. The crash area is way in front by the engine. So in a collision that part with the damage is not part of the crumble zone.
However the poor car owner is cross because they damaged his car. That we all understand.
Sometimes people will think this Aston Owner is a pain in the ***. When it comes to changing tyres or balancing , because I am all over them. They must understand it is my car and I will look to make sure you do not damage it. I think the owners should take a orange sticker about 2" diameter and stuck it under the car at the jacking points. Then you can tell the people to find the orange sticker.And that is where the jack goes!!
Cattman I agree wioth you and the AM Dealer. I look at it like this: If the floorboard right above the beam is still straight is will be OK. The crash area is way in front by the engine. So in a collision that part with the damage is not part of the crumble zone.
However the poor car owner is cross because they damaged his car. That we all understand.
Sometimes people will think this Aston Owner is a pain in the ***. When it comes to changing tyres or balancing , because I am all over them. They must understand it is my car and I will look to make sure you do not damage it. I think the owners should take a orange sticker about 2" diameter and stuck it under the car at the jacking points. Then you can tell the people to find the orange sticker.And that is where the jack goes!!
#88
06-30-2016, 05:26 AM
Now there's a GOOD idea! I'm going to apply some fluorescent orange paint to the jack points so that there's no need to explain where they are to anyone who needs to lift the car.