I think that's it for the Oppo Clio

"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
07/05/2018 at 13:29 • Filed to: None

Somebody violently backed into it, while I was away. It had the handbrake on and was in gear, and still moved back about a car length, got up the sidewalk, and pushed the car that was parked behind it into the barrier.

Of course, the person responsible disappeared without a trace or witnesses. Me and the owner of the car that was parked behind filed a complaint at the local police, but we all know how that goes.

Given that it’s an 18-year-old econobox, I’m fully expecting the insurance to call it a write-off. We’ll see how much money they propose.

This was last week, and only now am I able to write about it without feeling too sad. I lived everything in this car; it pretty much was my first one. I traveled across France, met my girlfriend in it six years ago, went to an Oppo Euro tour, and went on a little trip around the Ring in it.

It was pretty much perfect. Although it did require a lot of work, lately. But anyway, there’s that.

DISCUSSION (35)

Chariotoflove > Clemsie McKenzie
07/05/2018 at 13:35

:’(

Clemsie McKenzie > Chariotoflove
07/05/2018 at 13:37

Yep, accurate feels!

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Clemsie McKenzie
07/05/2018 at 13:38

Dude, that sucks. I’d be devastated

punkgoose17 > Clemsie McKenzie
07/05/2018 at 13:42

:-(

Clemsie McKenzie > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
07/05/2018 at 13:48

I won’t lie, it’s been pretty hard. But I figure, there’s nothing I can do, you know. And it’s absolutely not my fault. I just wish we would find the culprit.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Clemsie McKenzie
07/05/2018 at 13:53

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

FSI > Clemsie McKenzie
07/05/2018 at 13:54

Ouch. That’s the second EurOppo car dead:/

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Clemsie McKenzie
07/05/2018 at 13:59

Not the send-off it deserved. I will forever have good memories of that car on the Nürburgring - and your face afterwards! Looks like it may have been a reversing wagon considering the damage. Any local CCTV?

Clemsie McKenzie > FSI
07/05/2018 at 13:59

It’s gotta be a conspiracy at this point!

So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky > Clemsie McKenzie
07/05/2018 at 14:02

Kinja'd!!!

Sadly I kinda know how you feel. When you have a car a long time you have so many memories attached to it that it doesn’t matter if it’s a worn out econobox. It’s an old friend. This was my 2003 Dodge Neon. My college car. Drove it through blizzards to my first job, to camping trips, on the beach in Florida, had it when I met my wife and even drove it on my wedding day. I saved the shift knob before it was scrapped because I’m sentimental like that. Hopefully the insurance fixes yours.

Clemsie McKenzie > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
07/05/2018 at 14:03

You and me both, mate

Clemsie McKenzie > So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky
07/05/2018 at 14:05

Aww, yeah that’s pretty much the same thing here. It’s weird that we get attached so much to objects, but I guess that’s what makes us car people in the first place. At least I will have those memories forever, and they are pretty much all good ones!

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Clemsie McKenzie
07/05/2018 at 14:05

Hopefully the insurance treat you well. Then you can replace it with something to make new memories in.

Clemsie McKenzie > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
07/05/2018 at 14:07

Exactly! I was going to replace it as soon as I got a good job anyway. I’m sure I’ll love what’s next too!

Clemsie McKenzie > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
07/05/2018 at 14:09

No CCTV, sadly. We think it’s probably a small truck, given how high it hit the car, or a van of some sort. We’ll see if the police find anything!

So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky > Clemsie McKenzie
07/05/2018 at 14:12

Very true

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Clemsie McKenzie
07/05/2018 at 14:13

Shit. Here’s hoping they find the idiot.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Clemsie McKenzie
07/05/2018 at 14:36

Definitely!

Clemsie McKenzie > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
07/05/2018 at 14:38

Yeah!

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Clemsie McKenzie
07/05/2018 at 15:45

Aww man that sucks :(

Hope you manage to find a suitable replacement for it that brings you the same amount of adventures.

Cé hé sin > Clemsie McKenzie
07/05/2018 at 15:54

Il faut dire “merde! ”, n’est-ce pas?

Cé hé sin > Clemsie McKenzie
07/05/2018 at 15:58

So...insurance company writes it off, issues a cheque, you buy it from them, head off to the local casse auto , get the necessary bits and off you go again?

duurtlang > Cé hé sin
07/05/2018 at 16:23

Depends on what it needs. Bumper+bonnet+headlight and maybe a wing shouldn’t be hard or expensive to source or hard to replace, but only make sense if it’s still straight.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Clemsie McKenzie
07/05/2018 at 16:27

Damn man, that’s really unf ortunate...the front looks like it could be repaired? Not sure about the back though...how bad is that?

Prob not worth repairing though, with your logical hat on.....a shame to see the poor thing hurt. :(

Cé hé sin > duurtlang
07/05/2018 at 16:29

It depends what’s going on underneath I guess. If th e inner wing and whatever crash structure is under the bumper are damaged it’s likely to be uneconomic and also you might not be allowed to put it on the road again.

MultiplaOrgasms > FSI
07/05/2018 at 17:01

Second?

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Clemsie McKenzie
07/05/2018 at 20:50

Strip it, cage it, tube it, turbo it, race it. Send her out in a blaze of glory. We will witness you, Clio.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Clemsie McKenzie
07/06/2018 at 06:35

bonnet, bumper and headlamp from the wreckers and it’ll be good to go

Clemsie McKenzie > Cé hé sin
07/06/2018 at 07:10

Yeah that’s the big if, I guess. It moved about 4 meters back wards while it was in first gear, that sure doesn’t help. From the opening of the hood I can see that the AC compressor moved, the (brand new) alternator probably took a hit too. It’s a very cramped engine bay, I have very few hopes that nothing has been damaged. You never know though!

Clemsie McKenzie > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/06/2018 at 07:12

The back is fairly ok, I’m just pretty sure it won’t make any economical sense to repair, even in the best case scenario that it’s only exterior damage.

Clemsie McKenzie > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
07/06/2018 at 07:12

You know, if that was legal here in France and I had the funds, I absolutely would!

Clemsie McKenzie > Cé hé sin
07/06/2018 at 07:13

Exactement !

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Clemsie McKenzie
07/06/2018 at 07:37

True....although if it’s not TOO costly, there’s always the mental / emotional connection to it! :)

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Clemsie McKenzie
07/06/2018 at 07:43

How is it not legal? I mean, obviously not road legal, but like, tracks?

Also every vehicle modification is legal until you get caught.

Clemsie McKenzie > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
07/06/2018 at 08:14

Oh yeah tracks would be ok. But then re: funds