To second Adrian's view, a personal experience.
My son drives a Focus ST. In the gales earlier this year he had the door pulled out of his hands by a gale force gust. Is swung back and creased the edge of the wing. Seemed to be superficial damage.
The body shop said that it may well be a write-off because IF the section that the door is bolted to had been deformed it cannot be straightened. Why? The use of high strength steel in this part means that any deformation substantially reduces the strength of the part and Ford requires any damage in that area must be a write off.
Fortunately it was within specification, just. So a new (second hand) door and a new wing plus respray and all was well.
BUT as car body shells become increasingly complex mixes of different steels, aluminium and even carbon fibre they are, effectively, not repairable. Only minor, almost cosmetic, damage can be repaired.
So, we have lighter, stronger, more fuel efficient car bodies. the downside is that most cannot be repaired, so many, many more write-offs.
A Morgan Trad is, in comparison, easy to repair.
Last edited by Peter J; 27/09/16 05:05 PM.
