£7,700. I have the estimate from the bodyshop now and spoke about it to Auxillis, who are handling the "no fault" claim on behalf of Admiral, my insurers. The engineer has been involved. The file is marked "repairable" and Auxillis say to expect a call from the bodyshop "come and collect your repaired car."
So I'm feeling much brighter.
But I did ask some more questions of Auxillis who told me the book value for my car, a 2008 QP Executive GT with all the trimmings and 60,000 miles is £11,680. The repair cost (note this is an estimate, not a quotation) amounts to 65% (his calculation, not mine) of the book value and they write off at 66%. So I'm feeling at risk again. I do not want the car written off or an insurance category attached to it. However the call handler agreed to put a note on the file "do not write off without first discussing it with car's owner" and he clearly expected things to happen that way. He also fully expected the repair to proceed without further drama at their approved bodyshop.
So I said "Thank you."
And when I put the phone down I was off to the bodyshop in the village where I live. Never used them but they have a lightweigt E type in there, a 911 and a Ferrari (not sure which model) and last week I saw a corvette loitering there. He's pretty sure he can undercut the price by £2k (mend rather than replace the bumper, £1000, manipulate rather than replace the rear silencer another £1000) He told me that the bent bootlid was aluminium, but not to worry because they can unbend aluminium. He also knew the (bent) wing was steel. So when he told me he had worked on QPs I believed him.
I do have legal cover at Admiral that I hope might recover some repair costs for me if I have to go down the independent route at the village bodyshop.
So I seem to have a reserve position and I'm feeling reasonably bright again.