Fraser - the first body shop where the car is at said they wouldn't repair the hood - they would order a new one. Same with the headlight fixture. I don't think I need a fender and doubt I need a bumper.

What I want to avoid are two things at the opposite end of the spectrum:
- the insurance company totaling the car too quickly and then lowballing me on replacement value, where I would have preferred to have the car repaired if it were possible (maybe fixing panels or finding used parts)
- the body shop keeping the car just under the level of it be a total loss, but hiding things/not fixing things that might change how the car drives. I'm not actually that worried about frame damage, but I'm not that knowledgeable.

I should be getting a detailed estimate tomorrow (Monday), as they will have gone over it in full and gotten parts estimates for everything needed. What I have to decide is whether I want a 2nd estimate from another body shop. And to take the advice of spend a few hundred bucks to get an independent appraisal in case we have to negotiate the car's value in a total loss.

 

A lot of panel shops don't want to use second hand panels reason being
The so called perfect second hand panel is a piece of crap and needs more work to repair it to a standard of a new panel and the panel shop only gets a set amount from the insurance

I am currently restoring a 79 UK Capri X pack and have done many cars up over the years you can spend more time fixing a panel than what it's worth to buy a new one

These cars are getting a bit older now and prices for new panels will vary from dealer to dealer
If a dealer has had a panel sitting in stock for ten years he will be keen to get rid of it problem is insurance company's have preferred suppliers and so forth

I had a similar problem with a Benz I had years ago took it in for a wheel alignment and it fell of the hoist on its side

The insurance company wanted to write it of and give me a couple grand I exploded and said I don't want a couple grand go and get me the same car in the same condition they then realised that was impossible so they started to repair it

The repairs took 6 months!

When I went to the panel shop authorised by the insurance company after 1 month he told me they where waiting on a new Quarter panel for the car from Germany at a cost of $3,000

I snapped at the insurance company after being told by the panel shop what was going on

I then rang round all the Benz parts places and low and behold the local parts supplier had a brand new one in stock he bought it from a dealership that had closed down years earlier and had bought a huge amount of parts for 116 model Benz's

He quoted me $500 for the quarter $200 for the front bumper $200 for the front mudguard and $150 for the doors bare each I had to use all my internals

The prices the insurance company where using where astronomical $7,000 just for parts which I could get round the corner for $1200

When I showed them the price list and that they where available instantly they said we have our preferred suppliers and couldn't guarantee the quality of the parts I just laughed

Like I said 6 months before I got the car back and I then had to repair all these other things

My car had a very good sound system so the monkeys in the shop used my car as a shop sound system when I got it back all the speakers where blown up

And we wonder why the insurance company's make record profits each year

 

Hi, all.

The repair estimate from the body shop came back at around $8,500 and their computer said "it's a total," but ultimately, it's up to me and the insurance company to hash it out.

The insurance company is saying
1 - the "good" value of my car is around $10,800
2 - if the repair is below 75% of the value, they would repair. Over 75%, they would total
3 - after I told them my car is in extremely clean shape and low miles (69k), the value came back at $13.2k, at which point it's a clear "repair it" decision.
My options are
1 - to have the car repaired. Since I'd be using one of the insurance company's preferred shops, both the shop and the insurance company stand behind the repair being done well
2 - to have the car totaled and receive about $11.3k (ignoring deductible, which I have to pay in either case)

I know my car used to be worth $13k or so before the wreck, but if I have it repaired, is my car now going to be worth $8k because of all of the repairs? I assume if/when I decide to sell it, it is now worth less than before. And I have the risk that the repairs won't be done well.

I can't get them to pay more than $11.3k unless the repair turns out to be more expensive than $8500. Above $11.3k, they will insist on repairing the car.

I was thinking I would probably sell the car within the next 12 months anyway. While the cash I'd get is lower than I'd like, am I right to assume that the car's actual value once I get it back will be lower than that?

 

Don't assume anything with the insurance co. Still sounds like they're lowballing you on the value.
GET AN INDEPENDENT APPRAISAL......

 

I don't see how getting an appraisal helps me either way.

1 - if the appraisal comes in higher, they will only offer to fix the car, as the repair will be even further under the 75% threshold
2 - if the appraisal comes in lower, they will still offer to settle at 33% over the repair price

Seems to me that the one move I could make is to take the car to another body shop who will provide a higher estimate. If I get a higher estimate, I should be able to get a higher settlement value.

 

See if the Insurance will give you the $11,300 and you keep the wreck

It will be worth quite a bit to the parts industry as a whole or as parts

I bought the dash and diff from a wrecked one here in Australia and spent $1600au when I went back to get some trim pieces a month later the car was a bare shell and I mean a bare shell and he was unpicking the glues that hold the shell together to sell parts of that as well

Then if you want another start searching you will have the money to buy a good second hand one maybe a bit newer as well

I understand how attached we get to our cars

Since owning the aluminium bodied X350
I am so worried about crashing the car and getting hit I am not enjoying it as much as the XJR6 I just sold

You are not the first on these pages to have a slight hit and the car is totalled and probably not the last either

 

I've unfortunately had several (OK, maybe more than several over the past 40 years) cars repaired after moderate damage, some at independent shops of my choice, some at the insurance company 'preferred & work guaranteed) shops. In my opinion the guaranteed work at the preferred shop is just a marketing gimmick. Either you should have noticed the deficiency before you accepted the car back, or the deficiency is 'within industry standards'. My Allstate agent told me once if I took the car to a preferred shop they would have an appraiser there the next day; if I went to a shop of my own choice an appraiser would be available in 'a a couple weeks'. The Saab specialist I wanted to use got the appraiser there the second day.

I have never been entirely happy with any of the cars after the repairs. Maybe it's psychological but I ended up getting rid of each of the cars within a year. If this were my car and I didn't need to immediately buy a replacement, I'd take the total settlement and find a replacement.

Every airplane I've owned had documented damage history when I bought them, too. However, the purchase price was discounted enough when I bought them so I could take care of the diddly things that didn't get done correctly. Even though the aircraft shops are much more regulated than automotive collision shops, they STILL don't get everything right the first, second, or third time.

Personally, I'd let the insurance company have the car and look for a replacement.

 

I will give you my 40 years in the industries opinion. Negotiate the totaled amount based on actual comps not just what the insurance company says. Find comparable cars and provide proof, take the check and walk away.


Do not buy the car back, which they will want a couple thousand for plus still deduct your deductible.


DO NOT EVER have the insurance companies preferred shop repair the car. EVER EVER EVER !!!!!!! We used to REDO 6 cars a year that were "repaired" by preferred shops. I don't have time to type a book on it but please NEVER, anyone, EVER use them, find a true independent if the car is repairable.


I would have guessed $8500......... every insurance totals at a different percentage based on what they can get for your car in salvage value (also estimated). Ive seen cars totaled at 50% and 90%.


I wish I would have seen this thread earlier I could have tried to help you more. Good luck..... there are other nice cars out there so all is not lost.


FYI, using used parts are fine as long as they are rust free and in perfect condition.