Rear ended, totalled?

[shanebro]

Was rear ended yesterday by an old fogie in a dodge caravan. Already took it up to one body shop and they said it was totaled. Car still drives fine, no dog tracking etc. Car blue books for 3600 dealer. Eagle Talon TSi AWD lsd in the rear, all options. Not even a check engine light.

This is what i've fixed on it so far.
Clutch.
Pressure plate.
Throwout bearing.
Driver wheel bearings.
Driver tie rod.
Pads and rotors.
Air filter.
Starter.
Intermediate shaft to transmission seal.
Tires 16 inch premium all weather.
Plug Wires
Fuel Pressure Regulator.

We both have state farm insurance. I'm kind of lost at this point and don't have much of a game plan. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your time.

 

[bryanwheat]

Now you are moving completely off the topic to defend yourself. The OP might be in the market now to buy a project car, but we are talking about equivalent replacement cars as an example to the insurance company to provide proof of adequate payout. A $1K "project car", no matter how much you prefer over the OP's car, is not an equivalent comparison to the OP's clean 1g dsm.

I am only showing that there are cars out there. I didn't say, hey these are the cleanest cars, only showing that there are a ton of cars if you know where to look. This is my exact statement was "There are currently 11 1g turbo cars for sale on gatewaydsm.org." That statment means that there are 11 1g turbo cars for sale on this site. One site in one town has 11 cars for sale, surly there are a ton more out there. The ones i posted are for reference. There is nothing wrong with buying a shell and swapping in the engine and transmission from his existing car.

 

[silicosys4]

I am only showing that there are cars out there. I didn't say, hey these are the cleanest cars, only showing that there are a ton of cars if you know where to look. This is my exact statement was "There are currently 11 1g turbo cars for sale on gatewaydsm.org." That statment means that there are 11 1g turbo cars for sale on this site. One site in one town has 11 cars for sale, surly there are a ton more out there. The ones i posted are for reference. There is nothing wrong with buying a shell and swapping in the engine and transmission from his existing car.

There is nothing wrong with that, I'm not arguing that. It is however, misleading to the OP, and does not address the questions asked in this thread, to say that the OP's car isn't in great shape for a 1g, is easily replaceable, and he shouldn't pursue the proper compensation. Throwing up examples of cars that will do the OP no good in this post is a waste of time, and useless to this thread. I ask again. Do you have any examples of CLEAN, UNMOLESTED 1G DSM'S selling in your area, with which to provide the OP with, so he can have something to give to his insurance company as proof of the price CLEAN, UNMOLESTED 1G DSM'S are going for these days? NOT cars you'd swoop up on as a project 'cause that' what you prefer.

 

[96ETT]

Im serious. MY friend T-boned a lady who was on her phone and darted into an intersection and he could not avoid her. He drove a 1987 ish (5th gen) chevy nova. HArdly worth shit (<1.7k BB if i had to guess ) And it was super immaculate. He asked 3k for the car, the lady refused so he ended up getting almost over 10k in missed work compensation, physical therapy, lawyer fees... etc. Anyway he had no real injury and came out way ahead (not much after you consider all the expenses that the 10k paid for)

Great, insurance fraud. You and your friend are the reason our insurance costs as much as it does. What a loser.

 

[Spyderman7]

Let them total it and buy it back for I think 5% of what they gave you for the car Strip it and sell parts and you'll come out ahead.

 

[daren_p]

If it is totaled dont let them give you blue book. These cars sell for more than blue book. Try finding ads for cars as clean as yours if you can find them (might have a hard time) and tell the insurance company you wont take a penny less.
You dont have to take what they offer, you can argue until your happy with what they are going to give you.

Just skimmed over this thread, but if it hasn't been resolved, nickk90 is correct. You are entitled to fair market value (for the others that are arguing your not going to receive what you paid for the car, please re-read his posts, no where does he say this).

Insurance companies will try to low ball you & they get away with it because most people don't know any better & don't think they have a choice. Having been through this, as said, get all the current ads you can with cars in the same shape as yours. This is a good start to prove the going rate.

I had a previous car written off & the insurance offerd me an amount way below the going rate. Their so called appraiser never even came to look at the car. Here, you are allowed to get a second appraisal (as long as their part of a certain association), which the insurance company has to pay for.

After around 6 months of fighting & a second appraisal, I received the amount of the second appraisal, which happened to be 3 times the amount they origionally offered. It was pretty quick/straight forward after the second appraisal, just took along time to get to talk to some one high enough up that told me exactly what I was entitled too.

Also, get the insurance appraisers ads for the cars he found that are in similar condition. As I said he never even looked at my car, which was in mint condition. I started to phone the ads he picked as being in similar condition & they weren't even close. They all had mechanical problems, body issues, tranny problems, engine blown, even engine & tranny missing, etc.

 

[deanmeon2]

Damn sorry to hear about the accident, glad to see your okay though!

 

[phantom_19]

This is a damn shame. Hopefully you can work out something nice. Good thing the rear hatch isn't damaged. I think the rear quarter could be shaped to a decent form. If you ever want to drive it again. Its not going to be in pristine condition as it used to be. But for sentimental value I would keep it.

 

[GSLENK]

Great, insurance fraud. You and your friend are the reason our insurance costs as much as it does. What a loser.

If i'm a loser, then you must be an insurance adjuster to think like that. Its called proper and fair compensation. If you ask and don't receive, then you take. plain and simple. Thats just what he did. Insurance wouldn't pay, and the lady couldn't afford to.

Be real man. I total your car and hand you half its value. Where are you gonna find the same car, the same way you maintained it, intentionally so that it would last a long ass time? now find it for a break even price.

Your gonna come out short. Insurance devil adjusters will find anything to not pay. They charge what they charge because they can. And All of us are willing to pay it. The only person's rates who go up is the person at fault (sometimes both...). not the whole world. Get a clue sucker.

 

[daren_p]

The only person's rates who go up is the person at fault (sometimes both...). not the whole world. Get a clue sucker.

You may hope thats the case but I'm afraid its not (we'll atleast not here). You can still have a perfect record, cars a year older & when you get your renewal, its gone up. Phone up your insurance company to ask why they increase & they'll tell you, your specific car had alot of claims last year, so your insurance has gone up as well

 

[Josh97eclipse]

They use Black Book to value the cars, at least thats what we use at the dealer.

 

[shanebro]

Can anyone help me find comparable cars? I'm searching everywhere... it's so hard since they are so rare now. Don't let state farm get me.

 

[1996tsitalon]

1991 talon tsi awd

1990 EAGLE TALON TSI, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, TURBO, LOWER MILES!!!

91 eagle talon tsi awd

1991 eagle talon tsi turbo awd 1g dsm 80k miles

1991 Eclipse GSX AWD Turbo project

1990 Eagle Talon TSI Awd

1990 Tsi Awd talon



heres some. I just reliazed your also from des moines

 

[madmaxxx]

Blue Book is worthless. Take a look at NADA to see what your car is worth. Sorry for your loss

 

[shanebro]

1992 Eagle Talon TSI Turbo (AWD) 2 Door Liftback Prices, Values & Specs - NADAguides

They only want to give me 2050 including taxes and reg.... Lawyer time?

Thank you for your time 96!

Got one really good one out of that keep em coming.

 

[ramsack]

I wouldn't pay any more than $2050 for a '92. $4650 for a low is a complete and utter joke. I repeat, your insurance does not have to pay you what you feel your car is worth. Lawyer up if you want. The legal costs will just offset any gain.

 

[victorious420]

Just read through the whole post...strikes a chord with me because I fought a hard battle getting my vehicle covered through insurance. Ramsack has a point, the insurance company does NOT want to pay you out any more than they have to. He is wrong however, in saying that the OP does not have any options except to bend over and take what the insurance company is giving him. OP, a lawyer is FREE to consult. A phone call doesn't cost a penny, any lawyer worth his salt gives you a few minutes to explain your case and then tell you if its worth it or not.

 

[1996tsitalon]

I wouldn't pay any more than $2050 for a '92. $4650 for a low is a complete and utter joke. I repeat, your insurance does not have to pay you what you feel your car is worth. Lawyer up if you want. The legal costs will just offset any gain.

Jw why are you always negative.


No problem Shane.are you planing on getting another dsm with the insurance money?

 

[shanebro]

Yeah that, or get enough to repair my baby, I'm kinda partial too it, has the jdm engine and LSD in the rear. Put a lot of work into this to get it to run perfect. NADA does not lie, this is now a classic car, putting the value up considerably. I would pay that much for a clean 1g myself. Very hard to find nowadays. I will lawyer up if my visit to my local agent tomorrow doesn't help. They said themselves they go by NADA value, they will eat their own poison. I would have been happy with KBB Value.

Edit: 4600 is not what I feel my car is worth, that's what NADA think's it's worth. To me the car is priceless.

 

[atownturbo]

Take the money and buy the car back. Find a clean shell and swap everything you want. Im in the process of doing that right now, but my car wasn't in an accident. If you decide to part it out pm me I could use some parts

 

[psx]

If you really like your car, take in for an alignment and see what they tell you. If you get a OK then you can jus bondo and weld in new panels and put a new rear. Ive done it before to a VW.

 

[TSIturbo91]

As a guy that worked in body shops my advice is if one shop you see says it's totaled it's an opinion if three shops say its totaled it's an evaluation you'll have to live with. Some shops are more willing or better than others.

Anyway I would think the company is going to total it out. An alignment check now will only prove he managed to hit you and and it still drives. It will have to be pulled, cut, replaced and painted. And even after all that it will never be straight again. Just a fact of metal work. What has been done cannot be undone. Not like before anyway.If I were to eyeball an estimate I'd say granted frame time only took about 7-10 hours, parts were used, labor is 50 bucks per hour for body, 65 bucks per hour for paint, including paint and other body parts at least $2,300.00+ and thats a light, unpadded estimate. A shop will probably pad the hell out of it just because it's a dog of a ticket. The tech would get screwed on the job most likely. Anyway, in my state they got rid of buy backs but if you can do it. Take the money then part out the things on the wreak you don't want to save to build up more cash and get a new car.

 

[spyderinak]

Alaska's List : 1994 Eagle Talon AWD

 

[TUR3O]

Total it and buy it back

 

[ramsack]

Jw why are you always negative.

I'm not negative, I just don't blindly look at everything optimistic like society likes to preach to do today. Those prices are gouged to hell and are not realistic of what the market show. If anything, the real market for these cars is much lower than book value because they are all molested. I would only pay book value for a restored car, and no one would even sell a restored car for that little, so it's a moot point.

If you are some emotional wreck and think of a car as more than pieces of metal, plastic, and rubber, then build a damn shrine for it and keep it indoors at all time with spotlights shining on it.

Just let them total it and buy it back.

 

[1996tsitalon]

I'm not negative, I just don't blindly look at everything optimistic like society likes to preach to do today. Those prices are gouged to hell and are not realistic of what the market show. If anything, the real market for these cars is much lower than book value because they are all molested. I would only pay book value for a restored car, and no one would even sell a restored car for that little, so it's a moot point.

If you are some emotional wreck and think of a car as more than pieces of metal, plastic, and rubber, then build a damn shrine for it and keep it indoors at all time with spotlights shining on it.

Just let them total it and buy it back.

Do you own a dsm? And if you don't when is the last time you bought one? And about the insurance part YOUR STATE is probably different. I live in IOWA also, an here in Iowa you don't have to take anything from the insurance company tell you are content with the work/money given on your car.


An im going to have to say in my onion your negative I see you arguing with someone on just about every thread you post to. Like I said this is my OPINION.