engine and drivetrain The Green Machine Totaled by a Truck

[asifallasleep]

Friday Jan 13 10:25am, a block away from my home, i'm hit head on by an idiot in a 1999 Chevy S1500. That's a huge truck by the way. He makes a left turn into the intersection as I'm driving thru it. Appears about 3 feet in front of me, i slam on my brakes and we collide. Estimates to repair my car are between $5-7K. Insurance company has decided to total the vehicle. My car was restored and in near perfect condition. All internals were less than a year old, including rebuilt engine, beautiful seats, dash etc. Insurance company now has to find comps. Reputable shop in SoCal estimated the value of my car to be at least $9500. The insurance company views my car as just an old car, which is why they totaled it, but they will be in for a rude awakening when they try to find comps. As we all know these cars are very rare, especially ones in good condition.

[Dylanhat]

Wow that blows. Whats up with everyone getting hit by idiots?

[Richard]

Take the payout and buy the car back. It looks like most of the damage was up high.$7,000 seems high for repairs as your not going to know alot until you get the sheet metal off. The problem with a cmp no matter how good it is it wont match what you have already done...Good luck

[slash02]

Wow that blows. Whats up with everyone getting hit by idiots?

They keep breeding, we don't.

Sorry to see it Buy it back and get her rebuilt!

[Tommy]

That car must be fixed one way or other. Damaged looks quite limited.

Tommy

[Mike Self]

is mostly sheet metal.

And meet with the other guy's insurance company wearing a neck brace...

As others have said, that sucks black swamp water. Two 2002s reported whacked by trucks this week...

mike

[flyingjolly]

oh that sucks, sad to hear. I wish you and your 02 the best so that it plays out well for your both. Would be sad if it really was totalled.

[ClayW]

That sucks, man. I've been in your shoes twice now.

Two pieces of advice:

1. Keep fighting. Argue about your car's value with your insurance company and get a lawyer. You might be able to get them to just fix it, or maybe make up the difference in perceived value with "pain and suffering" money. It might sound a bit screwy, but this is a dog-eat-dog world and the insurance rep's job is to pay you as little as possible.

2. Buy the shell back for salvage and transfer all the good stuff to a good body. I had the same M10 in four different 1600/2002s, including my current one (previous three wrecked, one of them my fault). just because the insurance company doesn't see the value in your car, at least you know the value of it's parts. Buying the salvaged car from them usually only costs a few hundred bucks.

[RayC911]

Sorry to see this. Looks very fixable as most have said. GL w/the insurance co.

[asifallasleep]

Thanks guys. Just got another opinion from the mechanic who built the car and he says definitely over $5K to fix it. Problem is that the car will now have a salvage title, so he suggests that I not fix it. I do have a lawyer.

[M3M3]

get another estimate. that does not look like $5k damage to me. looks like all replaceable sheet metal. fender, nose, hood. didn't hit the bumper, so i doubt there is any frame damage. it is absolutely worth fixing.

[ClayW]

Thanks guys. Just got another opinion from the mechanic who built the car and he says definitely over $5K to fix it. Problem is that the car will now have a salvage title, so he suggests that I not fix it. I do have a lawyer.

Well, the hope is to convince the insurance company that the car is valuable enough to not total.

If the salvage title is unavoidable, you don't want to bother fixing it. In that case, just buy the salvaged car back and remove all the worthwhile parts to transfer to another shell.

[bueller]

i'm curious what these buffoons that hit you guys (classic cars that are pretty much irreplaceable compared to modern vehicles) say when they hit you?

matt

[Arky2002]

Show them the records of your restoration. If they have an independent appraiser, they ask about any recent (at least for a year) investments/replacements, etc.

Fight them - the longer you hold out, the more it costs them in storage fees and other expenses. If necessary, get appraisals from an independent.

[ziff73]

Seriously fight the insurance company. My 74' FJ40 got totaled and I fought and got over $18k for mine.