From the DFW area and joined this forum after scaming on a nice 92 RS from an impound lot. I was looking forward to building this baby up well beyond its former glory and get back into drifting and drag racing after I took a brake when the military trnsferred me from Japan back to America.

Unfortunately last night the clown two homes down came home drunk, as in falling down I cant walk drunk, and side swiped my diamond in the rough. It was pretty funny to watch her fight the cops when they confronted her, get pepper sprayed and then cuffed and stuffed! What was she thinking? Oh yeah thats right she wasnt!

Looks like the insurance company is going to total it and I am out about 4k (Purchase price plus about 3k in repairs). Guess it doesnt pay to be responsible in todays society anymore... The door is pretty much toast and the mirror, finder and bumper cover need to be repainted. The estimate I got this morning will probably put me over low blue book and total it.

I guess at this point I should just let them total it buy it back with a salvage title and take what ever is left over, if any and then be out of pocket for about 2k in additional body work.

Has anyone played this game before and got any words of "spiritual enrichment" or should I just give up and call it quits?

 

I have, and I do!

....first, ultimately, the devil is in the details, and in this case that means dollar values. First off, how much they gonna give you, and how much will you need to spend to repair. I totaled my Iroc about 15 years ago, and they gave my $5k. Cost me about $750 to buy it back, and about $2500 to fix. Now my car was never destined to be a survivor/stocker, so the salvage title wasn't an issue. Obviously for some, that won't fly.

Second, it is VERY possible if you have receipts, your insurance company will pay more. I had a friend with a 99% restored 85 Iroc. Ended up totaling it, and his insurance was going to give him about $2000. He showed them about $10000 in receipts, PLUS purchase price, PLUS restoration photos. They finally have him $8000. He still took a loss, but they didn't HAVE to give him an extra $6k. I don't know the details of his policy of course.

...considering it wasn't your fault, you have more leverage. They don't wanna go to court, and if you have receipts.....I'd make a stink before checking out. It's worth a shot if you can prove money spent.

 

Well a little up date....

First my insurance company was able to locate her insurance and file a claim with them so there might be some hope after all. The driver that hit it while parked is quiet the alcoholic, known for driving while intoxicated, and looking at the damage to her car she obviously hit at least two other objects besides my parked car last night on the way home and refused to provide insurance information.

I dont care about a salvage title, this car was purchased not for an Original Resto Project, its a hot rod project thats gonna be more of a "sleeper" than a flashy looking show ride. I dont street race anymore like I did while in Japan, just a fun to drive daily driver that can on occasion light the tires up at a stop light and make a Chump in a Import rethink their game plan.

Thanks for this info and yes I do indeed have a 3 ring binder with ALL reciepts in document protectors. Really and truly the paints pretty crappy on it and I dont want the original color, I just want the dent in the door removed and the door half heartedly color matched so it doesnt look too hideous and the sheet metal stays preserved until my body shop guy can work his magic. My Body shop guy is estimating 1500-1800 to repair the damage. The dent in the door is the only damage other than scraped paint on the other three parts affected. If I can accomplish that with out loosing much in the way of money I can live with that.

Thanks again for the info!!!!

 

salvage title sometimes hurts you in the insurance dept...

a rolling shell isn't much more than $500

 

Things might be looking up...

Aftyer my insurance contacted theirs and filed a claim, the owner all of the sudden admits to hitting it and wants to now get the door fixed for me and keep the claim off her insurance.

It appears the Police did in fact arrest her for a DUI. Not sure how they justified that since they didnt see her in the car...maybe she was stupid and admitted to being behind the wheel. So her insurance is already about to go through the roof.

As long as I can get a quality repair to the damage on the door I could care less!!!

 

Yeah thats about what I paid for this one off a Tow Company's impound lot. For a grand I got a car with a great running engine, transmission and suspension wise with straight sheet metal and no rust. Interior wise the car is in excellent condition except for the head liner and the top piece of the dash board. The paint has definitely seen better days...as its the original clear coat crap they put on it and severely peeling leaving the faded paint behind.

It did cost me a little more than I thought it would, to get it back on the street and relaible enough to use as a daily driver. I did have to spend about 2.5 to 3k over the next 75 days fixing the steering column, getting gauges and lights working, e-brake and a few other things to get it through a safety inspection.

Hopefully the door can get fixed and this project can continue on...

 

If you have your receipts, you should be made whole - or better as in Abubaca's post. I've done it too.

Totaled out a Volvo 850 Turbo - got a check for $5,000.

Bought the car back from the insurance company for $1,000

Sold it to my body shop guy for $2,000.

 

When I switched to USAA they only wanted to cover my '82 up to around $7k, I told them I had more money invested in it with a new engine and trans as well as any other mods. They said they would cover for double that if I have my proof of purchases for everything. Never had a better reason to keep my receipts.

 

Hagerty Insurance

 

I'm surprised she even had insurance.

Was she a blonde also?