First post.

Last Tuesday, a 90-year old came flying through an adjacent parking lot at about 50-60mph and t-boned my parked tC. I wish I were kidding. The impact pushed my car one parking space over into the car parked beside me, and that car into the car beside it. Everyone at the scene was sure my car was totaled. The impact sounded like a truck crashing into a wall or building. When I realized it was my car, I felt pretty crappy.

So, the insurance adjuster goes out on Thursday and inspects the vehicle and estimates damage at $9,700 and therefore, State Farm (my ins. co.) says the vehicle is repairable. Okay, fine. However, I talked to another adjuster on Thursday and he said he saw notes from the estimator indicating the possibility of a total loss. So why are they trying to fix it? I am concerned first and foremost about my safety. Second, the car was perfect (purchased in April) and has low miles - it will never be the same. If they fix it, I'm going to driving around in a car that has had $9,700 in body work that even in good condition is only worth $15,155 give or take. Third, I will be making a car payment on a vehicle that I'm not even getting to drive. The repair facility said it could be a while in repairs with that extensive of damage. I am fighting the insurance company's decision and right now, everything is hinging on what a tear down reveals, but I wanted some other opinions too. Even the guy who towed it was shocked that they are trying to repair it.


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Anyway, I'm up in the air on this one. I have a friend who says I can get diminution in value, but that's not the point. My car was perfect and I'm convinced that they will never be able to restore it to that. I do, after all, have to drive the vehicle around..

*Sorry for the links, but the image insertion feature didn't seem to work.

 

I think it looks repairable. The damage appears to be mostly cosmetic. The frame probably didn't take too much of a hit.

 

I would guess they were moving closer to 20mph when they hit it. Trust me, at 50 it would have completely crushed it! In my first car (a 1976 ford LTD, very similar in ugliness and size to that car ) I hit a camaro in the front right hand side running 30mph .. and I hit the brakes first. The lady (a cops wife by the way in his car) pulled out in front of me. It wrapped the front wheel around the suspension, completely took the engine out of its mounts and shoved it almost through the opposite fender. Destroyed the camaro... bent my bumper

It is impossible to tell just from pics.. but I would say that it isnt totalled, or near it. It looks like a very fixable (safely) peice of damage. I wouldnt worry too much about the safety aspect with that kind of damage, but I would have a GOOD body shop give you thier take on it.

 

yea except for that tire....im sure a whole lotta stuff in ur steering system is mangled...but yea dun seem like ud have serious problems wit it later on, but also this is goin to be put on the car record....if ur lookin to resell...try n get a new car...

 

I have to agree. The damage is not that bad. The windows aren't even cracked. I doubt they were going 50-60mph when they hit it. You will need new fenders and doors, but I doubt there will be any frame damage and the engine should be fine as well.

It totally sucks, and I would not want to drive around in a car that had been in an accident and repaired, but I doubt it will be totalled. But keep fighting, maybe they will give in and get you a new car. Good luck!

 

[quote="engifineer"]I would guess they were moving closer to 20mph when they hit it. Trust me, at 50 it would have completely crushed it! In my first car (a 1976 ford LTD, very similar in ugliness and size to that car ) I hit a camaro in the front right hand side running 30mph .. and I hit the brakes first. The lady (a cops wife by the way in his car) pulled out in front of me. It wrapped the front wheel around the suspension, completely took the engine out of its mounts and shoved it almost through the opposite fender. Destroyed the camaro... bent my bumper

No, I'm pretty sure it was closer to 50-60. Otherwise, there is no way he could have made it over the embankment.

 

The embankment slowed him down, hit you at 20-30 tops.

 

yeah, the car is not steerable...at all.

 

he was airborne

 

Hmmm...I think they should total it, here's why....

1. The front, drivers-side suspension is done, not cheap to fix. I'm sure under further inspection, this'll be a couple grand here alone.
2. Body damage. Both front fenders, both doors and both rear quarter panels need to be replaced. Welding in the quarter panels, placing the doors and fenders plus I'd imagine they'd have to paint the whole car = $$$$$. I've seen less damage on the rear of my in-law's Rav4 and it came to $7,500.

I feel there is much more than $9,700 in damage with or without frame damage. They should total this car.

 

the rear panels is whats gonna suck. you cant just unbolt those and put new ones on like the front fenders, theyll have to cut them out and weld new ones in. or pull the dents out and bondo it all up

 

I think that they need to total it. body work and is not cheap (as many of us know) Painting a car is not cheap and neither is fixing any machanical things (steering etc.) Unfortunatly I believe that the Insurance company will do what is cheapest for them and not what is best for you. just my .02

 

total it.. both sides are messed up man. I dont know what the hell they were thinking. Do you have gap insurance?

 

Oh yeah. Definitely got the gap insurance.

 

I'm traumatized by old people's driving now, because when I borrowed a Toyota corporate tC back in August, one totally did a hit and run on me and then we found her later and she didn't remember it. We found out that she could barely walk, and shouldn't have been driving anyway....


That sucks, man, I really hope you get things straightened out with your insurance company, I totally feel for ya.

 

Where in Tampa did this happen? It was probably a snow bird.
Look on the bright side, you can now get that wide body kit and your ride will be somewhat unique in Tampa. Hope everything goes well. Later.

 

Oh man that sucks really bad.

And of course she was driving a POS too. Hope you get it totalled.

 

Yep, I know what it's like to be hit by old people...

An older couple were drivin' an F250 with a hugh travel trailer and hit us while we were stopped as a stoplight. My xA had just over 500 miles on it at the time. Damage estimate from the body shop - $6,800:

 

My car was hit about two months ago in the front and my damage was estimated in at a little below $8K and they fixed it.





They replaced the entire front clip... both front fenders, from bumper, radiator core support + all the other ____ around the site of impact, replaced the hood, had to pull the frame because it was slightly off, alignment... etc.

Took them nearly two months but I finally get it back tomorrow

 

Damage adds up really fast. Looking at the pic of your drivers side wheel you have some major suspension damage right there. Just the parts for that could cost 1.5-2k. The rest of it looks like mainly body damage though. That top pic looks like it went under your car which means your frame might not take a direct hit and might be ok. I would want to make sure that the frame is straight before they do anything. Hopefully its totaled because it will never be the same no matter what they fix.
A friend of mine did 7k in damage without any suspension damage. Mostly just front end and 1 door body damage. Didnt bend the frame. This has to be at least 10k with cheap parts and no frame damage.