My poor little car...

[iflyjets4u]

Well, just got back from a nice three week Europe and Middle East trip. Hadn't drove my Porsche for a while and seeing how it was a nice day, I thought I'd take it out for a spin. After getting my coffee and donut, I was driving along one of the major streets just entering an intersection when an 85 yr. old fellow, that should have quite driving years ago, pulled out in front of me at an intersection (my green, his red) and this was the result.

He told the cops he didn't even know there was a light there. I'm soooo glad I just spent $12,000 on a new motor, $1,500 on a new clutch and $1,200 on new tires. And oh yeah, I'd just washed it too. I guess I could have been on my Harley.......

Obviously, I'm really bummed, but no one was hurt. It's only stuff, right? Towed it to the shop where they said there is so much frame/unitbody damage that it will be a total.

Now comes the fun part. The car, a '99 Carrerra with around 68,000 miles was near perfect. And a brand new engine with warranty to boot. Knowing that the other driver's insurance company has to put me in an "equal" car, I need to get more than just Blue Book, in consideration for the new motor and warranty

Does anybody have any ideas how to maximize my position in this?

[CJ_Boxster]

****, that blows, i know that no one was hurt but still.. that hurts in a different way. Atleast if the insurance company is any good, you get something slightly better than yours like a year newer or something with clear headlamps.

[toddel68]

...or something with clear headlamps.

:jump:

[rick3000]

That Sucks! At least you aren't hurt.

I would just lay it down with the insurance company. Show them the bill for the car wash, engine, everything and the dates. They won't be able to argue with that, then take some pics of the interior to prove that it was immaculate and you want the exact same.

Edited June 28, 2007 by rick3000

[CosmosC4S]

OUCH!!!I'm very sorry to see that.

I hope you get a good deal out of the insurance claim.

I guess I shouldn't be complaining for that little damage to my door when I backed it up against my garage wall last week.

[Chuck Jones]

I'd sure like to bid on the engine from that car!!!

[jmj996]

In case they don't budge with special consideration for the extra value of the new engine & clutch, negotiate for book value in excellent condition, plus, you keep the car and part it out. Parting it out will be a lot of work, but you will rake in a lot of cash.

I am kind of worried about the car hopping onto that island. I'm wondering if the engine took a tough hit on the underside.

[geza]

It's hard to believe the car is a total loss......maybe the body shop wants to take the car for salvage money and refurbish it and make a killing........sounds suspicious to me.

Maybe you need to take it to another shop and get a second opinion............We all know these cars are built far better than that.

[714dre]

same thing happened to me last halloween....

except the other driver was a car load of 22 year old girls.

I got to deal with them and the cops while I was wearing my 'blind referee' outfit... priceless.

my car was totaled (same smash on the right front-- tore the chassis apart. The early 90s camry barely had a dent.

good news is I got a 996 for my next car!

But as someone else mentioned... Show the insurance co all your receipts. They should give you value of your car plus the receipts from my understanding of things.

Also- see if you can by the wrekced car from them... you want to sell the wheels and tires? what kind of rubber they wearing?

Edited June 28, 2007 by 714dre

[johnj.moran]

I'm not an car insurance or body shop expert by any means, but it seems that a $30,000+ vehicle has a higher threshold of damage and repair costs before it can be called totalled, as compared to a $2000 Honda Civic. Can't this vehicle be repaired by a good body shop?

What has your insurance company said regarding the newly installed engine? Will they give you extra above Kelley Blue Book?

What happened to you could happen to any one of us. It's a real shame.

[aehsani]

Well, just got back from a nice three week Europe and Middle East trip. Hadn't drove my Porsche for a while and seeing how it was a nice day, I thought I'd take it out for a spin. After getting my coffee and donut, I was driving along one of the major streets just entering an intersection when an 85 yr. old fellow, that should have quite driving years ago, pulled out in front of me at an intersection (my green, his red) and this was the result.

He told the cops he didn't even know there was a light there. I'm soooo glad I just spent $12,000 on a new motor, $1,500 on a new clutch and $1,200 on new tires. And oh yeah, I'd just washed it too. I guess I could have been on my Harley.......

Obviously, I'm really bummed, but no one was hurt. It's only stuff, right? Towed it to the shop where they said there is so much frame/unitbody damage that it will be a total.

Now comes the fun part. The car, a '99 Carrerra with around 68,000 miles was near perfect. And a brand new engine with warranty to boot. Knowing that the other driver's insurance company has to put me in an "equal" car, I need to get more than just Blue Book, in consideration for the new motor and warranty

Does anybody have any ideas how to maximize my position in this?

Sorry about the accident. I do hope that you would get a satisfactory compensation.

I really think that there should be a yearly mandatory DRIVING test for the elderly (people older than 75 yrs old) to identify the incompetent drivers. I do realize that age limit is debatale. However, it is a fact that there is a progressive age-related decline in visual-motor coordination which can adversely affect driving ability. So, frequent assessment, IMO, is not without merit. This should not be construed as an insult to or discrimination against the elderly. After all, driving is NOT a right but a privilege.

Of course, I also realize that there are other conditions that are equally or more hazardous and impair driving profoundly that we are all too familiar with: ethanol, drugs, extended phone conversation and eating; once I saw a woman holding a bowl of cereal? (it was in the morning) with one hand and a spoon in the other hand putting that stuff in her oral cavity while driving (true story)!

[violaGT3]

I'm not an car insurance or body shop expert by any means, but it seems that a $30,000+ vehicle has a higher threshold of damage and repair costs before it can be called totalled, as compared to a $2000 Honda Civic. Can't this vehicle be repaired by a good body shop?

What has your insurance company said regarding the newly installed engine? Will they give you extra above Kelley Blue Book?

What happened to you could happen to any one of us. It's a real shame.

Scratch the thought of trying to get them to repair it however immaculate it was. That is an ugly story and the ending to my M5. Do your best to find a car that you like and start the talks about that's what you want. Always better to settle down than begin there. "GT seems like a good place to start j/k."

And to help JohnJ there are tolerances allowed in frame damage, they cannot cut and weld at stress points/ joints my front end was damaged much like the one in the pics but it was the left hand side and it kinked the frame in a sweet spot and they totaled my 2 year old M5, and it was immaculate had only 15k kilometers.