Totalled

[Alun]

I own an AE82 liftback with a 4AGE 20 valve silver top with gearbox in it.

Got totalled in a parking lot while I wasn't there today.

The back is totally rammed in. I can't open my boot and the front is all crumpled.

Mechanically it's all good.

 

Redbook values the car at $1400-$3200.

 

I will be dropping the car off to get it assessed and will probably be offered something.

I was told by AAMI (Insurance company of the person at fault) will be using an estimate from the Glasses book.

 

Does anyone have any experience with dealing with insurance companies when there's a payout? Does the modification make a difference?

I'm guessing not but I'm pretty annoyed that I could have sold the car privately for way more considering.

 

I've also heard that you can buy back the car before they take it to auction. Will it be worth buying it back to sell the engine/gearbox? If so up to how much?

 

Any comment welcome.

 

Thanks!

 

Alun.

Edited September 28, 2007 by Alun

[outburst]

Sorry to hear mate, can't really offer you any advice regarding insurance etc. But if you do happen to look to sell your gearbox i am looking for one to go in my ae82 silvertop 20v. Where do you live?

[KE30_KE35_KE55]

I have had a lot to do with insurance companys they are full of tricks, watch out for Market Value, fine print, loss adjustors,

 

market value that they will try to pay you out.

the best action is to ask a wreck value first say you want the wreck.

eg my cousin had a street machine the market value was for a A1 car of that model was $2500, the insurance company offered $3000 and they wanted $2000 for the wreck. it went to court the out come was that a wreck from a car A1 condition that model with this much damage was $500. there fore they thought it was worth 4 times the standard value, so the ombudsmman awarded $10000 and he could keep the wreck.

 

fine print

My house insurance was the top cover, a police car chased a stolen car thru my front fence.

the policy said if you can give the name of the person that did the damage we will cut the excess.

police arrested the person in my yard and gave me his name and a wittness statement, they saw it happen.

the fine print said we will only cut the excess if we can recover the money from them.

 

email or pm me and I am happy to help

[kangaroosa]

I had my daily written off a few months back (economical write off, not structural) when a commodore failed to give way. In VIC if the estimated repairs exceed a certain percentage of the Market Value of the car, they declare it a total loss. Also, if your car is getting on in age (pre mid to early '90s) they will most likely write it off regardless.

The assesor took one look at mine and said "Nup, its a write off". He estimated $5000 damage and the market value was $4550.

I got paid out $4550 less the salvage fee for keeping the car, which was $400. So I got $4150. Took it to a different panel shop and the total cost to replace parts and paint the whole front of the car totalled to $1300 CASH.

 

The insurance calculates your salvage fee by calling around local wreckers and seeing what its worth to them. If your happy to pay what the wreckers will pay, then they let you buy it.

 

So thanks to my insurance company, I treated my car to $600 worth of tyres, a new clutch, new brakes all round and best of all......the whole front of my car got a nice new paintjob.

 

So sometimes incidents like mine fall your way.

 

If your from VIC, ask that they don't list your car as a write off on the VICROADS registry. To re-register a car in VIC that has been declared a write off is stupidly hard and expensive. It has to have a full structual test and measurement. If anything is more than 3mm out of standard, it will be knocked back. Bare in mind the meaurement inspection is $400odd alone. If its not fixed by the required time, VICROADS slugs you another fee to rebook your car in. Its almost not worth bothering unless your driving a $20,000+ car.

Edited September 29, 2007 by kangaroosa

[Alun]

Thanks for the replies. I will keep your advice in mind. I'm in NSW.

 

I think it will be a structural write off. Half the back is crumpled in like an inverse V.

The guy reversed into me with his rear corner. Big European wagon vs small old Jap.

 

The car is still mechanically great.

I think I will offer the wreck value to the insurance company then sell the engine.

How much is a working 4AGE-20V, gearbox, comp, etc worth to a wrecker?

Is anyone here interested in purchasing the entire thing?

 

I just think it'd be a waste of a good engine to let it go to auction.

 

Alun.

[Fat Bastard Customs]

why don't you just buy back the wreck and use the $1400-$3200 to get a cheap base model ae82 and put all your tasty bits in it?