Not about my 'Vette but about a '99 Seville STS. I write here only because I suspect others have had similar problems.

On a cloudy, new moon night at the crest of a hill on an interstate I ran over a drive shaft dropped by a semi. At least eight others hit it as well.

The trucker's insurance (AIG) admits full liability but SIX WEEKS after the incident an adjuster finally arrived.

With no further notice I got a call from a tow/auction company wanting to haul it away!!!!!!!

Known destroyed are two wheels (no longer available new), two tires (Michelines recently discontinued but with only 20k miles), and a CV joint. Some slight damage the the lower front cowling of a three-coat white diamond car. Presumed damaged are both bearing/hubs on the passenger side.

I just took the car more than 1,000 miles ago to Canada to have a proper head gasket and bottom end seal after wasting thousands for a local shop to do the same less than 20,000 miles ago. The replaced active shock/struts 15,000 or so ago cost me over 3k in parts alone.

The book value of the car is low in large part because the head bolts are faulty (now fixed forever) and the shocks/struts are ridiculously expensive to replace.

Any suggestions of what to say to the "total loss department" when they contact me?

 

Were is your insurance in all of this??

 

Look at the replacement cost for a identical car in your area, and add the cost of a rental car till you get their check. Plus towing, motel room if needed, etc. This is what they owe you.

 

That's why its good to get a agreed value for your car.

 

You have to find all STS's that have sold recently and get "comps" just like a home appraiser does. You need to show how the condition of your car compares to the ones they say they are using for comparison. You can argue that they pay you the price of the comp car and what it takes to make it the same condition as the one you had. Keep a record of everything you have spent, taxi, rental, tow, repair estimate, food, lodging, you name it. Lost work, medical exam, etc, everything.

If you decide to go to court, don't expect to get a better settlement. A lot depends on the area/jurisdiction you are in. For instance, if you don't actually rent a car, you can't ask a judge to award you money for one.

Dealing with insurance adjusters is a miserable, frustrating and infuriating experience. LKQ (Like Kind and Quality), CAPA parts, Actual Cash Value vs. Replacement Cost.

Consider your insurance company, pay the deductible and let them subrogate the claim and maybe get your deductible back.
I wish you well.

 

If they want to total it just tell them to cut you the check and buy the car back from them. The buy back is typically ~1/4 of what they pay you. So then you go get it fixed and you have your car back....with a salvage title....but who cares.

 

Some 35 years ago my father had the same problem. The other guy's insurance company did not want to pay because the repair was more than the cost of the car. My father said, "I don't care, you damaged my property, now fix it." They cut him a check for the repairs.

Today you sign an agreement with your insurance, that you don't read fully, that states in part that they will repair or replace your property at their discretion. I wonder if that's true for the other drivers' insurance when dealing with you? Or maybe it's a state law?

 

Thanks all for the suggestions and encouragement.

My state, Missouri, has laws very favorable to auto insurance companies

I was irate because a tow company had called wanting to haul it off before I had ANY word from the insurance company regarding the settlement.

Fortunately it seems that the adjuster/appraiser high-balled the repair costs.

The repair estimate was about $60 above their "trigger" level. I've agreed to their max settlement while retaining the car. Since I'll probably make some of the repairs myself, can find good replacement wheels on ebay and have an uncle in the body work business who gives me a good price I should have plenty for the repairs. The repair estimates for three-coat "white diamond" paint are ridiculous...

They're also reimbursing me for a couple weeks worth of rental car expense as neither the Corvette nor my work truck were suitable transportation for four adults on a long and previously-planned road trip. I'm not the greedy sort so with other vehicles available I didn't insist on a rental for the entire period (almost seven weeks now). I just wanted reasonable consideration for the damage to my car and feel that they have provided such.

 

Glad it will work out for you. White Diamond Tri-coat is a great color!

 

One of the goofy things about insurance is that my insurance on the Seville (comprehensive, liability, road hazard, towing, but no collision) costs me more than twice that for the Corvette which has full coverage (including collision) and a guaranteed value more than three times that of the Seville (confirmed by their appraiser)!!!

I guess insurance companies are aware the owners of old Corvettes generally spent a lot more time working on them than driving them