Another one bites the dust, sorta

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Sep 25, 2015 | 03:03 PM

bsmutz

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 419

Likes: 1

From: Kelso WA

Another one bites the dust, sorta

While driving down the freeway at 70 mph a few weeks ago, a huge chunk of metal came flying out from under the car next to me and went under my 1998. It got stuck and sounded like a jack hammer. I pulled to the shoulder and slammed on the brakes and it flew out the back, so I gunned it and got back into traffic until I could get to an exit. There was an exit wound at the bottom of the driver's front fender just in front of the door, some scratches down the rocker panel, and a ding in the rim of the rear wheel. When I took it to the first shop, they said they couldn't get to it until mid October and never looked underneath for the estimate for insurance. I took it to another shop & same thing, except they could get it in by September 15th. After they finally put it on the rack, they found that there was a chunk missing out of the crossmember, the exhaust was squished in an area that required replacement, and another cracked panel. The final estimate was over $8k. Insurance adjuster had to go look at it to approve extra repairs. He decided to total it. : ( Now I'm waiting for them to get back to me to tell me what the deal is going to be. Anybody have any suggestions or prior experience with dealing with their insurance? I have Nationwide.
Thanks!

Sep 25, 2015 | 03:30 PM

Mr Russ

Instructor

Joined: Mar 2014

Posts: 191

Likes: 2

From: Chandler Arizona

Prepare yourself, it's going to be less than what you think is the worst case scenario.

Sep 25, 2015 | 03:43 PM

DDaaryl

Melting Slicks

Joined: Sep 2012

Posts: 2,222

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From: Fort Myers Beach Florida

Let them total it and buy it back for 18% of the ACV. Been there, done that

Sep 25, 2015 | 04:17 PM

jpm995

Drifting

Joined: May 2015

Posts: 1,793

Likes: 147

If it was still driveable to me its worth fixing. I would look for a shop thats resonable, buy it back and get it fixed. Good luck.

Sep 25, 2015 | 04:46 PM

CaseyJones

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jul 2010

Posts: 2,503

Likes: 33

From: McGrady NC

St. Jude Donor '15-'16

Absolutely! You drove it home. It can't be that bad.

Sep 25, 2015 | 05:21 PM

bsmutz

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 419

Likes: 1

From: Kelso WA

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaseyJones

Absolutely! You drove it home. It can't be that bad.

I drove it for at least a couple of weeks (100 mile round trip to work) until they could get it in the shop. No new noticeable driveability issues. Been driving a 'Vette for about 12 years now pretty much exclusively. Not looking forward to having to switch to a lesser vehicle. Keeping my fingers crossed...

Sep 25, 2015 | 06:42 PM

1Willy1

Melting Slicks

Joined: Mar 2013

Posts: 3,311

Likes: 386

From: Toronto Ontario

sounds minor man

buy it back , don't let it slip away

Buy a new fender, rocker panel and exhaust for under 1k

Have the crossmmeber repaired for a few hundred bucks

Sounds like a win win to me