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Mechanically everything seems fine, but it made a pretty good mess of the front end. The picture doesn't really do it justice. The bumper and hood both have significant cracks in them, besides the obvious damage.
My problem is that the local body shop that I've had good experiences with is attached to an FCA dealer, so I doubt they work on a lot of Corvettes. The local Chevy dealer has been good to work with, but I've only taken it there for oil changes so far. I have no idea what their body shop is like.
How likely is it that a random body shop is going to screw this up? Do I need to find a Corvette specialist?
In all the excitement I almost forgot to come back and update.
The main thing is I got the car back with a clean title! A fellow Minnesotan on the forums here PM'd me about a local body shop that does a lot of Corvette and Viper work, and he was able to fix it for well under the total loss threshold.
I also learned something interesting: In Minnesota, if you buy a car back from insurance, it doesn't get a salvage title. That only happens if the insurance company takes possession of it. So, rather than argue with insurance about estimates, I just took the total payout, minus buyback cost, and fixed the car out of that. I actually came out ahead on the deal, and my conscience is clear since the repair cost was less than the threshold. So, still sucks that I lost a couple of good months of driving late in the summer, but at least I got it back.
Sorry this happened. I agree that any GOOD shop can handle it. You'll want to really research any place you take it to. Ask questions, and make sure they know what they're doing. Good luck. Hopefully, you'll be able to get it looking like new in no time.
Sorry this happen to you. Deer just appear without any warning. Several days ago as I was traveling down a very scenic wooded 2 lane highway, As I rounder a curve I saw a fawn still with spots, cross the road in front of me about 50 ft. away. I stopped way short and stayed there. Good that I did because 2 seconds later the doe and one more fawn crossed,. No doubt if I had not stopped when I did, they would be part of my front end.
Thanks for all the responses. Apparently I was too optimistic thinking a body shop would be my biggest problem. Because the airbags blew, insurance immediately started talking total. I don't know for sure if that's going to happen, but I'm at the mercy of the appraiser now.
It's bullshit if they do, but I could see them lowballing the value enough that it might hit the mark. I guess I'm going to find out whether my insurance company is actually any good or if they just pretended to be on my previous smaller claims.
Sorry this happen to you. Deer just appear without any warning. Several days ago as I was traveling down a very scenic wooded 2 lane highway, As I rounder a curve I saw a fawn still with spots, cross the road in front of me about 50 ft. away. I stopped way short and stayed there. Good that I did because 2 seconds later the doe and one more fawn crossed,. No doubt if I had not stopped when I did, they would be part of my front end.
I've had similar experiences, but this one ran out so close that I had no time to react at all. I don't think I even managed to touch the brakes before I hit it.
Consider yourself luck. I have seen deer come through the windshield. Best of luck with repairs. Now did you get the deer's back strap or meat for sausage
They are everywhere at the moment. As soon as you see one, you know there will be more. Gets worse still in the fall rutting season. Our "other" car collected a full grown buck late last fall, nothing structural, but new hood, new fenders, new lights, new behind the front facia electronics, new facia - and a new passenger side door as he spun around and ended up "stabbing" the door panel. Better than a colleague who had one bolt into the side of his car - its head came through the passenger window, but as he was moving pretty fast at the time, the rest of the deer ended up on the road side. Blood everywhere. The car (which was older) got totaled as the cost of the necessary new interior was going to be more than it was worth.
Consider yourself luck. I have seen deer come through the windshield. Best of luck with repairs. Now did you get the deer's back strap or meat for sausage
Yeah, I've definitely had that thought. I didn't stick around to get the meat either. Just wanted to get home.
Unfortunately, after looking closer at the front end last night I think it might be toast. There's some bent up structure under there where stuff mounts. If it can even be fixed properly, I suspect it's going to cost way too much. They're supposed to come tow it today to get looked at, but I'm not optimistic.
Thanks for all the responses. Apparently I was too optimistic thinking a body shop would be my biggest problem. Because the airbags blew, insurance immediately started talking total. I don't know for sure if that's going to happen, but I'm at the mercy of the appraiser now.
It's bullshit if they do, but I could see them lowballing the value enough that it might hit the mark. I guess I'm going to find out whether my insurance company is actually any good or if they just pretended to be on my previous smaller claims.
I don't know if you know it, but if they total the car you don't have to accept any settlement they offer. If you don't like the offer, find three cars like yours, similar mileage, same options. Comparable sales within 25 miles from your location. Find the three most expensive ones you can find. They will give you the average of the three prices plus your sales tax. I have collector insurance on mine, with agreed value, just for that reason.
Yeah, I've definitely had that thought. I didn't stick around to get the meat either. Just wanted to get home.
Unfortunately, after looking closer at the front end last night I think it might be toast. There's some bent up structure under there where stuff mounts. If it can even be fixed properly, I suspect it's going to cost way too much. They're supposed to come tow it today to get looked at, but I'm not optimistic.
Really sorry to hear that. I hope it turns out that it can be fixed.
The Insurance company will detail the cost of the repairs and it s subject to your State's requirements for repairs vs. declaring it a total loss. They have no wiggle room. If you do not think the repair appraisal is fair, then at your cost, obtain a second opinion. The insurance companies are many times targeted as the bad guys, but it is the government that is the real culprit.
Unfortunately, after looking closer at the front end last night I think it might be toast. There's some bent up structure under there where stuff mounts. If it can even be fixed properly, I suspect it's going to cost way too much. They're supposed to come tow it today to get looked at, but I'm not optimistic.
These cars are very modular and easy to repair. It definitely can be repaired, properly.
Hit a deer last night :-(
