The car did its job and protected you, the driver. Be glad that you came out as well as you did as its pretty good engineering to take a hit like that and allow you to survive.

 

Seriously get an '09. There are now dealers right here on CF offering either close to, or actual employee discount pricing on '09s. Why not?

Yes, you'll wait a little longer, but let's not even think of getting hit again. Let's say you really like the new C7 when it comes out and want to trade. As you said, as of today your '08 will be one year older.

As to the 4LT, all I've seen is pics, but to me it looks very good. It is maybe the only thing I might have considered, had I seen one in person before I bought/ordered mine.

 

 

With 20k in damages a good insurance company would just total out the car. 20k is the initial quote, however it could cost them thousands more with the customer complaining about little things not being quite right. Push your insurance company to total the car.

 

If they are estimating $20,000 damage already, you might be able to get them to total it. Ask your adjuster if you can total it and see what they say. Only problem is they offer you bottom dollar to settle.

 

Push hard to establish that the frame is bent, then get a new one.

 

You have no control over that...at all. No legitimate body shop will lie about a major issue like a bent frame, especially when they have to justify the cost of the repairs to an insurance adjuster...who is probably an ex body shop man himself. If the frame is not bent, it's not bent. (Even a bent frame is repairable.)

As far as the 2008 versus 2009...I chose to go with the 2009. My reasoning is that the 2009 offers one less year of depreciation and costs almost the same as a 2008 leftover. I think the new variable ratio steering may be a real improvement, but I'll have to wait until someone actually drives one before I know that. In my case, I also wanted the new Cyber Gray color. The only downside to ordering a 2009 is the wait...order processing, build time, and delivery. At this early point, that can take several weeks...and none are on the dealer lots yet.

I've seen the 4LT interiors but went with the 3LT for my own order. The 4LT is very nicely done but I really couldn't see spending the extra bucks for a minor cosmetic upgrade. If the money isn't an issue, it is a good looking option.

 

No frame dameage andjust cosmetic = WIDE BODY

 

It will really come down to the initial estimate before tear down. If they are in the 20's before even tearing it down, you have a chance the insurance company will want to total it so they don't have to pay for tear down just to realize it is a total. With a hit like yours, there is sure to be hidden damage that will only be found tearing down the car.

As far as getting a new one, I am like you and would not keep the repaired car. If money is not an issue, I would either find a 2008 on the lot that was exactly like I wanted or I would order a 2009. Life is too short to sit and wait. If you go the order route, you might even be able to arrange a trade in with the dealer since it will be a couple months before the new car is ready and that's about how long the repairs will take on the smashed car.

 

As far as the 4LT I say it is definitely worth the extra cost. Yes, you can buy a nicer aftermarket interior for a lot more $$$. The 4LT is stock from the factory though.

A lot of people love the car when they first see it (Atomic Orange Coupe) but you can tell their excitement picks up when I open the door. Some are shocked that GM can make an interior that nice.

The invoice price differences between 3LT and 4LT is about $2900. Since a lot of people like two-tone for their Vette 3LT the difference is about $2300 which is about what it costs when you don't get the NAV option (when you factor in adding a 6 disc that you lost with the NAV option).

You really have to look at the two versions side by side and you'll see the differences are not minor.

By the way, I'm sorry to hear about your accident. At least everyone seems to be ok. Find a good physical therapist for your foot and a good auto body place for your Vette.

 

 

There is a slight difference in the 2009 LS3 block. As of 2009MY, all LS3 blocks will be built identically. That means you'll get the "thicker walled" LS9 block! There are also castings for the oiling system to cool the undersides of the pistons/skirts area. This isn't available in the 2008MY.

 

Thanks for all the comments and encouragement.
The $20k estimate for repairs is just my own eyeball, based on what similar damage on other people's cars has cost to repair. Could be off by $10k in either direction. The best case scenario would be if I get a reasonable cash out and order a 2009. Most of the summer would be lost, but I can still do trap shooting and sporting clays.

Keeping my fingers crossed about the foot.

I'll try to find a 4LT interior to look at before deciding. Spent most of my adult life flying airliners that had very comfortable and convenient cockpits, but the aesthetics would make a Yugo look good: exposed screws, mis-matched switch & *****, cheap paint or cheaper plastic on everything, carpet that I wouldn't put in our dog house, etc. I'm easy to please...

 

If they don't total it and say you have $20k in damages I would do this. Put the car on e-bay and sell it. Say the car brings $15K and you got 20K from the insurance your back at $35K. You can always make a better deal without a trade in.

 

Here is an idea, have a dealer do the repairs and guarantee you a trade in value for what its worth after the repairs. Insurance company can't argue with that value and it gets you a new car

 

i just did repairs on a car that was hit in the front pretty hard. both airbags deployed etc. it was an '07 with 2k miles. the insurance talley was $15k
dash
steering column
hood
both headlights
bumper
impact bar
both fenders
plus all the little fasteners and trim pieces.

they didnt total the car, and we did a complete Z06 package and repaired it, and it looks good as new. find a good bodyshop, fix it all, and have it repainted the color you want.

or, sell the car as-is to me!
hard to believe this is a base model that was smashed all the way back to the radiator.

 

Boardwalk Chevrolet has '09 Corvettes at GM employee pricing and has avalible vehicles listed on another post. Don't be too hard on Buick drivers, my DD is a Buick :o

 

Sorry to hear and hope you heal up a-ok.
I am a 3LT man myself, but the leather does look good.
I t-boned a car that was nice enough to run a red and the damage didn't look that bad. My insurance company was going to repair it but the body shop discovered my frame was slightly bent (he was traveling right to left and I hit him flush between the tires but his momentum tweaked my frame).
I was able to convince them that a vette with a bent frame, even repaired, was worth about $10K less than blue book or Edmunds.
They totaled it and off to the Dealer.
Best of luck to you!

 

Not true. The chances of getting diminished value will be slim to none. You have to prove you have actually lost money do to the accident. The insurance companies clearly state "If the car is repaired by a reputable shop to pre-accident condition, there will be no diminshed value".

 

Gearhead Jim... sorry to hear about the accident... glad you're ok... hope you feel better and hope that everything works out.