Heavy Car Body Damage

[Billybob]

Thanks for all the advice.

Unfortunately, AAA (her insurer) sent the check directly to the body shop that they chose and the body shop has already started work. We will insist that they use original Honda parts and won't accept the car if there is any doubt that the car is in perfect condition (as perfect as it can be after this much damage).

Taking the $$ was never really an option. The kbb for this vehicle was $10k-$12k before the accident. No way we could replace it with something comparable for $5k. No rust. The car has spent no more than 3 days north of the I10 and has never seen snow, salt or other chemicals.

The diminished value claim sounds like our best bet. You're right that we will never be able to sell this vehicle for anything worthwhile. We normally keep our cars forever (I drive a '92 Civic). Even if it works okay now, I doubt that it will last nearly as long as it would without the collision. If it drives Okay, we'll probably trade it in in a year or two.

The good thing is she's probably going to grad school in Boston in the Fall, so she won't need a car there.

Again, Thanks.

[Mini 9]

don't drive substantially wrecked and repaired cars. I worked at a dealership. Just don't.

[M A V I C]

Billybob wrote: We will insist that they use original Honda parts and won't accept the car if there is any doubt that the car is in perfect condition (as perfect as it can be after this much damage).

Honestly, it's probably in the insurance contract that you don't get to choose that.

I'm glad my insurance company lets me pick whatever shop I want.

[deckeda]

Monster wrote:
[quote=deckeda]
[quote=Monster]
inspector will decide whether or not it's totaled.

If the A/C and major mechanical works it's worth no more than $1500. Oh my yes, they'll total it.

Sorry for your loss, but they did you a favor. That rear quarter panel rust that's so common on 4th-gen Accords wasn't going to be worth fixing either, and now you don't have to, or see it get worse etc.
KBB for my area (07040 zip code) brings it to $2.200 or above, before the accident that is.
OK, you plugged other criteria in and got a different number. Think it can be fixed for $2,200? Me neither.

[deckeda]

M A V I C wrote:
Ouch, I would have thought a 2005 accord was worth more. Looks like depending on options, they're worth $8k-12k.


[quote=deckeda]
Sorry for your loss, but they did you a favor. That rear quarter panel rust that's so common on 4th-gen Accords wasn't going to be worth fixing either, and now you don't have to, or see it get worse etc.

I don't really think it was a favor. My brother has over 300k miles on his second accord (he's older than me and this is pretty much the second car he's ever owned.) Yeah the paint sucks and there's rust, but he can get 36mpg out of it and he can work on it himself. Trying to find a replacement is a joke. They're very hard to find and usually haven't been taken care of.

The value they pay is much lower than the actual replacement value.
Your chief assumption here places a different priority on his car than does most of the public when doing a valuation. Doesn't make your point incorrect though, just atypical.

[deckeda]

M A V I C wrote:
[quote=Winston]
[quote=M A V I C]
The value they pay is much lower than the actual replacement value.

We take good care of our cars and keep them for a long time. There is little likelihood that we could replace any of them with one in comparable condition for the amount an insurance company would give us or for the amount for which we could sell one of them.


- W
Exactly.
It's true that book value cannot recompense for your time or lack of choice in used cars.

[M A V I C]

deckeda wrote:
[quote=M A V I C]
[quote=Winston]
[quote=M A V I C]
The value they pay is much lower than the actual replacement value.

We take good care of our cars and keep them for a long time. There is little likelihood that we could replace any of them with one in comparable condition for the amount an insurance company would give us or for the amount for which we could sell one of them.


- W
Exactly.
It's true that book value cannot recompense for your time or lack of choice in used cars.
??? lack of choice in used cars?

[deckeda]

M A V I C wrote:
??? lack of choice in used cars?

As in, lack of choice for another used car just like what you had. Which I think was your point earlier?

[M A V I C]

deckeda wrote:
[quote=M A V I C]
??? lack of choice in used cars?

As in, lack of choice for another used car just like what you had. Which I think was your point earlier?
OOOOH. Ok. I understand. I read it as if you were saying he had poor choice or inability to make a good choice when picking a good car. No that because there are very few options, but more so that you were saying it was more of a personal problem with him... which isn't what you were saying.