| 2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V General Discussion Discuss everything about the first generation Cadillac CTS-V that does NOT fall into either the Performance or Appearance Modification category. | Cadillac Forums: V-Day Ruined Part II 
07-14-09, 10:49 PM
| | taydcaddy Cadillac(s): 06' CTS-V  | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Easton, MD Age: 54 | | | V-Day Ruined Part II
To recap.......4 days before V-Day III my 06' V was rear-ended by a 19 year old texting on her cell phone causing a 4 car pileup. The end result was my car sustained just under $19k in damages.
So the insurance company (Nationwide) approves the repair and I am ok with it because the car is not hurt bad, just a lot of parts damage. The body shop I took it to (the owner is a friend of mine) says we can fix it like new as there is no suspension damage and although the damage is extensive it is mostly parts (over $13k). The door fit is still perfect and the alignment is still true according to their laser measurements.
So the adjuster calls the shop on Friday and says stop everything they are totaling the car. There story is with the possiblity of a supplemental the damage could exceed MD law (75% of value is an automatic total).
Well I would have let them total it (they wanted to, except I was going to get $26k for an 06' V with $15k in miles and $10k in mods) but I was going to lose my ass in the deal. This morning I call my attorney and go see him and explain the situation. He tells me to call the calims adjuster and tell him either fix the car or we will sue. End result.....2 ours later they reply that they have decided to repair the car as we requested.
The short version (maybe too late for that) is that the salvage value is so high that the insurance company can recoup more money by totaling the car and selling it for salvage (estimated at $7-$9k).
Two observations: 1. Nationwide is not on your side.
2. Not all lawyers are liars!
Wadda you think......did I eff up or do the only thing that I could to keep me from getting my ass handed to me (as I believe)? 
__________________
2006 Black on Black CTS-V - Mods: Lingenfelter CAI, B&B headers w/gutted cats, B&B catback touring exhaust, Katech II shifter w/UUC bushings, UUC 2-piece slotted rotors (front), UUC slotted rotors (rear), Hawk pads, Stainless Steel lines, Motul fluid, Hotchkiss sways, Lindsay rear strut tower brace, W4M tune, MOMO shifter knob, billet door pulls, SRP pedals |
07-14-09, 11:00 PM
|  | Crushing the hopes of Civic owners daily Cadillac(s): 2004 CTS-V with 2 carseats in the back | | Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Franklin, TN (Nashville) Age: 30 | | | Re: V-Day Ruined Part II
So they were gonna give you $26K? I think I would have pulled all of my mods off of it and let it go but that's just my 2 cents. I would think you could find an 06 with similar miles for around $26K. But ultimately if you think you can get the car back to a condition you're happy with then cool. |
07-14-09, 11:08 PM
| | taydcaddy Cadillac(s): 06' CTS-V | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Easton, MD Age: 54 | | | Re: V-Day Ruined Part II
Unfortunately I would not be allowed to remove any parts from the car, hence the problem. Sadly I have the original exhaust, brakes, sways, PCM, shifter, air filter but since I am not allowed to make any changes to the car I am f*****D!. |
07-14-09, 11:24 PM
|  | Truck Motor FTW! Cadillac(s): 2006 CTS-V | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago, IL | | | Re: V-Day Ruined Part II
yeah Nationwide is NOT on your side.
Allstate told me after my last car was totalled, by the adjuster, that I could take all my "aftermarket" parts off it (since they were not giving me any cash for them) as long as the car still had wheels to roll on they didn't care.... so I stripped that baby down! You are in good hands with Allstate. They cost slightly more, but what good is a discount insurer that screws you when you have a claim? Then you are paying premiums for nothing! Boooo
Hey if your buddy owns the repair shop you can maybe ebay some of the parts that were not totally ruined. such as maybe your fogs or headlights or parts that sustained only slight damage and can still be used... just .02
that sucks to hear.... sorry about that.
__________________
UUC-short throw, knob,shifter/diff bushings|LS7 flywheel/clutch|Motul RBF600 brake/clutch,amsoil tranny/diff|hawk Pads,K&N Intake,gutted stock cans, JL Audio amp/sub|mille winter wheels/weld 1 piece forged 19" chrome wheels |
07-14-09, 11:30 PM
|  | Cadillac Owners Fanatic Cadillac(s): 2005 CTS-V, 2006 Escalade ESV Platinum | | | | | Re: V-Day Ruined Part II
Well if the shop owner is a friend of yours I don't see why you couldn't swap a few things...
Worse case would be to tell them some things were removed during the damage assessment or frame machine measurements... |
07-15-09, 12:31 AM
|  | Cadillac Owners Enthusiast Cadillac(s): 2005 CTS-V, Black | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Northern New Jersey | | | Re: V-Day Ruined Part II
Quote:
Originally Posted by Junior1  Well if the shop owner is a friend of yours I don't see why you couldn't swap a few things...
Worse case would be to tell them some things were removed during the damage assessment or frame machine measurements... |
Exactly, I had a buddy in the same position as you, and he knew the owner of the place holding his car while all the insurance stuff was taken care of. The night before they were going to take the car away, him and his friend went and basically returned it to stock. I mean with all the money you have into the car, that would probably be best case scenario (out of a bad one from point A of course). A lot of things have to work out for that to happen of course, but you said you know the shop owner, right? 
__________________ 2005 Raven Black w/ Sunroof... CAGS - UUC Shifter & Bushings w/ 09 V Shift Knob - Magnaflow Exhaust - 20% Tint - Blacked Out Rear & Sidemarkers - Creative Steel Motor Mounts/Trans Mount - UUC Diff Bushing - CTS Armrest - K&N CAI - Chrome OEM rims - Goodyear F1's - 07 Diff with KARS III - Ultimate Pedals - GM drilled/slotted rotors - Sea-V Billet Lock Pulls - Valentine 1 - Wait4Me Tune - JL Audio 10" W6V2 Sub Swap - Heavy's Fire Extinguisher ... waiting to go on: clear fogs  |
07-15-09, 12:36 AM
| | Cadillac Owners Enthusiast Cadillac(s): Silver '05 V | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Atlanta | | | Re: V-Day Ruined Part II
mmmmm insurance fraud. my family (in-laws) own a bodyshop and they would not be down. |
07-15-09, 12:53 AM
| | Cadillac Owners Fanatic Cadillac(s): 2005 CTS-V | | | | | Re: V-Day Ruined Part II
Don't forget to try to be reimbursed for diminution of value, also. Insurance companies try to fight that, but it's a legitimate and compensable (?) expense. Your car's worth drops by 30% or so with repaired damage. Iowa law has court cases documenting this -- I don't know about Maryland. Remember, the insurance company is obligated to restore you to what I believe is called your "prior whole position." We had to fight for that with my wife's Lexus GS several years ago. Rear-ended when it was just under a year old. I'm so sorry about your wreck. You weren't hurt, I hope! |
07-15-09, 01:55 AM
| | Cadillac Owners Fanatic Cadillac(s): 05 CTS-V | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Albuquerque, NM Age: 27 | | | Re: V-Day Ruined Part II
Wow....
Well I just got done with 8k worth of a repair but if I had a estimate that high i would not be disappointed if they totaled the car. As long as I owned it or was not upside down on any loan.
The thing with the AM parts is easy.. Ask them for a breakdown of the value of your vehicle. They have a way of figuring this out. If they do not take any adjustment for the AM parts(they may consider them non value added) then youi are free to remove them and return the vehicle to stock. If you just remove them and leave them a non-operating vehicle then it is going to devalue your settlement or you will run into trouble. I have yet to see a insurance company include higher value for things like exhausts etc.
I work for a body shop but I would cringe to see that high of an estimate. I had 8k on mine after being smacked and run off the road from the back and most of it was suspension.. I would hate to see another 10k ontop of that. Anyways just my 2cents as I write sheets and repair vehicles all damn day.
Dimm value is also a good thing to think about pursuing as long as the claim is not going through your own policy. If so you are SoL  |
07-15-09, 08:04 AM
|  | Cadillac Technician Cadillac(s): none | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Alexandria, VA Age: 41 | | | Re: V-Day Ruined Part II
Saving money on car insurance isn't always a good thing.
I have Allstate also and have never had an issue, of course I have never had a claim with them so.... 
Hopefully I'll never have one either.
I am sure you'll be fine.
__________________
Views expressed by the author of this post do not necessarily represent those of the Lindsay Automotive Group. |
07-15-09, 09:57 AM
|  | Drive It. Break It. Build it Better Cadillac(s): Platinum 2004 CTS-V | | Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indiana | | | Re: V-Day Ruined Part II
Why would it be insurance fraud if you replaced the aftermarket parts with all the stock parts?
I would strip it blind and leave it on bricks out in the parking lot....but that's just me 
__________________
Monster Stage 3 Clutch & 18 lb flywheel, B&B headers w/ hi flow cats, B&B xpipe & catback, Lingenfelter CAI, UUC Gen II Motor Mounts/Trans Mount/Shifter/Diff Bushing, Hotchkis Sways, BMR Trailing Arms & AWH Bushings, Hawk Pads, GM Assy Wheels, Stock Wheels, Drilled GM Rotors, Hendrix Axles, CAGS Elim, '06 Diff, Clear Fogs/Sidemarkers, Tuned by Brent @ EPP on mustang dyno @ 378rwhp/366tq |
07-15-09, 10:24 AM
|  | Cadillac Owners Fanatic Cadillac(s): Cadillac | | Join Date: May 2007 Age: 23 | | | Re: V-Day Ruined Part II
I'm sorry to hear that things haven't turned around for you yet. Hopefully all works out well in the end. I've never though about it, but I would look in to what trhs75 is talking about... Especially since you are already in contact with the lawyer.
If nothing else, I hope that you're at least able to cruise around in your friends GT3; to hold you over.
__________________ 2005 CTS-V Black Raven w/ Ebony: Kooks Headers, Corsa cat-back, K&N CAI, W4M tune, UUC 2-piece front and 1-piece rear slotted rotors, Specter cradle bushings, UUC shifter/knob/bushings, HID fogs, ALL lights tinted, PC'd Accessory wheels/grills...
2007 Red Rock SRT8GC With some mods 
2009 Yamaha R1- Pearl white w/ red  |
07-15-09, 10:34 AM
|  | It's a V thing. Cadillac(s): 05 LS6 Stealth Grey | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tailgating at Giants Stadium Age: 29 | | | Re: V-Day Ruined Part II
At the end of the day, if you are happy, then who cares. You obvi loved the V as much as any of us. It'll be taken care of, just a blip in life.
__________________
"The SR71, this is what an airplane is supposed to be. She's ugly on the ground, leaks like a sieve, but up around Mach 1, the seals all expand, she dries up, leans into the wind and flies like a bat out of hell. I took her right to the limit, 128,000 feet." -Tommy Lee Jones aka Hawk Hawkins in Space Cowboys. Reminds me of a certain car, minus the ugly part. |
07-15-09, 11:50 AM
| | BLING IS AMERICAN RICE Cadillac(s): '04 CTS-V | | Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Just North of Titletown... | | | Re: V-Day Ruined Part II
Quote:
Originally Posted by lollygagger8 Why would it be insurance fraud if you replaced the aftermarket parts with all the stock parts?
I would strip it blind and leave it on bricks out in the parking lot....but that's just me | Unless you had the V reappraised with the aftermarket parts, you're not getting special coverage for those parts. So if you have the ability to swap back to stock, there is no fraud. The insurance company may not like it, but it's not fraud...
Now, if you're pulling LS2s and replacing them with 2.8s and pulling Brembos for floaters, well...
__________________ The Caddy that zigs?
So they were a generation late...
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07-15-09, 01:02 PM
| | Cadillac Owners Enthusiast Cadillac(s): 2005 CTS-V, Black | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Northern New Jersey | | | Re: V-Day Ruined Part II
Quote:
Originally Posted by CadiBlk mmmmm insurance fraud. my family (in-laws) own a bodyshop and they would not be down. | Quote:
Originally Posted by lollygagger8 Why would it be insurance fraud if you replaced the aftermarket parts with all the stock parts?
I would strip it blind and leave it on bricks out in the parking lot....but that's just me | That's what I want to know...It's YOUR stuff you put on the car that YOU'RE not getting compensated for. How is that insurance fraud??? | | Cadillac Discussion Tools | | | 
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