So, they totaled it, obviously, after stating more than $4000 worth of damage.

They called today with an offer on the total loss of it. They said they'd give me $1080 if I keep the truck and $1180 if I have them take the truck.

WTF? The blue book value of it is 1900, stock, in good condition, which it was before being hit. It's got a posi rear add-on, aluminum radiator add-on, CD player add-on, brand new water pump, half shafts, tires...of which add up to, on their own, more than a grand.

The insurance guy spent twenty minutes on the phone telling me that they go by "fair market value" which is determined by the selling price of other vehicles in the area, which are all over $2000 for a running and fully operational '85-'89 4Runner which would be a similar replacement.

He also said that it is not their responsibility to "replace my vehicle, or to pay for the damages to my vehicle", only to pay the market value of the vehicle before the accident.

I think I'm being screwed.

I told them no, he said he'd give it to their special total loss department or whatever it was called and that they'd contact me again by Friday afternoon.

Any pointers on what I should do, who I should talk to or what research I should have before then so that I don't get screwed out of half the value of my 'yota?

I guess you could take the parts off your old one and make up the difference that way, as I'm sure parting her out would render more than $100.

I, too, often wonder why blue book value is so far below ACTUAL trading value. I think the companies use too many formulas instead of just taking a walk down the street.

Dude,take their check and your truck.Find another one and dig the spare parts!

Didn't that have like 400,000 miles on it? That might have an impact on their value. When the insurance company is paying you $1,000 for anything with 400k on it, take it and run! lol

Sooooo... you guys are saying that I should take HALF of the value of my truck and be happy with it?

How about someone with a V chime in here. Imagine you got hit by someone who admitted it was their fault. Their insurance offers you $10,000 as a pay-off because they don't want to pay any more. Their excuse is "its fair market value" when you can't replace your V for any less than, what, $25,000 is the low blue on an 06?

Yea, you should take your wrecked V, ten grand, and call it a good day. You're welcome.

Make sense? Same thing but with smaller numbers. The 'yota can't be replaced for under TWO thousand dollars. It was THEIR clients fault that I no longer have a vehicle and it is THEIR responsibility to solve the problem. If they deliver me a comparable 4runner instead of the money it will take to replace it, cool, I'll take it. But if they want to give me half of what its going to take to replace what was taken from me...they've got issues. I've got a feeling this is going to get long and drawn out.

Hell, Dilligaf: I'll take that offer. I'll give you a wrecked V and ten grand in cash in trade for yours. Betcha won't do it, eh?

Regardless of what my vehicle is worth it is their responsibility to replace it with a comparable vehicle or the means for me to find one. It was by no fault of my own that my 4Runner was destroyed. Why should I be punished, to the tune of 50% of the value, because the driver whom they insure ran into me and admits fault?

It's the way insurance compaines work... it sucks....

When Rich's '87 Brougham was wrecked the 2nd time, they considered it a total loss. It was winter time and someone tried to stop going down a hill (he was going up the hill) and slid across their lane, into the Caddy, trashed the front end (all cosmetic)

I forgot what they gave him for the car, I think only $1,500, thats all they said it was worth, DESPITE the fact he JUST spent (about 2 months ago) $1,800 on a brand new reman engine with the recipet to prove it, they "credited: him something like $48 for the new engine, then took off like $100 cause the seat was ripped.... it was bull.... but, we pryed out the fender from the tire and drove it outta there, found a good front clip, had it transported, and a quick paint job on it, all for $450, and the car was good for another 30k miles... he just kept the rest of the money from it.

You may be able to fight it, but I don't know, especially if it had 375k miles, to the insurance company, that truck was way beyond its useful lifespan..... usually with a really old vehicle (non classic) when its involved in an accident, this is what happens.... its kinda what goes along with owning an older car. It dosn't matter how reliable it was, how many new parts are in it or how well it ran... a 19xx car with xxxxx miles is only worth so much. I know if my '89 Fleetwood Brougham was involved in an accident that caused $2,000 of damage, they'd probably consider it a total... yet the car may only have a smashed fender and bent bumper... That's exactly what happened to Rich's car, twice.

You say it books for 2k, but which value are you looking at? Suggested retail price? If so, those are way over inflated and you'll never get that for the car.

I got lucky a few years ago and had a 93 Buick Century with 150k on it that I had blown the headgasket on. I was coming home in it and someone broadsided me and tore up one side. Insurance ended up giving me like $2300 for a car that probably wasnt worth $500.

I'm looking at the cost that it is going to take me to replace it. Damage is more than the value of the vehicle, yes. But the replacement cost is well over the value that they're giving me. Offering my less than half of what it is going to cost to replace it is no different than theft. There are a dozen of them just like mine within fifty miles of here for sale right now, both private party sales and dealerships. The CHEAPEST one out of all of them is 1100 and it doesn't have the top and has a blown headgasket which needs repair. The insurance company says that it is not their responsibility to pay for the damage or replace the vehicle. Then what IS the purpose of an insurance company, if not to insure that their clients damages will be paid for?

Yea your comment about bluebook values being LESS than transaction prices confused me as well.

If anything whenever I go to trade a car in, I dont even MENTION blue book because they just laugh me out of the showroom. Im prepared to accept well under bluebook in most cases, even the BlueBook "trade" estimate. They are ALL inflated, and FORGET NADA values. Same with private party sales... If I try to sell a used car FOR bluebook private party, it will sit for ALONG LONG time. What gets people's attention is when you put "2000.00 under book!", and even thats still retail-ish.

The purpose of bluebook and NADA is simply to give the dealership leverage when applying the customer for a loan, as BANKS go by NADA values and BlueBook values to determine what they are willing to LEND on a car.

Honestly, Im not diminishing the value of your 4Runner, but I also thought 1080 was a reasonable offer from an Insure-crook company. They are there to make money, not to protect you.

FYI, if you ever want a semi-accurate appraisal for your car before you step into the showroom (if you're trading), or if you just want to find out what your car is possibly worth to the insurance companies, find a local or non-local dealer who has signed up with "Blackbook Online". It is an online trade-appraisal that actually looks at REAL dealer auction and transaction data, and forms a range of value based on TRUE transactional data. For example, the 2003 Range Rover? According to NADA, the truck is STILL worth 32000.00 RETAIL and 28000 TRADE.. Blackbook estimates it at 19000-24000.00 trade. Id probably be hit around 20-22 if a dealer REALLY wanted to make the sale. This is why GAP insurance is so popular, it makes up the "difference" (usually up to 125%) between what the insurance company OFFERS you, and what you actually OWE on the vehicle if you're making payments.

Nah. I know that KBB and NADA and the rest of them are way over inflated. I don't care about that. What I care about is that I had something taken away from me, against my will. Accident or not, I didn't want to give it up. She admitted fault, her insurance company took the blame. The purpose of insurance is to replace what the driver destroys, not to give a couple of bucks and make everyone happy.

Imagine that your Navigator was hit by another driver who admitted fault. Would you be content with anything less than a replacement? Would you take a '96 Bronco in place of it and be ok with it? It's a Ford, your Lincoln was a Ford. They both have 4wd, right? They both have windows and wheels, right? Cool. Fair trade, even though the dollar value is different. Or would you expect that it is replaced, repaired or at the least that you are given the means to repair or replace it yourself?

For me to replace my destroyed property it is going to take at least $1800. Whether or not KBB or NADA or anyone else publish that the value of the vehicle as less than that, they are going for more than that on todays market which means I am entitled to a replacement or the value of a replacement.

I'm not trying to say that my 4Runner was worth much. It wasn't. It's a twenty year old truck with close to four hundred thousand miles on it. But the fact is it was MINE and it was taken from me by an insured driver. Her insurance has the responsibility to correct their clients mistake. They can't do that by offering a band aid and saying sorry.

Boy, someone is in a foul mood:tisk:

Yeah pick on the V owners.

If the parts are worth it, take the check and your truck and strip it.

You have every reason to be fully pissed and demand your diminished value be replaced. I know though that if I got hit in the Navigator, XYZ insurance probably wouldnt pay what I owed on it... *maybe* not even close.

I *think* the difference in my case is I carry full coverage insurance as WELL. So if HER insurance company tried to lowball me, my insurance steps in and either makes up the difference, or just takes care of the whole thing.

Its a complex situation I guess.

Foul mood? Yes. Trying having money taken from you without cause, justification or right. Puts a damper on ones mood.

Wasn't picking on you, Mr. V. owner. Just as an example.

Hey, wanna loan me your CTS till I find something new? :)

There's a difference between paying what is owed and what something is worth. If depreciation drops the value of your Nav below what you actually owe one it then no, it shouldn't be payed off. But you should, without a doubt, be given enough to buy another one just like it or at least as similar as can be reasonably found. Or am I wrong in thinking that when someone destroys the property of another they should replace it?

Your wrong in thinking that it all comes out even and everything will be made right.

Sorry you feel like your getting hosed.

Welcome to life, tis the season.........

Just about any vehicle with 400,000 miles on it is ragged out. It doesn't owe you a dime. I'd walk away from it and never look back. It's time to turn the page and move on to more viable Spydermobiles. You can find a car with more life at the impounded car auction. Other wise it's:horse:

Spyder, What Ins CO. do you have? There are very few that offer replacement coverage. Is this your first total? if so...welcome to the real world! Nobody ever said nor do Ins. Co's claim that their system is fair...like it or not. If you don't like it you can always contact your Congressman and let them know you would like to see a change in the industry regulations!......good luck with that one though!

Foul mood? Yes. Trying having money taken from you without cause, justification or right. Puts a damper on ones mood.

Wasn't picking on you, Mr. V. owner. Just as an example.

Hey, wanna loan me your CTS till I find something new? :)

There's a difference between paying what is owed and what something is worth. If depreciation drops the value of your Nav below what you actually owe one it then no, it shouldn't be payed off. But you should, without a doubt, be given enough to buy another one just like it or at least as similar as can be reasonably found. Or am I wrong in thinking that when someone destroys the property of another they should replace it?

Dude,lighten up.I meant no disrespect-(serious!).I have been in your shoes!Trust me!I'm just saying,take the money and your truck back.Ya your getting corn holed alittle here but ****!Those parts are solid gold if you get another truck just like it.Seems to me you get a grand,plus 2 grand worth of parts.:bouncy:

Hey Spyder, can you shoot me all the vitals on that 4Runner? I need as many as possible to see what the blue book value actually is.

This thread is turning http://www.knowsley.com/safari/images/animals_large/Jungle-Fowl.gif fowl.

Most of the guys here are right... this is why Allstate touts their "NEW CAR REPLACEMENT" feature so heavily. They are one of the FEW who guarantee to replace your vehicle if it's ever totalled or stolen (and with heavy fine print I assure you), on a new car only. In fact the, actor specifically says "Not just it's diminished value." So yes, That's Allstates stand. Are you in good hands?... Most of us aren't.

Most of the guys here are right... this is why Allstate touts their "NEW CAR REPLACEMENT" feature so heavily. They are one of the FEW who guarantee to replace your vehicle if it's ever totalled or stolen (and with heavy fine print I assure you), on a new car only. In fact the, actor specifically says "Not just it's diminished value." So yes, That's Allstates stand. Are you in good hands?... Most of us aren't.
Allstate has been nailed at one time or another for every cheap chisiling scam that ever showed up in the car insurance business. It used to belong to Sears-Roebuck. That's all you need to know about them.

HaHA! After sending them the ads for local similar vehicles and reciting back the laws posted with California's Department of Insurance the girls company called back within an hour and a half with a reasonable offer. 1800 plus tax, license and smog certification.

Pain in the ass, it was...but after filing a complaint with the governing agency things went rather quickly...

Nice :cool:

Glad you made it work. :thumbsup:

A fair settlement.

Good job, Spyder. Hope you get another soon!

Good for you, not just for fighting for your rights, but by finding the right documentation to back up your arguments. Considering how often insurance companies get away with ripping people off, it's nice to see somebody win a battle for a change.

With USAA, I get Actual Cash Value minus 500 for broadened collision. Less 100 for comprehensive loss coverage. Deduction is waived for the broadened collision if the driver isn't substantially at fault.