Date:         Fri, 28 Jun 2002 07:46:40 -0700
Reply-To:     pensioner <al_knoll@PACBELL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         pensioner <al_knoll@PACBELL.NET>
Subject:      Re: BS Insurance Co sharks!!!! Re: specific features of 86 GL
In-Reply-To:  <200206281225.g5SCPiDu112252@vmj-ext.prodigy.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Don't worry too much about a salvage title.  Just keep the vanagon and drive
it until you no longer can.  Declare and support the situation with whatever
documentation you can assemble now.

In 5 years that van will still be worth $1K or so.  AND you got another 5
years of use.

Check to see if your policy is a "replacement" value policy.  If so, you
have a few other options too.

I went through this a while ago on a 189Kmi Syncro Westfalia.  Totalled by a
drivers side front collision deemed as "no fault" by the donut muncher who
took time out of his busy day harassing jaywalkers to do a little real work.

Time is on your side.

Don't settle.

Sit on it.

Assemble sales figures for vans like yours in your area.  Contact Hoch
Motors, J&R Vans or similar specialty sellers to see what the "real" sales
numbers are.  Check vanagon.com for their data.

Document your claim.  Demand replacement, not payout.

When I did all my research, KBB upgraded their evaluations based on my data.

Derek Drew gave me invaluable advice on the method.

It's in the archives and if I have time today I'll fetch it out.

p