Date:         Thu, 11 May 2006 06:49:57 -0700
Reply-To:     John Anderson <wvukidsdoc@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Anderson <wvukidsdoc@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Need sale prices for appraisal of '86 Syncro Westy
In-Reply-To:  <20060510162639.58970.qmail@web51508.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

You know, I never really get this discussion entirely when it comes up (and believe me it comes up as I haven't been on the list in 4 years.)  The answer is easy, it's called an "agreed value policy."  Now I'm no lover of insurance companies for sure, I'm a doc now working in WV, doesn't get worse for insurance.  However even I can appreciate that expecting to pay the regular old premium (even with full coverage) for a 20 year old vehicle and then expecting to collect $5-10k? over book value (and even those dear syncro Westies do sell for book value at regular ole yokel car auctions my friends, when there isn't anyone around who understands their "true value") is a bit ridiculous.  I have an agreed value of $10k on my '77, I've not seen one nicer sell for less and actually I've been thinking about increasing the policy but it will do for the moment. I pay a pretty hefty price to insure it considering it is a 1977 VW, but actually less than what most $10k recently used cars
 would cost me, for instance about 1/2 of what my about equal value Chevy truck costs me.  If you are that worried about haveing a $12-$20k policy on a '86 vehicle, just pay someone for it.  Mine is through Nationwide (who I don't like either but can't seem to get rid of for less in WV and all) and I know Country Farm and others have the same.  Now that all of these things are approaching 20 years old, who knows some of the collector car agencies may insure them for much less BTW though there would likely be yearly mileage restrictions, etc, etc.

Anthony Egeln <regnsuzanne@YAHOO.COM> wrote:   Doug, You were reading my mind. I too hope to get some appraisals on my Syncro as a defense against getting a "blue book settlement" on my van should it get wrecked. Derek Drew wrote a great article on this process, which unfortunately I can't find now. Maybe he will read this and post the link to his article. Anyway...I would think an archive of van sale prices would help the process immensely. I just wouldn't know how to set up such a thing.
Cheers, Anthony
'89 Syncro GL (Hidalgo)

Doug Alcock wrote: Hi Larry,

Can you tell me a bit more about the appraisal process and how the insurance
companies regard it. My 93 Cabriolet was recently totalled in an accident
--- and the insurance 'settlement' was pitiful. It's got me worried about
what would happen if my Westy was hit. Maybe we, as a list, should compile a
bunch of data on sale prices the way you're doing and keep it somewhere for
all to use. I'd be happy to host it if there's interest.

Cheers,
Doug

On 5/10/06, Larry Johnson wrote:
>
> This Friday I'm having my '86 Syncro Westfalia appraised for my insurance
> coverage. The appraiser admits that there is very limited information for
> him to work on and would like any input I can provide. I've scanned the
> Classifieds on http://www.thesamba.com but that is not as good as real
> prices that the vans sell for.


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