Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (October 2008, week 5)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:45:53 -0700
Reply-To:     Matt Drew <t3vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matt Drew <t3vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: HELP! Blackbeard Update-Not Good.
Comments: To: azsun99 <azsun99@earthlink.net>
In-Reply-To:  <003d01c93b88$25de81a0$0ac6f004@computer>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Thank you to EVERYONE for your fantastic advice!!!

At the risk of sounding ignorant, I had no idea that there were other courses of action!

I will say this... Even if Blackbeard's days are over (fingers are crossed), he will make way for the next family Vanagon.

Keeping the glass half full,

-Drew

On Fri, Oct 31, 2008 at 11:40 AM, azsun99 <azsun99@earthlink.net> wrote:

> There is a lot in the archives on this, but basically, time is on your > side. They want > to settle quickly and cheaply. Stand your ground. > Good luck! > Jerry in AZ > > Here is a quote from Mark in AK: > > "Take possession of your van, it is still your van and will remain so > until you > settle with the Insurance company. Therefore they have no right to deny > you access to > it, the towing company however may deny access until the fees have been > paid. This > may or may not be legal but it does happen. A pretty face and a sob story > may help in > getting to the van for personal effects, but not for removal of attached > parts. > Storage fees add up quickly so the sooner you get it back the better, > later you can > negotiate these expenses into the settlement as the crash was caused by the > other > driver and their insurance is obligated to cover your losses within reason. > Call the > tow company, pay the fees, and have it towed home or wherever you can store > it, and > save the receipt. If they argue you can tell them that you did not > authorize it to be > towed anywhere but to your house and were not given the option on where it > went(an > assumption on my part based on years of experience). Compile all > of your receipts for the engine, rack, tires, engine, awning, etc., it is > possible, > though difficult to get reimbursed for them should the van not get > repaired. Save > these for later in your negotiations though, start with hitting them for > real market > value, not NADA, Kelly, etc., book value. They will hit you with "Book" > value, we all > know that "Book" value is low on our vans. I checked value on both of our > vans > recently and it showed high book on my `87 Syncro around $8300.00 and the > `87 Westy > Syncro was $8900.00. Get on line and find every comparable van you can, > try > Autotrader, TheSamba, GoWesty, and every other place you can. They will > argue that > some of your comparables are from outside of your market, you position will > be that > this is where you had to look to find real comparables and if they do not > like it they > are welcome to find a replacement van for you. One that is truly > comparable, not > just the same year or model, they hate this and would rather write a che > ck than spend resources replacing your van. For every comparable you find > list and > describe every difference, ie; your GoWesty engine has less miles, body in > better > condition, the accessories you added, etc. Again, the Insurance co. won't > want to > talk about the accessories but they are part of your financial loss and the > longer you > hold out the better you will do. Do not let them tell you that they only > have to > settle for market value of the van without the accessories, they are not > your > insurance company, it was the other drivers fault, so you do not have a > contract with > them stating what they have to pay for your loss. Option "B" for the > accessories is > to settle on the van but get them to let you pull those items(shoud they > total it and > you not keep salvage rights). While you are at it, track the hours that > you spend on > researching the value and negotiating with them then submit a bill for your > time, they > won't like it but your time has a value and their client has caus > ed you to spend "X" amount of your valuable time dealing with this. Make > them provide > a rental car, they hate to pay for them but since you can no longer drive > your vehicle > they have to provide one. This gives them incentive to settle quickly as > rental fees > add up fast, the longer you hold out on for your price on the van, the more > they spend > in rental fees. Should they total your van consider buying back the > salvage, it is > worth very little to them as they know that salvage yards only want late > model, > popular vehicles, not 20 year old niche market Vanagons. A recent example > of salvage > value that I came across was on a `91 Westy Syncro with a reported 38,000 > miles on it, > after an engine fire it was sold by the insurance company for a reported > amount around > $3,000.00. Yes the buyer knows what he has, no he won't sell it, I've > already tried! > Should you not be in the position to deal with parting out your van maybe > ther is > someone on the List nearby that can help, or that r > ecognizes the value of the parts and is willing to purchase the carcass for > a fair > price. Where are you located? > > The bottom line is that you are in the drivers seat, it is your loss, but > someone else > has to make it right, within reason. Check your State laws, talk to your > insurance > agent, document everything, including time spent, and do not settle until > you are > satisfied." > > > Mark in AK > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Matt Drew" <t3vanagon@GMAIL.COM> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 10:23 AM > Subject: HELP! Blackbeard Update-Not Good. > > > > Adjuster just came. > > > > This sucks. Based in part on the prices of similar vehicles for sale in > the > > area (and this is Vegas, so good luck with that) the value of Blackbeard > is > > $2,649. > > Cost to repair (minus the radiator, because he couldn't actually get to > the > > radiator to look at it) is $4,500. > > > > Total labor per his report is over 22 hours. > > > > Even with the additional value given the new (<75,000 mi.) engine, the > > massive number of hours PLUS parts is just too much. > > > > Alright. > > Never been through this before. > > Aside from the new damage, Blackbeard is in FANTASTIC condition. > > Interior is very clean. Cruise works great. Power mirrors, windows, door > > locks, AC (needs to be replaced though), and the OEM carpet covers are > even > > in good shape. > > No rips/tears. . . > > > > Do I take the total and have 'em haul it off? > > Do I have it towed to a recommended shop for an estimate? > > Anyone else dealt with this before? > > > > HELP ! ! ! ! > > > > -Drew > > '90 GL "Blackbeard" (Life Support) > > > > > > -- > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > Checked by AVG. > > Version: 7.5.549 / Virus Database: 270.8.5/1758 - Release Date: 10/31/08 > 8:22 AM > > > > > >


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.