Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 16:34:14 -0400
Reply-To: Ron Mighton <rmighton@PASSPORT.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Ron Mighton <rmighton@PASSPORT.CA>
Subject: Update on Insurance Appraisal
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I initially sent this note:
Subject: Insurance Appraisal
>
>I am planning to switch to Royal Insurance because they say they will
insure my 1990 Westfalia for its appraised value. They did insist that I
use the Toronto Ontario Kreger Appraisal Service. Kreger unfortunately have
very limited knowledge of late Westy prices but I had a ton of references
pulled off the net suggesting the Canadian Value could be way over 20K and
even approaching 30 K for this excellent condition vehicle with about 113k
miles on it and its brand new final drive and automatic transmission. They
(Kreger) decided thay need some time to research its value after looking
with surprise at the price information I provided so I am waiting for the
verdict . They are charging me $175 CDN for the appraisal so as soon as I
Know I will let you know. I am planning to go with Royal because I have
heard that they treat you decently AFTER the accident. Any comments on
Royal performance when its time to pay would be greatly appreciated.
KES Kreger Evaluation Services Ltd. got back to me today with their final
appraisal of my 1990 Westfalia. Kreger are a well respected (by insurance
companies) appraiser of classical cars with as I mentioned earlier VERY
LIMITED knowledge of late Westfalias. This is the first appraisal i have
participated in so I was surprised when they paid no attention to the
engine Ie they didn't start or run it or listen to the engine. I showed
them the engine evaluation I had performed by the Owasco VW dealer which
rated the engine as good with ciompression of 140, 140, 130,135 The engine
has 182,000 kilometers of careful driving or about 113,000 miles and runs
powerfully and smoothly I said . They showed little interest in this or in
the fact that I had just installed a new automatic transmission and final
drive unit for $5800 CDN . They also showed no interest in the stove fridge
water system etc. They did not bother to raise the pop top or ask about the
canvas. They didn't care about the terrific Apollo awning.
They were REALLY interested in the exterior body though. Man they went over
it with an eagle eye and found four BEGINNINGS of seam rust I didn't even
know about. I thought the body was excellent . They rated it as good and I
guess that was from the perspective of a classical car appraisor looking
for perfection. They rated the interior, seats and carpet as excellent and
I think I only got that rating because the previous two owners had always
had the carpet covered with another carpet for protection. They were REALLY
interested in the interior as well. Overall they rated the condition of
the vehicle as "GOOD" .
THEY GAVE ME A VALUE of $18,000 Cdn Counting the import duty of 7.3 % and
the value of the Canadian dollar that means I would have to be able to buy
an equivalent US one for $11,000. I think they are low but I would really
appreciate comments from both Canadians and US listmembers.
The way they determined a comparable US value was to get the average price
of 90 Westys from auctions. I suggested they were way out of line with
Kelly price estimates but they pointed out that appraisors were not
supposed to be influenced bu the comments of (whining and snivelling )
owners like me. The appraisal including taxes cost me 187.25CDN
I paid $12,000 for the vehicle in April 1997 with a known automatic
transmission problem. The fix for this as mentioned above cost me $5,800.
My initial objective was to ensure the Vehicle was insured for a realistic
repIacement price and I don't think I have done that. I am considering
trying to find an appraisor who is knowledgeable about westys and trying
again but first I need comments from you knowledgeable list members on what
GOOD 90 Wesfalias are going for. Comments from Canadian list members
regarding recent sales are really welcome.
***************************************************************************
"The significant problems we face can not be solved at the same level of
thinking we were at when we created them" Einstein
Ron Mighton Toronto, Canada
