what is it worth(this applies to everyone)
12-23-2001, 12:39 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 5
Hi,I have owned several rx7's since 1988.I built an 85 silver/gray interior GS car that was converted to GSL SE running gear.This project took me 3 years to build(on and off) from the ground up and I looked for 2 years at several cars before I bought this one.Somebody pulled out in front of me and it was totaled(he had insurance).I know the ins. company is going to lowball me as to the true value of this car.Has anybody been through this and can you help me?I truly LOVED that car and now its gone.I got to drive it about 6k miles before it was desroyed.I thought it would help if I can find some cars for sale from enthusiasts like ourselves that may seem overly high,but I know what i had and I know it is going to be almost impossible to replace it.If I wanted a new car,I would have bought one.If you ever owned a nice first gen rx7,you know what I mean.Thanks for the space and help...Doug HAPPY HOLIDAYS
12-23-2001, 01:16 PM
#2
Administrator
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Stuart, FL
Posts: 24,416
Yes unfortunately I have been through this 3 times. The last time I had to get a lawyer to get my money for my 83 GSL. Do you have reciepts? Basically with the last situation was a little different, than before they felt even though the officer had determined their insured at fault they weren't. With my vert, the original offer was $5,400. I ended up settling for 10,200. This was a 6 month process and it was very stressful, you need to decide what you want for the car, next step is to find local ads of similar cars for what you would like to get, usually the auto trader is the best route. Make sure you price GSL-SE's and make sure that you explain to them in writing that the car is a GSL-E conversion... i hope you have reciepts.
Stick to your guns, insurance companies make their money of statistics, most people will take the first offer because they don't realize that they have the right to refuse any offer.
So like I say the best thing to do now is decide what you want for it, find ads to prove it's worth that and be prepared to fight them. I just woke up so I am a little foggy I'll probably have more to add to this topic later!!! LOL
Good Luck!!!! :yinyang:
Stick to your guns, insurance companies make their money of statistics, most people will take the first offer because they don't realize that they have the right to refuse any offer.
So like I say the best thing to do now is decide what you want for it, find ads to prove it's worth that and be prepared to fight them. I just woke up so I am a little foggy I'll probably have more to add to this topic later!!! LOL
Good Luck!!!! :yinyang:
12-25-2001, 11:23 PM
#5
Member
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 58
I had to deal with this **** too. Sorry about the language but I hate insurance companies and I make some of my own insurance these days. Secret fuel cut, starter disabler, fire extengisher, body damage that will cause a thief to jsut walk by!
Heres the story of my '85 RX-7: By the way I kept every recipt relivent: rebuild parts, paint, body labor, wet sanding, legal upgrades. I didn't include HP performance enhancers because discussing power upgrades may incur higher costs as with compared to a GSL to a GSL-SE would have up'd my cost when I originally bought the car, they thought I owned a GSL-SE and added an extra 25bucks/month till I straightened it out believe it or not!!!!
Repainted and bodywork done by a friend with no real records didn't frickin help, so document everything on tape/photo's as I do now!!
One day I was driving along at 60mph around a corner and a deer ran across and clipped part of the front fender, mirror, part of the door was dinged..because of the mirror being cliped and finally fudged the rear quarter a little.
Was nearly declared totaled even though, it was just superfical damage. The day it was going to the body shop, at 5am it hailed tennis ball size hail! NOW it was declared totalled.
They determined it was valued at $2,150. Then I showed the recipts and photo's of all the work. As for photo's go: they don't care. They added $200 to the price. My thought of the offer:****** ****! Then they said they would deduct $500 for salvage! WTF?!! I went to several salvage yards and they wouldn't pay more then $20bucks. SO insurance companies are ******* us because, the salvage value is blown out of reality. I total them about their unrealitic value and said that I may suggust that they show my lawyer documentation stating their salvage yard would infact give them $500!! The demand for 1990 and older cars issurance companies determine is a ly and is very low now especially for a 1st gen which is '85 or older!!!
Heres my bottom line: Have the vehicle apprased by several independent apprasers when you do major bodywork/repainted/new engine/big things! Tell the insurance company of this: which will probably induce higher rates because they don't want you to do this. IF you don't apprase it, they will offer you blue book or near whatever they think with the recipts. This is total bull-**** because a car you could sell for $3000 before all this, I got $1950!!! I would of waged legal war but I caved because I don't have the time. So now I have a hail/deer car as a beater with a bridgeport with libility only $30/month. I will get another 1st gen with no damage and put the bridgeport in someday.
But thats my damn story, I hate insurance companies because they are evil in nature and all that good neighbor crap goes right out the window when you really need them!!
Heres the story of my '85 RX-7: By the way I kept every recipt relivent: rebuild parts, paint, body labor, wet sanding, legal upgrades. I didn't include HP performance enhancers because discussing power upgrades may incur higher costs as with compared to a GSL to a GSL-SE would have up'd my cost when I originally bought the car, they thought I owned a GSL-SE and added an extra 25bucks/month till I straightened it out believe it or not!!!!
Repainted and bodywork done by a friend with no real records didn't frickin help, so document everything on tape/photo's as I do now!!
One day I was driving along at 60mph around a corner and a deer ran across and clipped part of the front fender, mirror, part of the door was dinged..because of the mirror being cliped and finally fudged the rear quarter a little.
Was nearly declared totaled even though, it was just superfical damage. The day it was going to the body shop, at 5am it hailed tennis ball size hail! NOW it was declared totalled.
They determined it was valued at $2,150. Then I showed the recipts and photo's of all the work. As for photo's go: they don't care. They added $200 to the price. My thought of the offer:****** ****! Then they said they would deduct $500 for salvage! WTF?!! I went to several salvage yards and they wouldn't pay more then $20bucks. SO insurance companies are ******* us because, the salvage value is blown out of reality. I total them about their unrealitic value and said that I may suggust that they show my lawyer documentation stating their salvage yard would infact give them $500!! The demand for 1990 and older cars issurance companies determine is a ly and is very low now especially for a 1st gen which is '85 or older!!!
Heres my bottom line: Have the vehicle apprased by several independent apprasers when you do major bodywork/repainted/new engine/big things! Tell the insurance company of this: which will probably induce higher rates because they don't want you to do this. IF you don't apprase it, they will offer you blue book or near whatever they think with the recipts. This is total bull-**** because a car you could sell for $3000 before all this, I got $1950!!! I would of waged legal war but I caved because I don't have the time. So now I have a hail/deer car as a beater with a bridgeport with libility only $30/month. I will get another 1st gen with no damage and put the bridgeport in someday.
But thats my damn story, I hate insurance companies because they are evil in nature and all that good neighbor crap goes right out the window when you really need them!!
12-27-2001, 09:27 PM
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 5
Well,tommorrows the day the ins adj comes out to evaluate my loss.I wish more people would send me ads for their rx7s for sale so I could get some more leverage against them.I got a parts list from a MAZDA dealer today for about 85% of the hard parts.Came to 3705 dollars and some parts were NO LONGER AVAILIBLE!That did not include labor!I got a POS Saturn to drive while they decide what to do.I keep you updated...Doug HAPPY NEW YEAR
01-01-2002, 03:24 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 689
I completely agree with pinshup!!!
Get a good lawyer and keep your receipts
I too have been through this three times, and it is no picnic.
It involves alot of time and stress, but I can say from experience STICK TO YOUR GUNS!!! As for receipts and such, if you don't have these try to go to a body shop, auto customizing etc... these places usually understand your plight and can help you :smilewinkgrin: I'm not saying u should forge or lie about your car but sometimes u have to bend the rules to get what is right for you. Use your best judgement and explain ur story to these guys and they will usually provide u with the necessary reciepts. GOOD LUCK!!!
MIKE (DOESN'T ENDORSE INSURANCE FRAUD)
Get a good lawyer and keep your receipts
I too have been through this three times, and it is no picnic.
It involves alot of time and stress, but I can say from experience STICK TO YOUR GUNS!!! As for receipts and such, if you don't have these try to go to a body shop, auto customizing etc... these places usually understand your plight and can help you :smilewinkgrin: I'm not saying u should forge or lie about your car but sometimes u have to bend the rules to get what is right for you. Use your best judgement and explain ur story to these guys and they will usually provide u with the necessary reciepts. GOOD LUCK!!!
MIKE (DOESN'T ENDORSE INSURANCE FRAUD)
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