Re: Insurance help needed fast!

[ferret100@juno.com]

Unfortunately cars, unlike houses, really don't benefit in value from
extra stuff done to it.  I have spoken to my insurance company (USAA)
about it.  After all, I have probably spent close to $7-8,000 modifying
my $1,100 car.  If that car were to get mushed, I"d take a huge loss. 
The advice from my company was to document all additions and keep
receipts.  (which kind of sucks, because I stupidly didn't have most of
them...)  If you dont have them, you could track down what they are all
worth and present them with that.  I don't know if it'll work, but you
could try it.  But if it does, be prepared for some sort of depreciation.
 This, by the way, also works for repairs (new engine, tranny, clutch,
etc.).  If it's been reported that you payed a lot less for it than you
did, you may not be able to use that arguement.  However, the insurance
should reimburse you for what the car was worth, not what you payed for
it.

My attitude right now is "If they are only going to pay me for a stock
'82 VW Scirocco, than they are only going to get a stock '82 VW
Scirocco."  I'm not above stripping off parts for reuse or resale.

I"ve been hit 6 times, so I know what a pain in the ass insurance
companies can be.  Good luck.

B.

'82 Scirocco (aka "Fritz")
'85 Jetta

On Sat, 30 Oct 1999 23:00:26 -0500 "Ben Rogowski" <bgr13@earthlink.net>
writes:
>Thanks to all for the speedy replies.  Here's some more info about my
>situation.  The adjuster I spoke to said that they were comparing the 
>car to
>an 88 16V GTI with about 70,000 mi on it.  That's how they came up 
>with the
>regional bluebook value of about $3300.  BTW I'm in Minnesota, and my 
>car
>has 71,250 miles on it.  Having the car stored while I fight this is 
>my
>biggest problem.  I live in an apartment, and I don't have any family
>nearby.  I really doubt I'm going to come out ahead on this deal, 
>although
>I'd like to see about $1000 more out of the settlement.  I mentioned 
>the
>aftermarket parts on the car, and the adjuster said to fax a list of 
>the
>equipment on the car.  This includes:
>
>1. Quad round euro-grille
>2. Bilsteins HD's and Hor Tech springs
>3. Autotech exhaust
>4. Momo steering wheel and shift knob
>5. Boston Acoustics Pro 5 1/4" component speakers
>6. Weighted short shift kit
>
>I don't know what, if any difference this will make.  Any ideas?  I'm 
>also
>trying to get my mechanic to chime in,  as he was friends with the 
>previous
>owner, and worked on the car before I even owned it.  What's the best 
>way
>for me to include his input?  As for getting a receipt from the 
>previous
>owner, that's a bit of a problem, as the state of Minnesota believes I 
>only
>paid $2500 for the car.  (Registration fees were about $60 instead of 
>over
>$350 this way).  I have plenty of photos of pre-accident condition.  
>I'm
>planning on buying the car back.  The option on this is $400.  It's 
>going to
>make one hell of a project Scirocco.
>
>Thanks again for your help
>
>Ben R
>
>
>--
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>

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