In need of value Estimates

[Grif]

Have you tried treating the faded panels with Back to Black, Trim Shine, or anything else yet? I have to agree with rowhard, getting internet opinions is not likely to sway the insurance overlords. But maybe you can make it match on your own? I mean eventually you're going to be using those products anyway, so it might be worth a shot.

Agreed

[Grif]

From the pic you posted, I'd say treating the rest of the cladding with Refinish Restorer, or "R/R" as its commonly called here would match things up quite well.

Of course we all have our fave restore products for cladding, a search for posts about cladding restoration would benefit you better than trying to beat up the insurance man.

[vt_maverick]

Mild thread jack here, but do you have pics of your custom Audiobaun system? I have to believe $5K would go a LONG way to building a pretty kick-*** system.

[Luna X]

you could always tuck the VX away in a garage and send the back cladding to me (in Phoenix) and I will keep it out in the sun... that way in a couple years, the new piece will match all the originals...

[vx2darescue]

I would be down for you to do that. But that would leave me with a half naked V to drive. She is my daily driver.

[Marlin]

you could always tuck the VX away in a garage and send the back cladding to me (in Phoenix) and I will keep it out in the sun... that way in a couple years, the new piece will match all the originals...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will give you 20 bucks for the VX with mismatched cladding...use that in your negotiations

If all the cladding matched, I would give you at least 50 bucks, so over 50% depreciation.

[vx2darescue]

LOL! Thanks for keeping it in perspective Marlin. I really needed it today. I got bad news. The Isuzu dealership in town that promised me the two estimates have now said that the owner will not allow it.

I am calling in all personal favors that I might have outstanding with my Denver auto connections.

Here is to holding my breath and hoping I don't turn blue before I get what I need.

[vx2darescue]

Here is the latest...I now have the Autobody shop searching Nationally for used cladding parts that will closely match my originalls. Hurray for small victories.

Does any one have rear door and rear bumper cladding that they are willing to part with? You could name your price I don't care at this point.

[tom4bren]

Question: Why is YOUR insurance company handling this? Was the person who hit you uninsured?

I've seen ads on TV recently for legal firms that specialize in civil suits to get compensation for the de-valuation (izzat a word?) after an accident. That may be a better option for you than to keep beating your head against that insurance company's brick wall

If you are going to keep going after your insurance company to make it right, a better arguement would be to have them professionally match the faded cladding to the new. If they won't do that then you will absolutely have grounds to take them to court for compensation.

[vt_maverick]

Good luck, let us know how it turns out!

[vx2darescue]

I will keep you all informed.

[RamAirZ]

Glad to see your getting it worked out man! I hate dealing with insurance companies. what is happening to your current rear bumper cladding? Got any pics of it? I have an experiment I want to try out and would hate to cut up a perfectly good piece before I know if it'll work like I want

[VX KAT]

Here's another thing to consider that will help you:

In the auto insurance industry, there's another component of the "damages" in a car accident...a component that almost nobody realizes and rarely asks for...
it's called DV...diminished value.

I had a pearl white Audi S4, got side swiped, incredibly hard paint to match since it's got so much pearlescence and the amount of mica flecks in it make ti look different shades depending on the way the light is hitting it. Got the best paint shop in town to do the repairs, in fact, shop decided to do it a 2nd time cuz he wasn't satisfied himself, AND he did entire side of car so it would all match when same light angle hit the side...(even though the actual damage was only about 8" long)
The result....still could tell a few hues difference in certain light angles.

This fact AND the simple fact that the car was in an accident causes some measure of diminished value $$, despite being fully repaired...it can NEVER be restored to pre-accident condition .....it just can't!

That's exactly what you're dealing with here with the cladding being a slightly different hue.

So, I retained an expert in assessing diminished value. I paid him about $300 for a full report, submitted it to insurance company (of driver that hit me of course) and fought with them for a while, until I got them to give me an extra $2,000.

Also, don't forget to fight for some value for the simple fact that it's been in an accident and that's "diminished it's value" slightly. In many states you must disclose any accident/damage when you sell, and I argued that since I now had to disclose the repair (separate and apart from the paint issue) and I determined that lowered the value of my vehicle come resale time....so I sought compensation for that too.

One other point, since I handled claims/lawsuits for a living, I did all the communicating and negotiating with the insurance company myself directly...... I realize that's not necessarily possible for everybody else to do.
But I used it to my advantage by repeatedly pointing out that I did NOT retain any attorney so I was saving them defense costs so they were more willing to consider my demand for DV.

PM if you want more info.

[RamAirZ]

I've stared at your sig pic forever and resisted to posting this, I couldn't hold out any longer





I have WAY too many cat photos on my computer

[vx2darescue]

considered the deminished value avenue but desided with the help of several atternies that it was an up hill battle. Due to the vehicle being 10 years old made it to old and not old enough all at once.

I decided to try to get the insurance company to work with me....get me cladding that matched the originals that are on my car. I am relatively confident that I have found them.

The body shop is going to warrenty the work and parts for the life time that I own my vehicle.

It comes down to I just want my V back. It is coming up on snow season here and I really don't want to ride my bicycle to and from work on the bad days that we get in Denver.