In need of value Estimates

[Grif]

In fact, if there weren't any injuries or property damage, you might have done better just to not report it at all and buy the parts from a junkyard - then no one would know the difference when you went to sell it, and the cladding would be pre-faded.

Very good points Mav.

[vx2darescue]

You are absolutely right.
Thank you for all your help guys.

[vt_maverick]

Good luck, let us know how it turns out!

[vx2darescue]

I will keep you all informed.

[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.

[rowhard]

That is a good point. But the back to black is only a temporary fix till it rains or snows and then the mismatch is like a target.

Take a look at the gatorback product. It is what GM was using to fix their cladding fading issue.

[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.

[circmand]

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.

The price is one million dollars

[vx2darescue]

I like the idea of them having to pay 1 million dollars. that would make the new ones seem cheap. I will be getting the parts that I need from VX Crazy. thankfully he/she had what I needed still on the V they are parting out.

As for letting the insurance company deal with finding the parts that I need I have waited for a month now to get the right parts. I finally gave up on their abilities to seach and started my own. I am sure they were waiting for me to give up and go away. Funny how that does not happen with those of us in the "cult".

As one savey driver told my mom "There is no way I am giving this car up and you would only understand if some one was willing to relinquish the keys just long enough for you to test drive it."

[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.