Front end wrecked..insurance total - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

95se · 03-02-2015, 06:42 PM

I am just looking for advice. I wrecked the front end this last weekend on the ice and body shops say my damage is going to be at least $4k. The bumper, hood, re-bar, passenger side head light and fog light need to be replaced. I know the insurance will total it when they look at it. It is driving the same as before. Doesn't seem to have affected the alignment. I have had it since '97 and is mostly stock. Don't know where to go from here...

silviaks2nr · 03-02-2015, 07:07 PM

Well the reality is it's going to be a total loss if you go through with the claim. Whether you think it's worth it to buy it back from the insurance company after it's totaled and then fix it yourself or sell it is up to you. Either way, I suggest you compile a list of comparable cars for sale in your area to provide your insurance company so they will pay you what you would need to buy another car, not KBB value.

oldschoolsilvia · 03-02-2015, 07:10 PM

You might want to look into having it fixed out of pocket. You could probably piece the front end parts together for pretty cheap!

simmode1 · 03-02-2015, 07:37 PM

IMO, you just hit the jackpot. Let them total it out, cut you a nice check & buy it back from them. It'll have a salvage title, but who cares? It's a 240. As long as the frame is still straight, you can piece it back together with OEM parts out of the classifieds or Craigslist on the cheap. Or you can go with aftermarket aero. None of what you mentioned sounds major to the typical 240sx owner. Why don't you post pics?

simmode1 · 03-02-2015, 07:42 PM

I've seen examples of stock Zenki's getting totalled out in Texas for silly stuff like hail damage, getting a check for like $3500 which is then spent going crazy on aftermarket goodies. It's ok man, its probably not the end of the world.

95se · 03-02-2015, 07:43 PM

I would be glad to post pics but everytime I do they won't upload. Can you tell me the best way to do that.

Bushido · 03-02-2015, 08:14 PM

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=how+to+upload+a...res+on+a+forum

silviasandbeer · 03-02-2015, 09:59 PM

How much would they sell your car back to you for? Does the insurance company sell it back for dirt cheap or do they try to recoup their money back as well?

racepar1 · 03-02-2015, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silviasandbeer

How much would they sell your car back to you for? Does the insurance company sell it back for dirt cheap or do they try to recoup their money back as well?

DIRT

FUCKING

CHEAP!!!

OP, post pics. It's not hard. What image hosting site are you using?

XMcEvilson · 03-03-2015, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 95se

I would be glad to post pics but everytime I do they won't upload. Can you tell me the best way to do that.

tinypic.com

simmode1 · 03-03-2015, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silviasandbeer

How much would they sell your car back to you for? Does the insurance company sell it back for dirt cheap or do they try to recoup their money back as well?

I've seen Zenki's bought back from insurance companies after being totalled out for as low as $300, but as high as $900. Spend the rest of the insurance monies upgrading!

iJDM · 03-03-2015, 11:09 AM

This just happened to my sc400

A lady hit me going ~5mph

Put in the claim with insurance, they totalled it, gave me $3600. I bought it back salvaged for $225

Fixed my spindle and aligned it now it's back to new. Pocket the rest of the money or use it for mods... whatever you want to do

You pay insurance your whole life, cash out on it when you can. Good luck

95se · 03-03-2015, 02:16 PM

So is the overall opinion that I should go ahead and claim it on insurance and buy it back salvage??

LockOn! · 03-03-2015, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simmode1

IMO, you just hit the jackpot. Let them total it out, cut you a nice check & buy it back from them. It'll have a salvage title, but who cares? It's a 240. As long as the frame is still straight, you can piece it back together with OEM parts out of the classifieds or Craigslist on the cheap.

This, you can even come out on top. Just don't expect to get anything back out of it if you ever want to change cars. This is how the endless cycle of swapping your favorite parts between shells begins haha.

Gold Coast S14 · 03-03-2015, 02:33 PM

Claim it, cash the check, buy it back.... piece together with a new aero and seibon hood. Boom!

95se · 03-06-2015, 03:54 PM

Sorry these were taken at night. I got the hood to open now so I will take a few more daylight pics and post them.

IMG]http://i59.tinypic.com/2j129a8.jpg[/IMG]

MADE · 03-06-2015, 04:03 PM

Once you buy it back from the insurance, won't they drop the coverage?

95se · 03-06-2015, 04:11 PM

jorge1190 · 03-06-2015, 07:39 PM

Insurance adjuster here.

First of all look up the laws regarding salvage titles in your state. Not all states require a salvage title if totalled if the car is over a certain age and under a certain value. Once you have this info you can make a better decision.

marat · 03-06-2015, 08:23 PM

Back in '11, my zenki was totaled by the insurance company so they gave me a very fat check for it. I then bought it back for only a 100$. But make sure that if you go through insurance, find a few 240's for sale in your area and show them the market value, do this just in case they offer you book value for it.

iJDM · 03-06-2015, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADE

Once you buy it back from the insurance, won't they drop the coverage?

No, at least not where I live. My car was totaled by someone else, bought back from insurance, and I retained the same coverage throughout the entire process and until this day

OP that damage isn't that bad. You could honestly fix that for a small fraction of the $4,000 the body shop quoted you.

And if you don't want to buy it back then do it anyway and sell it to me for more

MADE · 03-06-2015, 09:50 PM

Seems like a lose for the insurance what happens if you total it again? They pay out another $XK?

silviasandbeer · 03-06-2015, 10:06 PM

What marat said exactly! Kbb value isn't what matters, it's how much it cost to get you into a Similar vehicle within your area! Similar meaning: same year, make, model, condition, and mileage

iJDM · 03-06-2015, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADE

Seems like a lose for the insurance what happens if you total it again? They pay out another $XK?

insurance gets theirs lol

If it's totaled again insurance will pay out about half or less of what they would given it now has a salvage title.

95se · 03-07-2015, 12:50 PM

I was told by two very experienced body shops that all they look at is blue book value. They don't care about how sought after the car is. They don't consider things like this would be one of very few 240's that has been kept up in stock form and special options like VLSD, ABS and limited ed leather/security package.

silviaks2nr · 03-07-2015, 01:14 PM

Body shops aren't the ones considering the value of the vehicle. All they do is make an estimate for repairs to the vehicle and submit it to the insurance company. The company then decides it's a total loss based on their data and the repair estimate. This is why it's important to be in close contact with your agent through the process and negotiate if you can. Sometimes you can talk them into not totaling the vehicle but often it means using cheaper parts to repair or paint it or not fixing everything. Like I said in my previous post you really need to decide what you want to do with the car first.

95se · 03-07-2015, 07:11 PM

daytime pics...

95se · 03-07-2015, 07:14 PM

MADE · 03-07-2015, 07:25 PM

That doesn't look bad.... but what the fuck do I know about body work. Take the money buy it back. However it looks stock so if you get at least 5G's you might be able to fine another 14 with upgrades.

silviaks2nr · 03-07-2015, 07:54 PM

The radiator support and likely upper fender support need to be replaced. Not an easy job if you want to do it right. Others might say just do a tube front and kouki front end conversion, but that's not an appropriate fix IMO.

03-02-2015, 06:42 PM	#1
95se Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 385 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Front end wrecked..insurance total I am just looking for advice. I wrecked the front end this last weekend on the ice and body shops say my damage is going to be at least $4k. The bumper, hood, re-bar, passenger side head light and fog light need to be replaced. I know the insurance will total it when they look at it. It is driving the same as before. Doesn't seem to have affected the alignment. I have had it since '97 and is mostly stock. Don't know where to go from here... __________________ z32 front brakes, spl tc rods

03-02-2015, 07:37 PM	#4
simmode1 Post Whore! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Addison, TX Posts: 5,526 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	IMO, you just hit the jackpot. Let them total it out, cut you a nice check & buy it back from them. It'll have a salvage title, but who cares? It's a 240. As long as the frame is still straight, you can piece it back together with OEM parts out of the classifieds or Craigslist on the cheap. Or you can go with aftermarket aero. None of what you mentioned sounds major to the typical 240sx owner. Why don't you post pics? __________________ "Simplicity is the key to brilliance." - Bruce Lee

03-02-2015, 07:42 PM	#5
simmode1 Post Whore! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Addison, TX Posts: 5,526 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I've seen examples of stock Zenki's getting totalled out in Texas for silly stuff like hail damage, getting a check for like $3500 which is then spent going crazy on aftermarket goodies. It's ok man, its probably not the end of the world. __________________ "Simplicity is the key to brilliance." - Bruce Lee

03-02-2015, 07:43 PM	#6
95se Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 385 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I would be glad to post pics but everytime I do they won't upload. Can you tell me the best way to do that. __________________ z32 front brakes, spl tc rods

03-02-2015, 08:14 PM	#7
Bushido Post Whore! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: SFL Posts: 3,563 Trader Rating: (10) Feedback Score: 10 reviews	http://lmgtfy.com/?q=how+to+upload+a...res+on+a+forum __________________

03-02-2015, 07:07 PM	#2
silviaks2nr Nissanaholic! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: SC Posts: 2,192 Trader Rating: (10) Feedback Score: 10 reviews	Well the reality is it's going to be a total loss if you go through with the claim. Whether you think it's worth it to buy it back from the insurance company after it's totaled and then fix it yourself or sell it is up to you. Either way, I suggest you compile a list of comparable cars for sale in your area to provide your insurance company so they will pay you what you would need to buy another car, not KBB value.

03-02-2015, 07:10 PM	#3
oldschoolsilvia Zilvia Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Richardson, TX Age: 35 Posts: 237 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	You might want to look into having it fixed out of pocket. You could probably piece the front end parts together for pretty cheap!

03-03-2015, 11:09 AM	#12
iJDM Zilvia Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 625 Trader Rating: (10) Feedback Score: 10 reviews	This just happened to my sc400 A lady hit me going ~5mph Put in the claim with insurance, they totalled it, gave me $3600. I bought it back salvaged for $225 Fixed my spindle and aligned it now it's back to new. Pocket the rest of the money or use it for mods... whatever you want to do You pay insurance your whole life, cash out on it when you can. Good luck __________________ 1990 s13 hatch sr20det 2001 Lexus is300

03-03-2015, 02:16 PM	#13
95se Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 385 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	So is the overall opinion that I should go ahead and claim it on insurance and buy it back salvage?? __________________ z32 front brakes, spl tc rods

03-03-2015, 02:33 PM	#15
Gold Coast S14 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Bismarck, ND Posts: 304 Trader Rating: (12) Feedback Score: 12 reviews	Claim it, cash the check, buy it back.... piece together with a new aero and seibon hood. Boom! __________________ I'm so intoxicated, sometimes I sit back like "God damn I made it"

03-06-2015, 03:54 PM	#16
95se Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 385 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Sorry these were taken at night. I got the hood to open now so I will take a few more daylight pics and post them. IMG]http://i59.tinypic.com/2j129a8.jpg[/IMG] __________________ z32 front brakes, spl tc rods

03-06-2015, 04:03 PM	#17
MADE Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Norf Norf Posts: 974 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Once you buy it back from the insurance, won't they drop the coverage? __________________

03-06-2015, 04:11 PM	#18
95se Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 385 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	__________________ z32 front brakes, spl tc rods

03-06-2015, 07:39 PM	#19
jorge1190 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Culpeper, Va Age: 33 Posts: 593 Trader Rating: (12) Feedback Score: 12 reviews	Insurance adjuster here. First of all look up the laws regarding salvage titles in your state. Not all states require a salvage title if totalled if the car is over a certain age and under a certain value. Once you have this info you can make a better decision. __________________ 96 240sx S13 SR20 521 WHP 405 TQ

03-06-2015, 08:23 PM	#20
marat Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: toronto Posts: 43 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Back in '11, my zenki was totaled by the insurance company so they gave me a very fat check for it. I then bought it back for only a 100$. But make sure that if you go through insurance, find a few 240's for sale in your area and show them the market value, do this just in case they offer you book value for it.

03-06-2015, 09:50 PM	#22
MADE Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Norf Norf Posts: 974 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Seems like a lose for the insurance what happens if you total it again? They pay out another $XK? __________________

03-07-2015, 12:50 PM	#25
95se Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 385 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I was told by two very experienced body shops that all they look at is blue book value. They don't care about how sought after the car is. They don't consider things like this would be one of very few 240's that has been kept up in stock form and special options like VLSD, ABS and limited ed leather/security package. __________________ z32 front brakes, spl tc rods

03-07-2015, 01:14 PM	#26
silviaks2nr Nissanaholic! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: SC Posts: 2,192 Trader Rating: (10) Feedback Score: 10 reviews	Body shops aren't the ones considering the value of the vehicle. All they do is make an estimate for repairs to the vehicle and submit it to the insurance company. The company then decides it's a total loss based on their data and the repair estimate. This is why it's important to be in close contact with your agent through the process and negotiate if you can. Sometimes you can talk them into not totaling the vehicle but often it means using cheaper parts to repair or paint it or not fixing everything. Like I said in my previous post you really need to decide what you want to do with the car first.

03-07-2015, 07:11 PM	#27
95se Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 385 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	daytime pics... __________________ z32 front brakes, spl tc rods

03-07-2015, 07:14 PM	#28
95se Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 385 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	__________________ z32 front brakes, spl tc rods

03-07-2015, 07:25 PM	#29
MADE Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Norf Norf Posts: 974 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	That doesn't look bad.... but what the fuck do I know about body work. Take the money buy it back. However it looks stock so if you get at least 5G's you might be able to fine another 14 with upgrades. __________________

03-07-2015, 07:54 PM	#30
silviaks2nr Nissanaholic! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: SC Posts: 2,192 Trader Rating: (10) Feedback Score: 10 reviews	The radiator support and likely upper fender support need to be replaced. Not an easy job if you want to do it right. Others might say just do a tube front and kouki front end conversion, but that's not an appropriate fix IMO.