1995 850GLT: Front end Accident, they think its totalled WTH

[E Showell]

Liberty Mutual? -- Check and see if they are mutual in more than name.

I have New Jersey Manufacturers -- a good co., but your employer must belong to the N.J. Business and Industry Association in order to be eligible to become covered by them -- and I think they only underwrite in N.J.

Do a google search for mutual auto/homeowners ins. cos. in your area.

In the interest of full disclosure, I do not work in the insurance industry, nor do I have any financial incentive/stake in having you obtain insurance for one company versus another. I just think stock company insurers are subject to certain moral hazards inherent in their business model. That is to say they are, first and foremost, accountable to their shareholders and only secondarily accountable to their policyholders.

Maybe it works out if you also own stock in your insurer, but I'd bet not.

[viper69]

Liberty Mutual? -- Check and see if they are mutual in more than name.
Maybe it works out if you also own stock in your insurer, but I'd bet not.

Haha..I thought they had stock holders. Thank you.

[Matty Moo]

I have progressive. My 96 GLT wagon was hit by a deer last may. $3600 in damage, so it was totalled. They cut me a check for $3k and let me keep the car, no salvage title either. It was pristine before it was hit.

Don't use progressive's preferred shops. they blow, everybody already knows that. They're preferred because they're cut rate, as in cheap, for progressive.

Forget KBB. They go by edmunds and nada. KBB says my 96 wagon was worth $5k. we all know better than that, and so do they. Nada and edmunds said $3300.

In all fairness, the adjuster was honest and easy to work with. I already knew where I stood with everything, and he didn't try anything shifty. He was at the house for an hour, and I had a check in hand with my car still there.

[turbotim2]

That hit certainly looks substantial enough to deploy the airbags, did they go off?

The insurance company shouldn't care one way or another regarding the salvage title.

[viper69]

That hit certainly looks substantial enough to deploy the airbags, did they go off?

The insurance company shouldn't care one way or another regarding the salvage title.

The accident looks worse than it really is. No airbags were deployed at all.

The insurance shouldn't care about salvage but they really do. It may go into salvage we'll see.

I'm having it torn down at a local body shop to get a real true estimate.

Then I'm going to take the estimate to the insurance company's preferred body shop which would give me life long guarantee and see what they can do. If they can't do it for the insurance company's target number, then it doesn't matter who I bring it to fix it as I doubt I'll be living where I am much longer.

[writer100]

I've been through this process with my car -- my sympathies to you.

The above remarks about going to the insurance company's "preferred" shop are dead on. My insurance company wrote the check to the body shop for inferior work and didn't give me a chance to reject the repair. The "lifetime guarantee" is a joke.

Regarding the work, I believe your hood can be repaired. Obviously more labor, but you'll save on the part, and you'll end up with an original part. Just make sure that the shop shoots the top of the fenders as well to blend the new paint with the old.

Good luck.

[viper69]

Conclusion

They aren't totaling it out..Preferred body shop would total it out..claims they couldn't find any parts.

Going with a guy close by..hopefully it will work. They seem good. Sound like all Volvo parts to me, some new, some from other Volvos.

[9394volvo850s]

http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/index.ph ... for-cheap/

Check that out, hes got 850r parts for next to nothing. 100 for the stock headlights, shipping only for the grille. and so on

Yeah I see your point regarding salvage title. But my car after repairs, isn't going to drop dead or anything, nothing is truly wrong with it. I know they can't go case by case for insuring at salvage level, but still, it bothers me.

Thanks....I just listed the bumper. I can totally live w/out replacing it. The insurance guy saw a hole the size of a nickel, and said "oh we need to replace the bumper cover" I said it's been there 10 years I don't need a new one.

But he countered and said "you are just saving us money, no problem" I guess his philosophy was, if we are going to pay for the repairs, you might as well get a new bumper.

I wouldn't mind some sort of new bright headlights. But I haven't looked in detail if I just need new glass lenses for the headlights or not. I'm almost positive I'm missing various clips along that region.

Yes, regarding my lights..strangely enough the bulbs, all 4 of them are working. I'm stunned they didn't break. The car is still drivable, but there is definitely a humming sound now. You know when you put your key into the ignition and turn it before you actually start it..and you hear a sort of light electronic hum under the hood. That's itself is normal, I forget what makes that sound. ANYWAY, that sound is now always present, so something w/the engine or electrical connections to that part has been affected.

I've also noticed when I press the power window buttons, say two at a time, there's a quick dimming of the lights that was not nearly as noticeable as before. So something is up beyond just metal parts needing replacement.


As long as they don't total it I'll be happy.

I appreciate EVERY PERSON'S feedback very much.

If it gets totaled you can just tell them u want to keep it and they will deduct from what they give you. With that you can go get a new hood grill and headlights. I would get the Ecode headlamp glass. I have them and much eaiser to see(FCP groton). hoods and grills are all over ebay. should be enough money left over to get the hood painted. Its a perfectly good car dont waste it.

[viper69]

HELP...I have a question. I just picked up my car today. It looks great, the paint matches perfect, I cannot even tell.

However, I have a small "problem". I started the car, and the windshield washer fluid amber light is now on. Initially I thought I was low on fluid, but after filling it up, I really wasn't that empty, when I drove home the amber light flashed on and off about twice.

I also noticed the shop put the headlamp washers on backwards. So, normally, the angled portion of these mini blades is pointing up, like this ^, like a Chevron pattern, now they are pointing downward, So the mini blades are in a shape of a V.

I know they had to replace both the left and right mini wiper blade motors.

Does having the headlamp blades on reverse matter?

Could anyone speculate what may be the problem?? I have to bring in my car anyway to my mechanic for something.

[E Showell]

Take it back to the shop immediately and get them to acknowledge these problems in writing and commit to fixing them -- advise the insurer right away that there are problems with the job. Once insurance pays the shop, you have no leverage to get it fixed.