Need advice on a reliable 4x4 DD for the wife

[jeep-N-montero]

Just talked to the insurance, and they're low-balling us on our total. Looks like the price range is only $9k now. We looked at a few 100 series cruisers and loved them, but they're out of our price range now.

I like the idea of a forester, but they fetch a pretty high price here in Utah in the winter. hm... i wonder why

Don't settle for their crappy low-ball offer, who is your insurance company? I have had 3 cars totaled out and got almost full retail for them, it's all in how you work the system. Find out which program they used for the appraisal value, and insist they use "Autosource" to include all features and upgrades you have added. The program factors in exactly what's imputed and bases numbers on the local market and real values.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Not that I have any kind of dog in this fight at all, but I believe you should get close to REPLACEMENT cost, not TRADE IN. That's how it would work in a "non-total" situation. You can use the aftermarket parts to fix it, or you can specify OEM.

yeah, that was my assumption too. THey've treated us well in the past, with other totalled vehicles, but for some reason this one is a struggle. i have no doubt I could have sold it for $12k. i just bought brand new tires for it too

Oh well, I'm getting over it.

 

[kmboren]

It looks like Sami had an xterra in there. I was gong to suggest one of those. Decent size SUV and pretty capable in stock form for your expedition type stuff. More or less fits everything you are looking for. I have never owned one but those I know that have have loved them.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Don't settle for their crappy low-ball offer, who is your insurance company? I have had 3 cars totaled out and got almost full retail for them, it's all in how you work the system. Find out which program they used for the appraisal value, and insist they use "Autosource" to include all features and upgrades you have added. The program factors in exactly what's imputed and bases numbers on the local market and real values.

what are my options? I'm with Allstate. They have been more than awesome to us, with this one exception.

I sent the adjuster some links of similar Runners with equal mileage, and they were all in the $10-15k range. He's supposed to re-evaluate it and get back to me. I'm just wondering if there is anything else I can do. I have a copy of the title when I bought it, stating I paid $12,000 for it a year ago, and I have the receipt for the $900 tires I just put on it.

His program is "audatex".

Here's the condensed part of the report:

typical vehicle
Price $6,718
Odometer 138,489 Mi(Typical) 72,000 Mi(Actual) - so they give me $665 extra over typical.

Equipment/Package Adjustment (See Valuation Detail) $150
Autosource Value Before Condition Adjustments $7,533
Total Condition Adjustments (See Condition Adjustment Detail) $935 (this includes tax, registration, that kind of stuff).

So if it had $138k on the clock, the'd give me $665 less. They figure 70k miles is only worth $665. Boy, I'll pay $665 any day to roll my truck back 70k miles.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I guess my question is, do I gain any leverage by showing my copy of my title where I paid $12k for it a year ago? Or is that useless, where they could just say "sorry, you overpaid. It wasn't worth that."

 

[jeep-N-montero]

what are my options? I'm with Allstate. They have been more than awesome to us, with this one exception.

I sent the adjuster some links of similar Runners with equal mileage, and they were all in the $10-15k range. He's supposed to re-evaluate it and get back to me. I'm just wondering if there is anything else I can do. I have a copy of the title when I bought it, stating I paid $12,000 for it a year ago, and I have the receipt for the $900 tires I just put on it.

Allstate was the insurer of the people who hit one of my cars totaling it and at first tried to use NADA, then I politely made sure they were familiar with Autosource and the value went up by about 20%. Ask them about it, insist on it, make it happen. It is their job to retain profit, not to give you money.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

what are my options? I'm with Allstate. They have been more than awesome to us, with this one exception.

I sent the adjuster some links of similar Runners with equal mileage, and they were all in the $10-15k range. He's supposed to re-evaluate it and get back to me. I'm just wondering if there is anything else I can do. I have a copy of the title when I bought it, stating I paid $12,000 for it a year ago, and I have the receipt for the $900 tires I just put on it.

His program is "audatex".

Here's the condensed part of the report:

typical vehicle
Price $6,718
Odometer 138,489 Mi(Typical) 72,000 Mi(Actual) - so they give me $665 extra over typical.

Equipment/Package Adjustment (See Valuation Detail) $150
Autosource Value Before Condition Adjustments $7,533
Total Condition Adjustments (See Condition Adjustment Detail) $935 (this includes tax, registration, that kind of stuff).

So if it had $138k on the clock, the'd give me $665 less. They figure 70k miles is only worth $665. Boy, I'll pay $665 any day to roll my truck back 70k miles.

Hmmm, Audatex owns Autosource, but that is way lower than I had expected. I believe if the tires were new in the last year they give a credit for that as well. http://www.audatex.us/insurance_solutions/total_loss_valuation.aspx

 

[jeep-N-montero]

And also see what the salvage value is for the 4-runner, if you can sell or part it for double the salvage then retain it and sell it off.

 

[Caleb]

I guess my question is, do I gain any leverage by showing my copy of my title where I paid $12k for it a year ago? Or is that useless, where they could just say "sorry, you overpaid. It wasn't worth that."

What you paid for the vehicle has absolutely nothing to do with their payout or what it's worth. You may be able to get some for the tires if you show them the receipt. It's all based on Fair Market Value. Which can be above or below blue book. Sending him the links for 4runners that were comparable is a good start, but it won't do you any good if they aren't in our area. Just because you can find a 4runner in New York for $15K, doesn't mean your runner was worth $15K.

The fact that Sami posted several similar year 4runners for $7K-$8K proves that $9K is probably right in the ball park of market value.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Hmmm, Audatex owns Autosource, but that is way lower than I had expected. I believe if the tires were new in the last year they give a credit for that as well. http://www.audatex.us/insurance_solutions/total_loss_valuation.aspx

$9000 includes the credit for the tires, and sales tax, licensing, and reg.

 

[Caleb]

$9000 includes the credit for the tires, and sales tax, licensing, and reg.

They won't pay you for your licensing and reg.

 

[sixstringsteve]

yes they will, they factor it in.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

$9000 includes the credit for the tires, and sales tax, licensing, and reg.

Holy shizz!! I would talk to them with a serious, but non-threatening tone.

 

[SAMI]

FWIW, I looked into selling our '99 4runner (155k miles, locker, sunroof, new OME lift, sliders) back in May. Averaged between 8 similar 4runners (all 1999 models) the average price was $6,953. The average mileage of all 8 rigs was 158,125 miles. This was just 1.5 years after I purchased the truck for $9,000, which was $2k under KBB at the time. So, in just 18 months the truck had depreciated roughly $3k according to KBB.. I bought the 4runner right before the economy tanked; so atleast I got a great interest rate.

I think $12k might be a bit high, but I'd certainly push for atleast $10k out of Allstate, just because.. The mileage should be a good arguing point, I'd think.

You also mentioned previously wrecked vehicles.. Could this somehow be playing into the price they're willing to pay for this one? Do you guys have a history of wrecking vehicles?

 

[sixstringsteve]

Holy shizz!! I would talk to them with a serious, but non-threatening tone.

Yeah. We'll see how it goes tomorrow.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Do you guys have a history of wrecking vehicles?

We have a history of wrecked vehicles, but this is the first one that was our fault. 4 years ago she was hit by an uninsured driver who was high on drugs who ran a red light. His 1/2 ton t-boned her her civic at 45 mph. the pass door was so crushed it almost broke her right arm. I'm lucky she's still alive.

Since the other guy wasn't insured, allstate picked up the bill on this one, but our premiums didn't go up. They were great to deal with, and they gave us 30% more than we paid for the vehicle.

Then a year ago she got rear-ended in a tracker on Main St. in lehi. Just enough to total it and give her some minor little cuts, bruises, and sore neck. Other driver wasn't paying attention. Other driver's insurance paid for it, our premiums didn't change. Allstate was great to work with. They lowbaled our total cost at first, then allstate fought for us to raise it up closer to what we paid.

Then this happened last week. My wife can't remember for sure, but it's looking like it was her fault (she was so in shock she forgot what happened). So our insurance is covering this one 'till we decide who was at fault, but I'm guessing it was my wife.

So I don't think the other accidents contribute to this. But now you can see why I'm paranoid and want a bigger vehicle for her.

All in all I've been beyond impressed with Allstate. They've treated us REALLY well. That's why it's weird that all of a sudden they're being difficult. Maybe it's because they think this time it was our fault.

 

[SAMI]

Seeing as how the 'fault' has not been officially placed, I assume the police were not called?

 

[sixstringsteve]

yes, the police were called. THey issued a citation to my wife. It was weird. At first he told my wife it looked like it wasn't her fault. Then 30 min later, he issued a citation and said he got some statements that it was.

So for all intents and purposes, we're assuming it's her fault, but our insurance is looking into it to verify first. I just wonder why he first told us it was the other driver's fault. i assume there were some different reports from the witnesses. I'm assuming it was my wife's fault, but the insurance hasn't determined yet.

 

[SAMI]

That sucks for sure. Sounds like a moron cop to even make a vocal judgement about who may be to blame before he investigated.

 

[sixstringsteve]

yeah. i'll admit that it was probably my wife's fault, but I want my insurance to investigate.

I don't say it was her fault because she's a bad driver; she's a great driver, and very careful. She doesn't even run yellow lights. But I'm just prepared for it to be our fault. She honestly can't remember anything other than seeing the pathfinder right before she hit it.