Update: Insurance agreed to total the car - $22.3K payout for which I was pleasantly surprised. Now to find a 2013 replacement!

So... 4.5 years ago I read a lot on this forum before deciding on which car, what color, what packages to get and how much to pay when buying a car to surprise my husband on his birthday in 2011. I ultimately decided on a 2011 graphite shadow G37 sedan with premium package with lots of advice and help from members on here!

Well last week my husband got into an accident (he was okay but it was his fault). Initial appraisal on damages was $9,900. Last week they were $12,600 and they were looking for a used wiring harness and having trouble which if new are $2,200 so I had told myself at that point it would be a total loss. Today they found a used one for $125 so total damages are now just over $13,000. They have the car valued at about $19K - so about 70% in damages at this point.

I have requested that they consider this a total loss because one, do we really want to keep a car that has this much damage (we keep our cars 9-10 years on average), two, value will be shot after repaired and three, for $3-$4K plus the payout we could be the similar car in a newer model with less mileage and under warranty and no worry about accident issues. I do not know if my insurance company will do this - agent said she would put in a request for the "constructive loss" to be approved.

I would love thoughts/opinoins on this... more of a WWYD?

 

Sorry to hear about the accident and glad your husband is okay.

It's only a freeking car so after its fixed get rid of it and buy a new one.
I'm sure you'll be reminding your hubby to drive carefully

Good luck

Telcoman

 

Ouch, sorry to see this, glad no injuries resulted.
Hopefully you can get it totaled and get into a different vehicle, all the points you mentioned are valid. At least the G did what it was designed to do, protect the occupants.

 

what are you asking us?

who is your insurance company?

 

total loss all the way for me. I would not want the car after damage like that. that image would be burned into my head forever and I'm so OCD that I'd go over the repairs with a fine tooth comb and notice flaws and it would drive me so crazy i'd end trading the car in.

Are you getting the estimate from your insurance companies " preferred " shop or is this through your body shop ?

 

To be honest, I didn't even think about turning around and selling the car when fixed because I assume it will be significantly devalued from the accident. We are not "car people" so I don't think my husband would be bothered with the image of the wrecked car nor would he look over the car with a fine tooth comb! Hence why we replace cars every 9-10 years (our other car is a 2006 Pilot).

Insurance is Amica and estimate is through my chosen shop (not related to Amica).

And I guess I'm asking if anyone here would be okay with the car after these repairs or if they would push for total loss? Infiniti parts are expensive which drives up repair cost so maybe it's not as bad as I think it is?

 

dang... RIP TO THE G.. lol jk glad hes okay though. i think its time for a Q50

 

Ultimately, it's up to the insurance adjuster to determine if the car is a total loss.

Glad your husband is ok and sorry to see all that damage.

 

You are right - but the agent handling the claim was going to put in a request to have it deemed a "constructive loss" (I think that was her term). There is a good chance they will say no and it needs to be fixed and at that point we will have to decide what to do.

Thanks all for your responses.

 

Well you said for $3-4K plus payout you'd be in a newer or same year quality vehicle, right?

What I'm wondering is what if you pocketed the cash (put it towards the payoff amount left on your loan) and then turned around and sold your "totaled G" as is? Would that put you in a favorable position as far as replacing your man's ride?

A few years ago I wrecked my wife's SUV and the damages were almost exactly the same amount. I didn't push for it to be totaled but I wish I would have. I took the insurance $ and had the vehicle repaired, but to this day I wish I would've taken the $ n used it as a down payment (we were paid off on the loan at this point). Had I sold the vehicle for parts or as is I would've came out better than I did trading in the SUV as a damaged but fixed ride later on when she traded up. Just another perspective to think about.

FYI I wouldn't want MY car to have been 70% damaged and then fixed. I also keep my vehicles for an average of 9-10 years too.

 

So, are you saying that I should take the $13K that the repairs are up to and keep the damaged car and sell it "as is" or for parts? I actually had thought about that but how in the world do I go about selling parts?! And how would I find someone interested in buying as is to sell for parts or to fix?

The car has been paid off for awhile now. My thought process was if we get $19K for the car if totaled, I could find a 2013 with half the miles and never been in an accident for about $23K. Just means my husband would be driving a G37 for 11 years instead of 9!

 

Wow, a 2013 for $23K? I've never thought about a G has such a crappy retention value.

 

If you owe on it pray its a total loss, You have GAP ins I hope. If they don't total it and they fix it your stuck with it, the value will drop another 8-10k because of the accident. An you can find 12's and 13's all day long foe low 20's. The off lease cars would be the best bet.


Sorry about your troubles and glad you husband is ok.

 

I hope this works out for you, it would be best if this were totaled in my opinion too. Do you mind telling us what he hit...just curious what would cause that damage to the side. Whatever happens please keep us informed...I am going to be wondering now what the insurance company did for you and what you guys ended up doing!

 

if that pic is the only damage then i do not see a totaled car