How things can change:

[CupCake]

After leaving work on Friday afternoon a man driving a 2004 Grand Cherokee thought it was a good idea to turn in front of me. How in the world do you not see a performance red car right in front of you? There I am in a matter of seconds, from driving, to the inside of an ambulance with tons of people talking to me about my back and neck. Thank God nothing happened to me (but some bruises and things) or the other person but of course my car is another story.

I am not sure what is going to happend to it. Most of the people that have seen it think it is going to be totaled. All of my left side is gone. My hood is split in two, I no longer have a headlight, a radiator, a tire, a door, a bumper and who knows what else. I don't know much about Insurance Companies so I don't know how do they deal with losses and things. Does anybody have an idea on how much will it cost to get it fixed? And does anybody here has a Mustang for sale?

[69fastback]

You probaly will get screwed by the insurance. It all depends on if you owe money on the car or not. They will only give you what the car is worth not how much you owe on it and just junk it Which really sucks I know people that got their car totalled and they still have to make payments on the car even though they don't have it anymore because insurance didn't give them enough money.

[Mr 5 0]

CupCake:

I'm so sorry to read about your accident and the probable loss of your 'Stang. However, I'm pleased to learn that you were not injured. Just be certain that you don't have any 'hidden' injuries that may not show up immediately. Neck and spine problems can manifest themselves months later, without much warning, so do not sign away any rights to sue the guy who caused the accident for any personal injuries you may have incurred, although I trust you will be fine and won't have any need to sue. However, only time will tell on that issue so don't make any hasty decisions.

Your car's damage will be appraised by a body shop (hope you picked a good one) and the insurance company (his - if he was at fault) will either accept or reject the appraisal of damages based on their own inspection of your car. If the cost to repair your car doesn't exceed it's wholesale value, the insurance company will authorize the body shop to go ahead and do the necessary repairs. If the damage repair costs exceed it's wholesale value, your car will be deemed a 'total loss' and you will receive a check for the value of the car at the time it was hit. If you owe more than the insurance check covers, you are liable for the balance owed to the bank, finance company, whatever. If your car was worth more than you owed on it, you keep the balance ( usually used as a down payment on another car). If you are deemed at fault for the accident, your collision coverage should pay for your damages (or a total loss), minus any deductable you took out.

While you are without a car, the other drivers insurance company should pay for a rental car for you. It's his fault that you have no transportation, not yours. Your own insurance policy may have a provision for rental car reimbursment costs, too, so they can pay you and sue the other driver's company for that money when the case is resolved if you were not at fault. If you were at fault and you have 'rental reimbursment' coverage, your insurance company should still pay you for the cost of a rental. Either way, be sure to have the rental car charged to the insurance compamy, not to you, personally. You'll need their approval to do this, first. Demand it - or you'll be personally liable for weeks of rental car fees and have to wait (and hope) the insurance company pays up. If the other driver received a ticket and you did not, you are pretty much home free as that puts the onus of being at fault on him. Most insurance companies will pay off the claim you file as they would have little basis to defend against it in court. Basically, the cop at the scene decides who was at fault (if possible) and whoever receives a ticket, loses. I know, as I've been on both sides of this situation.

CupCake, while an automobile accident can be traumatic and always upsets your world (I know, I've had my share) I can also assure you that this will pass and I trust that you will be fine, both physically and financially.

Let us know how things are working out for you. If you require any advice, I'm available through this board or through the Mustang Works PM system, if you prefer more privacy. This goes for almost anyone else here, too, I'm sure.

In any case, we all wish you well and again, am pleased to hear that you are O.K., even if your Mustang is not.

[HoodStrype]

Sorry to hear about that CupCake... I know I've had my share as well. I had to get rid of my 86 GT Triple white because of the same thing... it was repairable but they didn't make aftermarket parts for it at the time since it was an "odd year."

More recently, I had a very scarey situation 2 months ago... I spun out in the rain on a bridge over the Tennessee river into oncoming traffic. Just thank God you're safe and watch for the other idiots on the road! Good Luck!

PS: I've been screwed by insurance before. Your insurance company will fight for you, just stay on top of them to make sure they don't overlook anything. Follow Mr. 5.0's instructions, "Loss of Value" if the car was new, rental car, doctor bills, ambulance ride, etc... peace!

PSS: Your avatar is too sexy and it distracts me... It's like hyptnotizing me me me me me me me me memememememememememememememememe... huh?

[CupCake]

LOL, that is the whole point of my avatar. Well I got the police report which states according to witnesses and the police officer that I was not at fault. The other man got a ticket for unsafe movement. I am doing better with some of my injuries but I found out today that one of my vertebrae is out of places, so that is nice.. I have to keep on going to the doctor and on top of that he sent me home for the rest of the week, so I can't work until Monday.

I went to see my car and it really broke my heart. I really liked it, it was my baby. I had just changed the exhaust system and it was sounding really nice. I got a rental car yesterday. It is an 05 F-150. I am not paying for it, his insurance company made all of the arregements so I can just go and pick it up with no cost to me. The guy at the body shop were my car was taken to, told me that the car will be totaled because there is a lot frame damage and he doesn't think they will fix that. I don't know whether to believe him or not, he was kind of a butt to me. I have some pictures for you guys to see. It is crappy. Thank you for all of your responses, I knew I could count with your advise.

[HoodStrype]

I'd go with totaled... your whole drivers side frame is GONE BY BY!!! Plus your motor is not exactly in the right place and anything motorwise touched is replaced (at least at ford). Hope you feel better!

[bjack]

Cupcake: Too bad for the car but be glad you survived! The car can be replaced. For future reference, when you get another car buy something called Gap insurance. This is usually offered by the financial institution who loans the money to buy the car. It’s very inexpensive and can be rolled into the total cost of the loan. This comes in handy if you are at fault and you owe more on the car than the estimated book value. The Gap insurance will pay off the difference that your other auto insurance will not, thus leaving you no out of pocket expenses. I have a teen-age son who totaled two cars, both was his fault and both times we used the Gap insurance....best car insurance I ever bought! Of course in your case not to worry because it was the other guys fault, his insurance will cover all cost to pay-off/replace your car. Look at this as an opportunity to shop around for the perfect replacement!!

[mustangII460]

First, I hope your feeling fine health wise.
Second, Its a car, there are many more around.
Third, Get a lawyer now. If you don't know any, I can check for you.
Fourth, Do what the laywer says.

[CupCake]

I have heard about this gap insurance. I do have it, but eventhough it was not my fault, if they cover the remaining of the loan, will my insurace go up?

I am doing better, thanks. I am going to therapy. I don't know about getting a lawyer, so far everybody has been very nice at the insurance company and they have tried to get everything fixed as soon as possible. I hope they call me soon, they came to pick up my car yesterday, so their specialist can take a look at it.

[bjack]

No your ins will not go up. This only occurrs if you are at fault. The other ins company is being very nice for a reason, they want to get your case closed as soon as possible. At the very least I'd speak with a lawyer and get some good legal advice. You are young, and will recover fast, but you could have severe back problems later in life as a result of this accident......consider this before you let them off with just current car replacement and medical bills. Good luck and keep us informed.

[Mr 5 0]

CupCake:

I'm really glad to learn that you're doing well, physically and not having hassles with the other guy's insurance company. However, I want to warn you to be very sure that you have no spine or neck injuries that will need some kind of medical attention in the future. Once you accept a settlement check from the insurance company they will want you to sign a release form that says you will not hold them responsible for any future health-related problems stemming from the accident. Don't do it until a board-certified neurosurgeon has examined you and any CAT-scans or MRI's you may require. I have known of folks who had auto accidents and developed severe back problems a few years down the road but couldn't get a dime from the insurance company of the person that hit them because they (a) signed a release and, (b) it could never be proven 'beyond a reasonable doubt' that their current medical problems were a direct result of the earlier accident. Not that I'm suggesting you fake anything or try to scam the insurance company. That would be immoral as well as illegal. Just protect your future health now, while you can do so.

Your Mustang is obviously a 'total wreck' (those photos were hard to look at...I can't imagine how you must have felt taking the pictures) so you need to prepare to go on without it and look forward to a new 'Stang (I hope). That the other guy's insurance company didn't try to stiff you on a rental replacement vehicle is a good sign that they are going to do the right thing. It happens. If you have the 'gap' insurance with your financing you are fine as far as paying off the now-wrecked Mustang goes. You will probably still need a down payment to finance another car (maybe not, depends on your credit rating, etc) but you are off the hook for whatever may be owed on your 'old' Mustang. That, combined with the fact that you seem to be physically unharmed to any great extent, you were not deemed at fault in the acciudent and you have a rental car adds up to things going about as well as they can under the unhappy circumstances. The 'gap' insurance is a separate policy from your auto insurance and your auto insurance should not be affected as your company has not had any loss in this accident and you were not at fault so you're fine, there, too.

Again, let me echo the relief that others have posted regarding the fact that you were relatively unhurt in this unfortunate accident and that things seem to be working out O.K. Get a full neurological examination before you sign a medical release and all should be well, CupCake. Any questions you have will be answered by us (collectively) as best we can, if we can. Remember, you are among friends here.

[CupCake]

Since I heard about the Gap Insurance here yesterday, I called my Insurance company today. They do not offer it in the area that I live at the moment. The agent told me that maybe in the next year or so they will have it, and that it will not work in this situation. He told me that it only works when you have a brand new car and you don't get what you paid for the vehicle by the other insurance company. So I can't count on that now. He did tell me that they get their car prices from the N.A.D.A. website. According to that website the retail value of my car, after taking the milage adjustment it is $8,200. If they give me that it will be awesome since I owe about $100 less than that.

It was very hard to take those pictures of my mustang. I really liked it, once again it was my baby. It did its job, that is for sure, it kept me from getting hurt worse than I did. I am looking for mustangs right now, I am going for a GT. Unfortunally because I was not born in the USA I don't have a credit history. I have a credit card and a bank account, that is about it =) So I will have to come up with a down payment. Thank you guys for being so informative. Hopefully I will have news on Monday about what the specialists decided to do with my car. If they fix it, do you think it will be a good idea to keep it? Will it drive the same?

[Mr 5 0]

CupCake:

Good news about the value of your car being about equal to what you owe on it.

Getting credit is not too hard if you are steadily employed and have a fairly stable history of paying any bills you owe, like your credit card. The 'catch' is that you will probably have to pay a fairly high interest rate for your car loan, but even that is open to speculation at this point. Shop around for a loan, including at banks. Don't just take whatever some car dealer offers you, which probably won't be the very best financing deal you could get. Whatever you decide to do, be prepared to pay a higher-than-average interest rate for your loan.

As far as your Mustang being 'the same' after it is repaired: that is a gamble. It may have some squeaks and/or rattles it never had before, the doors/hood may not line up as perfectly as before it was hit and you could find a water leak when it rains. Of course, none of this may happen, it's really a guess. I've had major repair jobs done on cars that were hit and the repairs were almost undetectable. I've also had shoddy work done that was quite noticable as to paint-matching and body alignment. A lot depends on the quality of workmanship that goes into the repairs - and that is sometimes hard to find - but still possible.

Unfortunately, you won't really know how good - or bad - the work was until it's been completed. Then, if the bodywork doesn't look very good and/or the re-painting is flawed, etc, you are pretty well screwed. Yes, you can fight with the repair shop for a 'do-over' but, even if they agree to 'fix it', it will likely be the same clowns doing the work that messed it up originally. Good luck with that. Plus, once your car has been in a fairly big accident, as yours has, the re-sale value drops considerably, for good reason. Let's just say that CarFax is not your friend when you are selling a heavily damaged-and-repaired vehicle.

This is why I would rather see you let your damaged Mustang go for salvage, take the insurance money and 'run', as it were. Start fresh with a 'new' Mustang GT and go from there without having to worry about how your banged-up Mustang looks or acts, post repairs. That's just my suggestion, of course. Ultimately, you have to do what seems best for you - and I know you will.

Sincere best wishes with your upcoming decisions relating to your car status, CupCake. Keep us informed.

[CupCake]

Well, I have good news. I got a call from the Insurance people today and they told me my car was going to be totaled. That is not the good news, that is sad actually. What is good is that they are going to give me like $700 more than what I owe on it, so I will not have two car payments and all of that mess. I am very happy about that.

Something that made me upset is that I paid $350 for the dual exhaust that is on my car. I asked the guy if I could get it back and he told me that if I wanted it back, I would have to go and put the old one on and take the new one off. Then he told me that what I did is considered an after market modification and instead of helping the value of the car it will decrease it. And that he didn't think I should go get it. All of this time I was thinking that chaging things like that on a car will increase the value. Am I wrong?

The bad thing is that I have the rental car until monday, so I don't have a lot of time to look for something else to drive. If you hear of some good deals, please let me know.

[bjack]

It's used car lingo.....the industry (car dealers) and the car pricing associations such as the Kelly Blue Book, National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and others will decrease the value of a car if its been modified beyond the manufacture’s specifications. The exception being high value classics, antiques and modified muscle cars of the late 50's, 60's and 70's. Of course this only works in one direction, when you are trading in the dealers will be quick to decrease your trade in value but will resale it for a greater profit (usually). Insurance companies also frown on mods, they only want to restore a damaged vehicle back to its original state unless you have specifically listed all modifications on your policy, and you will pay for this additional coverage.

Bottom line: When we modify our cars we enter a smaller field of potential resale customers. Only those of us who appreciate the mods and have the ability to secure financing or out-right purchase the car would be interested. This eliminates the larger field of potential customers who otherwise would not want to buy a modified car.
It’s really hit or miss, depending on how subtle the modifications are, I really don’t think dual exhaust would be a big deal in most cases. Too bad you lost that, but maybe you can find a good GT or if your lucky a Cobra!! You will pay more for insurance though.

[Mr 5 0]

Originally Posted by CupCake

Well, I have good news. I got a call from the Insurance people today and they told me my car was going to be totaled. That is not the good news, that is sad actually. What is good is that they are going to give me like $700 more than what I owe on it, so I will not have two car payments and all of that mess. I am very happy about that.

As you should be! Glad to learn that you will end up financially ahead on this situation. It's something to be happy about, anyway.

Something that made me upset is that I paid $350 for the dual exhaust that is on my car. I asked the guy if I could get it back and he told me that if I wanted it back, I would have to go and put the old one on and take the new one off. Then he told me that what I did is considered an after market modification and instead of helping the value of the car it will decrease it. And that he didn't think I should go get it. All of this time I was thinking that chaging things like that on a car will increase the value. Am I wrong?

Yes, as 'bjack' throughly explained. Mods don't help, they hurt resale unless you're selling privately to a like-minded muscle car affectionado who appreciates the modifications. Even then, some would-be buyers would rather do their own mods, their way, then buy a car already modified. In any case, now you know the downside of mods. You do them for your personal satisfaction and to enhance your driving experience - but not to add anything to the value of the car.

The bad thing is that I have the rental car until monday, so I don't have a lot of time to look for something else to drive. If you hear of some good deals, please let me know.

Try to find a local car trader newspaper or magazine and, of course, check the local papers classifieds throughly, daily. Good luck!

[CupCake]

I am not even going to bother y looking for something where I live at. I already know, I am not going to be able to find anything. I did find something an hour or so away from here and I wanted to know what you guys thought of it. I would like your opinion since I don't want to buy something that in the future it might not be good. I don't know a lot about Mustang, I am just learning now. Thanks!

Here is the link:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...dist=52#vdptop

[Mr 5 0]

CupCake:

The '97 GT looks like a good deal.

I read the CarFax report and it gave that Mustang a clean bill of health and showed only 3 owners. Odometer mileage is excellent for an 8-year-old car and it doesn't seem to have been in any accidents. The price is also fair for the vehicle. The rest is up to you, as only you will see the 'Stang close up as well as drive it. From here, I would recommend it, assuming the paint and interior are good and the engine runs well.

I wish you the very best of luck with it, CupCake.

[HoodStrype]

Oh... and if you don't buy it I will... so you'd better hurry!

PS: Mr. 5.0 just saved you like 20 or 30 bucks!!!

[CupCake]

I just came back from looking at the car. It looks really nice. I like it. There are a couple of things that I am not sure about. The car sounds great, it has a remote starter. I don't know how well does thing work but I don't know how well it was installed since it has to do with wiring and stuff. Another thing that I didn't like was that the door seemed miss aligned. I don't know if that is because the car is older, I think that will be pretty easy to adjust. Thanks Mr. 5 0 for taking the time and reading the report. It means a lot to me. And the only one buying it is me if I decide on it. )