wrecked 2001 Bug - sell or keep?

Someone hit my bug
It's a 2001 GLS TDI with a 5-spd.
It currently has ~265k miles and zero rust or other exterior damage.
Everything works, and it has pretty decent cloth interior.
I was getting between 46-48 mpg driving back and forth to work.

The insurance company of the guy that hit it has declared the value as ~$1950.
There is no way I could replace it for that much, so I'm working with the insurance company to get more.

My big question is should I keep the bug or let it go?

http://gregoryusa.net/Ashley/20180113_143939.jpg

I'm not a body guy, so I don't know if I could keep it and repair this damage for not much money.

I need input

First I would see what other NB TDI's are selling for, the insurance companies will low ball you. You have to play hard ball with them.

It doesn't look like frame damage from that picture.
You can get a used rh rear fender and pass door assy from a salvage yard, won't be that expensive.
The big problem is the rh quarter panel and rh rocker tube. The tube I'd probably leave if the appearance doesn't bother you. The rh quarter panel I'd get an estimate for it.

I'd personally keep the car, as you said it can't be replaced at that price there willing to give you, again get comps on other cars in your are of same type, mileage and condition, diesels tend to command more money even with higher mileage, just my .02. Good luck and let us know how you fair.
On a side note you can always part the car out, personally I wouldn't, but then again I like a challenge ; )

If you decide to sell it pm Dweisel, he’s always on the hunt for 5spd Beetle diesels.

01JettaInTX said:

Someone hit my bug
It's a 2001 GLS TDI with a 5-spd.
It currently has ~265k miles and zero rust or other exterior damage.
Everything works, and it has pretty decent cloth interior.
I was getting between 46-48 mpg driving back and forth to work.
The insurance company of the guy that hit it has declared the value as ~$1950.
There is no way I could replace it for that much, so I'm working with the insurance company to get more.
My big question is should I keep the bug or let it go?
http://gregoryusa.net/Ashley/20180113_143939.jpg
I'm not a body guy, so I don't know if I could keep it and repair this damage for not much money.
I need input

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It's a shame,but looks like a part out to me. You stated above that you're no body guy. It needs body work. Your other option would to just put a right front fender,right rear fender, passenger door and call it good. Unless you want to foot the bill for some body work.

dweisel

Sounds like the insurance is valuing it as a gasser. I don't know how TX insurance works but you might want to go through your company so you get a fair value. Check with someone know knows TX insurance first though.

Find the most expensive comparable TDI Beetles in your area and kindly demand no less. EBay completed listings will help too. It's a search option on there.

01JettaInTX said:

I'm not a body guy, so I don't know if I could keep it and repair this damage for not much money.
I need input

Click to expand...

I would do the body work myself.

Haven't done bondo work in many years and the cost of some body panels are so cheap it's not worth doing it.

You might have to get the quarter panel slices welded, hammer work close to the shape, then a bit of bondo.

Salvage yard may even have the same color parts which would save more.

Door skin may be repairable (straighten, filler) even with the small hole in it, although a used door may be a better option. The rear quarter panel is destroyed and will need to be replaced or cut out and patched with new metal (welded in). Fenders, no big deal as they are ABS plastic.

The rockers on the beetles are a Royal PIA to fix but overlays are available. Still not easy to fix.

What did you hit to do that much damage?

aja8888 said:

What did you hit to do that much damage?

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A guy driving a Honda hit my daughter...

http://Gregoryusa.net/Ashley/ashley_bug_wreck.mp4

her first wreck...

Install a dash-cam. You will not regret it

01JettaInTX said:

A guy driving a Honda hit my daughter...

http://Gregoryusa.net/Ashley/ashley_bug_wreck.mp4

her first wreck...

Install a dash-cam. You will not regret it

Click to expand...

Ouch! I hope your daughter was not injured. I do have a dash cam in one car of the three, but soon to have more.

Yeah, that pretty-much settles "what happened"..... I have one in my car for exactly this sort of reason.

If you do a buyback and part out I may be interested in the entire car. I have a nb myself.

You can ask help from a friend who has experienced doing body works.

Mt 05 golf had been totaled two times. If the framework is straight keep it if you don't mind the looks. You need to pull up current sales for the insurance to go off off. One Golf I had to do that to get it fair but they came up on price. Last one I thought was fair. 05 Golf 5800 with 200k miles is what the insurance valued Nov 2017

Looks fine to me.....

I've been working with the insurance company...
They initially said my bug was worth only $1937.50 - according to their precious NADA book. <rolling eyes>

Since there is no way I could replace it for that much, they told me to submit 'comps' - ads of the same car to give them an idea of what it would cost to replace it. They wouldn't accept craigslist ads as comps, though. <whatever>

I couldn't find any 2001 TDI bugs w/ a 5-spd in the entire country, so I sent them three 2000 TDI 5-spd bug ads.
They rejected all of them because they will only review cars of the exact same year/make/model... <sheesh!>

So, I looked at a couple other sites and managed to find three 2001 TDI bugs... but they didn't have 5-spd trannys.
The prices ranged from $3800 to $4900.

Today, I got a call from the total-loss insurance adjuster. She said that even though I gave her three valid comps, there is no way they are giving me $3800 for my bug... because their all-knowing NADA says it isn't worth $3800.
Why on earth did they make me go to all that trouble if they knew they weren't going to give me what it would cost me to replace it?

She said the most she can offer is $2500, plus $20 per day [for 30 days] for loss-of-use on my bug.
I told her I'd consult my attorney and get back to her.

I'm going to wait for their offer in writing, but I'm thinking about accepting the offer.
$2500 + $600 isn't too bad.

Their first offer had a difference of $638 for a buy-back. If this offer is close to that, I may keep the car.

Comments?

This is as good as it is going to get. Take the offer.
The whole "I'll talk to my attorney" line is like peeing in a hurricane. Attorneys in my area run a minimum of $185/hour.....and those are the ones with a bottle in their desk. Plus, I have yet to see one cut a farrt with less than a $5000 retainer.

Wait until you manage to get involved in a fatal accident (through no true fault of your own) where the insurance company performs a pay-out on the death of the other driver. Your life will become total hell as the insurance company legal team goes after you for ANYTHING to recoup their losses. They will know exactly WHERE and how MUCH your bank accounts and real estate is worth in less than about 8 hours. They will savagely pursue you for ALL of that value in very short order....and, because it is civil, you will be forced to defend yourself. You may have had a cracked windshield or heavily worn brakes prior to the accident. This info will be skillfully used against you.

Take the money and run and learn what ever lesson can be learned from this experience.

Gotta agree with the above, while you might try again with some submissions and explain that diesels are different, if you get an attorney involved he’s the only one who will come out ahead.

I heard the story of a couple who got married, second marriage for both and shortly after they tied the knot they realized it wasn’t going to work. So the husband went to a friend of his who had legal experience prior to the attorney visit. The friend asked the husband what property they had in common. A $3000 used car. Give it to her the friend counseled.

The husband went to the attorney appointment and the attorney preyed on his ego, and got him mad. Three years and $17000 in attorney fees later they were still fighting over that car.

It’s just like those class action suits one or two original defendants get some money, the attorney makes enough to buy a house or two in the Caribbean and everybody else gets a free oil change or a $20 Visa card.

Tell them you'll accept their offer if they also give you the beetle for free.

maxmoo said:

Tell them you'll accept their offer if they also give you the beetle for free.

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Now I like that idea, then you can sell the carcass or part it out to make up the difference they're not paying you.

maxmoo said:

Tell them you'll accept their offer if they also give you the beetle for free.

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This is what I would do also. If they accept, you will get a letter from them saying if the car is made roadworthy again, it will have to be re-titled as "salvage". We just went through this in Texas with a car.

maxmoo said:

Tell them you'll accept their offer if they also give you the beetle for free.

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Fantastic idea!

I'm going to e-mail them to see what they can do.

Thanks!

Way back in 2011 my wife totalled our 2002 Jetta TDI. It was valued at $3500 but try and but a replacement for that price was impossible. They were there but you had to be at the right place at the right time. For $350 I decided to keep the car and just use parts off of it once in a while. Now I have an automatic 2001 that I picked up cheep and the trany is going to go into it.

Personally I think yours is still in good enough shape to fix and keep driving.

The insurance folks just contacted me.
They offered me $1800 for the car if I keep it.
That's a $700 buy-back.
If I were to repair it, I'm not sure it would be worth as much as I'd have in it.

Anyone willing to pay me $800 for it?

I'm in Houston and I said I would be interested if you were to sell it. Is the car driveable?

Look at the data from your poll. 11 of 13 said new fender and drive on. You have many cars in your fleet but no spares for when one breaks or needs service. This car is worth way more than the 100 bucks you are going to make selling it.

aja8888 said:

I'm in Houston and I said I would be interested if you were to sell it. Is the car driveable?

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I drove it 20-25 miles home after the wreck. It seemed to drive quite straight.

I'm a bit worried about the fender; i'd hate to see it fly apart at highway speeds. How hard is it to slap a fender on a bug?

It needs a battery. The pas two weeks of sub-30s temps killed it.

drucifer said:

Look at the data from your poll. 11 of 13 said new fender and drive on. You have many cars in your fleet but no spares for when one breaks or needs service.

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The fleet in my signature is only my vw fleet. I have a 97 K1500 pickup as my spare. My wife drives a '12 Acadia [that I'm not allowed to mess with, BTW], and my toys are '91 Syclone and '09 E63 AMG.

And... today my daughter sold me her '03 Jetta TDI 5spd, because she bought a 2010 MINI Cooper

The bug is in the way, right now

drucifer said:

This car is worth way more than the 100 bucks you are going to make selling it.

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That is true, but I just don't have time to mess with it. It would be a great high-mpg spare for someone.

Movies, uh I mean YouTubes are great.
https://youtu.be/smZSCpRj-iw

01JettaInTX said:

I drove it 20-25 miles home after the wreck. It seemed to drive quite straight.
I'm a bit worried about the fender; i'd hate to see it fly apart at highway speeds. How hard is it to slap a fender on a bug?
It needs a battery. The pas two weeks of sub-30s temps killed it.

Click to expand...

Duct tape on the fender will suffice. I've made some pretty long tows with no front fenders on Beetles. One from Houston to my place in WV. Just drove an 03 Beetle from Canyon Lake, TX to my place with a broken/cracked rear fender held together with duct tape. It held up perfectly for that trip. Member aja8888 (Tony) helped me out on both of these TX BEETLE retrievals.
Thanks Tony
I wouldn't hesitate to drive it without the fender or with a temporary tape fix. Tony is fully capable of getting your Beetle to its destination safely.
NC 03 BEETLE RETRIEVAL. 01/18


Canyon Lake, TX BEETLE 01-18

dweisel

Looks like I wore-out the insurance folks.
I pointed-out the fact that their first offer had a buy-back difference of $638, but their latest offer was $700.
They made me another offer, and I'm going to accept it.
I'm now the proud owner of a broken bug with a salvage title.
That's one more project for me <sigh>