Help with insurance adjustor?

[DuddyGuy]

My 5 speed 02 ALH Golf w/307k miles on it got hit by a negligent driver. I'm in Southern California and they're offering me $3200 to total out the vehicle, my car was in excellent condition cosmetically and mechanically and I feel like this is low based off of limited sales of junkers with these cars getting up in age and people lying to the DMV in order to not pay tax.

Problem I'm having is finding any point of reference to argue the point as I can find virtually no mk4s TDIs, much less nice ones listed currently in the area or any reference for sold vehicles recently.

I know a lot of people are on point with all things car and car dealings here, so I thought I might ask if anyone has advice or can point me to any resources to use while negotiating with the insurance company? Any help appreciated and picture of vehicle attached for reference (slightly older but car was still in the same condition as pictured)

.

 

[miningman]

good luck with your efforts but I ewou;ld think 3200 is a fair offer

 

[DuddyGuy]

good luck with your efforts but I ewou;ld think 3200 is a fair offer

I probably would have agreed a few years ago, but the used car market is crazy since Covid and Inflation and chip shortages. I don't believe I could buy a similar condition equivalent vehicle at that price point and I think a clean manual transmission ALH is a desirable car even with the mileage... but maybe I'm wrong. That's where if anyone had any data on nice TDI's selling prices would come in handy.

 

[Ragdude]

I probably would have agreed a few years ago, but the used car market is crazy since Covid and Inflation and chip shortages. I don't believe I could buy a similar condition equivalent vehicle at that price point and I think a clean manual transmission ALH is a desirable car even with the mileage... but maybe I'm wrong. That's where if anyone had any data on nice TDI's selling prices would come in handy.

Doesn't matter, insurance companies go off book value, sorry for your loss.

 

[Nero Morg]

You can also argue that you can't replace the car for that much, tell them to either fix it or replace it, especially if you weren't at fault.

 

[DivineChaos]

Get a lawyer. Approve all major repairs were done. Any extravagant costs for the vehicle. What condition it was in. Is it considered a collector now?

 

[DivineChaos]

If it was absolutely pristine. You could get five grand for it

 

[Ragdude]

Get a lawyer. Approve all major repairs were done. Any extravagant costs for the vehicle. What condition it was in. Is it considered a collector now?

It'll cost much more to fight in the long run

 

[DuddyGuy]

Doesn't matter, insurance companies go off book value, sorry for your loss.

California requires they pay fair market value, not the wholesale "cash value/book value" or whatever they call it other places.

You can also argue that you can't replace the car for that much, tell them to either fix it or replace it, especially if you weren't at fault.

Yup that's the plan, if anyone has any references even to asking prices for equivalent vehicles in the general region it would help!

Get a lawyer. Approve all major repairs were done. Any extravagant costs for the vehicle. What condition it was in. Is it considered a collector now?

I used to have a legal service that I could have done so, unfortunately the out of pocket even if I got the value adjusted upward would probably bring the net down below the current offer (which I'm sure they know ha).

If it was absolutely pristine. You could get five grand for it

I would probably accept that, just trying to find some evidence to help my case

 

[burn_your_money]

https://forums.tdiclub.com/index.php?threads/2003-golf-gls-tdi-4-dr-143k-ca-5250.518898/ - $5200

https://forums.tdiclub.com/index.ph...tdi-sedan-5-speed-189k-4500-denver-co.518177/ $4500

https://forums.tdiclub.com/index.ph...s-wagon-5mt-for-only-16k.519241/#post-5701269 $16000

Show them the proper comps. If your car looked like the one you posted, it's easily a 5k car.

 

[DuddyGuy]

Show them the proper comps. If your car looked like the one you posted, it's easily a 5k car.

Thank you I'll add those to the list I'm putting together. That is my car in the pic, I meant it's a slightly older picture maybe taken 2 years ago or so... but prior to the accident it looked exactly the same still / was in the same condition.

 

[DivineChaos]

The shape and maintence of these cars more dictate the value than the miles.

https://www.cars.com/research/volkswagen-golf-2002/trims/

 

[Ragdude]

Thank you I'll add those to the list I'm putting together. That is my car in the pic, I meant it's a slightly older picture maybe taken 2 years ago or so... but prior to the accident it looked exactly the same still / was in the same condition.

Good luck, please keep us posted

 

[Mongler98]

Forget lawyers and forget all this nonsence. It's a old car that's not very safe from today's standards and not worth much. Take the $ and run. Sucks but you might be able to get a bot more if you push but you will get less by paying an attorney.

 

[03TDICommuter]

Fight it. Extend your search - doesn't have to be in your area and the fact you can't find any nearby could help your case. With the used car shortage, and the high gas prices, these cars are going for more than that.

 

[DuddyGuy]

Fight it. Extend your search - doesn't have to be in your area and the fact you can't find any nearby could help your case. With the used car shortage, and the high gas prices, these cars are going for more than that.

Totally Agree.

 

[Prairieview]

Some of you are in la-la land. In my area, an attorney doesn't even roll over and cut a fart for less than a $5000 retainer....and they burn that up in a week sending off misc. letters and court filings. And, in theory, I am in what is referred to as "fly-over" country.

 

[csstevej]

Tell the insurance company to find a replacement vehicle of same make , milage and condition as yours…..along with any mods or replacements parts done, ie tires , clutch , brakes etc….
I will bet they cant and should raise the payout to you.
I went through this with wife’s van that got T-boned in a parking lot by some teenager cutting through a double space and texting….. they totaled the van….van had high milage around 240,xxx miles but was in very nice shape ( 2005 Toyota Sienna xle awd limited ).
Made them look around for a replacement, after about a week or two of searching they couldn’t and coughed 2 grand more than the first offer.
Stick to your guns……
The comps people here will help , as stated look outside your area for other TDI’s and use them……

 

[Mongler98]

Some of you are in la-la land. In my area, an attorney doesn't even roll over and cut a fart for less than a $5000 retainer....and they burn that up in a week sending off misc. letters and court filings. And, in theory, I am in what is referred to as "fly-over" country.

100% correct.
wasting time and resources on a car worth 3 to 4 grand at MOST trying to get an extra $1500 bucks maybe.... i love money but i would NOT chase bad money.. well.... money that takes a lot of effort and time to fight. you already have fair market value offer.

 

[Mongler98]

Tell the insurance company to find a replacement vehicle of same make , milage and condition as yours…..along with any mods or replacements parts done, ie tires , clutch , brakes etc….
I will bet they cant and should raise the payout to you.
I went through this with wife’s van that got T-boned in a parking lot by some teenager cutting through a double space and texting….. they totaled the van….van had high milage around 240,xxx miles but was in very nice shape ( 2005 Toyota Sienna xle awd limited ).
Made them look around for a replacement, after about a week or two of searching they couldn’t and coughed 2 grand more than the first offer.
Stick to your guns……
The comps people here will help , as stated look outside your area for other TDI’s and use them……

no insurance ever will or ever will do that. its a payout. not a used car lot with 20+ year old cars.
unless it states replacement in your statement, then no, guess you got lucky.

 

[csstevej]

Well That’s funny…..CAUSE THATS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SITUATION….. you really need to be quiet when you have no clue on what your talking about…… I’ve had to do this with Three vehicles I own , none our fault and with all three had to fight to get what was fair based on condition prior to accident and what was being sold on the market.

 

[03TDICommuter]

no insurance ever will or ever will do that. its a payout. not a used car lot with 20+ year old cars.
unless it states replacement in your statement, then no, guess you got lucky.

Well That’s funny…..CAUSE THATS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SITUATION….. you really need to be quiet when you have no clue on what your talking about…… I’ve had to do this with Three vehicles I own , none our fault and with all three had to fight to get what was fair based on condition prior to accident and what was being sold on the market.

They also did that with my 1993 Ford Ranger pickup. It was easy actually to get them to give me more. They offered X, I said "no, and besides it was your client that took out my perfectly working truck, and btw here's comparables". Price they gave next was quite a bit more. Certainly was not a lot of work on my part.

 

[burn_your_money]

Same for my 85 Jetta. I refused the first offer and after driving their rental for a few weeks they came back 50% higher. ($1500 vs $1000 lol). Bought it back for $200 to get my recaros back.
@Mongler98 you really think a few searches and emails isn’t worth the hassle of $1500?

 

[Mongler98]

Same for my 85 Jetta. I refused the first offer and after driving their rental for a few weeks they came back 50% higher. ($1500 vs $1000 lol). Bought it back for $200 to get my recaros back.
@Mongler98 you really think a few searches and emails isn’t worth the hassle of $1500?

yea thats worth it but going any further with that is a waste of time. not for all but for most it is. especially all this BS about lawyers lol.

 

[Nevada_TDI]

The Insurance Commissioner may be a good choice to call. Every insurance company in every state has to register with the Insurance Commissioner.
If you believe the insurance is doing you dirty, make a call and describe what is going on, and then sit back and wait; there is NO insurance company that is willing to lose their charter in your state over a $1500.00 dispute.

 

[DivineChaos]

Sold: For Sale: 03 TDI Wagon, WY $6,000

Hi All, I am planning to sell my 2003 TDI Wagon, 5 speed. It is a very nice clean two owner car. I bought it in 2010 with 75,000 miles from the VW dealer in Greely, CO. The first owner had bought and had it serviced from that dealership. Since then I have put nearly 100K miles on it. The...

forums.tdiclub.com

 

[Mongler98]

The Insurance Commissioner may be a good choice to call. Every insurance company in every state has to register with the Insurance Commissioner.
If you believe the insurance is doing you dirty, make a call and describe what is going on, and then sit back and wait; there is NO insurance company that is willing to lose their charter in your state over a $1500.00 dispute.

That's actually a really good idea

 

[Ragdude]

California requires they pay fair market value, not the wholesale "cash value/book value" or whatever they call it other places.

Then why is this an issue?

 

[DuddyGuy]

Then why is this an issue?

The issue is establishing what fair market value actually is, especially since we are in a market which has recently been destabilized by covid and inflation and I've having trouble finding comparable vehicles even listed for sale and appreciate the resources that have been left here.

 

[irvingj]

Try to fight it, but I'd not get my hopes up. Same thing happened to me with a pristine 1987 Colt Vista Wagon 4wd. Daughter rolled it in 1993, insurance called it a total (guess it was). Insurance payout was about 1/2 of what it was worth, about 1/4 of what it was worth to me; even got the dealer to write a letter to that effect; no go. (If it sounds like I'm STILL pi--ed about it....yes, I am!)

Good luck!