Wrecked my 03 Jetta Tdi wagon.

[Snow]

Of course the first thing to say is that I was devastated. I was driving into the sun on a narrow road, and dodged something that dashed into the road. I barely went onto the shoulder but unfortunately there was no shoulder. Instead there was a culvert with a concrete abutment. I hit it with the right front wheel going about 30 and it crammed the wheel back into the frame, sprung the door, and set off the airbag on that side. My airbag did not deploy, and I walked away with some busted ribs from the seatbelt.

Here is my problem and question. The insurance co is offering me 5k for the car which had only 156k miles on it at the time, perfectly maintained, recent second timing belt change and all. They started out at $3200. I know that even the 5k figure is ridiculous, but trying to prove that to them is a fight. Has anyone here ever had to fight this battle with their insurance for an 02-03 tdi wagon? Any tips? How did you end up doing? Feel free to PM me if you prefer.

I pulled all the sold listings off of eBay that I could find, and others up for sale as well and sent all of that to the adjuster, but I'm still not getting anywhere.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, I greatly appreciate any assistance.

Dee

 

[peterdaniel]

5k for a 12 year old car that has 156K miles on it.... You are lucky to get 5K from them.
The insurance company looks at the above. Not that its a hot car.
To give you an idea of their mentality, if it was an automatic, it would be worth more!

 

[Tdijarhead]

I have never had an experience with an insurance company for other than deer hits, thankfully. I wonder if instead of giving you money if they would allow you to find a similar vehicle on eBay or otherwise and buy it out right for you? Along with an extra $2000 to catch the maintenance up of course. Not gonna happen I know but the idea might help in the bargaining process.

 

[Bob_Fout]

My 2003 with 195K miles was recently valued by my insurance company (dealer retail) at between $7,000 and $7500.

 

[ajaxstar]

Perhaps they may offer you the payout and the option to buy back the car for a low price, then you could sell it for parts or as a repairable. I bought my Audi a4 gasser from a guy that had smashed a deer going 60mph and I think we both were happy with the deal.

 

[LOWRANGO]

When my wagon was first totaled last year I got offered nothing for mine. After 6 weeks of hassling with them, I got them to a check just over $5000 and kept the car @ $1700 salvage value. (if they would have taken car it would have been almost 6800 plus tax ) The company I dealt with would not take ebay or craigslist ads into consideration at all. I had to find dealers, and screen shot them. Regardless of where they were located in the country. It was a hassle but being the car was drivable I just kept haggling with them. My wagon is the one currently for sale in this section as a parts car. It had previous accident damage and over 220k on the clock at time of accident.

 

[Bob S.]

Please remember when dealing with the claims persons: Be professional & polite. Do not loss your temper. In all probability the adjuster probably does not understand or know the value of an 03 ALH wagon. Take the opportunity to politely educate him/her so that they can resolve your claim to mutual benefit. Remember, the adjuster has to document their file and justify the settlement amount. Their files are subject to audit.

1. Read your insurance policy in full & carefully.
2. Do your due diligence and provide them with the results of your research.
3. Involve your agent in the process.
4. If permitted under your policy, request arbitration, solicit assistance from experts in the values of 03 ALH wagons. Most gurus on here would likely qualify.
5. While probably not cost effective, consider having a appraisal by a qualified appraiser.
6. Complaints can usually be filed with your state's Insurance Commissioner's Office.
7. Consider retaining the services of a Public Adjuster (PA).

Good Luck with it.

 

[tdidieselbobny]

If you have receipts for recent work you have done(timing belt),along with any other receipts(like tires within past few months) or anything else that was more than a few hundred might help out also. Go on Autotrader.com and pull up all 02-03 TDI Jetta wagons listed on there in the country(usually around 10 or so). Good luck and keep the pressure on them......

 

[LOWRANGO]

Found my emails from last May when it was declared totaled. They gave no comps in my final, just listed them as unqualified comp. But ultimately they gave me what I wanted. Copy and pasted from my email:

Good morning Paul,

I received the revised total loss valuation. Please see the attached copy & the settlement figures below & let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!

$7,110.29 ACV
497.72 TAX (7%)
7608.01 NET TOTAL - NGIC RETAIN

$7,110.29 ACV
1685.78 SALVAGE QUOTE
5424.54 NET TOTAL - ORS

Kristen Carter
Total Loss Specialist
Winston Salem NC
888-233-4575 x 55347
Fax 800-924-0273

We’re the same great company with a fresh, new look!

 

[MeOmYo]

I got almost $5K for my 2001 Golf with 277K ish miles.

it is in their best interest to close these things out. Do not agree to or sign anything until you are happy with what they give you.

 

[Thermo1223]

I had to fight to hell just to get almost $8,000 for my 2004 Wagon. 150k

They considered the $3000 of recent work done to it as maybe worth $300. So somewhere there is a 2004 Wagon with FSD suspension on it in a junkyard somewhere.

 

[njt1rider]

http://scottedgerton.com/listing.php?id=269 this guy sells a bunch of wagons. Maybe he can send you the prices of recently sold wagons. Then maybe you will find your new one with him?

 

[Snow]

First off, thanks to everyone who responded . I greatly appreciate all the help. Although it's my first time in this situation, I'm not willing to take just any offer for my car. I may end up referring the insurance agent to this link so that he can see all the various responses. Thanks especially to Bob Fout and Lowrango, it was extremely helpful to see what two cars with more miles than mine settled for.

Still waiting to see if my car is repairable, I bought mine brand new and I know how it's been maintained, so I'd just as soon stick with it if it can be fixed, but if not, I'll be looking for one as close to it as possible.

Thanks again everyone. I'll keep you all posted as things develop.

 

[KCTDI]

Good Luck!
Where are you in MO?

 

[McFarlin109]

If the insurance company end up calling it total loss and want to settle with you tell them that you want to keep it. Say you want it as a parts car for your next TDI, that way you get an insurance check for the car and you could sell it to someone here as project or parts car. They usually only take around $500-$1,000 from the settlement check for you to keep it and you can probably make three to four times that(if not more) by selling it to someone who can either get it back on the road or use the low mileage parts on a another car. The insurance check and whatever you sell the car for will more than get you into a similar TDI wagon and you might even come out ahead. If you posted some pics you might even generate some interested buyers after they know the extent of the damage.

 

[Jettatug]

I smashed my oil pan and transmission into a piece of road. It was the joint between asphalt and a concrete bridge over a creek. Middle of nowhere TN.

Transmission housing cracked. Oil pan cracked. Oil pan no problem. Transmission was the expensive part. Labor, remanufactured trans, and the fact that I got no credit for a core.

2004 Jetta Wagon. Auto. GLS. Needed a windshield, tires, and had about 225K. Up next was a timing belt swap in about 6 months.

My company paid my $500 roll back tow and $5600 for the car.

Was it fair? Probably. Barely. Can I replace the car for $5600? No. Should I have been paying closer attention when I was driving in meth lab country? Yes.

 

[Moesauction!]

How bad is it ? I have put several back together