My daughter needs a car! Totaled hers!

richfroh · 2017-02-08T22:22:57-08:00

My daughter Terra totaled her car (not her fault) and needs a safe, reliable car for around $3,000 to $3,500. If anyone has one or has any good leads, please let me know. It needs to have an automatic transmission. She was on 99 North near Arno road on Sunday night at about 12:30am. It was dark, raining and very windy. As she started to pass a tractor-trailer truck, the truck swerved into her tiny 2013 Chevy Spark. It basically tore up the entire right side of the car. It tore the front fender and mirror off, cut a slice into the A-pillar, cracked the windshield, pushed the hood over, cut a gash in the front door and exploded the window into the car, bent up the rear door pushing it into the quarter panel. The truck driver never stopped. We think because of the gusty winds, he/she never knew they hit her. She is fine. She got very lucky! It could have been much worse. The car has a blue book of $4,500 and the repair estimate is $9,000. It is going to be totaled, but we don't know how much the insurance payment will be yet. We have a $1,000 deductible. We are guessing $3,000 to $3,500. We are told the process should take about two weeks. We are looking for a car that we can buy as soon as we have the insurance check. Please let me know if you know of any good cars available. Also let me know if you about any good used car dealers that are reputable selling cars in this price range. Thanks!

richfroh Subscriber
richfroh Subscriber
#18 Feb 2017, 10:22 PM
My daughter Terra totaled her car (not her fault) and needs a safe, reliable car for around $3,000 to $3,500. If anyone has one or has any good leads, please let me know. It needs to have an automatic transmission.

She was on 99 North near Arno road on Sunday night at about 12:30am. It was dark, raining and very windy. As she started to pass a tractor-trailer truck, the truck swerved into her tiny 2013 Chevy Spark. It basically tore up the entire right side of the car. It tore the front fender and mirror off, cut a slice into the A-pillar, cracked the windshield, pushed the hood over, cut a gash in the front door and exploded the window into the car, bent up the rear door pushing it into the quarter panel. The truck driver never stopped. We think because of the gusty winds, he/she never knew they hit her.

She is fine. She got very lucky! It could have been much worse. The car has a blue book of $4,500 and the repair estimate is $9,000. It is going to be totaled, but we don't know how much the insurance payment will be yet. We have a $1,000 deductible. We are guessing $3,000 to $3,500.

We are told the process should take about two weeks. We are looking for a car that we can buy as soon as we have the insurance check.

Please let me know if you know of any good cars available. Also let me know if you about any good used car dealers that are reputable selling cars in this price range.

Thanks!
Gregulator Member Joined: February 2012
Gregulator Member Joined: February 2012
#28 Feb 2017, 11:07 PM
Bummer, glad she is okay!

Um...what?
scoped Subscriber
scoped Subscriber
#39 Feb 2017, 12:43 AM
I'mGlad all is good.

(I'm assuming it is full coverage by the description)

Due realize though, blue book could play little factor in this. They need to pay you "real replacement value"

In a 5 minute Craigslist search I did not see a single spark valued under 8k and some as high as 12k. Now I don't know the spark market or the condition/trim of yours but if comparable to the units I saw you need to print out any unit you find for sale in comparable condition normally 1 model year older to 1 newer and as much as 25,000 miles either direction on the odometer.

If the insurance low balls it provide them your findings and explain to them you want the same car and must be provided enough to get a like replacement at current sales rates

As you probably know I am/have gone through this currently

My insurance is for stock vehicle so forget my mods

Kbb is 14-17 on the Jeep after talking with the insurance some and having some print outs of if I went out to buy a like replacement today here is how much they are going for info you may be able to increase that (craigslist, dealers,auto trader ect). Because of what the vehicles are actually selling for I got somewhere between 155-170% of what the value Kbb said.

Again this all depends on condition/trim of the car but my quick search showed you are going to need allot more to buy that vehicle again (even if that's not what you want)

I know this whole process can be a pain but check going rate for that car in this area. Maybe it's less and your getting a good deal with kbb value but maybe your getting screwed and need to throw kbb out the window (its what I did)
richfroh Subscriber
richfroh started this Subscriber
#410 Feb 2017, 3:35 AM
This posted in the wrong section, sorry. Can I change it?

Looking up values, her car should be worth about $8,000 replacement value. Much better than KBB. Now we have to wait and see what insurance says.
Gregulator Member Joined: February 2012
Gregulator Member Joined: February 2012
#510 Feb 2017, 4:44 AM
Are you sure this isn't a land use issue?

Um...what?
richfroh Subscriber
richfroh started this Subscriber
#610 Feb 2017, 4:48 AM
Well, she was driving on paved land when she got hit.....
kris_olof Trailmaster Joined: October 2015
kris_olof Trailmaster Joined: October 2015
#710 Feb 2017, 5:11 AM
richfroh said Looking up values, her car should be worth about $8,000 replacement value. Much better than KBB. Now we have to wait and see what insurance says.

Buy it back, buy a buggy chassis, put the drive train in sideways. BOOM! Rock buggy.
Mike G Member Joined: October 2016
Mike G Member Joined: October 2016
#810 Feb 2017, 11:40 AM
kris_olof said
Buy it back, buy a buggy chassis, put the drive train in sideways. BOOM! Rock buggy.

Lol.... I love the idea

Hey Rich sorry to hear about what happened to your daughter I'm glad she's OK.

As a tow truck driver for the last 16 years I always say any vehicles can be replaced it's the lives that matter over all else

Mike G