How can they write it off ?

Valid8 · 06-01-2009, 08:02 PM

On Jan 1st my wife went through a green light and collected another car that sailed through the red. Of course the other party has no insurance and our insurance company is mucking us around saying our AU3 Fairmont may be a write off. The front bumber and L/H guard were damaged, but they say re-installing the 2 front airbags is probably too expensive. The Fairmont was in pristine condition, new yokohamas, new gas conversion, only 80 000 km on the clock, 11 months reg. What options do I have ? They say that the are still weighing up the cost, it seems a shame. How much do 2 airbags cost?

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**Peuty** · 06-01-2009, 08:03 PM

What was the car's insured value for starters?

Unco · 06-01-2009, 08:04 PM

is that a picture before or after the accident?? airbags can be expensive to replace if they need to replace all sensors and maybe all wiring???

**Professor Farnsworth** · 06-01-2009, 08:06 PM

real shame, but bags are expensive for sure. Unfortunately your car is probably only worth around 5-6 grand to them even with the low km's if that.

**Professor Farnsworth** · 06-01-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unco

is that a picture before or after the accident?? airbags can be expensive to replace if they need to replace all sensors and maybe all wiring???

he said the front bumper and left hand guard were damaged, so i'm guessing the photo is beforehand.

Buzz Box · 06-01-2009, 08:09 PM

It sucks but you have to look at the market value of your car at the moment........

According to Redbook
2002 Ford AU III Fairmont
* Private Price Guide $5,800 - $7,300
* Trade In Price Guide $3,600 - $5,100
* Average Km 90,000 - 150,000
* Price When New (RRP) $40,480

Think how much a new bumper, quarter panel and paint job are alone........

All I will say is if there was ever a time to have cash and be shopping for a new car now is that time, add $5,000-$10,000 and you'll get a couple of year old fairmont on gas etc so.......

Valid8 · 06-01-2009, 08:09 PM

It was only market value, on Redbook it is valued at 7300 but thats before the gas conversion, so that has to be worth a little bit. The photo was before, imagine no bumper any more.

**Peuty** · 06-01-2009, 08:10 PM

I would have had the insurance company increase the agreed value due to the gas conversion.

Unco · 06-01-2009, 08:11 PM

i'd say since you had the gas conversion done, your insurance should cover you for market value + gas conversion. hope you get it and sorry to hear they don't want to repair your car, that must really suck.

Unco · 06-01-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzz Box

All I will say is if there was ever a time to have cash and be shopping for a new car now is that time, add $5,000-$10,000 and you'll get a couple of year old fairmont on gas etc so.......

agreed. if you get a good pay out, look forward to upgrading to a later model for little extra.

**Whoosha** · 06-01-2009, 08:14 PM

Providing its only a repairable right off just take the payout buy the car back then get it repaired yourself

Valid8 · 06-01-2009, 08:14 PM

You are right it sucks, I just waxed it.

Kryton · 06-01-2009, 08:17 PM

pictures would be a good start.
the front bumper and guard could be a whole lot more damage than you might think.
the airbags have gone off so there is a 90% chance the radiator support panel will need replacing too along with the side rail and the chassis rails might need straightening as well.
good luck with it but its time to move on as it will be a write off.

Valid8 · 06-01-2009, 08:17 PM

To buy it back as a repairable write off, who decides its value? Do I bid against other interested parties?

**Peuty** · 06-01-2009, 08:19 PM

Yes mate you will have to go down to Pickles or whatever and bid for it.

Unco · 06-01-2009, 08:20 PM

normally they will give you a figure, so you won't have to bid for it at auction. that's what happened when dad wrote his car off, when my sister wrote her car off and when my brother wrote his car off. it may depend on the insurance company though.

Smoke Pursuit · 06-01-2009, 08:31 PM

Insurance companies usually pay out higher then Redbook.. One of my friends wrote off her 99 Corolla and i got 4 kay more for it then Redbook just thru talking to the insurance company and showing them what i would pay for a car in simliar condition...

Nikked · 06-01-2009, 08:53 PM

Hmmm, if two bags have gone off, that gives an image of bent chassis rails etc. When a air bag goes of, its not just a job of putting two airbags in. Some cars need a new wires plugs etc, as the heat from the detonation melts it all. The dash can be damaged aswell. Thats alot of labor, and expensive parts....

Valid8 · 06-01-2009, 08:59 PM

Just been looking at carsales and I would be out of pocket a bit to update, bloody people with no insurance. grrrrrrr.

Mr Hardware · 06-01-2009, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whoosha

Providing its only a repairable write-off, just take the payout and buy the car back, then get it repaired yourself.

100% Correct sir. One gold star.
Also
MAKE PROFIT

ie
$7k payout
$2k buyback
$3k repair job
=$2k profit!

Iggypoppin' · 06-01-2009, 09:07 PM

provided of course it's under that amount to repair and not over that amount to purchase!!
And what if it's still under finance...?

Green X · 06-01-2009, 09:16 PM

Think i remember someone telling me once that airbag's are around 2K a shot to replace, so if that's true you looking at 4K on that alone!

S3SR · 06-01-2009, 09:26 PM

i got $6k for my 2002 SR venom red 5sp manual and $14k for my 2006 BF XR6 with 50oookms on clock..... they are worth nothing

honestly i know how much id kill for my AU back.... hell id give someone elses kidneys up for it.... but it was a death trap after being repaired and it would cost more than the $6k trade-in i got to repair the thing to even be classed as roadworthy

coming from where i have been taking the insurance company to court over their incompetence id rather the car be writen off then take the chance with it repaired again...... thats me though the 1 in a million

Spanrz · 06-01-2009, 09:34 PM

Im sure i seen that car before....Oh well not anymore.!

Nikked · 06-01-2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

100% Correct sir. One gold star.
Also
MAKE PROFIT

ie
$7k payout
$2k buyback
$3k repair job
=$2k profit!

haha, 3k repair job...

**Whoosha** · 06-01-2009, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COOGES

To buy it back as a repairable write off, who decides its value? Do I bid against other interested parties?

Most times you can just get a pay out figure on the vechical before it even goes to auction ussally cheaper than you might think as the wholesalers are full of wrecks that wont sell, the insurance company save on all the transport and auction cost this way, we have done this twice before and both times were surprised how cheap they let the vechical go.. Well worht asking the question, if it gets that far.

Valid8 · 06-01-2009, 09:53 PM

hmmm, you might have seen it parked at casey central shops

**Whoosha** · 06-01-2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COOGES

hmmm, you might have seen it parked at casey central shops

Was wondering ware I had seen that name before

Pinkbits · 06-01-2009, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whoosha

Was wondering ware I had seen that name before

There is a name for people like you..........STALKER

:

Iggypoppin' · 06-01-2009, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S3SR

i got $6k for my 2002 SR venom red 5sp manual and $14k for my 2006 BF XR6 with 50oookms on clock..... they are worth nothing

honestly i know how much id kill for my AU back.... hell id give someone elses kidneys up for it.... but it was a death trap after being repaired and it would cost more than the $6k trade-in i got to repair the thing to even be classed as roadworthy

coming from where i have been taking the insurance company to court over their incompetence id rather the car be writen off then take the chance with it repaired again...... thats me though the 1 in a million

wernt the cars insured for more than that? My xr6 is insured for 22,000 and that's what I get if it's written off. Unless you claimed the wrecks for parts then I can't see a BF being insured for 14k