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  • P71

    Aug. 14, 2008 7:40 p.m. P71 Reader

    Came home from work this afternoon to find my Mazda RX-7 hit with no witnesses and no information. Something large hit it right where the driver's door and a-pillar meet. The door is buckled and folded up over the cowl and does not open, the fender is bent, the hood is miss-aligned, and the the whole car was shifted over 6". The quarter panel is wavy now and the taillight and center rear trim are both pushed out. Looks like severe structural damage.

    Went to the neighbor's, nobody saw or heard anything. Filed a police report, local Sheriff's deputies covered it and were really nice. They pointed out that with the impact so high up and so much damage that it was probably a delivery truck who didn't even notice that they hit it (it only weighs 2200Lbs).

    I'm sick to my stomach, I really liked this car!

    And in case anybody is wondering, it was parked in front of my house on a low-traffic residential street. We just had all new siding installed and repainted the house so the garage and driveway have been full of equipment. One or two of the three cars have been in the street constantly for about 8 weeks.

  • ignorant

    Aug. 14, 2008 7:55 p.m. ignorant SuperDork

    no way.. that sucks.

  • mad_machine

    Aug. 14, 2008 8:04 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

    well, time to find out of any of your neighbors had a delivery recently

  • Feedyurhed

    Aug. 14, 2008 8:38 p.m. Feedyurhed New Reader

    Every collector/enthusiast/car person's nightmare. It's bad enough when a late model vehicle is damaged but at least it can either be replaced or repaired but the older models, that's another story. Sorry to hear that. I guess no street or public place is safe.

  • P71

    Aug. 14, 2008 9:31 p.m. P71 Reader

    I dunno how extensive the damage is yet. I took pictures and filed a police report before I touched it. I got the door to open, but it doesn't sound good! It still runs and drives, but it crabs all over the place. I think they got the left front wheel because now it has a bad rash on it and the aforementioned crabbing. The firewall looks straight and the hood opens and shuts. The bad is the rear of the car looks "banana'd". The center trim has a serious sine wave to it and the driver's side taillight is pushed out. Gas door fits funny now as well. Driver's door is shot without question, may be some structural issues on the a-pillar. Inside trim has bowed out from forces.

    I'll bring it in next week for an estimate. Knowing my insurance company though (State Farm) I think they'll just total it. Luckily I have a good policy (uninsured/underinsured, collision, comprehensive, etc) and a TON of pictures of what the car looked like "before" (I learned that lesson years ago, always take periodic pictures of your car!).

    Driving the car is sad, it's easy to tell that it's "hurt" by the way it "crabs" and the new noises/creaks/groans. Who knows, I have to see what the insurance adjuster and the repair shop both say.

  • P71

    Aug. 14, 2008 11:10 p.m. P71 Reader

    I think fair market value of a comparable 1983 RX-7 GSL (that'd be the model mine is with 4-wheel disc brakes and LSD rear diff) with the options mine has (glass roof, metal roof, power windows/mirrors/hatch/gas door, a/c, sport wheel, rear wiper, etc) in the same shape (excellent runner/driver, all options function correctly, NO rust, straight, was never hit, 20-foot paint) is around $3000-$3500. Anything less and I'm going to tell the insurance to pack sand. If it's structurally sound by the bodyshop I want it fixed. First gen's are soooo rare and this car deserves to be fixed up. I'm only the second owner!

    If it is totaled (as in beyond repair, not insurance yahoo totaled) then I think I'm going to go one of two directions. Either find a clean SA/FB shell and swap in my motor/mods, or buy an FC again and put the old girl out back. Might be worth keeping around to turn into a racecar someday or something.

    sigh

  • ww

    Aug. 15, 2008 12:22 a.m. ww Dork

    If you can't save it, you should turn it into a 24 Hours of LeMons competitor!

    P.S. I just shuffled some cars in the driveway and pulled my '72 240Z off the street and moved it into the garage...

  • mad_machine

    Aug. 15, 2008 7:07 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork

    donar for a Locost? the first gens had a nice sold axle in the back

  • Volksroddin

    Aug. 15, 2008 7:44 a.m. Volksroddin Reader

    mad_machine wrote:

    donar for a Locost? the first gens had a nice sold axle in the back

    thats what I was think'in

  • Jensenman

    Aug. 15, 2008 7:46 a.m. Jensenman SuperDork

    Buy it back from the insurance company! Don't let them crush it. Then keep an eye out for another car with a puled motor and solid body, that shouldn't be too hard to find. Unbolt/rebolt and go on down the road.

  • aussiesmg

    Aug. 15, 2008 9:20 a.m. aussiesmg HalfDork

    That sucks man, I just picked up a Lincoln Town Car in FL and after a whole 3 days of ownership some jerk scrapped down the passenger side, denting the door and fender over about 4'. so I feel for you.

    I will keep an eye out for a nice shell for you

  • jikelly

    Aug. 15, 2008 10:12 a.m. jikelly New Reader

    My wife's 99 Camry has so many dents and dings now from all the hits its taken while parked it makes me sick. I wish I could put a force field around it.

  • CivicSiRacer

    Aug. 15, 2008 10:54 a.m. CivicSiRacer New Reader

    Depending on your neigborhood I would ask around to also see if anyone had a delivery in the area. Any brown paint = UPS. White paint = FedEx. Garbage truck?

  • mad_machine

    Aug. 15, 2008 11:38 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork

    could have been worse

  • SoloSonett

    Aug. 15, 2008 12:44 p.m. SoloSonett New Reader

    mad_machine wrote:

    could have been worse

    That'll buff right out!

  • nickel_dime

    Aug. 15, 2008 2:01 p.m. nickel_dime HalfDork

    That sucks !!!!!

    It reminded of the time I took the race car to a car show. I unhooked the empty trailer and left it in a near by mall parking lot. After the show I took the ambulance back over to hook it up and noticed it was sitting about 2 feet back from where I left it. While setting it on the hitch ball I noticed that the flange around the ball socket had been slightly flatened. I got mad for about 30 seconds then I realized that the trailer really wasn't hurt but who ever had hit it would have a lot of damage to explain.

  • mattmacklind

    Aug. 15, 2008 7:14 p.m. mattmacklind SuperDork

    Dude that sucks. When I lived in Chicago, my MGBGT got pretty banged up by a drunk driver with no insurance. I had a police report but the dude had no insurance anyway. It sucks.

    I live on a residential street and have a one car garage. When I want to drive my garaged car, I park my driveway car in my yard. I live in Kansas City, MO, its not exactly a rural yard car part of the town, but until I get a ticket for it (it is against muni. ordinance) I will keep doing it, because it just isn't worth the chance the garbage truck or some other vehicle will smash it and leave.

  • Travis_K

    Aug. 15, 2008 9:12 p.m. Travis_K New Reader

    From your description at least that car sounds like its not repairable. If you really like it, take a trip to cali and bring one home. Ones in excelent shape are being scrapped by the hundreds becasue even in perfect shape they are extramly difficult to get to pass the emissions testing here to people dont want to mess with them.

  • Luke

    Aug. 15, 2008 10:05 p.m. Luke Dork

    Hey mad_machine, is that your old Porsche powered bug, that the kid wrote off?

    Good luck with your RX7, P71.

  • minimac

    Aug. 16, 2008 6:33 a.m. minimac Dork

    P71 wrote: Luckily I have a good policy (uninsured/underinsured, collision, comprehensive, etc) and a TON of pictures of what the car looked like "before" (I learned that lesson years ago, always take periodic pictures of your car!).
    P71 wrote: I think fair market value of a comparable 1983 RX-7 GSL (that'd be the model mine is with 4-wheel disc brakes and LSD rear diff) with the options mine has (glass roof, metal roof, power windows/mirrors/hatch/gas door, a/c, sport wheel, rear wiper, etc) in the same shape (excellent runner/driver, all options function correctly, NO rust, straight, was never hit, 20-foot paint) is around $3000-$3500. Anything less and I'm going to tell the insurance..yada,yada,yada.....

    That sounds good, but having gone through a huge battle with a big insurer(and winning!) unless you have a stated value policy, you are screwed. Read your policy carefully, look for the buzzword 'arbitration', get an independent appraisal with documentation, enlist the aid of your agent, and don't believe anything they tell you about value. IF you have the arbitration option provided in your policy, you may stand a chance. The insurer won't like it, your agent definitely won't like it and they'll do whatever they can to avoid it. Don't get nasty or abusive,(they'll provoke and frustrate you) and stick to your guns and don't back down. Prepare to be disappointed, though, and good luck. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt to prove it.

  • billy3esq

    Aug. 16, 2008 9:59 a.m. billy3esq Dork

    I'm going to disagree on arbitration. Arbitration is the insurance company's best friend. That's why they put it in there. I'm also going to disagree on relying on your agent. If he's an independent he might be helpful, but if he's captive he's one of them.

    All the other advice is good. Get an independent appraisal and stick to your guns. The policy requires them to pay ACV (actual cash value) less your deductible.

    In the future, you would be better off with a stated value policy on a car like that.

  • P71

    Aug. 16, 2008 10:05 a.m. P71 Reader

    I fought them last year on my 1996 Nissan pickup when their own "#1 rated shop" completely FUBAR'd it. Then I got to help fight a different company when my neighbor's 1959 Buick Electra was hit. I'm hoping that I can still do well with this stuff.

    John (ThunderCougarFalconGoat) is here with his gold 82 RX-7 and we compared what the actual structure looks like. Not as bad as I originally thought judging by his car, but it's definitely "bent". The insurance adjuster looks at it Monday and I'll probably bring it to a shop on Tuesday (the shop that fixed the Buick).

  • pigeon

    Aug. 16, 2008 12:51 p.m. pigeon New Reader

    billy3esq wrote:

    I'm going to disagree on arbitration. Arbitration is the insurance company's best friend. That's why they put it in there. I'm also going to disagree on relying on your agent. If he's an independent he might be helpful, but if he's captive he's one of them.

    All the other advice is good. Get an independent appraisal and stick to your guns. The policy requires them to pay ACV (actual cash value) less your deductible.

    In the future, you would be better off with a stated value policy on a car like that.

    I 1000% agree with this. I make my living fighting insurance companies every day. State Farm is the Evil Empire, and they will screw their own policyholders as quickly as they will anyone else. Once you pay that premium it's their money, and they will fight tooth and nail to keep it. The agent is an agent of the insurance company, he/she's not your friend, no matter how they're portrayed in the commercials.

    Get a good, independent appraisal, look for comparable cars nearby for sale as well as evidence of value. Don't back down when they low ball you.

    All that being said, the 2 cars I totalled the insurance companies' values were way higher than I figured them to be, and the same was true when my nephew was recently hit and had his car totalled. Hopefully they'll be fair and you won't have to fight, but it's better to gear up for the fight than be caught with your pants down.

    Scott

  • minimac

    Aug. 16, 2008 2:31 p.m. minimac Dork

    "Enlist the aid" of your agent is far different than depend on your agent. Most auto agents are independent. They have their"rating" to worry about.They can be helpful to a point. They want to avoid arbitration at all costs. The insurance company will weigh the cost of fighting you. Even though they work for the insurance company, attorneys do not come cheaply, as Mr Billy3 Esq, will confirm. Oft times it is far cheaper for them to reach an agreement with you than fight. If you have good documentation to support your stand,you'll have a much better chance of getting a fair settlement. Having already faced the dragon, you have an idea of what you're up against and what it will take to win. It's too bad they can't (usually) be fair, but that's the nature of the beast.

  • pigeon

    Aug. 16, 2008 5:46 p.m. pigeon New Reader

    minimac wrote:

    "The insurance company will weigh the cost of fighting you. Even though they work for the insurance company, attorneys do not come cheaply, as Mr Billy3 Esq, will confirm. Oft times it is far cheaper for them to reach an agreement with you than fight."

    Most insurance companies behave rationally like this, but State Farm is not one of them. They will spend $10,000 to fight a $1,000 case. Also, although generally attorneys do not come cheaply (me included), State Farm doesn't pay its contracted attorneys very much, so it's cheaper than you might think for them to fight.

    /endrant

    Scott

 
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