Camry got hit...twice within a week

[ROBS]

About a week ago, I was driving down the street I live on and there was a garbage truck putting garbage in the back. As I drove past him, he decieded not to look and pull out right into the passenger side bumper. The lugnut of the truck grabbed my bumper and as the wheel turned, it lifted my car up, off the weight of the suspension. Most of the damage was done after when he was trying to back away from my car, the lugnuts just ripped into the bumper, twisting it around and inside out.

The results of the damage after I popped the bumper back into place. He also exposed some rust on my fender as well. No damage to the garbage truck whatsoever.




Then, just today, i was in a parking lot, it was packed so I was stopped waiting for a spot that had a guy getting into his car who was about to leave. A girl who was driving her dads car backed up into me out of her parking spot.

Here's the damage from that one. The fender was bent in so now my door does not open enough to get out, so until my appointment on the 12th, I have to climb through the passenger side to get in. I could probably pry it back, but I dont want to damage it more and mess up my insurance claim.

[touringcamry]

Wow...talk about some bad luck.

[fredk]

you might as well go find a junkyard car with what you need because there gonna total it

[atobe]

man that sucks i hope they pay for everything

[ROBS]

Originally Posted by fredk

you might as well go find a junkyard car with what you need because there gonna total it

You think they will total it over that? Its just 1 fender and the bumper skin that needs to be replaced. And a little work on the little ding in the door. Damn, I hope she doesnt get totaled, I've put so much work into her.

[Unco]

Originally Posted by ROBS

You think they will total it over that? Its just 1 fender and the bumper skin that needs to be replaced. And a little work on the little ding in the door. Damn, I hope she doesnt get totaled, I've put so much work into her.

it'd be a close call, i reckon. just wait and see what they say.

[driving90]

88camry?

I did an edmunds.com estimate for my 90 camry v6 earlier this week and it was about $130 trade in, $500 private party resell, $1500 dealer selling price. ~175000, good condition and all except for one rust spot, a leaky oil hose, some scratched paint, and minor dents.

if all that body work totals near or above the market value, i'm afraid of what your insurance will say..

[HomeGrown]

It's my guess that they would total it. BUT, you can negotiate with them. Possibly accept their first offer, telling them it's acceptable IF they let you keep it. Normally, if you want to keep your totaled car, you have to buy it back from the insurance company. Being an 88 though, it should be an easy deal. You would then have a damaged Camry with a salvage title, and probably a check for around $1500.

Be sure and let us know how you make out on it, and good luck!

[ROBS]

Wow, thats cheap...Average price I see at the used car lots around here is about 3000 - 4000.

Also, up here you cannot buy back your car from the insurance company, you have to be a wrecking yard or dealer to buy from ICBC. You can keep it though, you just drop the claim and there is no record of an accident, no salvage title to deal with, etc..., thats what I did with my old Mustang. You get no money that way though. I dont want to go through the hassle of buying a used car and fixing everything up. I know this car is running good, no major issues, all matienance is done, etc... So if they do total it, I'll just keep it and fix it out of my own pocket...maybe try to get the at-fault driver to pay personally, offer them a deal if I drop the claim or something like that.

The other thing I have going for me is that these are two seperate claims with two seperate appointments, so both repair costs are not combined into one. Each one would have to be more than the vehicle's value.

The fender I pulled out so the door closes, so I rebooked my appointments with ICBC for Jan. 22 so I can have both on the same day.

[ROBS]

Well, I went to ICBC about the 2nd accident (fender and door damage). Basically i can either take $166 CAD cash or have it fixed, but the shop can not remove moldings, use clear coat or blend the paint. I want to talk to the ICBC guy to see if I can at least get them to add clear coat or maybe pay for the clear myself, but that is bull shit...it shouldnt be a half assed job, it should be fixed back to what it was before I got hit without any expense to me, I dont want a dull spot on my paint. The total that they will pay the body shop is about $350.

I still have to wait to get an appointment for the garbage truck accident (bumper skin damage).

In the meantime I am looking for a black driver side fender (passenger side too if you have it), so if anyone has these parts for sale, please let me know. I will possibly be looking for a black bumper skin as well if you have one. Let me know. Thanks.

[Unco]

Originally Posted by ROBS

Wow, thats cheap...Average price I see at the used car lots around here is about 3000 - 4000.

u have to remember, though, that the dealer probably only paid about $1,000 for that car you see advertaised for $3,000-4,000

used cars aren't worth that much if you're in the car business, but the general public thinks they are.

[IPDaily]

are you sure there isn't any hidden damage there? i mean didnt u say the body got lifted off the suspension? for all you know the car could be shot mechanically... does it feel funny at all when you drive it?

[TBayToyotaBoy]

Ugh, screw the insurance company and the body shop. A few years ago, I asked around for some estimates on moderate damage to a girlfriend's car. I first told them that it was an insurance claim, and the quote was $1800 (for a fender/door skin replacement on a car that was around five yrs old at the time).

I then asked them how much they would charge me--if I paid out of pocket. The guy refused to give me a written quote, but it was $750.

AND WE WONDER WHY OUR INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE SO HIGH. The insurance companies (biggest crooks in the developed world) are being fleeced by the mechanics and body shops they have contracts with. Crooks robbing crooks, and we are the ones who pay. Sick.

Go to a scrap yard or three, spend $80 and get the fender/bumper cover, and spray them yourself. Black is a relatively easy colour to get right. Just KEEP THE CAR!!!!

[ROBS]

Alright, i am very happy...just got the car back from the body shop!!!

I bought a used fender for $40 and had them paint it and put it on, they also fixed the dent in the door and painted the entire upper half. I paid a few extra bucks for the clear coat and the fender painted. It only cost me $50 extra, the guy gave me a sweet deal. I even got a 98 VW Golf with a slipping tranny for a loaner. They also did a bit of repair on the fender i gave them. It looks damn near perfect.

Now I just gotta get that adhesive crap off the bottom of all the doors. Damn is it hard to get off. The body shop sold me a rubber eraser wheel that you put on a drill which got most of the heavy stuff off last night. Then i went over it with 3M adhesive remover, but the stuff just didnt cut it. Ugh...that crap is really frustrating me, I've been working on it for months. The eraser wheel did take the pin stripes off real easy.

Anyways, I'll post some pics of the body work once it stops raining (hopfully today).

[Tuner571]

Good to hear man, glad everything worked out.