the vibe is smushed II (the verdict)

[ashleymc_38]

So I got a call from my insurance agent today..the grand total for damages to my car = just over $12,000. I couldn't believe it! For all you who haven't seen my car yet, its under "my vibe got smushed" in this same forum. Really I did not think there was THAT much damage to the car. I have two options 1) to take the money and get the car and do the repairs myself or 2) not get the car back and have them give me the blue book value for the car. Of course, I am doing option number 2 b/c I think its the only best route here. The only thing I'm worried about is that I wont break even with my payoff amount and the book value. I owe approx. 11 grand yet on the car, so I'm a little worried in this situation.So the next step is.....what kind of car should I get....any suggestions? I was thinking about another vibe because mine has done me so well but I think I am going to move away from it for something else. I dont have much time here...give me some help! haha.

[02csnow]

You said that they are going to give you 12k for the damage? Is it a check? If so take the money and then pay off the car. then you will have a grand left and then take and sell the car to a scrap yard. But at the same time, get another vibe.

[ashleymc_38]

Quote, originally posted by 02csnow »You said that they are going to give you 12k for the damage? Is it a check? If so take the money and then pay off the car. then you will have a grand left and then take and sell the car to a scrap yard. But at the same time, get another vibe. See this is where I'm confused now and going to have to talk to my dad about it. I was thinking the same thing you are but I know there is a catch somewhere and I just can't think of it at the time ( so tired from trying to get the stupid aftermarket CD player out of the damn car in 90 degree weather ) I know if I take the car and do the 'repairs' my own way I dont get the blue book value of the car so that is why i wanted to take option 2....I know there are some sort of trips to the trade but I just can't think of them for the life of me right now!!!

[AKLGT]

what make and year is your car again? look it up in NADA.com and it should be close to the trade in value. i thought you had a newer vibe right? auto?? if so, your car might be worth more than $12K. and you could come out ahead with some money to either put down on a new car or keep some for a new car and a little for some mods for the new car.

[Mavrik]

I have to say this... repaired cars are never the same afterwards. Its up to you but I'd advise cutting your loss and take the $12,000 towards another Vibe/vehicle. Maybe something awd like a subaru wagon? hehebut seriously though, the damage doesn't look bad but apparently it is. take the money and run.

[silver_vibe]

Quote, originally posted by ashleymc_38 »So I got a call from my insurance agent today..the grand total for damages to my car = just over $12,000. I couldn't believe it! For all you who haven't seen my car yet, its under "my vibe got smushed" in this same forum. Really I did not think there was THAT much damage to the car. I have two options 1) to take the money and get the car and do the repairs myself or 2) not get the car back and have them give me the blue book value for the car. Of course, I am doing option number 2 b/c I think its the only best route here. The only thing I'm worried about is that I wont break even with my payoff amount and the book value. I owe approx. 11 grand yet on the car, so I'm a little worried in this situation.So the next step is.....what kind of car should I get....any suggestions? I was thinking about another vibe because mine has done me so well but I think I am going to move away from it for something else. I dont have much time here...give me some help! haha. The insurance company is letting you choose?Usually (in California) if the cost of repairs is close enough to the vehicle value, an insurance company would opt to pay you the vehicle value. There is always "hidden" damage in major impacts that results is supplemental payments if a vehicle is being repaired so it's in the insurance company's best interest to just pay the vehicle value when the cost of repairs is close to the value.Insurance contracts in California usually state that it's the insurance company's choice.

[Whelan]

Same in CT, if repairs end up costing 100% of more of vehicle cost they do not fix or offer repair.Based on what you owe I would have hoped you got GAP insurance. I got it for my Trix. Basically if the car is totalled and I do not get enough to cover the payoff amount, they eat the cost for a few bucks a month from me in my payment. Not a huge dent in my wallet and worth it to have that security of not having to payoff the car myself.

[jimincalif]

Sorry to hear about your Vibe, but this is probably the best result, you are safe and you don't end up with a (perhaps badly) repaired Vibe.You need to find out what "blue book" is - both what the ins company offers vs what you find on sites like edmunds.com and kbb.com. Do your own research based on your Vibe's options, mileage and condition before the accident. You may be able to negotiate a slightly higher settlement from them. Blue book is a range, not a precise number.Presumably they would offer more than $12K. Otherwise as O2csnow states, you'd be better off taking the repair money, taking back the car and selling it for scrap value.Even though you are dealing with your own insurance company, remember, they are not YOUR advocate. You need to look out for number 1, as they won't.Good luck.

[joatmon]

It is hard to say what your 2004 Vibe would be worth if not damaged. Cars depreciate faster than any of us would like, unless we are buying a used one. If you finance a new car, consider gap insurance as Whelan recommends.If it were me, I'd try to take the 12K and scrap the car. You would want to make sure that is an option your insurance company would allow. Insurance terms vary by state and company. And don't listen to mavrik about car choices. He is from Alaska. They have a problem up there, I think its called seasonal affected disorder, comes from having not enough sunlight in the winter. There are two active members here from Alaska, both affected, seems like it is an Alaska thing. Maybe something in the water. Whatever it is, it clouds their car judgement

[new05vibeowner]

I would concur with most here and strongly suggest that you take the $12K insurance settlement, pay the Vibe off, and sell the car to a salvage yard.I went through something similar with my wife's Civic a few years ago, and actually came out ahead in the end. I would never, ever, rebuild a car with that kind of damage, because I just wouldn't feel safe driving it.Also, if you decide to rebuild it, remember that Carfax WILL have a record of the accident, and if the cop marked the report as "serious" damage, it will be the scarlet "A" on your car......forever.IMHO, take the cash, pay it off, and buy another Vibe.

[mistertwo]

its called gap insurance...check to see if you have it.well thats what it is in nys.. if you have it and you decide to total the car out, if you owed say 12k on it and they only gave you 11k, your gap insurance would cover that difference instead of you having to cover it.best of luck to you!

[michaelgt]

Take the $12k that they would pay to fix, and donate the car to a genvibe member. (I can pick it up and dispose of it for you.)

[ashleymc_38]

So they are offering me $10,600 for the car. I'm seeing if i can get more money out of it due to the fact that when the insurance guy came out yesterday there wasn't a radio in it so gotta call them back tomorrow to tell them that in fact I put the stock radio back in it last night. My pay off amount on the car is over 11k so I didn't break even (as of yet). I just hope everything turns out great cause i'm sick of dealing with this already lol. I'm still pondering what I should get next

[psiu]

Dang! I like the 03/04 look a lot more too, another one bites the dust.At least when my wife got hit by the idiot coming off I96 in Livonia, he got taken away in a police car (as he should have with a suspended license and no insurance!)You should pry the back cover pieces off of the roof rack. And like, put them up in the FS forum Probably take the roof racks off while you're at it at that point too...though I dunno if anyone would want them. But I KNOW someone would want the rear covers.Get checked out at the chiro or doctor--don't want to get stuck with lingering pain. Good luck!

[ashleymc_38]

I do have some brand new brake pads and rotars that I do need to sell I got them for Christmas and when the time came that I thought I needed to put them on, I didn't, so now I have them sittin in the house..haha. Oh, also bought a new cabin air filter that I now don't need. So if any of you need something, let me know

[michaelgt]

How much for the cabin air filter? What brand of pads and rotors? I can pick them up.

[tnpartsguy]

Quote, originally posted by mistertwo »its called gap insurance...check to see if you have it.well thats what it is in nys.. if you have it and you decide to total the car out, if you owed say 12k on it and they only gave you 11k, your gap insurance would cover that difference instead of you having to cover it.best of luck to you!eScares me to death. Every week we have a meeting at the dealership, and I see less than 40% of people that finance their cars getting GAP insurance. 100% of them are probably upside-down (meaning their car isn't worth what they owe on it) as soon as they cross the curb. Think about this; a $50k Tahoe loses up to 20% of it's value as soon as it gets titled. That's $10K!!! If you total it on the way home, you owe that extra $10k. Sorry to hijack this thread Ashley, but I just wanted everyone to be aware of exactly what GAP is and why it should almost be manditory to buy it when buying a new car.

[drunkenmaxx]

gap is definitely worth the money. the payments on my maxx are only like 10-$20 a month more, which is very worth it. no worries!

[NewNeptune]

YES, I agree with the gap insurance. I'm about $10k upside down on my Vibe, so I would be toast without it. Plus, with my gap coverage, they cover the deductible too. So let's say I owed $20k on my Vibe, and the thing is worth, let's say, $12k. The insurance company will write a check for $11k, and the gap insurance will write one for $9k, putting me at $0.