Ins. Co. trying to total my buddies Viper..Need Advice

[BADVENOM]

A friend of mine from the board owns a 94 rt with about 14,000 miles and it seems hes going to need a replacement hood..Anyways we all know a new hood is over 16G brand new so they are fighting him and trying to total car..They're using that BS about blue book value and telling him car is only worth low 20's anyways..What recourse does he have and how should he proceed..

Thanks
Adam

 

[Gerald Levin]

Adam, please let everyone here know the name of the crappy insurance co. No way is that car worth anything south of 30k (prior to the damage of course).

 

[Tiepilot]

Tell him to get a used hood off of ebay for $3K to $5K. Most are in perfect condition and some are not, got to check them out. Buyin a new hood is crazy.

There are two hoods on there now:


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7949293026&category=6763

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7949146729&category=33646

 

[venomblue550]

or we will have out brand new heat retractor hood hit the market on 2/5....check with us...thanks

 

[ERDOC]

Autoform hood for 2500 or carbon fiber for 3300? I would go with carbon fiber.

http://www.autoformgroup.com/sales_viper_panels_hood.html

 

[ACR steve]

Adam , pm me and let me know who the Ins. Company and what state this guy is in and I will let you know how to handle it.I am a broker and have many good contacts with insurance companies.

 

[joe117]

If they want to give him low $20k range for the total, and they won't budge,
find out how much they will want to let him keep the car.

If hood is really the only damage, buy one of the ones mentioned above. He might be able to come out with the repaired car and money left over.

I'm only saying this as an option if they are giving a real "take it or leave it" offer.

 

[BADVENOM]

Steve thanks..his email address is [email protected]. talk to him and see if you can help him

Thanks
Adam

 

[Lee00blacksilverGTS]

You might want to check with Jon Brobst at Parts Rack. He has been of great help with members here in disputing Vipers value with insurance company. Link at the top of the page.

 

[Bonkers]

Depending on your policy he may be forced into a settlement. Some policys, like the one I drew up with Nationwide, expressly forbid the use of aftermarket/reproduction parts - this prevents the InsCo from getting away with a halfassed, duct tape rebuild or from say using "cheaper" plastics for...say the frame work. If this is the case with your friends the InsCo might not be allowed to buy a $3k hood from autoform and have to buy a NOS hood from DC - pricetag currently in the $15-18k range. This would very easily total the car.

If the damage is as light as you say - total the car, get a cash out, buy the remains from the InsCo, replace the hood and use the left over cash for a nice supercharger upgrade.

-- Oh, and the "offical" blue book value of a 94 rt is around $20-25k though those of us living in the real world know it to be at least 10 grand upwards.