Just met with estimator and there's an interesting problem, one that I kind of anticipated. He has replacement value at $14K. With tax it's around $15K. Salvage amount is $4K. So if repairs are under $11K, they will repair it. Right now estimate for repairs is about $10.2K.

My position with him is that they will almost certainly find more damage when they tear it down, and why would they want to take that risk?

So the situation is not that replacement value is not high enough - it's in the ballpark - but that the higher replacement value gets, the more likely they are to just repair it. They may now tow it to a body shop to get them to tear it down and give an estimate. We'll see. But I put a lot of pressure on the guy and told him I'm extremely anal about how the vehicle is repaired (translation: I'm going to drive costs up). The fact that I stood around looking over his shoulders for 2 hours also sent that message. I'm really not interested in a 2000 Honda S2000 with 9000 miles and $10K+ of repairs. Give me the cash and I walk.

 

Just make sure you specify you only want OEM Honda componets. You should anyhow, but that will help keep the repair costs high.

 

The estimator just called me. They're going to total the car. Now the negotiations start. Good news is they are in the ballpark and are not at $8000 or some of the crazy values some here have been throwing out.

 

Why did you go through your insurance again? Sorry I didn't read the thread, but in cases like this when it isn't your fault, I would go though the other guys insurance and fight it out.

 

This guys seems to have a pretty solid grasp of what hes talking about.

It is also worth noting that the guy hit you. Unless I missed it his insurance will be picking up the tab. You being the victim have quite a bit more leverage in this situation as they are going to do everything they can to avoid paying out large bodily injury claims to you.

Edit: After reading the last few posts why is the other guys insurance company not involved. If he is at fault all of the liability lies on him.

 

I recently totaled my S. Check this thread. Damages looked minor, but a tear down revealed frame damage.

 

I have resolution. Insurance company offered me $16K and I took it. It's actually $1K more than what I paid for the vehicle 2.5 years ago. Thanks for everyone's help.

I loved my S2K but I am going to get something else. Right now I'm looking at a 2000 Mercedes SLK32 with 30K miles. Price is only $17.5K. We'll see if it goes thru.

 

SLK32