Is it totaled?

[AKAndy]

So I'm a longtime 4Runner lover who's been lurking the boards for a while, and of course, my first post is trying to figure out if the insurance adjuster is going to total my ride. I have a 96 SR5 manual with 150k. Paid $5500 for it back in January from insurance money I got from getting rear-ended and rolling my old Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Yesterday I was sitting at a red light, the light turned green, I started across the intersection and someone ran the red light from my left to right, doing probably 45 mph. :redbrick: The right side of the other car violently grazed the entire front end of my 4Runner. The front end is smashed in pretty good including the left fender, the radiator, and god knows what else under the hood. It looks like the two frame pieces that come out to the front were bent to the right from the impact (see pics). I think the right fender and hood are okay, and I don't think the wheels or steering mechanism took any of the impact, except for maybe from the frame being bent. I know nothing about body repair work, but I'm wondering if the frame being bent the way it is might be enough by itself to total it. I love this truck... it was in near-perfect condition before the crash, and I'm hoping it can be repaired so I don't have to deal with car shopping.

Been looking at some of the various valuation websites out there like Edmunds and KBB, and they are showing the private seller value to be around $4500-5000. A quick search of comparables for sale in my area shows that people are asking in the neighborhood of $6000-$6500. I've read that insurance companies will total a vehicle out if the repairs will cost anywhere from 51-90% of the value of the vehicle. Is there any chance it won't be totaled? Also, if anyone has any feedback on what I should expect from the insurance company if it is totaled, I would appreciate it.

Andy

 

[Elton H]

im goin with its totaled due to the damage and the frame looks bad

 

[MillerPKA]

yup that'd be a total

 

[Elton H]

buy it back part it out

 

[BigFishAllDay]

OH yeah... Say Goodbye to your truck, and hello to the car shopping process...

Here's a picture of my girlfriend's '98 that got hit in exactly the same way... it only had 93K on it, 4x4, locker, the whole 9.... loaded...and they totalled it.

That sucks man, I feel your pain.

Regarding what you should expect from the insurance company... well, expect them to give you a lowball offer for the truck. If I were you I wouldn't even mention buying the truck back until you've arrived at an agreeable settlement for your truck. I'm glad you mentioned comparables because that's what you need to have them look at. The prices of 4runners varies WIDELY from market to market...So don't let them offer you a generic KBB or NADA value.. for example, you can buy them cheap up in denver, but down here in NM, they go for quite a bit more than a similar model would in AZ, CO, TX, etc. We paid $7500 for the truck below (and got it below market at the time, a great deal), and put a couple hundred worth of maintenance into it in the MONTH she had it before it got hit. They tried to pay us $7k. NO WAY JACK.

First of all, you need to stress to them from day one that it's your only mode of transportation (even if you can find rides, borrow a car, etc) and that you want to be re-imbursed for a rental car/transportation costs. They usually have an allowance that they will pay you, a certain amount per day, until they settle your claim, whether you rent a car or not. They're not going to offer it to you if you don't ask though. Second... if you have money in it for major items, advise them of that, especially if you have reciepts.

Basically, make a case for the value of your truck via comps, and reciepts. Second make them pay your transportation costs while you're out a car. Finally, if you're hurt, see a doctor. We did all of this and ended up with a check for $9,300 for the truck below.

Also, if you plan on getting another 4runner, don't hesitate to strip that SOB if you plan on letting it go.. For example, if you notice, our truck had new BFG A/T's... I went to the tire shop, had them removed and put on 4 used tires for $50.. kept the BFG's and put them on her new Runner. I also swapped a bunch of parts on mine for parts of the wrecked truck... ie... sunvisors (plastic for cloth) floor mats (stock for husky liners) battery (stock for Optima) I swapped for better windshield wipers, removed the tow hitch and wiring, etc, etc, etc... You can make yourself another couple hundred there easy.

 

[snhrph]

Oh, man, that sucks. The good news is that you are ok.

I think it's a safe bet that your truck will be a total loss. Most insurance companies will give a number that they think is a fair replacement avlue, but you can argue with them if you think they are low-balling you. Having KBB and Edmunds valuations may help as well as local comp sales.

The insurance company usually will give you a check and take posession of your car. If, for some reason, you decide to keep the car, the insurance company will reduce the payout by the residual amount (they determine what that amount is). Usually, not a good idea to do that for many reasons: salvage title, cost of repairs, quality of repair to the frame damage, problems selling the car later, etc...

The body shop, if it's an honest and reputable place, will work with you and guide you through the process.

Good luck. Let us know how it works out for you.

 

[AKAndy]

Well dammit...Thanks for the feeback everyone. BigFish, your gf's truck doesn't look that bad at all... did the frame get bent? I was pretty much expecting mine to be totaled, but that one doesn't look nearly as bad as mine. Anyway, I guess I have my answer. I had to go through this whole process a year ago, and I'm really pissed I'll probably have to go through it again. I was glad to see my 99 Grand Cherokee go in the last wreck because I was able to use the insurance money to buy this truck. But I'm gonna miss this truck. Funny you don't realize how attached you get to your ride until it's gone. I guess I should be happy that I didn't get hurt- if the car would have broadsided me instead of hitting the front end, I would probably have been hurt pretty badly.

 

[rdgt4r]

Glad your okay man now you can start fresh anyways 5 speed, locker ya know the works.

 

[AKAndy]

I'm heading to the tow yard to get my rack, I sure wish there was a way to get my new tires off of it. Since it's not driveable, I can't get it to a tire shop so I think I'm going to be out of luck on that.

Is it me, or does it seem like the price of 3rd gens has gone up in the last year? I've been doing a lot of checking Craigslist, cars.com and autotrader.com, and there isn't a lot available in the Denver area. What is out there seems to be around $1000 more than what it was a year ago when I bought this one. I'm even finding a lot of 2WD and 4cyl models that are more than what I paid a year ago for my 5spd 6 cyl. Hopefully my insurance settlement will reflect what seems to be a change in the market values.

 

[JohnsD90]

oh shlt, we lost a 6cl 5 speed.

 

[024RunnerSE]

I'd buy it back. Then again thats me..

 

[AKAndy]

I'd like to buy it back, but I live in an apartment and have nowhere to put it, and since it's my DD, I don't have time to mess with getting it fixed.

 

[024RunnerSE]

Did you atleast beat the crap out of the guy that did this? lol if I wasn't in a hurry, i'd stop to take a look at this thing and see how bad the damage really is.

 

[AKAndy]

LOL... it was a lady that hit me, so I politely walked up to her, asked her if she was okay, and when she said yes, I turned around and walked down the sidewalk, silently fuming, and waited for the police to arrive.

 

[024RunnerSE]

Yeah your right. Even if you woulda slapped her around, she probably would've liked it. lol still, I woulda probably yelled at her or something cuz its a a 4Runner, a 5spd 4Runner!

 

[JeremyH]

You should be able to have the frame straightened and can get cheap replacement parts from CertiFit Auto Body Parts - Home They have a location in Denver and sell new (NIB) parts MUCH cheaper than any dealership or salvage yard.

 

[BigRedAZ]

oh shlt, we lost a 6cl 5 speed.

:iagree:
If you want that could be fixed. When i bought my 4runner the ass whole didnt tell me it was in a wreck so the frame was bent. I was worried i would have to get something new but found a guy who bent the frame back to the original and now it looks like new and is just as strong. So the frame can be fixed.

 

[jjarr208]

He double hockey sticks yes sorry man!

 

[96743runner]

Ouch, what a sad, sad sight.

Sorry man, hope everything works out for you in the end.

 

[004Gunner]

You can buy it back, take to a shop of your choice, get a rental, and probably profit from the accident if you are willing to negotiate with the insurance company. I speak from experience on this. If you plan on getting another Runner, then keep the one you have especially if you like the 6 cylinder 5 speed. Yours can be put back together with no problems. The total loss payout is open to negotiation and always is. Don't make the mistake of closing the deal too quickly without considering what you want from this. Hell, my accident that was my fault and declared a total loss got me a sport hood and a new gun!