VT Commodore write off?

[Nbad25]

Hi guys, my first post,

Usually I would ask my father for advice about cars, but if i told him about this he would kick my *rse!

This afternoon I was in car accident (my fault) I'm fine, but my left arm for some reason has no hair on it?!

but I write about write off issue.

My car has an agreed value of around $9000, but what i've read is that, a write of for AAMI is determined by 75% of Fair Market Value, which I (usually a property valuer) estimated that comparable '99 VT commodores in my region sell for $6,500 maybe more.

During the collision, the airbag was deployed, and then the 'cab'(?) was filled with like smoke or something it smelt like really cheap fireworks going off!

Also the Fireys had to like chisel away around the area above the wheel so they could move it off the road, and when the towie tried to start the engine it didn't.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/35170/DSC_0136.jpg

You can see why I didn't go to my father!

Thanks guys

[Holdens Rule]

I'd take the $9000 quite happily if it's a 6 plus being insured with AAMI I wouldn't want it back after it goes to one of their repairers. Feel for you about the old man though, as the saying goes s..t happens we all make mistakes and in the end it's only a car and your alright so take the $9000 and get another car and hope he don't give you too much stick for it.

[GOTMYN]

It doesn't look that bad!!
I'd be fixing that one, Low KM's?

[lufkin]

i have to agree with GOTMYN that doesnt look bad, seen much worse repaired, doesnt look much in terms of $ to fix either unless you can give some more details if there is something we cant see

[Mick1988]

Depending on the condition of the rest of the car and the interior, and also on the km's, that's worth repairing. If they write it off, I'd be buying it back and repairing it. As long as you're not in NSW because they've banned the repair of write-offs

[TobyDSim]

Looks about as bad a prang as I had in my VT. I took out the front passenger guard and scrapped the bumper pretty bad on my car (needed new guard and bumper). Scrapped down the whole drivers side of the other guys car (VY SS). I was going about 30 or 40. Don't really remember. Was so shaky and nervous after it had happened.

Airbags didn't go off and my car still drove though. Are we missing something here?

How it happened was. Double lane, coming up to corner on the left. I was going left, didn't see him. Even though I checked my mirrors. I'll remember to actually look myself next time and not just rely on mirrors. Funny thing is if I actually turned straight into the left lane from the intersection (which you're not supposed to do) I think I wouldn't of hit the other guy.

Then ironically someone did the same thing to me on the same road... Almost. But i hit the brakes cause' I had a feeling he was going to go in the left lane. So I avoided that one. Difference is. I indicated for a sufficiant amount of time. Unlike the other guy.

And there actually was another accident on the same road about six months after the one i had.

All repaired now and seems to drive just as good as it did before the accident. Insurance is a good thing to have.

[Nbad25]

This is a flattering picture, It was my first accident and it was outside of a very busy shopping centre midday on saturday, so i didn't know if to take photo's or not haha.

I'v done about 190,000ks oh lol also, i was planning on taking it to service this wednesday and doing the rego + insurance too. The cop was like, Don't pay you're rego cause it could be a write off.

I know the front wheels had issue's cause the tow truck guy or the fire guys couldn't turn them.
Inside everything was fine, except for the airbags.
the front part of my car (inc. my license plate, went flying into the air along with all bits of plastics and assortment of fluids.

and of course the car wouldn't start, it would attempt too but would just cut out.

I'll admit I was hoping for a write off, thanks for the help guys, i'll let you know on what happens!

[Tree cutter]

It is probably not running because the air box would be crushed behind the dented front guard. The air flow meter could have been pulled away from the intake hose so it has a huge vaccum leak. I would think it is repairable.

[acarmody]

In a crash I believe the car shuts the fuel pump off and has to be manually reset. Though I could just be talking shit.

[wortus]

A write off is when the damage exceeds the sum insured it's not a % of the agreed value nor is it a figure at whichthe insurance company thinksit can make more out of paying you off and selling the wreck.
In this case there is not a lot of damage and if I wanted th car back I would seek an independant quote if your insurance company wanted to write it off.
In NSW just cancel the claim, get it fixed for les than the sum insured and give your insurer the bill that way it's not written off.

[kniever]

his air bags were deployed tho, that there is atleast $3k to fix cos you have to get it done professionally and then have proof of it too

[Mick1988]

his air bags were deployed tho, that there is atleast $3k to fix cos you have to get it done professionally and then have proof of it too

No, you can use second hand parts as long as you have a system check report from Holden (which will cost about $250). This car probably doesn't have a passenger airbag so he will probably need the drivers bag, possibly pretensioners and possibly clock spring.

I've seen cars with less damage at auctions, so I assume they most likely will write it off. However in my opinion it's worth repairing.

[tk55]

just a question.it's the air bag a road worthy item? can't you use the car without an air bag? many cars on the raod don't have air bag anyway. sure you have less safety but so does all the cars without air bag. matter of cost that's all?

[lufkin]

you can also have vintage cars on the road, which dont have seat belts, doesnt mean its legal to remove the seatbelts from your VT, i would say, if it came with a air bag, it must be functioning to put back on road

[tk55]

you can also have vintage cars on the road, which dont have seat belts, doesnt mean its legal to remove the seatbelts from your VT, i would say, if it came with a air bag, it must be functioning to put back on road

good point. might have insurance problem too.

[graham7773]

My VT Berlina looked like your photo and I thought, no problem. Same symptons, steering not working etc. found out that the sub-frame was bent sideways and pushed back into the firewall. Un-econimical to repair, write off! Apparently, when the VT and later sub-frames are bent, they have to be put in a jig or car bench and everything re set to specifications . It is an expensive, time consuming job on top of all the replacement parts, preparation and paint. Also, after you get it back from the repairers, it will always be a damaged, repaired car and will most likely never feel as good as it did before the smash. Take your insurance payout and start again

[wortus]

My VT Berlina looked like your photo and I thought, no problem. Same symptons, steering not working etc. found out that the sub-frame was bent sideways and pushed back into the firewall. Un-econimical to repair, write off! Apparently, when the VT and later sub-frames are bent, they have to be put in a jig or car bench and everything re set to specifications . It is an expensive, time consuming job on top of all the replacement parts, preparation and paint. Also, after you get it back from the repairers, it will always be a damaged, repaired car and will most likely never feel as good as it did before the smash. Take your insurance payout and start again

Car aligning machines have been aro8ind for 20 or more years and good panel beaters will use them for any car to pull them straight.
As long as the car has been repaired properly and it straight it wil be fine. I don't agree that once a car has been repaired properly it won't ever be as good. I had a VN and did $8600 damage to it when it was insurred for about $10k and the insurance fixed it and I was not worried about it and it drove just fine.
Remember also uneconomical to repair according to an insurance company doesn't mean it's un economical or damaged more than the sum insurred, if they can make more out of it by selling the salvage and cancelling your policy and payiong you out instead of fixing a car that is perfectly fixable for less than it is insurred for they will usually write it off. You would successfully argue this with them I would think.

[graham7773]

wortus, I am 67 years old and my brother is 65 years old. He is a 50 year tradesman panel beater and spray painter, I have been playing with cars and trucks for about the same time having started a diesel mechanics apprenticeship when I was 15. However, I bow to your superior knowledge, you must be right. PS, car benches have been around for 40 years +. When I worked for GMH in Acacia Ridge in Brisbane before they shut the plant down, they had aligning jigs there. The cars I worked on were HQ holdens and LJ Toranas. The Toranas had to have them because they were monocoque construction. What's that? they had no chassis, the same as a lot of cars today. HQs had a half chassis as I am sure you know.

[lufkin]

have to agree with wortus, and graham if anything your post seemed childish considering wortus wasnt saying anything about your lack of knowledge

[wortus]

have to agree with wortus, and graham if anything your post seemed childish considering wortus wasnt saying anything about your lack of knowledge

Thanks for the support Lufkin. I am not going to get dragged into a slanging match Graham.
By good panel beater I meant a reputable business who will fix the car properly and not a backyard special. I've seen plenty of modern cars in my friends panel shop having whole sides replaced and I have also been to look at cars that have had backyard repairs and it's not that hard to pick.
I used to have LJ Torana's and had one repaired after an accident so I know all about them, it had 2nd hand guards and a radiator support fitted and they are a hell of a lot less sturdy than a VT Commodore or similar, you jack then up and the doors get stuck. Panel beaters I know say to me that they used to hate fixing old cars like LJ's and HQ's as the panels were difficult to fit. I also remeber being told that these days car bodies are much better tolerenced and all the datum points are accurate unlike older cars.

[VTLS1]

With some insurance companies they wont use secondhand parts at all. Doesnt matter how old the car or what it is,they will not put secondhand parts on it. Your with AAMI & they are one of the ones who will only use new parts. Can i confirm this,yes. Panel shop i worked for 99.9% of AAMI jobs will only use new parts,RACQ & Suncorp want secondhand parts where possible. If nothing is available secondhand then it has to be a reconditioned part-i.e frt & rear bumpers. There are quite a few cars written off that there is really nothing wrong with but with costs involved for time,labour,parts etc they become classed as an uneconomical write off,which basically means the cars average value combined with the cost of repair makes it not worth repairing. How many flood damaged vehicles are written off?? heaps,the vehicles drive most of the time,there is no body or structual damage but because they deem the vehicle would have to be completely pulled apart,inspected cleaned etc the vehicle is written off.
If they offer you a pay out,take it but ask what they want for the vehicle if you buy it back off them. Sometimes because you are the one buying it back & state you will fix it they dont put it on wovr,though i think they are supposed to no matter what. good luck