Help with written-off Civic in Canada

Does anyone know who I could go to get get an estimated retail value
for my 1995 Civic DX SE that some jerk decided to turn in front of last
week?
2 door coupe, 175,000 km, professionally tinted windows, A/C, Sony
face-off deck, newer rubber, excellent condition (one rust spot),
timing belt at 125,000 km, new head gasket, automatic tranmission.
I haven't seen many in the various papers / trader mags. Lots of 4
doors, but almost no 2 doors with auto and A/C.
Thanks!
Al in Winnipeg

 

http://www.canadatrader.com/home/winnipegmanitoba/?fsa=R2C&ref=autotrader

Looks like about $4750.

 

I am not sure if that link was supposed to take me to a particular
vehicle, but it didn't...however, that looks to me on the low side of
the range.
I searched all of Canada and there are only about 16 where they have
advertised it as a DX, and most of those aren't the same as mine - i.e.
no A/C or standard trans.
They seem to be much more pricey in Calgary and cheaper in Quebec...

 

I had a 92 Civic si stolen recently. The insurance company gave me $4900 USD
for it. Added to State Farms base value for my car was an Alpine stereo
($100) and brand new tires ($275). I had to fax them the reciept to prove I
had brand new tires since they were missing when the car was recovered. The
car was pretty much stripped, therefore the write-off.
I would suggest you tell your insurance company about any recent work you
had done and be prepared to provide reciepts for any accessories you may
have had attached to the car. The feeling I got State Farm was that they
wanted to close my claim ASAP and seemed willing to pay out whatever I asked
for. In the end I know I got the better deal since my car was in need of
repair mechanically but none of that showed due to it being stripped and
undrivable.
Good Luck!

James

 

Mechanical condition counts for nearly zero when appraising a car. I know,
having been through this in great detail just recently.

If you spend $5,000 on a fancy repaint and nice rims, and can show receipts
for the work, they'll pay for much of that. If you spend $5,000 on an
engine and tranny rebuild, they'll only add a few points to the value for
that. It's stupid, but there you are.

The dumbest thing is that a fancy paint job and nice rims usually become
junk in a collision, while an engine is usually salvageable and can be sold
for money.

 

For maximum return on value for your insurance, drive an unsafe mechanical
wreck that looks fabulous.

Spend nothing on mechanical (except for tires, which is the only mechanical
component they look at) and everything on the body.

They LOVE that. Idiots.