My beloved Civic is no more

Last Wednesday my 98 Civic DX Hatchback got plowed into by a couple of
yahoos in a pickup truck. Luckily no one was hurt but the car has been
declared a total loss. As I wait for the adjustor to call me and bend me
over what would you guess is a fair market value for the car. I'm not
looking to make a fortune off it but I would like a decent down payment for
my next car.

Here's the details
98 Civic DX Hatchback.
sunroof
cd changer
44000 miles. That's right under 50,000 miles. We bought it in 2002 with
19,000 mile on it. I had hoped to give the car to my son in about 9 more
years. I figured I'd have 2-300 thousand miles on it by then.

I have been doing my homework and Kelly and NADA come in at around 5600 and
6000 respectively which seems awfully low when I see 98's in the paper with
120000 miles on them for sale at 6000. My gut says 7500-8000 would be a
fair value. What do you all think? I'll let you know what kind of
laughable offer I get from the adjustor.

Thanks,
Paul

 

His offer's not negotiable, is it?


Ron

 

I'd say 9,950 is the fair value.

 

Kelly and NADA come in at around 5600 and 6000
First, you'll be assigned a tough cookie, at the insurance office, to
deal with you. You'll be offered much below even the NADA. What ever
your gut feeling is, you can't win. So, when he/she talks again -- keep
mentioning that you have a nasty pain in the neck and shoulders, and
might consider a lawsuit or something -- but you are not sure right
now. Also mention, that in spite of taking Advil the pain wakes you up
suddenly from sleep like mental trauma etc., But in spite of all this
drama, you would still lose. Good Luck.

 

private party is $6150. the *dealer* would turn around and resell for $7500.

ive got a 98 CX hatch myself with 49k miles. dark amethyst pearl,
blaupunkt CD changer, factory air. i dont think id sell for under $6500,
myself.

what did you pay back in 02?

 

Back in 02 I paid 10,000 for it. I owed about 5 on it at the time of the
crash. The first adjustor offered 6800 non-negotiable. I turned him down
and am now waiting on the total loss adjustor to get back to me. If I'm
ever in another accident I will let them take me to the hospital regardless
of whether or not I'm injured. If I get stuck with the 6800 I won't feel
terrible though I will probably change insurance companies. (I have
Allstate as did the dudes that hit me so I've now seen what people go
through when trying to get paid from Allstate. I'm not impressed so far)

Right now I have a Scion xB RS2.0 series on hold for me. I would go with
another Civic but the new ones are too big outside and yet still to small
inside. The xB fits me perfectly and I'm 6'3" and I love the yellow of the
2.0 series. I get to drive the short bus.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I hate losing my Civic but this
community has been great to me over the years. Hopefully I can find a Scion
group this knowledgeable.

Paul

 

snip for brevity

Mike wrote

I don't understand. What would be the purpose of your being taken to the
hospital in such an instance?

 

www.edmunds.com has a used car appraiser, adjusted by geographical location,
mileage, general car condition, among other things. I put in both 44k miles
and 120k miles. The difference in pricing was about $1100.

Still, the prices given for the 44k mile version indicate that the $6800 you
are being offered is in fact generous.

But try your specific geographic location.

 

Ralthor wrote:

$6,800 is a GREAT DEAL for that car.

Take the cash.

--

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to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. Having said that,
all options are on the table,"
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"Bubba got a BJ, BU$H screwed us all!" - Slim

 

Have them give you documentation on comparable cars for sale or recently
sold in your area (with adjustments made for your car's options, pre-crash
condition, etc. compared with the comparables). Check for errors. The
settlement should also add any applicable sales/use tax and pro-rated
license, since that is what would be needed to at least theoretically get
you back into "the same car".

However, if your car is exceptionally well maintained, then you would
still lose, since a used car with an unknown or partially known history
is less valuable to you than your own used car for which you know much
more of the history.