For those of you that haven't head yet, I totalled the Max yesterday morning in the rain.

The insurance company is offering me $4500 for the car. I KNOW it's worth more than that.. they said that value is based on the ccc reports filed for the car.

I remember hearing junk about the ccc reports a while back, where they'll use cars that were in poor condition or high mileage to compare and get lower values for...

Well, I'm having the insurance company fax over my ccc report tomorrow, and I'll look at the prices they have on there.

what's really pissing me off is that my MAx was in almost PERFECT condition before the wreck. paint and body were perfect (most of it had been replaced, but zero frame damage).. average mileage, interior in almost new condition. so how the hell can they value my car for $2000 LESS than what I can buy an older Max for?

the only stuff I've been able to find locally has been 91 and 92 auto Maximas for $6k or more.

if anyone's got any ideas on places to look to get more money on my car, I'd appreciate it.
thanks in advance.

 

I feel your pain matt, my other car was a 90 max gxe and it got totalled, insurance company gave me practically nothing for it i belive like $4000 percect condition only like 120,000 miles, but just take anythign you want off that car and i mean anything lol it made me feel better then giving it to them as for getting more money, i dont think there much you an do about that, mabye if yuo provide proof of any of your mods that were ruined.

 

Well I also have extra coverage up to $2000 in mods.. They're paying for my struts, springs, FSTB, and whatever else was ruined in the wreck.

but the point was still that they're giving me only about 70% of the car's actual value, and I read something, somewhere, about how to combat this and get what it's worth...

the CCC reports are simply lists of similar cars sold, and the specs on each.. (basically year, options, mileage, and sale price).. it doesn't take into account the condition of the car.


and BTW.. I'm buying mine back from the insurance and parting it out. right now, I'm keeping all the mods for possiblity of buying another 3rd gen.
there's one I'm looking at, and also a 95 prelude. I'll most likely buy one of the two before the week is up.

 

your sig sais two fatality's? Did people die in the accident? Either way sorry to here about your accident dude. You should show your insurance company that your car was MOTM for 2months! That alone is priceless. Best of luck to you.

 

LOL no.. no human fatalities..

SkyMax's car was the first 3rd gen MOTM.. Mine was the second.. both cars were totalled within weeks of being MOTM. I believe SkyMax's car was totalled shortly before his was put up there, but mine was wrecked (the first time) about 2 weeks before I was picked for MOTM also. I got the car completely fixed from that wreck on friday (after 10+ trips to the body shop).. then mondya morning, I totalled it, ruining the $4000 in bodywork I had just completed.

ouch.

 

Matt,

Whoa buddy, I know the feeling. Before I joined the illustrious and glorious privilege of owning a Maxima, I was one of the many guys driving around one of those (cough) Acura Integras. Mine was a '91, perfect condition, flawless (the kind of condition people said, "Hey are you sure that's a 91, it looks brand new")

Last year in San Diego, (ironically, right after my last class at law school before graduation), a guy who must have had his eyes closed smacked into me and totaled my car. After having my car towed to the local shop, it was soon evaluated by an insurance evaluator who then deemed it a total loss. I awaited anxiously for a call so I could go replace my car. Granted, my car had over a 100,000 miles, but being a car buff, as I stated earlier, it was babied to the Max (no pun intended).

After a few days, I received a call and was given a price of $3595. I was shocked. The claims adjustor I spoke to stated, "Well Mr. Aragon, the Fair Market Value was determined by a "neutral" third party evaluator (CCC Information Services) which did comprehensive research into your area and determined that the replacement costs for your car is fair.

********.

Being the future budding attorney, I decided to do a little research into the alleged "neutral" company, CCC, and determine just how "Replacement costs," "Fair Market Value" (FMV), etc are determined.

Anways, to make a long story (REALLY LONG) short, I found out that CCC isn't actually a NEUTRAL company per se, but a company that actively solicits its business to the auto insurance industry with the premise that they "can save the insurance company money" by undervaluing FMV determinations to the average consumer. They are so good at this that approximately 85% of FMV replacement values are determined using CCC's service. How do they do this? Well let me tell you my example for an illustration.

I was given my CCC (very official and scientific looking report) which listed approximately 25-30 vehicles which were for sale in local publications (Auto trader, newspaper, dealership, private party) in my "local market." These vehicles were supposedly similar in trim, mileage, condition, and accessories. Now here's where the funny stuff begins.

1. Everyone knows dealerships usually advertise for higher prices than a private party due to dealer prep costs, implied warranties, etc. What CCC fails to tell you is that the price they list from the dealership isn't the "advertised" price but rather what they call a "take" price. The take price is supposed to be a price that the dealership is "willing to sell" the vehicle at. OF course, only about 5% of the average population can negotiate a price down to the dealership's "take price." So what does this mean? A LOWER price that CCC uses to lower your overall average.

2. Many of the vehicles that CCC listed were from publications such as "auto auctions." Auctions that are closed to the public but only open to car dealers who shop specifically for those vehicles that consumers want (of course at a lower price). Keep in mind, these vehicles that CCC uses are supposed to be vehicles that you would be able to purchase to "replace your loss."

3. Of the vehicles that were pulled out of the local classifieds, only the LOWER priced vehicles were used in the calculation, despite the fact that there were higher priced SIMILAR vehicles advertised as well.

4. Several of the vehicles CCC used in its supposed "OBJECTIVE, NEUTRAL" evaluation had either slight or moderate body damage. SOME EVEN WERE SALVAGE TITLES. I found this out because I actually took the time and called each and every number of the seller that the report listed and asked if they still had the vehicle that was advertised, what it was advertised for, what they sold it for, and the condition of the vehicle. CCC didn't even bother checking to see if some of the vehicles they listed in my report were in the same condition as my vehicle pre-accident. Of course, this was something else that greatly lowered the FMV.

Finally, after doing some research at the law library, I found that CCC was named as one of the defendants, as well as MANY AUTO INSURANCE companies (including mine, Farmers) in a class action lawsuit for exactly these reasons. [(See http://www.stephencryanpc.com/article.htm) Stephen Ryan is one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs in the suit).

Matt, after seeing your post, it immediately brought back memories of fighting back and forth with my insurance company. What I recommend you do is grab local newspapers, auto traders, and even auto classified ads and start researching the prices of vehicles similar to yours. Copy down trim levels, mileage, etc. (The closer these vehicles are to yours, the less wiggle room you give your adjustor). Then, take one Saturday afternoon and start calling the alleged sellers listed in your CCC report that your insurance company gives you. Highlight each one where the vehicle listed differs greatly from yours. Call each dealership to see if they actually had the vehicle. Then prepare YOUR version of the report and get ready to do some arguing. Go to your adjustor's supervisor if you have to.

It's going to take a lot of work and phone calls, but remember, that's what they expect. Both CCC and the insurance company know that eventually they'll eventually wear you down and make you think that it isn't worth the hassle for a few hundred or thousand dollars. DON'T GIVE IN.

Well, sorry for such a long message. I was the guy who posted this info a while ago when this happened to another forum member (on the old forum board, hence no luck on the search function) last summer and it was just as long back then too. I guess I still get pissed when I think of how many people that have gotten screwed by THEM. Oh by the way, their original offer of $3495 was readjusted to $6995 (after me being the biggest pain in the *** for them). I'm not saying you might get the same results but I'm guessing you ARE ENTITLED to more.

If you have ANY QUESTIONS or NEED ANY HELP, feel free to email me.

 

matt please dont buy the prelude..........

 

dont worry, one day they'll get what they deserve. I believe life is pretty fair.

 

Ummm my first job was as an adjustor. 3495 to 6995 sounds like Halibut to me IMHO. Maybe in divorce court by being a pain in someones tushka you get more $$ but c'mon. My friend did the same thing and the co. stood firm and refused to settle. All he accomplished was having no insurance check for 2 months. Then you have additional comments in your file. Sometimes it's best to get on with things.

 

In 1998, I totalled my 1987 Maxima GXE. (It wasn't my fault, but the Highway Patrol thought otherwise, so I was found 75% at fault.) Anyways, my insurance co. offered me $2500!! I knew the car was worth about $4000 at the time, so I didn't back down. I got about 15 classifieds, from newspapers and autotrader, got KBB values, NADA values, and faxed the insurance co. about 50 receipts of maintenance done over a 3 year time frame. I flooded them with info. Their offers slowly went up, and we agreed at $3900, about 2 weeks after the accident. I originally bought the Maxima in 1996, for $4000 cash. So, my advise would be to bombard them with info in all forms: faxes, e-mails, phone calls, and like another dude said, show them it was MOTM! Personally, I wouldn't settle for less than $7500. Good luck!!!

P.S. please don't buy the prelude!

 

damn good FAQ material..anybody?

 

I used to work for an insurer also. Ask if they consulted any other sources at all for valuation. Chances are they also looked at the NADA. Then ask what their NADA value was. Then tell them that you will settle for that figure (assuming it is higher). If they will not, I'd call your state insurance commissioner and get the paperwork to file a complaint. This iwll be a royal pain in the **** for the insurer and they will be more apt to work with you. BUT the higher $ they give you, the higher the buyback will be for your car. So maybe tell them you will take their offer if they let you retain all salvage.

 

Matt-

I checked Cars.com and searched the prices of listed 91-94 Maximas within 100 miles of Kansas City. There are about 7 Maxs going anywhere between $3500-5800 depending on year and model with the later model SEs being more expensive. How many miles do you have? $4500 might be the best you're gonna do if you've got over 120K. We all think our cars are worth more than that what the insurance company thinks What company so you have?

I've had very goodluck with State Farm. My wife's 94 Altima got totaled by another driver. We Received a check for $9100 (paid $9200 two years before). I had my old 86 Accord get broken into (covered-no deductable), front and rear wideshields blown out on the 97 Altima by vandels (covered-no deductable), $7000 worth of hail damage to my 90 CRX Si (covered-no deductable), and the front nose on my Z28 repainted because it slightly spider-webbed when it got tapped in a parking lot (covered). Needless to say, I've gotten my moneys worth in insurance with no penalties.


Dave

 

flipper, that's the one I remembered.. thanks for the info! I really appreciate it.

The adjuster got pretty nasty with me when I told him 4700 was a joke for my car. I can't even find a 91+ for under $6k around here, and they're ALL in poor condition. stained interior, body damage, poor running, etc etc.

thanks again for the info. I'm gonna go raise some hell

 

it if makes you feel any better, if we would have been together prior to wreck, and we knew it was going happen, no matter what we did, we just woke up and new the max was going to be wrecked, I would have let you take mine in the place of yours, and wreck it.
LMFAO! I HONESTLY mean this! Maybe I should ask to be max of the month, in hopes that I have "3rd gen syndrome" Cuz I could really use a good wreck right now. Not injuring anyone of course, and preferrably not my fault, but if I was you, I would be snug as a bug on a rug, with the $4500 offer, I just want you to know, thats things can ALWAYS be worse, and you feel soooo pissed about this, but I wish that I was you right now. I really do. So take that thought, dont by a honda, and smile for me ;-)

 

Oh hell yes! FAQ this puppy right now! I mean right now folks!!

 

WHat great info, thanks for the post dude!!!! Someone keep this around in case others need it........

/aac

 

I've got it saved, I'll put it up on my page for later....

 

Good thing I have not shook hand on it....Holy COW!
I am sending another fax to that adjuster to pay me a few hundred dollar more and pay for my mods.
Dang......
Thanks man...this is good help..

 

Just wondering...as Cheston had his car schmucked up recently too.