Salvage Title for my 94 Q45t?

[ericthered]

The insurance company wants to total my Q45

My Q45t is in excellent shape. Or was until someone decided to throw a couple of rocks at my car as I was traveling down the highway at 1:00 a.m. There were no other cars in site in front of me.

No one was hurt. I was alone in the car, saw it just before impact on the passenger side, and it was very load.

Damage - the windshield has cracks over 2/3s of the glass, and three 1" long gouges on my hood where the two or three rocks first hit before defecting off the windshield. Grrrr

Of course I don't have collision on the car, so I figured I was out at least the cost of a windshield. But because it was a "falling object" the non-collision part of my insurance kicks in with a $500 deductible. And with 240-K miles, the wear on the hood and the windshield did show a bit.

Now for my options:
$1400 to fix (est) - would be $900 after deductible. But Insurance says that that is too close to the value of the car, and they offered me this instead:
a) $1300 and a salvage title
B) $1780 and they'll take away the car

Well, given A) versus B) that is a no brainer. But do I really want a salvage title? I started arguing that the car was worth more than they estimate (it is - she drives great, the body is totally straight, only a few dings - Fix the windshield and I'd drive her across country without a thought right now).

To the basic question: Do I happily take the extra $400 in exchange for the hassle of getting an inspection to drive my car with a salvage title, and the black mark on the title of being "salvage", or do I ague this? Actually, I have already argued to get rid of the salvage title, Am I nuts?

This car was my daily driver until recently when I picked up an M35x, but I don't plan on selling her. Even if I did, not sure how much the salvage title would make a difference in a private sale...

To salvage title or not to salvage salvage title.... Thoughts?

Eric

ps. Anyone have a green hood in excellent condition for a 94-96Q?

[Q451990]

You might want to check to see if it costs more to insure a car with a salvage title. If you go that route, I would document the damage with pictures, estimates, and invoices to show any prospective buyers in the future how minor the damage was. I'm like you though... I have no idea if it matters in the price range these cars bring these days anyway - but I would fight the "stigma" of a salvage title too.

Heath

[OwnerCS]

Check to see if CA has an AFFIDAVIT OF RECONSTRUCTION form where the rules for a Salvage Title should be posted. Here in AR, if a car that is at least 7 years old has been declared a total loss by an insurance company, the owner has the option to take the insurance settlement (less the buyback amount) and keep the car with without the title being reissued as a salvage title. Usually the insurance settlement can return a 7+ year old car to working order without blemishing the title. However, if a car is transferred in from out of state with a salvage title, any reissue will also be a salvage title.

[aces805]

Having had a salvage title car before (1990 Honda Civic Si), I definitely recommend not going with the salvage title option.

1. If you ever want to sell your Q, it is more difficult to get a buyer. Put yourself in the buyer's shoes. People looking to buy a car don't say, "hey I think the next car I buy should have a salvage title."

2. Most insurance companies charge higher rates for salvage title vehicles.

3. I have the same car as you (94 Q45t) and would be in the exact same situation if/when damage occurs. My insurance company would total loss my car so fast it would make Usain Bolt look slow. If/when this happens, I would take the money and run. I've had 4 years of G50 enjoyment and would miss it, but I would rather miss it than own a salvage title vehicle.

[ericthered]

The insurance company hasn't gotten back to me yet. I am told that I wil not see an increase in insure with the salvage title, and that they will even reimburse the salvage title inspection costs. But the market value of my car will be reduced further.

I am already fixing things independent of insurance settlement. I am buying a replacement hood for ~$240 and a new windshield for $290. From there I'll figure out what repainting should be done. The green '94 Q45 at the yard matches mine, and has some nice trim bits to replace where I have wear marks.

I suspect that since I am keeping the car, I won't get a choice on the salvage versus non-salvage at this point, we shall see.

[reyrey9350]

just fix it urself and stop crying,you have two infinitys what s the problem you have the money.or take the pay off and let it go and move on.salvagge aint worth keeping fixing or selling,and only fools wil buy one

[IThaJ0kaI]

This is what I suggest doing,

Around me you can find G50s in not great condition for under 800$ that run, maybe drive. Get your insurance money, find a decent body car and swap parts to have the best of the 2 cars. Then part out your salvage title car, or sell it to a junk yard for a few hundred dollars and have most of your invested money back.

Then you can have a car with no bad title and and should cost you less than fixing your current car.

[SanCarlosQ45]

This is what I suggest doing,

Around me you can find G50s in not great condition for under 800$ that run, maybe drive. Get your insurance money, find a decent body car and swap parts to have the best of the 2 cars. Then part out your salvage title car, or sell it to a junk yard for a few hundred dollars and have most of your invested money back.

Then you can have a car with no bad title and and should cost you less than fixing your current car.

The problem with this is that the cars you find for $800 there generally go for about $1500-$2000 with crappy interiors, dont run right and need lots of money. Our cost of living is much higher. I wouldnt think about an out of state car either because cali has different cars, ie federal vs california cars.

[ericthered]

Hey Josh, likely we have driven past each other on 17

I settled this all out a while ago, just never posted. The car has a Salvage Title - no added cost to insurance, and insurance paid for the re-inspection for road-worthiness. The inspector did tell me that most all salvage re-inspections did not look like my car. I replaced the front windshield and got a used green hood from the junkyard and it looks pretty good. I'd rather the hood paint match the rest of the body a bit better, but looks ok unless you really look - my neighbor did not notice. The car is just as good as before. I really like the unpitted windshield, but am annoyed with the paint, which is curable with some $$$.

For my own purposes, I don't care about the title. It still drives and looks great, I'd drive it coast to coast tomorrow. So I am happy.

As far as $$$, I still come out ahead when you sum up what insurance paid plus what I could sell it for now minus the cost of the fixes. And in the bay area of California the '92 Q I just sold for $1200 with ~225K. Mechanically cherry except for the steering rack (which I pointed out to the buyer), and front leather in poor but still comfortable shape. The buyer saw the car, and came about 3 weeks later horrified by the junk on the market in the $1000 range.

If it passes inspection and doesn't need immediate service, anything can sell for $1000 here.