1 Topic by 6v

  • 6v
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  • From: Vancouver, WA
  • Registered: 2004-03-31
  • Posts: 116

Topic: Rear-Ended

While driving my daughter to school in my '66 Bug this morning, I got rear-ended by her music teacher's mini van.  It bowed my bumper in, splayed the bumper brackets out to where they are touching the outside of the fender holes, dented in my decklid a bit, and pushed one of my tailpipes down a little bit.  I shoved the tailpipe further in to make sure that it wouldn't come off while I was driving, but otherwise, everything seems fine.  The bumper is pushed in far enough that it's keeping me from opening the decklid, so I haven't been able to take a look in there.

Has somebody here dealt with minor damage like this on their cars, and if so, did you end up at a body shop (her insurance will be paying) or at a VW shop?  What else should I be looking for in terms of possible hidden damage?  I'm not looking to get anything out of the deal except my car back in its previous condition (certainly not perfect, I assure you), but I don't want to be paying for this out of my own pocket down the road.  Any recommendations/advice/stories out there?

2 Reply by Guest

  • Guest
  • Guest

Re: Rear-Ended

Things to look for besides the obvious are you will most certainly have kinked rear inner 1/4 panels. Look where the rain gutter stops by the engine lid for a dent and kink. Look under the car forward of where the bumper bolts on for kinks.
This is where we vintage VWists ALWAYS GET SCREWED. YOU SHOULD HAVE AN APPRAISAL OF YOUR CAR DONE BEFORE YOU START DRIVING IT.
Her State Farm adjuster will take a look, see it is a 40 year old Volkswagen, assess it a book value of $500.00 and promptly total it and give you $500.00.  The only replacement bumper worth using is from Wolfsburg West. They are $350.00 or so alone.
My 74 was hit similar to this 2 years ago.  The damage was $1375.00
The adjuster told me my car was valued at $1000.00.  I pulled an appraisal out of the glove box that showed the pre accident value was $4200.00.
I accepted his check for $1250.00 ( was dinked betterment for bad chrome )
and fixed myself for less.

3 Reply by 6v

  • 6v
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  • From: Vancouver, WA
  • Registered: 2004-03-31
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Re: Rear-Ended

Yikes.  That sounds exactly like something I don't need. I have a hard time seeing how an insurance company would be able to justify totalling my car based on the damage that's there, but that doesn't mean they won't try.  Luckily, I don't have to deal with State Farm.  I've had to deal with them before, and they did the same low-ball totalling thing, thn when I challenged the market value, flat-out said that if I didn't like it, I could call a mediator.

I'll take a look for the QP kinks you described.  I'm hoping that it didn't go that far, and that a new bumper and decklid will take care of it.

The bumper on the car now isn't nice enough to justify charging them for a WW replacement, unfortunately.  The PO decided to 'convert' the bumpers to fake euro-blades (removed the overriders & protectors), so it was just the one bit o' steel.  Who knows what the adjuster is going to do with all that.

4 Reply by Guest

  • Guest
  • Guest

Re: Rear-Ended

I had the same crap happen to me about 10 years ago.some chic hit me in my 1 owner 64 with 1,500 just restored miles on it.her insurance company wanted to fix it with J.C whitney parts.I did not agree and the adjuster said the car was not very nice and old,so they had it appraised.this is where it gets good it appraised for $6500 dollars and then the dork adjuster did not agree with the value. To bad you're guy says it's very nice and worth 6500 so pay me.and they did
good luck and find a vw shop to do the work with german parts.

5 Reply by 6v

  • 6v
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  • Registered: 2004-03-31
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Re: Rear-Ended

Thanks for the story.  The insurance company has been cool about the whole thing.  The car went to a body shop that's working with the VW parts house I normally go to.  I'm supposed to pick the car up today, I think.  We'll see how it turned out.

I'm pretty sick of driving this damn focus.