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Thought you guys might be able to offer advice on the following:
I recently paid to move my '91 9000 CD Turbo Automatic with only 78k miles on it down to Tampa from NYC.
Once I arrived I paid $375 to have the headiner replaced and (having just spent $40k on a new Aviator for my wife) was hoping to get 2 or 3 more years out of my Saab which runs great. In the past I've replaced the radiator, the motor mounts and cv joints, had the AC converted and its compressor and lines replaced and don't predict any upcoming problems with the car except that the brake rotors may be slightly warped.
A month later a 17 year old kid slams into the back of my Saab doing what the appraiser estimates to be about $4,100 worth of damage. Now his insurance company wants to give me $4500-4700 to total the car rather than the $4100 to fix it. They say their NADA estimate of the car's worth is $4075 (even though Kelly's lists it potentially at $4995).
AIG doesn't want to agree to fix the car and then find the actual cost to be higher. I've told them I'd accept the $4,100 and then get the car fixed myself. The damage is to the rear bumber, trunk lid, both quarter panels and left tail light. AIG is also worried about their liability if I don't get the car fixed properly (I think save the tail light it is road worthy now) and a Florida law that says if the cost of repair is 100% or more of the car's value then the car must be issued a salvage title and may not be driven (in fact they're misreading the statute to hold that 80% is the determinative number).
Should I:
1) try to get more money out of them (does $4500 plus tax seem fair)?
2) try to get less money and convince them not to total the car (how would I do that and is it worth spending $3k-$4k to fix a '91 9000)?
3) accept the $4700 and try to find a used car that is as fun to drive as the Saab for that amount or a few thousand more? Some of the cars listed in the local classifieds include:
'93 Audi 100s $3995
'97 Audi A4 1.8T $7,200
'97 Benz C230 $9,495
'93 BMW 740i $7,250 (82k mi)
'97 BMW 328i $9,999
(any recommendations for a good used car to look out for in this price range)
4) allow them to total it and take the cash minus their $100 salvage fee so I can keep the car and sell it to someone locally for salvage?
or
5) i have a bad back that was aggravated by the accident. Should I mention this fact and see what I can get out of them because of that fact?
I know this is long, but I would really appreciate any and all advice.
Many Thanks.
posted by 66.118.143...
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