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It was an uphill battle... Posted by PGAero [Email] (#1143) [Profile/Gallery] (more from PGAero) on Sun, 9 Feb 2014 14:18:40 In Reply to: Re: Agreed..., steve, Fri, 7 Feb 2014 16:58:59 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I combed the classifieds for comparable cars in my area (I looked within about 300 miles of me since there are usually zero "local" cars closer to me in somewhat rural Northern California).
Every car that was advertised, I called about and then provided the insurance company a list of the differences between my car and the ones for sale. The insurance company most certainly had done a cursory (if they did a search at all) search for cars of the same make and model (not trim level). Things like the sport seats, multi-function computer, mileage, manual vs. auto, and paint condition all played a role in me justifying why their $2400 wouldn't get me a car even close to the one that had been hit. I explained to them in great detail (I worked directly with my own insurance company... they settled with the other driver's insurer nearly a year later after fault was determined) that I needed about $5000 to replace my car in-kind. I actually requested that they send an appraiser to come and actually see the condition of my car. Mine was exceptionally clean and straight for a 14 year old car. Sounds a lot like what AlexA's 9-3 is like.
Turns out, after being very patient, I found a car about 3 months later that I bought for $5000 (plus tax, reg. etc). It had higher miles, was without the nicer sport seats, and was in equal condition to my original car. I put the sport seats into the new-to-me car, along with the leather steering wheel and my CD player, and parted out what was left of the other car. Their payout just about hit the right spot, all things considered! It took a while, but I didn't back down.
It would be like comparing a 9-5 Aero with the premium, winter and ventilated seats option to a 9-5 linear. Sure, they are both Saab 9-5s, but they are worlds apart in driving dynamics as well as creature comforts. Also, manual transmissions vs. autos really can affect the used car market for many European sport sedans. (I would gladly pay a premium for a manual 9-5 Aero Wagon right now... but there are seldom any for sale on the whole west coast.)
The car that met it's demise in '99: Pictured here with me at Donner Summit on a normal snow year. (We aren't having a normal snow year this year, but they have received 60" of snow since Thursday. I've received 11 inches of rain, since I'm a bit lower in elevation.)
_______________________________________ Current: '03 9-5 Aero Wagon, 5spd, Polar/Black Past: '06 9-5 Combi, AT, Polar/Black '04 9-5 Aero Wagon, AT, Nocturne/Granite '03 9-5 Aero Wagon, AT, Steel/Charcoal '00 9-3 Viggen, 5D, Silver/Black '93 9000 Aero, 5MT, Cirrus/Black (Owned this one twice) '86 900 SPG, 5MT, Edwardian/Buffalo Grey
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