My poor Passat vs. an Eclipse at 50mph+

[atcssg]

Wonder if your Passat is safe in a collision? I think mine did just fine, it drove away with the trunk and lights all working. I just don't know how it's going to get fixed

[jtrujillo86]

Sounds like you had an accident with the Passat...but I can't see pictures

- Jeremy.

[atcssg]

[atcssg]

I'm sorry I'm horrible with computer stuff. I got rear ended by this car while waiting to make a left turn. It was bad enough to warp the unibody between the rear glass and the passenger side rear door

[writeb]

Ugh, hope you're all okay! Definitely looks like you got the better outcome of that business though!

[atcssg]

The Passat is definitely a champ. I just don't know how any one can make the car right again. Anyone with auto body experience have any thoughts? I half hoping they call it totaled and I can bring home a new one.

[jsmyle1%...]

The Passat is definitely a champ. I just don't know how any one can make the car right again. Anyone with auto body experience have any thoughts? I half hoping they call it totaled and I can bring home a new one.

The Eclipse?.....Maybe. Your Passat?....Highly unlikely.....Unless major structural damage is found with your Passat that is in excess of 40-60% of its value, it is unlikely that it will be declared a total loss.

If repaired properly, it'll be right....maybe not as right as it came of the assembly line. But, it'll be right....unless Maaco does the repair and paint work!!

[atcssg]

The longer I think about this accident the more frustrated I get. I saved up my deployment money to get this car. I traded in my used 07 Jetta and the dealer gave me pennies for it because it had a accident on its record even though they couldn't tell it was wrecked till they pulled the carfax. I feel like I no longer own a new VW I feel like I own junked one and I've just lost any value I had in it.

[brsexton]

The longer I think about this accident the more frustrated I get. I saved up my deployment money to get this car. I traded in my used 07 Jetta and the dealer gave me pennies for it because it had a accident on its record even though they couldn't tell it was wrecked till they pulled the carfax. I feel like I no longer own a new VW I feel like I own junked one and I've just lost any value I had in it.

Glad you are ok and it does look like the Passat held up really well. Having been hit in the rear while in an older Honda Accord, I am very impressed at how well the Passat did...

Tell the other person's insurance that you will settle if they just total your car, or buy it from you so you can get a new one. If they won't, tell them you suddenly feel major back and neck pain... Insurance companies had MUCH rather pay and total your car than to pay out medical claims.

[MasVW11]

The longer I think about this accident the more frustrated I get. I saved up my deployment money to get this car. I traded in my used 07 Jetta and the dealer gave me pennies for it because it had a accident on its record even though they couldn't tell it was wrecked till they pulled the carfax. I feel like I no longer own a new VW I feel like I own junked one and I've just lost any value I had in it.

We're they texting while driving that they hit you that hard? Sorry about your VW!

[atcssg]

Personally I think she was but the police on scene didn't mention it. For some reason the teenage blonde girl who hit me didn't get much questioning. I'm hoping the insurance company does a bit more in depth research.

[MasVW11]

Personally I think she was but the police on scene didn't mention it. For some reason the teenage blonde girl who hit me didn't get much questioning. I'm hoping the insurance company does a bit more in depth research.

I see folks doing it every day. I ride a bike on the road and texting while driving really steams me. betcha she was!

[atcssg]

WTH, Kelly Blue Book doesn't even have an option for 2012 Passat. I can't even determine a value for the car when they come to look at it for an estimate. This is going to be such a clusterF*#k. How can they determine what % of the cars worth the damage is if there isn't a baseline for what the car is worth with 8.5k mileage on it.

[DasCC]

That hurts. I would hope they total it too. Had my jetta t-boned and it was never the same.

Crazy to see the warping on the c pillar area.


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[snideb]

Looks totaled to me.

[jkinzel]

From the pictures it looks like someone's head hit the passenger's side windshield of the offending car. That had to leave a mark.

[Seki]

Glad you are ok! Sorry for your Passat.

[atcssg]

Thanks everyone for the good wishes. Now to battle the dreaded insurance companies.

[garethusa]

Thanks everyone for the good wishes. Now to battle the dreaded insurance companies.

looks like your passat did great.

i'm impressed you don't have any injury to your neck whether a cervical strain or sprain.

i had a similiar accident like yours in 07 in my 04 vw but not as bad and i had no warping of pillars. however, there was about $4K in damage to the vehicle and i did have about 2 years of dealing with neck issues.

since your car is brand new, you will definitely be able to argue and go for vehicle devaluation allowance in addition to whatever else you will be seeking for damages.

i had 2 accidents on my 04 but only 1 showed up in carfax - the one that was a rear ending. also dealership offered about 5K to by my 04 earlier this year but i sold it on CL for 9500 letting peeps know there were really 2 accidents on the car in addition to street parking damage.

all is not lost.

thank God you are safe and the Passat did an amazing job if you are not suffering any neck or back sensitivity after the accident.

good luck.

[Volcombug]

Having worked at a body shop before it's a 50/50 on them totaling it out. I think you might be better off with a total and hope they give you enough to get the same car. The car would never be thr same or "new" again. I feel you pain and would be sad if anything liek this happend to my Passat. Hope it all works out. Let us know what happens.

[compu_85]

We're they texting while driving that they hit you that hard? Sorry about your VW!

I just had to deal with that. A girl who was somehow completely distracted totaled my ECOdiesel But it was a nice kick in the butt to get a Passat

I got it on video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqHxTOtHMtQ

Its sounds like you weren't hurt... glad the Passat did its job

-J

[Incrementalg]

Having worked at a body shop before it's a 50/50 on them totaling it out. I think you might be better off with a total and hope they give you enough to get the same car. The car would never be thr same or "new" again. I feel you pain and would be sad if anything liek this happend to my Passat. Hope it all works out. Let us know what happens.

I agree that OP might be better off with a total. Everything is fixable, but a bent frame will never be 100%. Plus the fact that you just got the car and now the resale took a major hit. Particularly if details make it to Carfax. (some make it, some don't)

Still, it looks like the Passat held up nicely. The crumple zone did a great job.

[VW_JW]

I just had to deal with that. A girl who was somehow completely distracted totaled my ECOdiesel But it was a nice kick in the butt to get a Passat

I got it on video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqHxTOtHMtQ

Its sounds like you weren't hurt... glad the Passat did its job

-J

That so bites! I hope no one was injured, specially once mom got the girl home.

[Incrementalg]

I just had to deal with that. A girl who was somehow completely distracted totaled my ECOdiesel But it was a nice kick in the butt to get a Passat

I got it on video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqHxTOtHMtQ

Its sounds like you weren't hurt... glad the Passat did its job

-J

One of those Africanized killer bees...no doubt!

[atcssg]

Went to a local body shop just to get an idea of what the cost of repair would be. Initial estimate is about $6,200 and 15 working days. Once the actual adjuster comes out I can take it up to the dealer and see what it's actually going to cost and start the "total loss" war. I hate this BS

[Tully Lee]

I'm in the insurance industry 50 years. Today a total loss is if the cost to repair exceeds 70% to 80% of vehicles actual market value. Yes , that high. A $20,000 vehicle could sustain up to $14,000 in damages and still not be deemed a total.

Just real life food for thought numbers.

Tully

[DasCC]

I'm in the insurance industry 50 years. Today a total loss is if the cost to repair exceeds 70% to 80% of vehicles actual market value. Yes , that high. A $20,000 vehicle could sustain up to $14,000 in damages and still not be deemed a total.

Just real life food for thought numbers.

Tully

X2.

My 1 year old jetta purchased new @18k wasn't totaled after 12k+ worth of damage.


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[atcssg]

Maybe after this one gets repaired I'll just trade it in and get another new one. My wife will kill me but who wants damaged goods anyway

[turboDSG]

That estimate seem s a little low.. I'd let them tear it apart first and see whats really going on underneath. I'd say battle number 1 is that everything is replaced with 100% genuine OEM VW parts.
Take it to the best body shop in town who will fight for this and do the best possible work. If the frame is bent the cost will go up a good amount to fix it.

Before you worry about trading it in on a new one.. have it fixed by the best people with the best parts and see how she drives. Don't take any crap from insurance about cost cutting repairs. you were rear ended.

[JennyDriscoll]

Maybe after this one gets repaired I'll just trade it in and get another new one. My wife will kill me but who wants damaged goods anyway

^^^ exactly.

[jtrujillo86]

Definitely take it to a body shop that's VW or Audi certified. They're difficult to find, but VW won't give you any crap about a repair voiding your warranty if you go to a shop that's VW approved.

Good luck,

- Jeremy.

[alpinweiss]

Went to a local body shop just to get an idea of what the cost of repair would be. Initial estimate is about $6,200 and 15 working days. Once the actual adjuster comes out I can take it up to the dealer and see what it's actually going to cost and start the "total loss" war. I hate this BS

The two words you want to remember are "diminished value". Your Passat may be able to be repaired to perfection, but it will still be worth substantially less than an equivalent Passat that has never been wrecked.

You will want to file a diminished value claim against the insurance of the person that hit you. You will probably have to fight for this.

I am sorry for your loss.

[But Officer....]

Maybe after this one gets repaired I'll just trade it in and get another new one. My wife will kill me but who wants damaged goods anyway

It does suck getting hit like that, but try not to get ahead of yourself here. And try not to pay too much attention to the arm chair quarterbacks here. I'd be hugely surprised if your car is totaled; I'd suggest getting that thought out of your head. Collision repair is much more technical than in used to be. Do some research and talk to your dealer about who they use; it's mostly, if not all, farmed out. Most don't do anything but very light body work. Your car can most likely be fixed so it's as good as new (or at least seem that way). And it's highly unlikely you'd ever get rid of that car and into a new one without taking a bath; there's a reason why we all hate insurance companies (their "feel good" advertising campaigns notwithstanding). Ask your insurance company about diminished value, but it's often an optional coverage. It depends on the company and the state. I'd forget about getting any satisfaction on that front from the girl who hit you, though that too may depend on the company and the state you're in. Find the best body shop you can and try to accept the fact that though it's unfortunate, **** does happen. Fix it and enjoy it.

[turboDSG]

And try not to pay too much attention to the arm chair quarterbacks here. Ask your insurance company about diminished value, but it's often an optional coverage. It depends on the company and the state. I'd forget about getting any satisfaction on that front from the girl who hit you, though that too may depend on the company and the state you're in.

I think that's pretty funny as there is some pretty sound advice by some in this thread and not necessarily from your post..

Please note he doesn't need to ask his insurance company about diminished value from them and even if it was optional coverage on his end it's irrelevant because HE was NOT at fault.

He should ask his company to go after the other company or file suit. When someone causes an accident almost anything reasonable is on the table. You have to be aggressive... And I'm not saying unlawful or ridiculous either..

And the body shops most common dealerships use are mediocre at best. They do quick cut rate work for dealers on lot cars primarily unless you are asking an exotic dealer.

[Tully Lee]

I have yet to EVER see one person walk away from a claim "Even Steve"...

Even if there was no damage and you choose to trade in this early in ownership you would take a bath $ wise.

Get it repaired and go from there. You may be 100% happy with repair.

Best of luck on this claim.