A Bulldozer Ran Over my Jetta

[pointwrx]

Hello all,

I just wanted to share what happened to my jetta this past week...

Before: 98 Jetta GLX 69k original miles...mint condition



After: 98 Jetta GLX 69k original miles (and a couple feet that the bulldozer pushed it..see the skid marks) not so mint condition.




A construction worker in my neighborhood failed to see my car parked on the side of the road and nailed it with the bulldozer. There has been construction going on in my neighborhood for the past 12 months and the car is parked there nearly every day since then...so its not like the car came out of nowhere.

The good news is the wheels and tires are fine. The construction company owner wants to reach a settlement, but I'm not sure which route will be the best way to go. insurance or settlement.

The wheels and tires are essentially brand new; The type As were just completely refinished and the tires have under 500 miles.

Anywho, just wanted to share. I wish I had the space to keep the car and to part out, but I live in a townhouse and can't have a totalled car sitting behind the house!

-Brennan
So the good news is The wheels are fine ... Wheels and Tires have less than 500 miles on them.

[98DUB]

Thought this was a fake title, but sure enough! sucks. I would say if they can give you the money you are looking for in a settlement to replace the car I would go that route, instead of dealing with insurance. Plus with settlement money, you would get to keep the car (and motor) for what its worth.

[E-RustBox'er]

That sucks man...Hope you get good money to replace your car.
BTW I love those borbet A's.

[Das Vdub]

holy ****. that really really sucks. thing just got decimated. good luck with everything.

[brkn]

Settle for $8000 and be done with it.

If they question 8g, tell them to find a sub 70k GLX in Dragon green.

I see you have beige leathers too.

[pointwrx]

Trying to work out a figure that would be appropriate to 'settle' on ... if I do decide to sell i'll be keeping a couple items...wheels, grill. euro tub (if i can salvage it) and monster mats.

My concern w. going the insurance route is I will get seriously low-balled by the insurance company

[mk2rubbin]

Thats crazy ?)

[pointwrx]

Settle for $8000 and be done with it.

If they question 8g, tell them to find a sub 70k GLX in Dragon green.

I see you have beige leathers too.

Is 8k a little optomistic? I have't dealt with anything like this before so I am hoping for some more input

[deletedo1m]

That's some bad luck. Good luck with getting everything taken car of.

[I haz cheezeburgerz]

that's f**ked.

[loligagger]

8k is a great price, i would go 4k for new body work ect, to get it back into shape, 5k is a great price for both of you.talk to a lawyer too, you may be able to sue them for negligence. they could have been a car with ppl in it. i would not settle for less then 5k. insurance is going to only fix the car and rob you out of 2k. 8 is a bit much but he is right, cant find what you have with that many miles

[Dalek]

Remind them what would have happened if you were in the car when that happened.

[Hurt]

I'd be a little pissed if I was in your situation. Talk to the Construction guy's company. Try to get around 10k. If they try blowing you off, consider calling your local news team to come by and give a little story on how an idiot ran over a parked car on a residential area.

[I haz cheezeburgerz]

8k is a great price, i would go 4k for new body work ect, to get it back into shape, 5k is a great price for both of you.talk to a lawyer too, you may be able to sue them for negligence. they could have been a car with ppl in it. i would not settle for less then 5k. insurance is going to only fix the car and rob you out of 2k. 8 is a bit much but he is right, cant find what you have with that many miles

If there is a thought in your mind that any body shop would try to fix this sort of damage....I dunno man that's a pretty retarded thought. This car is gone. He should get a bunch of money for it.


Just ask the company what it's worth to them to keep this off the record. If the number they give you isn't enough, make a report. Do it fast, you don't want to wait then be f**ked completely.

[xtrimex]

Wow thats harsh, really sucks.



side note PM me if you will sell me your 1 remainder roof rack bar.

[LG6R]

Holy sh*t I thought the thread title would've been a joke also. So sorry to see that's not the case. For one because I'm sure it was your pride and joy. For second, it was a pretty mint low-mileage example of cars you rarely see in good shape anymore. How does a bulldozer not stop right away after hitting the back of the car and continue to roll onto the roof? Hope you and the construction company come to an agreement you're happy with. Best of luck.

[vura6]

holy****!!!!!! dude im sure uve got some kinda space where u can store all the little parts you could make a hella money on..strip all the small stuff and part it out plus the settlement dude im sorry but the outcome should be awesome!!!!!

[8vcabby]

Hey text me ASAP 3016974458..if you can get that engine out and get me a decent price on it I'll come down and get it asap

[Mk3vr97]

I thought this was going to be fake but damn man that sucks. Hopefully you get things sorted out. Good luck!

[16vtblackjetta]

Man that sucks sorry to see this, If u settle threw insurance they are goin to give value of the jetta. I would settle with the construction company for like 7-8k for the damage and leaving you with out a car to drive + the low mileage and what great shape the car "was" in, Or threaten to get a lawyer and settle in court. Good luck

[96BlKjEt]

that ****ing sux....oh you in MD i am in DE....lemme get that euro tub off ya ;-)

[VeeDubGolf]

holy crap. a bulldozer literally ran over your effing car.

that really sucks man. your car was really clean. hopefully there will be a silver lining and works out to your advantage.

[loligagger]

[QUOTE=I haz cheezeburgerz;78659390]If there is a thought in your mind that any body shop would try to fix this sort of damage....I dunno man that's a pretty retarded thought. This car is gone. He should get a bunch of money for it.


i know a mechanic who did a restore like that, just the metal work, sectioned the back half of a junker car and got to welding, body work is for a different shop.
my sister had her rear end crunched in to the back doors, had a body shop repair it. its called a frame puller dude. just the metal work is 2-3 and 1 for paint and mud.

i would call the local news channel and start he extortion process. get a nice pay out

[epic d]

I definitely thought the title was a joke.. sorry to see that it's not. In regards to 8k settlement.. that's unlikely to be from your or their insurance because the book value of your car's no more than $3500 (even with its low miles and how clean it is). However, I would definitely pursue a $7500 settlement.. you've been wronged and someone could have been seriously hurt. If you already have a police report, next step could be to threaten to contact osha.. they'll pay

[Pineapplegti !]

I definitely thought the title was a joke.. sorry to see that it's not. In regards to 8k settlement.. that's unlikely to be from your or their insurance because the book value of your car's no more than $3500 (even with its low miles and how clean it is). However, I would definitely pursue a $7500 settlement.. you've been wronged and someone could have been seriously hurt. If you already have a police report, next step could be to threaten to contact osha.. they'll pay

[the mad conductor]

Settle for $8000 and be done with it.

If they question 8g, tell them to find a sub 70k GLX in Dragon green.

I see you have beige leathers too.

This^^^

Tell them it's a special edition low mile car.. Tell them it was your show car. Argue with them and make sure your firm on stuff like that. Good luck with the case and sorry about the car.

Also, settle everything without the insurance company.

[E-RustBox'er]

In for updates.

[LG6R]

This^^^

Tell them it's a special edition low mile car.. Tell them it was your show car. Argue with them and make sure your firm on stuff like that. Good luck with the case and sorry about the car.

Also, settle everything without the insurance company.

Be sure to point out it was the rare model with the Porsche engine that you had appraised for $30k.

Or that mk3's are the greatest car of all time. OF ALL TIME!!

[pointwrx]

In for updates.

It looks like I am going to be settling w. the construction company for 5,500 (I keep the car). After looking at KBB and what other people are selling their cars for; I think it is a pretty fair price. I understand that I could get a lawyer and pursue more cash, but I a have a pretty busy schedule being active duty military and I really dont have the space, tools, or hands on experience to part the car myself so I made a thread to see if anyone is interested in buying the vehicle as a whole for parts.

I appreciate everyone's concern and advice; you guys are great

Be sure to point out it was the rare model with the Porsche engine that you had appraised for $30k.

Or that mk3's are the greatest car of all time. OF ALL TIME!!

This made me LOL

[the mad conductor]

I figured someone would pick up on my sarcasm and post a zacher pic.. My work is done here

[VT-MKJett]

I would rent a storage unit while you can and get it moved there first. If you have AAA or something like that you could prob get it moved for free. Get a nice settlement I would say between 5-7 G's considering it's condition, use any tactic you can to get over KBB. You want to be nice to this company but firm. Present facts and don't flip out. If they were to give you trouble I would say the local paper/news is not a bad idea at all. Get that thing to a storage and strip everything you can off it. You would only have to rent a car sized unit for maybe a month. They are around 185$ where I live in VT. Most likely cheaper where you live. When you're done move all the pieces to a smaller storage unit and scrape the body and get paid for that also. Smaller unit should be less than 100$ a month. In the end you should have a settlement and almost a complete car in parts that is worth a good deal. You could sell some of the parts or keep them for your new VW. That is what I would do at least. It's like someone died. Sorry for your loss. Be diligent and it should all work out. Best of luck to you.

Oh man I wish I had the means to buy that thing and get it to VT. I would in a sec. 5,500 is decent for sure. I'm sure you could figure out how to strip it...putting it all back together is another story.

[n0rdicalex.]

This^^^

Tell them it's a special edition low mile car.. Tell them it was your show car. Argue with them and make sure your firm on stuff like that. Good luck with the case and sorry about the car.

Also, settle everything without the insurance company.

you guys are delusional.

no, the construction company isn't just going to throw money at this kid for destroying his ultra rare show car.

it's not a special edition car and it's not a rare car, nor does it appear to be a show car. OP, if you plan on doing this without insurance and want money, lawyer up. you can be sure as ****, the construction company will have their lawyers at the ready, to bend you over and screw you. at least with you going in with a lawyer, you'll have a better chance of getting the market value of the car.

[jstn]

sorry but you'll never get $8k if you settle. this thread is a great lesson on insurance. if and unless your mods are INSURED, that is you pay for their coverage on your policy, you can expect to be paid back by your insurance company on the value of a stock vehicle.

this guy would only want to settle to save himself from the premium increases in the future. i hope we all realize this.

id recommend you contact your insurance company, find out what a total pay out is and then tell the business owner if he wants to avoid going through insurance, you want $1k over your total pay off.

i'd imagine this amount is less than $8k but probably not an unreasonable figure (maybe $6500, I don't know, I haven't run the book value on your car).

i'm very curious to know how this works out...

justin

[jstn]

and PS, if you settle, expect the guy to take possession of your crushed car because, after all, he paid you off (in exchange for the car, just like insurance works).


justin

[loligagger]

get insurance claim, total out the car, buy a 85 honda POS and some guns, go kill the fack who totaled the car and enjoy your new guns and honda