re: What now? (wrecked Audi)

[Dwight Varnes <mxbreed@lancnews.infi.net>]

The following comments are not for the purpose of flaming:

> Actually, I hung up on the lady.

This is not helpful. Taking your frustrations out in this way are only
going to convince her you're a jerk who she won't want to help.

> They have reviewed all the info that I sent and refuse to revise the value
> they determined for my car which is 10,300 or so.  I provided them with 4
> actual bills of sale, 5 ads, and a letter from Kent Anderson.  

BFD, Kent Anderson. I never heard of him, so sure as hell she hasn't.

> My feelings
> were that the bills of sale were the real meat of it.  

This is the good part, but it doesn't sound better as you go on.

> The mileages were both
> more and less than my car.  All had sale prices higher than the value USAA
> determined.  

So far, so good. I'd be listening to you.

> All I'm getting is BS back from here about how my car is just
> about to turn 100k and two of the cars on the bills of sale had much fewer
> mileages, and people can pay whatever they want for a car, but that doesn't
> indicate the value. 

I'll address the mileage issue a little later. She's wrong; this DOES
indicate the value, IF it's proven in more than one or two instances.
Sure, stupid people pay too much for cars all the time, financed out
their ass so that they will still owe more in five years than the car
will be worth. And the insurance co. can't help it if YOU paid too much
for a car. BUT! If you can prove the value with several similiar
examples, and allow them to average those examples to better fit your
car (like the mileages, some higher, some lower) then it should have a
factor on the value for settlement.

Steve Currie then offered:
> still 
> doesn't really understand audi's and the potential for 200k miles.

Man, NOBODY get this, except die-hard owners like us. People are still
of the mindset that a vehicle will soon explode after 100,000 miles,
unless it's a Honda or Toyota. Sadly, this fact that nobody get it is
what keeps the values low, and causes the big hit at 100k and up.

> Another tip:  When they said my car was hi-mileage at 135k, I said 'not really,
> that's less than 10k per year'

Yeah, I know. But it's just like I wrote above, that mystical 100k mark.
It's the 'perception' of high mileage, not average miles. And this does
affect long term values. Not saying I like it, or approve of it. Just
the way the world is.

> When my 865kcstq was damaged/totaled, not my fault, i called them to get their 
> opinion on the value of my car since i wasn't happy with where the other 
> insurance company started $$ wise. it was probably around $2500 and they thought
> i did well to get $3100 and keep the car.

I didn't see your car, but sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

I don't even know what the original car in this thread was (I think it
was a Ur-Q), but this stuff applies to everyone. Trying to find someone
higher that knows something about your car may be a challenge. These
people aren't car folks, usually. That's the worst thing. And they hear
this every day, from every loser with a Chevy Spectrum who owes the
credit union more than twice what the car is worth. Everyone thinks
their car should be worth more. 

My advice at this point is to try to get a supervisor to re-examine the
documentation you've done. Don't yell, scream, have a hissy-fit or get
beligerant, as it won't help. Tell them you know they hear this from
everyone, but you have a real issue with an unusual car. Hopefully,
someone will listen.

-- 
"Life is too short to drive boring cars."

Dwight Varnes, insurance appraiser and car nut
1970 124 Spider (restored, mostly)
1986 Audi Coupe GT (bigger engine at machine shop)
1989 VW Jetta GLI 16v (the wife's ride, needs restored)
1984 Nissan 4x4 Pickup (rust never sleeps)
1965 Buick Skylark conv. (more fun than you'd think)