What's it worth?

[Hex69]

As some of may know, I had a 2000 TDI 115 Passat.

Unfortunately some woman has run into the back of it and written it off.

However just had a call from the assessors giving me a valuation of just £1300 for it, yes, it's got a few miles on it 227k. Are they having a laugh? After searching around I can't even find a PD Passat for < £2k. I'm asking for £2.5k, but will probably settle for less (around £2k).

I don't see why I should be out of pocket, just because someone hit me. Am I being unrealistic? What value should I settle for?

This is what Parkers says;

Volkswagen Passat Saloon (96-01)

Original Priced £17,095 Independent Dealer £2,500 Private Good £2,325 Private Poor £1,665 Part Exchange £1,960

[maisbitt]

I would be looking to get the part ex price. Even in great physical condition, that is a lot of miles. However, if you have an impressive FSH then mileage considerations should be less punitive. I'd rather buy a well maintained 200k miler than a poorly maintained 150k miler.

Try to find an example close to yours in age and condition being advertised locally - and try to get the insurance company to pay out on that basis. They won't, but they might meet you 1/2 way. At the end of the day, replacement after a write-off shouldn't leave you out of pocket, especially if it's the other persons fault.

[Hex69]

I would be looking to get the part ex price. Even in great physical condition, that is a lot of miles. However, if you have an impressive FSH then mileage considerations should be less punitive. I'd rather buy a well maintained 200k miler than a poorly maintained 150k miler.

Try to find an example close to yours in age and condition being advertised locally - and try to get the insurance company to pay out on that basis. They won't, but they might meet you 1/2 way. At the end of the day, replacement after a write-off shouldn't leave you out of pocket, especially if it's the other persons fault.

My thoughts exactly. Looking on Autotrader, you can't get a 115 PD Passat for less than 2k. All I want is to be put in the same position as I was before.

Is that too much to ask?

[maisbitt]

Do you have legal assistance with your insurance? It could be worth asking them to get involved.

My previous experience of legal cover was not good. My lawfully parked car was clipped by a hit and run bus (bus pushed car 12 feet and caused £7k damage, theres no way he didn't know he'd hit my car), but was witnessed and the bus company were chased for insurance implications. The car was nowhere near a write-off - it was a 1 month old Golf GT Sport (£19500).

The only good that my legal cover did was to get me a courtesy car quickly. Their main motivation in doing so was so that I would be hiring a car from a hire company that they owned. The hire car was a very standard no frills Golf and yet the hire rate charged to the bus company insurance was £450 a week! Nice earner for the legal team.

As for all other aspects of the repair, I had to do all of the chasing. I wouldn't pay for legal again.

But you never know - press them to take some action on your behalf if you have the cover.

[Hex69]

Do you have legal assistance with your insurance? It could be worth asking them to get involved.

My previous experience of legal cover was not good. My lawfully parked car was clipped by a hit and run bus (bus pushed car 12 feet and caused £7k damage, theres no way he didn't know he'd hit my car), but was witnessed and the bus company were chased for insurance implications. The car was nowhere near a write-off - it was a 1 month old Golf GT Sport (£19500).

The only good that my legal cover did was to get me a courtesy car quickly. Their main motivation in doing so was so that I would be hiring a car from a hire company that they owned. The hire car was a very standard no frills Golf and yet the hire rate charged to the bus company insurance was £450 a week! Nice earner for the legal team.

As for all other aspects of the repair, I had to do all of the chasing. I wouldn't pay for legal again.

But you never know - press them to take some action on your behalf if you have the cover.

Yep, I've got legal assistance. I'm waiting for them to get back to me with what they think of the assessors valuation. Btw, I rejected their valuation straight away. I'll see what they come back to me with. I'm also pushing for compensation for whiplash also, as it's now 6 days from the accident and my necks still painful.

[angus]

I think Parkers is way too optimistic, and the numbers you quote are for a car with 90K on the clock.

What Car?s valuation for the nearest model ( a 115 Sport, if it isn`t the prices would be less) for a 2000 model on a `V` plate are £1010(trade in) and £860(p/x), with `W` platers rated at £1110/£910, and `X` at £1210/£1060.
As the insurance valuations are invariably less than book, your chances of getting £2K (none of the cars listed above in even Sport spec and at dealers prices hit £2K with that mileage) must be nil.
Best of luck, cos I think you will need it.
Thing is, you know what your car is like and what it is worth to you, but would you really spend £2k on a nine year old Passat with 227K on the clock if one was for sale?

I don`t think I could ever drink enough to do that.

[Hex69]

I think Parkers is way too optimistic, and the numbers you quote are for a car with 90K on the clock.

What Car?s valuation for the nearest model ( a 115 Sport, if it isn`t the prices would be less) for a 2000 model on a `V` plate are £1010(trade in) and £860(p/x), with `W` platers rated at £1110/£910, and `X` at £1210/£1060.
As the insurance valuations are invariably less than book, your chances of getting £2K (none of the cars listed above in even Sport spec and at dealers prices hit £2K with that mileage) must be nil.
Best of luck, cos I think you will need it.
Thing is, you know what your car is like and what it is worth to you, but would you really spend £2k on a nine year old Passat with 227K on the clock if one was for sale?

I don`t think I could ever drink enough to do that.

It's an SEL, so there's not many around. But as I said before, it would cost me at least 2k to get a similar car, and that's the point, if I only get the book value, I can't buy a similar vehicle with that money.

BTW, there's 2 115 BHP engines the AJM with 210lb ft and the ATJ with 228lb ft. Mine was ATJ lovely engine....

[angus]

Just a quick peek on Auto Trader, :-
2001 TDI SE 130, 84K, £1945
2001 TDI S 115, 130K, £1795
2000 TDI SE 115, 200K, £900

All within 60 miles of Halifax.

That £1300 quid looks almost reasonable

[Hex69]

Just a quick peek on Auto Trader, :-
2001 TDI SE 130, 84K, £1945
2001 TDI S 115, 130K, £1795
2000 TDI SE 115, 200K, £900

All within 60 miles of Halifax.

That £1300 quid looks almost reasonable

The 3rd one's too cheap. I'd be very suspicious about that, it's not got the alloys that were standard on the SEL. Just checked it's a 110 not a 115 PD. the 2nd one's a 90!!

[snapdragon]

You could ask for £1500 and arrange keep your old car too, then you can swap the better bits over.
Or, you can not involve your insurer and get two quotes for the repairs, and get your legal cover to chase the third party even though it is more than the value of the car, they have to pay them. I did this once, but took about 9 months to settle. How bad is the damage? Would you prefer it was repaired?