6 Vanagons, all running roughly?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt Drew" <t3vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2008 5:07 PM
Subject: Re: OH Dear, OH Deer: I got a call from Mel the Ins Co Guy

> RIGHT there with you Stephen!
>
> I'm still wrestling with my insurance company on the exact same issue.
> $4,500 total damage (front-end as well) and overall value of $2,649.
>
> Good news is that I've already had one of the dealerships who initially
> offered market value for my van re-evaluate based on MY vehicle and has
> nearly doubled their initial estimate.
>
> Problem is that there are roughly 6 running Vanagons in the area and as
> such
> NOBODY has any clear idea of their value....
>
> Your fat lady and my fat lady haven't even gotten out of bed yet, it would
> seem!!!!
>
>
> -Drew
> '90 GL "Blackbeard"
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 4, 2008 at 1:21 PM, Stephen Steele
> <steeles@horizonview.net>wrote:
>
>> Some of you may remember my deer hit from a few weeks ago.
>> There's some front end body damage; the right side marker, bra and
>> lower grill are busted up.
>> (Yes, Andrew, the doe apparently had a lingerie fetish. She even left
>> a few teeth in it.)
>> Honestly, most people would have a hard time noticing the damage if I
>> would just put a new bra back on it.
>>
>> Me,l the adjuster, called today...
>> $4246 ... the body shop's estimated damages...
>> $4400(!!!)...  initial market value (per NADA... etc (LOL!)
>> Ridiculous!
>>
>>
>>  So the repair bill breaks the 80 % threshold ratio of repair to value.
>> "WE may have to total the car. But,  I am not in the business of
>> totaling cars,
>> so we'll have to bring it in to the shop and reevaluate and justify
>> the repairs."
>>
>> Without arguing, I referenced thesamba and GoWesty sites and I even
>> suggested
>> he call GoWesty and see what they would pay for my van in its present
>> condition.
>> I did respond to the effect,"I would love to buy about a dozen of
>> these vans if I could pay $4400 for them."
>>
>> I assured him that I, in no way, wanted the van to be totaled. It
>> needs to be repaired and kept in the family.
>> It is our family camper and we all enjoy the "life style" aspects of
>> owning and using the Westy.
>> It's not over...    the fat lady hasn't even gotten to the dressing
>> room yet.
>>
>> This 89 Westy has just over 80K and is completely rust-free.
>>
>> Thanks for providing a communal shoulder and an attentive ear.
>>
>> Stephen
>> Chillicothe OH
>>