My SL60 AMG has been nicked

[cedric]

As in indication of values I had a VW Corrado VR6 which was written off in the floods a few years ago, insurance company paid £10,000, (in the end they started at about £6,000), and a couple of months later the new owner contacted me and turns out he paid £4,000 from the salvage auction. Bet he did well when he sold it!

 

[janner]

Cedric, Flood damaged cars are a different kettle of fish. The electrics probably all packed up, engine and gearbox faults down the line, if not straight away. Plus it would be recorded as CAT D or C which drastically affects the resale price.

Nick, I'm with you. Offer low and walk away if they don't accept.
Tell them you can't find any service history they ask. The new owner will probably contact you and it's worth money if you have all the bills

PS, I'm no expert but I have been to a few salvage auctions and was often astonished as some of the prices paid.

 

[nickg]

I think I'm dealing with a muppet at the ins co at the moment. She rang me back and said she is waiting for the garage to give her an estimate of the cost of work needed to it and then she will check how much they paid me under the claim.
I think she will be asking me to pay them the amount I got paid out, less the cost of repairs!!!
I shall politely be telling her my views. I'll need to spk to someone further up the line I think

 

[glojo]

This Audi is just about to sell at Universal for £12,500 + buyers premium.

For offers on £13995 (say £13000 cash) you could have this with FSH no damage to wing and bumpers. Not much of a saving considering you can't even test drive the auction one.

Hi Janner I have the utmost respect for your wheeler dealer knowledge and the examples you give appear to make it a non contest.

I have not contacted the Autotrader dealer and am merely wondering why the prices are so close. The Autotrader car is on a 53 plate but advertised as a 2004 Audi. It is probably a 2004 car but some dealers have the horrible habit of describing it as a 2004 model although it was built in 2003. I see that it has also done 23000 miles.

The other is a 54 reg with 4904 miles so to keep things fair lets assume there is 12 months difference and 19000 miles?

I would expect at least a £2000 - £3000 differential before I would even consider looking at the salvaged vehicle! Am I being over optimistic?

Many, many years ago I bought a so called fire damaged 12 month old top of the range Ford Granada Ghia X 2.8i Estate. The interior vanity mirror wiring had smouldered, filling the car with soot and smell No flames, no scorched or damaged paintwork, but a complete new interior was needed. I bought this in London for £1000 and an upholsterer done a first class job of converting the rear individual bucket seats of the saloon onto the rear folding backrest of the estate. I paid £1800 for the car plus of course the £1000 for the interior. I done most of the labour in stripping the innards to complete bare metal, steam cleaning and then completely removing ALL and every trace of soot, then re-installing the new innards, wiring looms seats etc. (the upholsterer fitted a new headlining). Again I reiterate there was NO scorch damage to any paintwork. I kept this car for four years and made £5000 profit

I have based my posts on my ancient experiences and I simply think that nick should make the best enquiries possible to try and get something for all the inconvienance he has been put through. (plus I love the SL and it deserves a nice home)

John

 

[Shude]

I think she will be asking me to pay them the amount I got paid out, less the cost of repairs!

4 words for you: "perceptual diminution of value".

Legally the SL60 is described as a write-off. Just those words puts almost all buyers off immediately and seriously affects the value.

Only you know the whole story

 

[janner]

Okay, I might not have picked the best example.
Try this SLK230
Now, it maybe a saving of, say, £1,500 over dealer forecourt price. But, scuffed alloys and bumpers, no service history, no CD changer, no test drive, no warranty, no comeback,...no thanks

Edit, Also, no-one buys this type of car without HPI checking first so it'll be worth at least £1500 less at resale time.

 

[glojo]

I shall politely be telling her my views. I'll need to spk to someone further up the line I think

Be very careful how you speak to the 'muppet', it may be her that you do have to deal with.

She is no doubt handling hundreds of cases and might need a bit of smooth talking to get her to understand just how sentimental you are over this extra special car that took all your savings to buy and 'modify'

John

 

[nickg]

gimme a break saint glojo