need advice after s3 being hit by lorry

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dinger360

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Hi folks,
Well this week has been pretty rough, got side swiped by a lorry at low speeds, it has mashed the drivers side rear arch and put a nice scrape down onto the door with a nice gouge in the alloy wheel. Just had the garage estimator round to have a look and he was looking a bit doubtful about me getting it back (write-off). What i was hoping one of you lovely people could help me with was, does any one know how many were made in azure blue? i was told it was a limited addition. I'm worried that what they think its worth will be less than what i do. The car is a w reg its got 132,000 on the clock, azure blue, silver leather. I can see me getting stitched up but thought i may bee able to argue the toss if the azure blue is a particularly rare colour, If anyone could shed any light on the subject it would be great. Thanks
 
Some pictures may help people.....

Personally I wouldn't know but I'm sure your'll get some help on here.
 
Drop Audi UK an email or call to see if they can help you out in terms of how many were made in that colour....

Also look everywhere you can to see if any S3s in Azure blue are even for sale....as that will also help prove it's a rare colour if you can't find any/many.

Receipts for all the work/maintenance done on the car is also really useful to have if they give you a low first offer, plus you need to mention any extra's your car may have...e.g sunroof, heated seats etc

It's not a nice position to be in....they say your car is worth X - you say it's worth more....you just need to show and tell them why you think it's worth more and things like the above points will help you. (believe me I had to go through it all about 5 years ago with a black S3 I had).
 
Thanks alot for the reply kwistof. I've just been looking as we speak i cant find one, not a single one. This has got to help bump it up a bit. I'm going to send an email like you said and see what they've got to say. Thanks for the help mate its appreciated.
 
You need to see that colour one advert,my mate was offered a figure after submitting three adverts which was too low in his opinion,so he found an advert with a higher asking price and got a compromise.
 
if it was the lorry drivers fault 100 percent, say to your insurance you want it repaired no matter what the cost. as long as its not structural.
im sure i have heard of this being done as long as its 100% the other drivers fault. as all the money comes from the other insurance.

worth a try at least
mark
 
Paint rarity is of no relevance to an insurance company AT ALL.

With 132k a 1999 S3 trades at £1370 CLEAN; so expect offers around £800-1000 initially. However you will struggle to get what you think it is worth off the insurer; as what S3 owners think S3's are worth and what the motor trade (as per insurance inspection) think S3's are worth is a totally different thing.

There were NO SPECIAL EDITION 8L S3's made. Period. Its just a standard S3 in a decent colour.

The rarer the paint the more expensive the repair and as such the more likely it is to be written off.

Sorry to be the bearer of reality and bad news. Hope you are all OK.
 
16Klappe said:
Paint rarity is of no relevance to an insurance company AT ALL.

With 132k a 1999 S3 trades at £1370 CLEAN; so expect offers around £800-1000 initially. However you will struggle to get what you think it is worth off the insurer; as what S3 owners think S3's are worth and what the motor trade (as per insurance inspection) think S3's are worth is a totally different thing.

There were NO SPECIAL EDITION 8L S3's made. Period. Its just a standard S3 in a decent colour.

The rarer the paint the more expensive the repair and as such the more likely it is to be written off.

Sorry to be the bearer of reality and bad news. Hope you are all OK.
Click to expand...

can you tell me where you get that figure from? with who does it trade at £1370 CLEAN. mine is a 2000 by the way. ive had a good look in autotrader and you will be lucky to find one under £2000
 
Something called CAP; it is a modern alternative to what used to be Glasses Guide.

It monitors auctions, trade in prices and retail prices to give accurate trade figures. 99.9% of the motor industry use it to price part exchanges, appraise insurance write offs, generate insured value for fully comp insurance etc.

It gives you four figures; "trade" clean, average and below as well as retail. All users go roughly 15% below the CAP figures for their own security.

What cars are advertised for and what cars sell for are two different things. Whilst you and I know an S3 is a sought after enthusiast vehicle worth 3k all day long insurance companies and the trade see it as a £1200 13 year old Audi with 130k.

Sad times. :(
 
16Klappe said:
Paint rarity is of no relevance to an insurance company AT ALL.

With 132k a 1999 S3 trades at £1370 CLEAN; so expect offers around £800-1000 initially. However you will struggle to get what you think it is worth off the insurer; as what S3 owners think S3's are worth and what the motor trade (as per insurance inspection) think S3's are worth is a totally different thing.

There were NO SPECIAL EDITION 8L S3's made. Period. Its just a standard S3 in a decent colour.

The rarer the paint the more expensive the repair and as such the more likely it is to be written off.

Sorry to be the bearer of reality and bad news. Hope you are all OK.
Click to expand...

I don't see why a rare colour would make it more expensive to repair?
Any body shop will simply mix up any colour to match.

Insurance should put the assured back in the same position they were in before the accident. Trade in value is irrelevant here - what's important is what it would cost to replace the car at current market value.
I.e. what would it cost to put you back in a 2000 132000 mile azure blue S3?
As an aside, most motor policies have an alternative clause where insurers can elect to replace the car like for like.

As others have said collate as many adverts for cars with the exact same spec as yours in order to come to "current market value".

I work in insurance claims assessment - all be it marine.

Having said that, I doubt the colour will make a lot of difference to the value on a car of this age.

best of luck.
 
120,000 mile Azure Blue one on Autotrader at £3995 for sale by Mawsley motor co.

that might suggest a fair offer would be £3k perhaps?
 
Searider said:
I don't see why a rare colour would make it more expensive to repair?
Any body shop will simply mix up any colour to match.

Insurance should put the assured back in the same position they were in before the accident. Trade in value is irrelevant here - what's important is what it would cost to replace the car at current market value.
I.e. what would it cost to put you back in a 2000 132000 mile azure blue S3?
As an aside, most motor policies have an alternative clause where insurers can elect to replace the car like for like.

As others have said collate as many adverts for cars with the exact same spec as yours in order to come to "current market value".

I work in insurance claims assessment - all be it marine.

Having said that, I doubt the colour will make a lot of difference to the value on a car of this age.

best of luck.
Click to expand...

Trade value is immensely important in this guys situation; given that is what the insurance companies will use to value his vehicle. What is it worth to them. I never quoted a "trade in" price, the "trade" prices of the vehicle are relevant for both insurance estimation purposes and trade in.

Because an S3 is a specialist vehicle which is generally enthusiast owned the OP will be far better armed if he is prepared for what the insurance company WILL offer him and returns to them knowing what he needs to do.

I don't know what your background is; but mine is in an 11 franchise main dealer with their own insurance approved bodyshop who run through approximately 200 jobs per month. Most of which are insurance assessments or repairs. I know for solid guaranteed fact that the OP's insurance company will be using the exact same "trade" figures and pricing guides as I use on a daily basis; as every time a car is inspected and costed we need to include a copy of the CAP figures with all insurance returns after initial costing and prior to any work.

I've seen it first hand, where a car is written off and the customer has asked us to give them a valuation of what the vehicle "was" worth so that they can argue with the insurance company. We give them a copy of the CAP figure, and supply the estimate through our bodyshop. Then before you know it the customer is back in with a cash sum within a reasonable amount of what we class as a "trade" figure to buy a new car.

If the car is initially seen to be worth £1200 to the insurance companies, then at an insurance approved body shop £1000 of that will just be paint and labour without any parts. At which point the insurer will deem the drop in value for a CAT repaired car a total loss. At this point they wouldn't have even phoned you for you to explain the car is worth 3K; because they've already written it off based on trade figures because their estimators don't appreciate the premium paid for an "enthusiast" car like an S3.

What I'm getting at is...Don't hold out much hope for a repair and brace yourself for total loss.

Then it's down to the OP to argue the toss with reference the current market value; but he's going to struggle to get 3K out of the insurance company unless he provides them with dozens of equivalent vehicles as has been suggested previously.

The insurance companies have got a lot more time to find cheaper models than you have got to find more expensive models though; for every 3K S3 there are a dozen selling for a grand less at auction.
 
thanks alot searider thats more what i want to hear. i cant see how they could turn round and give me an offer of £1300 id be happy with £2500 im going to go have another butchers through autotrader!
 
I don't dis agree with what you say, but what has trade value or auction value got to do with the op. he needs to be put back in the same position as he was before the accident.

if he can BUY a replacement car of the same spec and condition as his for £1200 then all well and good.
 
What the OP wants to hear, and what will happen are two different things.

You've totally missed the point I've made several times; the insurance company will not be able to comprehend that an S3 is worth double what they are being told by their estimators. They get given a piece of paper that says the car is worth x amount, and you'll have to work very hard to tell them it is worth three times the x amount they have been given. If it was a smaller amount then you've always got room to haggle with the insurance; but if you think you'll be able to ring them up and get over double what they've estimated it at then good luck to you.

If return price is a concern then you need to look at agreed value insurance.

I'm leaving this thread now anyway, because you guys don't seem to get the point. That said, I wish the OP the best of luck in getting what his car is worth out of the insurance companies and I hope he's taken some use from my information.
 
i do appreciate what your saying and thanks alot for your imput. Ive had a good look on autotrader and from what i can see your looking between £2500 and £3000 i cant find any in azure blue from recent. if the insurance companys can turn round and offer me half the amount needed to buy a like for like car i find that ****** criminal they are basically stealing. as searider said if i could buy a like for like car for that then great but you simply cannot, it would be a bag of ****e for that money
 
well peeps!, ive had my first offer off of them since last time i posted. They have offered me two options one is £1800 and the car back or £2430 and they scrap it. im just in the middle of twisting there arm for a few more squid as i still think its a tad low, not as low as what klappe reckoned but never the less will be a struggle to find something as nice as mine was. Will keep posting until i get the final offer. Its nice to see that insurance companys are not all bad all the time.

Dinger
 
Id personally take the 1800 and the car then break what you can on the car for parts
 
id like to chaz but i live in the center of brighton id have nowhere to put the old girl. also i dont think i could watch her being slowly dismembered. If i had a drive id be on it.
 
audi upgrades
What's the damage? And are they assessing your car on market value? I'd just repair it if it ain't that bad?
 
Gops said:
What's the damage? And are they assessing your car on market value? I'd just repair it if it ain't that bad?
Click to expand...
its folded about 40mm of the rear rim in put a slight buckle in the front of the quarter panel scuffed the door and put a fairly hefty gauge in the rear alloy wheel, oh and flaked all the paint on the side of the rear bumper. new wealded qaurter panel re spray up the side. dont know whether thats do-able with pearlesent paint or whether you would have to do the whole car, and a re-furb on the wheel. doubt that would be to cheap.
 
they have asked me to send in adverts for like for like cars, sent them about ten varying in about a year in age and about 15000 miles each way cheapest was about 2700 upto about 3500. should give them something to think about!
 
When another one of our cars got written off the insurance company (elephant) I asked them how they arrived at the value offered. I was told me they simply looked at LOCAL similar cars (10 mile radius) in the area for sale on autotrader. With regards to extra options I was told there was not extra much in it.
 
You wouldn't have to respray the whole car mate....

Audi body shops don't when they respray the roof rail paint issue- they just blend it all in no matter what paint finish you have.
 
Depends on the money you have invested in your car and it's reliability, no. of previous owners, but personally I would try and squeeze a bit more out of the company and give it in. My only reason for this is that I could never trust it coming back looking as good as it did before. There's acceptance at the repairer level and your own levels. I can just see it now, slight colour mismatch and excuses like that's the best you'll get and you'll never match it identically - after all it's a 13 years old car, blah blah blah. Or still a small paint run in an odd place or 2, not easily spotted - what are you going to do, give it back for a minor prob like that....no you'll probably live with it.

Anyway, insurance company will probably point to cars like this, only about 30 miles from you...
Audi S3 S3 Quattro 3dr Hatchback 1.8 2000

Oh another thing i remembered, they saw a 2000 W reg and 2000 X reg as 2 quite different valued cars.
 
the problem i have is i need the car to use and they wip the courtesy car away 7 days after accepting the offer which leaves me with out transport to work which would end up costing me a fortune. the only way out with out alot of pain and discomfort is to get another one. if i can get 2600 id be happy enough ive seen a couple of nice ones about for not far off.
 
thegoal007 said:
Depends on the money you have invested in your car and it's reliability, no. of previous owners, but personally I would try and squeeze a bit more out of the company and give it in. My only reason for this is that I could never trust it coming back looking as good as it did before. There's acceptance at the repairer level and your own levels. I can just see it now, slight colour mismatch and excuses like that's the best you'll get and you'll never match it identically - after all it's a 13 years old car, blah blah blah. Or still a small paint run in an odd place or 2, not easily spotted - what are you going to do, give it back for a minor prob like that....no you'll probably live with it.

Anyway, insurance company will probably point to cars like this, only about 30 miles from you...
Audi S3 S3 Quattro 3dr Hatchback 1.8 2000

Oh another thing i remembered, they saw a 2000 W reg and 2000 X reg as 2 quite different valued cars.
Click to expand...

exactly what i was thinking. everytime i looked at her afterwoulds you would be looking for imperfections also i was dragged for quite a while and no extensive engineers checks were done so who knows what might go wrong down the line. id rather start a fresh i wouldnt mind a noggy blue one or a dolphin grey one or a .................. its quite exciting really, plus i know a lot more about them now which is an advantage.
 
dinger360 said:
the problem i have is i need the car to use and they wip the courtesy car away 7 days after accepting the offer which leaves me with out transport to work which would end up costing me a fortune. the only way out with out alot of pain and discomfort is to get another one. if i can get 2600 id be happy enough ive seen a couple of nice ones about for not far off.
Click to expand...

I was in exactly the same boat as you about 5 years ago now....

I opted for a full pay out and they kept/auctioned the car....looking back though I really should have kept her.

Like you it was pretty much all cosmetic damage- looked a lot worse than it actually was....but you need to determine on whether your car was a good one to keep and put back on the road and also weigh up how much you invested in it. E.g has a lot of the parts been replaced/upgrade? Like clutch, bushes, recent full service inc cam belt/water pump etc?
 
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kwistof said:
I was in exactly the same boat as you about 5 years ago now....

I opted for a full pay out and they kept/auctioned the car....looking back though I really should have kept her.

Like you it was pretty much all cosmetic damage- looked a lot worse than it actually was....but you need to determine on whether your car was a good one to keep and put back on the road and also weigh up how much you invested in it. E.g has a lot of the parts been replaced/upgrade? Like clutch, bushes, recent full service inc cam belt/water pump etc?
Click to expand...

thats the good thing, i had it booked in actually a week from now to have about £500 worth of bits done service light came up a week before!! so i think its time to cut and run. im a bit slow off the mark but ive only had it a year. other than this ive only spent minimal on it. its been a great car very reliable but i'm sure theres plenty more. this is why i bought an s3 in the first place. with a bit of common sense when buying theres plenty of goodens out there, such a well made car
 
Exactly- look on the bright side....

You could have thrown £500 at her and this event could have occurred just after....then it would be so hard to get that extra maintenance money back in the pay out.

So with the money they are offering and the £500 you 'would' have spent in a week - you have about £3000 to spent on another S3..... which is before you try and haggle for more cash out of them :)

Ohh and noggy FTW ;-)
 
kwistof said:
Exactly- look on the bright side....

You could have thrown £500 at her and this event could have occurred just after....then it would be so hard to get that extra maintenance money back in the pay out.

So with the money they are offering and the £500 you 'would' have spent in a week - you have about £3000 to spent on another S3..... which is before you try and haggle for more cash out of them :)

Ohh and noggy FTW ;-)
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kwistof i wonder if you could help us actually ive seen a noggy blue on piston heads for 2800 its done about 158000 but he says hes got paper work from an audi garage for a full head rebuild at 90000. If you have the time have a look see what you think mate, id appreciate your opinion
 
I'd be suprised if they don't up their offer around £2750. Factor in the £500 quid you were about to pay for a service and it's not too bad at all. Not sure what all the £1200 chat was about...
 
i'm afraid all klappes input did was put the wind up me for a week. but its looking all good now. The adverts i sent them were in the region of 2850 to 3995 so they have got to give us a few quid more its just a waiting game now. thanks for all the feedback off of everyone on here its been really helpful and reassuring. thanks peeps!!!
 
dinger360 said:
i'm afraid all klappes input did was put the wind up me for a week. but its looking all good now. The adverts i sent them were in the region of 2850 to 3995 so they have got to give us a few quid more its just a waiting game now. thanks for all the feedback off of everyone on here its been really helpful and reassuring. thanks peeps!!!
Click to expand...

remember you'll need to take your excess off this is well!.. i had a similar situation a few years ago - and the golden rule is never accept their first offer. I had to send them copies of adverts etc as well (also sent in copies of receipts/service records etc) to show car was looked after/cared for (mint) and I eventually got the payout I was looking for!
 
pangsterA3 said:
remember you'll need to take your excess off this is well!.. i had a similar situation a few years ago - and the golden rule is never accept their first offer. I had to send them copies of adverts etc as well (also sent in copies of receipts/service records etc) to show car was looked after/cared for (mint) and I eventually got the payout I was looking for!
Click to expand...

cheers geez, so far they have been pretty good. i have already had an engineer have a look at the damage and he stated that the car was in really good nick when he had a look so that should go towards the end price hopefully.
 
Shouldn't have to take off the excess - as the accident wasn't your fault (iirc) the other insurer will be paying and no excess applies.
either that or you will need to chase the lorry owner for it.
 
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