B8.5 S4 - Take Total Loss or Keep And Repair Salvage

[djmars]

I could use some advice from the community on a really difficult situation. Unfortunately, I was involved in a accident recently with my beloved S4. The accident was at low speed and it seems to be all cosmetic work but due to the price of parts NJM insurance is considering this a total loss. I'm still negotiating with them on the Actual Cash Value from the CCC report they provided me but all the comps were over 100,000 miles and my car only had 62,000 miles.

The quote I received from the collision shop was almost $14,000 to repair. I was shocked by the number at first but after I researched the part list it was pretty accurate. Insurance is saying the value on the car is only $17K. Due to the high cost of repair this is why they are totaling the car.

This brings me to two options:

1) Take the settlement check for $18,000, give them the car, and I hunt for a new car. I am negotiating with them to get closer to $22,000 based on cars listed online for sale.

2 ) Take a check for $14,000 and get the car repaired myself. This comes with the challenge of having a salvage title and then I can't add back full coverage. They said I may be able to add back full coverage after repairs and a inspection for a adjuster but it isn't guaranteed. I planned on keeping the car forever so I'm not too considered about the salvage title, but I am concerned about only having liability coverage.

I have a co-worker that was recently involved in a worst accident in a Porsche. Insurance repaired the car but he tells me the car just doesn't drive the same, so now he is looking to sale it. Looking back he thinks he should have just taken the check and moved on.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[STXA7]

find a non-crashed s4 with whatever option you regret not having previously. maybe even one that's been pre-modded. there is a sick fully modded a7 for sale in classifieds on audizine if you wanna get a bigger vehicle

[LowKeyLoki]

Fight with the adjuster or go over their head to their manager if they say that’s the best they can do. I was in the same situation last year and Geico tried low balling me at 16k for my 2011 with 60k miles. It took about two months of me declining their low ball offers before finally I spoke to the adjusters higher up. Showed them all documentation and receipts for all the work and upgrades I had done to it. Also showed them my list of similarly priced and mileage cars that were selling for way more than the list of ten for their average. Anyone can cherry pick 10 cars and create a bias average, their evaluations are a joke and are completely bias towards them, they had cars with over 100k miles comparing them to mine with 60k miles. If you can hold out a month or two they will fold and eventually give in to giving you the money you deserve. I got Geico to come up from 16k to 22k after two months and then just a ten min phone call with the head manager.

[BucDan]

Negotiate as high as you can. I'd take the check for that price. if you can get 20k, that's a win for you because the used car market will crash when the economy is finally let go by the big banks. I've been in 4 small fender benders. repairs all around 8k each, none my fault. They've fixed it every time so far. Yes, the car does not feel the same anymore, no car does because it's not factory efforts anymore.

If I could get 20k for my car as is, right now, I'd take the deal.

[DigitalB85]

Last year I was in a small crash into a snowbank up at kirkwood. All cosmetic.

Insurance offered total loss at 24k saying it would cost 22k to fix. ( 6mt prestige less than 100k in CA). I got lowballed too, but showed them where they put in low end finishes, it does help to know your car inside and out.

I kept/bought the car(was going to keep forever too) for 4k. I got the work done for 4-5k!(crazy deal from a race car body shop). Came out in the positive and no issue to insure, in fact its lower now with a salvage title.

In order to get my salvage title I had to get the light and brakes checked. What a pain in the neck, but worth it in the end. Glad I kept the car!

good luck

[djmars]

Thanks crew for all the feedback. I went to see the car and it’s in far worst shape then I remembered. Called a few more body shops and most quoted similar #s. I ended up taking the check for $21.5.

Now I’m looking at a low mileage A7 as the next project. Any input on the A7?

[BucDan]

Thanks crew for all the feedback. I went to see the car and it’s in far worst shape then I remembered. Called a few more body shops and most quoted similar #s. I ended up taking the check for $21.5.

Now I’m looking at a low mileage A7 as the next project. Any input on the A7?

Smart choice imo.

Nothing on the A7 here from me, but seeing that the engine is pretty much the same, should be comparable I'd say. Assuming you're talking about one the same generation. I'd personally lean into the A6 3.0T or S6.

[A4Qwattro]

That's a good check.

[djmars]

Smart choice imo.

Nothing on the A7 here from me, but seeing that the engine is pretty much the same, should be comparable I'd say. Assuming you're talking about one the same generation. I'd personally lean into the A6 3.0T or S6.


I was looking into a C7 S6 but I heard the cost of ownership is extremely high.

[Nillious]

Honestly the b9 s4 is where I’d go. Assuming there both tuned It’s faster than the s6, better gas mileage and no dsg. No more expensive to own than your b8 was. Turbo access is simple and can run 9s if you wish.

[STXA7]

Thanks crew for all the feedback. I went to see the car and it’s in far worst shape then I remembered. Called a few more body shops and most quoted similar #s. I ended up taking the check for $21.5.

Now I’m looking at a low mileage A7 as the next project. Any input on the A7?

DM me, I'm willing to answer anything you want. I am very well informed on the a7.

[fdhjrnyc]

I had a low speed front end collision with my 2016 B8.5 S4 (6MT) in April of 2023. Didn't even trigger the airbags, but the grille, front bumper, lights, radiator, hood and assorted brackets and other hardware were toast. It didn't look that bad from the outside, but the damage under the hood was where the problems were.

My insurance company lowballed me on the initial estimate without ever inspecting the car, but they didn't seek to total it (at the time, it was my daily driver and had 84k miles on the dial.

Fortunately, I got a great referral to a body shop from Quattrohaus in Newark, and since the body shop wasn't on my insurer's preferred list, they advocated for me as the owner, and ultimately did a phenomenal job of putting the car back together.

The insurance company only inspected the car once the work had been completed , and the ultimate cost was damn near $20k. It took 2.5 months for the process to play out.

I had planned on keeping the car forever as well, and I still intend to do so. I would not be happy with an automatic transmission, which is why I was so adamant that it not be totaled.

All things considered, I got lucky - I wasn't on the hook for anything more than my deductible, and my rates didn't increase by much.


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[Nillious]

A lot of times they lowball you cause most people in the general public don’t give a shit about their car. They just want another one and they don’t care how upside down they will be on there new one as long it ends up an affordable payment for them. It’s a shame but 95% of the time it works for them. They take a low check and move on to the next Starbucks or Apple Store never thinking twice about the loss. That’s just the reality and insurance companies love it.