Not a Good Start to the Day...S5 is Done

[ragazzi_07]

not sure on your budget....

but also look at the SQ5

[BestAudiFirst]

I'm not sure how I missed this thread. I'm certainly glad there were no life threatening injuries to you or your wife Storm. Hopefully you guys make a full recovery and get exactly what is deserved and more from this senseless accident.

[black2011silver]

I went to get as much stuff as I could out of the car today, and was hoping to swap my new RS5 reps out for my old stock wheels but unfortunately one of them was scratched all to hell. I had put about 500 miles maximum on those babies.

I bought a used car once that looked like the people drove on curbs purposefully. They had a wheel doctor do his magic and they looked brand new. It might be worth looking into.

[Storm33]

Well, boys, the shit's hittin' the fan now...

The claim rep from my insurance company called today and gave me the number...which is about $3k less than the cheapest CPO S5 listed anywhere - even without all of the features mine has. I told her that I need to escalate this, and she said the process would be for me to hire an independent appraisal (at my cost) and my appraiser would need to go through binding arbitration with the appraiser who did my car for the insurance company. WTF!

Edit / PS: as I think more about this, I can't decide who fucked me harder: the asshole who smashed into me, or the insurance company. I'm fucking PISSED OFF!

[aka5]

keep us posted

[jauri]

what the fuck? what insurance do you have? im pretty sure youre getting fucked harder by your insurance company.

insurance companies are supposed to make you 'whole' again, not give you $3k poorer. wtf. this is why i prefer to lease.

Well, boys, the shit's hittin' the fan now...

The claim rep from my insurance company called today and gave me the number...which is about $3k less than the cheapest CPO S5 listed anywhere - even without all of the features mine has. I told her that I need to escalate this, and she said the process would be for me to hire an independent appraisal (at my cost) and my appraiser would need to go through binding arbitration with the appraiser who did my car for the insurance company. WTF!

Edit / PS: as I think more about this, I can't decide who fucked me harder: the asshole who smashed into me, or the insurance company. I'm fucking PISSED OFF!

[Storm33]

what the fuck? what insurance do you have? im pretty sure youre getting fucked harder by your insurance company.

insurance companies are supposed to make you 'whole' again, not give you $3k poorer. wtf. this is why i prefer to lease.

I'm weighing that decision right now on my next vehicle: lease new or buy CPO. What happens if you total a lease - do they just pay off the lease? I feel like I'm getting fucked right now because they didn't take CPO into consideration (along with all of the features/options) when they valued my car.

I'm insured through Progressive. If they don't make it right, I'm going to start a new website called FuckFlo.com.

On a separate note...how do you like your Cayenne? Any troubles? I've wondered about Cayenne S or GTS for a replacement.

[sirmium]

I'm weighing that decision right now on my next vehicle: lease new or buy CPO. What happens if you total a lease - do they just pay off the lease? I feel like I'm getting fucked right now because they didn't take CPO into consideration (along with all of the features/options) when they valued my car.

I'm insured through Progressive. If they don't make it right, I'm going to start a new website called FuckFlo.com.

On a separate note...how do you like your Cayenne? Any troubles? I've wondered about Cayenne S or GTS for a replacement.

Remember there is also new Porsche Macan that will be announced at LA autoshow. It's built on Q5 platform. I really like it, dont know when it will start to sell.

[Mops@Nemesis]

Well, boys, the shit's hittin' the fan now...

The claim rep from my insurance company called today and gave me the number...which is about $3k less than the cheapest CPO S5 listed anywhere - even without all of the features mine has. I told her that I need to escalate this, and she said the process would be for me to hire an independent appraisal (at my cost) and my appraiser would need to go through binding arbitration with the appraiser who did my car for the insurance company. WTF!

Edit / PS: as I think more about this, I can't decide who fucked me harder: the asshole who smashed into me, or the insurance company. I'm fucking PISSED OFF!

This is how they work. I have dealt with the same. Tell them that will not work, provide documentation showing why, and you will take this to court, no problem. My least dealing regarded a diminished value claim. They offered something like $1,500. I told my agent, in a very nice way, fuck that. I told them I need $3,800, and if they could not get that approved, I was going to take legal action. They gave me what I wanted. IMO, the ball is in your court. You pay the dues, to be properly compensated if such happens. You are the customer, that pays for their service.

[SLO_S5]

Storm33...I read your dealings with your insurance company and it reminds me of a couple of issues I had on two different accidents. The first one was a small fender bender in a parking lot in which my wife and an older guy in a Z3 backed into each other. The insurance companies got together and to our surprised assigned most of the blame to my wife. The driver of the Z3 was dealing directly with our insurance carrier (Liberty Mutual) and since he could not get them to pay out the amount he felt the damage was worth, he sued us! Not the insurance company, but us (small claims court). We contacted our insurance company to ask them (WTF) and they ended up settling for the amount the guy wanted right away. But I learned that it was better to play hardball with the "other" person’s carrier and not yours.

Fast forward a year or so, and one of our cars was hit by a street sweeper driven by a City employee here in the town we live in. I contacted our insurance company (still Liberty Mutual) and made a claim. The adjustor came out and totally low balled us. I haggled for days to no avail. Frustrated with the process, I decided to call the City's insurance carrier instead (Eagle Insurance which oddly I learned was a subsidiary of Liberty Mutual). They sent out an adjustor and gave us a much higher valuation for the car (it was an older Honda Civic so it was totaled). They also paid out for a rental car for the time I supposedly needed to have the car at the body shop.

So, the lessons I learned were: 1) (as Mops states above), you can totally use the court system (at least here in California) to obtain an equitable settlement; and 2) bypass your insurance company (who DOES NOT have your best interest at heart but there's alone) and be your own best advocate and engage the guilty party's insurance claims agent directly. Also, in your case, I would make sure that you do not agree to release them from any bodily injuries you might have sustained during the accident, but that you only settle for the damages/value of the car.

Best of luck. (Disclaimer...I am not a lawyer and I don't work in the insurance business...I am just a regular Joe that has been in a similar situation).

[Storm33]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll keep fighting and update as things develop further.

[shonseb]

Why are you using your insurance company and not the assholes insurance company? You'll have to sue the asshole for whatever the insurance company won't cover. Just let him know beforehand and he may jump on the insurance company to pay up also.

[Storm33]

Two reasons:

1) My wife and I were transported to the hospital in an ambulance, and didn't get the other driver's info. The state police simply handed me a case number before we rolled away, and said the report would be posted online. They still haven't released the accident report so I don't have any information about the other driver.

2) Michigan is a "no fault" insurance state, meaning you don't deal with the other person's insurance - you deal with your company, they deal with the other driver's insurance company based on who is determined to be at fault. That's my understanding, anyway...

[jauri]

if the car gets totaled in a lease, your insurance company will payoff the car. leases have built in gap insurance, so you wont have to pay anything out of pocket. but you will lose your capital contribution and the car (so you want to put $0 or minimal amount down for a lease). also, your wife has injury from the accident. have you contacted a personal injury lawyer? you seriously need to talk to one. 99% of personal injury lawyers work on contingent fees, so you have nothing to lose. cayenne is great, but i prefer driving the s4.

[Steve_K]

@Storm33, really sorry to hear about your issues with the insurance. As Mops says, YOU are the customer and the insurance companies are meant to work for YOU. I would threaten the living daylights out of them, in a nice way, and wait for their response.

Also, if someone is injured, never mind how badly, in a road traffic accident, isn't there something like a road accident fund that pays out or compensates for things like this as far as personal injury goes? You should also be able to contact the police station who gave you the case number and demand more information and the details of the other driver. You should then be able to advise him that you'll be suing him.

Anyway, whatever you decide, good luck and hope your wife is feeling better.

Take care bud.

[Storm33]

I think that (hopefully) we can wrap this one up. I worked through more details with the insurance company, made them aware of the fact that they overlooked Audi Drive Select when pricing comps, and also informed them I've been speaking with an attorney who has advised me to allow them to reassess the value with this new information before resorting to litigation.

They called back today and came up a couple thousand dollars, which isn't exactly what I wanted but I'm satisfied enough to settle and not go through more hassle. Needless to say I won't be insuring my next car with them, but I'm moving on.

Thanks for all the advice and well wishes!

[Mops@Nemesis]

Good to hear! You may have not gotten exactly what you wanted, but at least the car was totaled, and you got close to CPO numbers for it. I'd be content.

[Storm33]

Yep, they got into the CPO neighborhood...the dark, seedy edge of the neighborhood, mind you, but close enough to make the legal process not worth my trouble.

Stay tuned for the S5 replacement. Some will be underwhelmed, and I won't be completely thrilled, but I think I'll enjoy it.

[sirmium]

Yep, they got into the CPO neighborhood...the dark, seedy edge of the neighborhood, mind you, but close enough to make the legal process not worth my trouble.

Stay tuned for the S5 replacement. Some will be underwhelmed, and I won't be completely thrilled, but I think I'll enjoy it.

do you have one picked out already? hopefully it's not a camry lol:) #fingerscrossed

[Steve_K]

That's great news that the insurance kind of came to the party and gave you a better figure.

It's still sad to see a S5 written off, but it's one of those things in life. Good luck with the new purchase, keep us updated and hopefully it's gonna be another Audi. Keep it in the family brother!

[eKKoMan]

I've went through a similar event like you Storm33 and i can understand. Really sorry for what happened.
After i had the event i decided to move up to a bigger/safer car, i guess is just something my brain realised and i couldn't go back. I suggest a 2012 A7 or 2011 A8 with CPO ... but for an SUV i'll hold for the new Q7 if i were you and just get something in between till that is released next year. Good luck with everything!

[Storm33]

Yep, it's in the family. Stay tuned...

[Storm33]

Update / Closure:

I went by the insurance office Friday to sign over the title to my S5 and collect my check.

I headed out to Chicago early this morning and drove home in this:



It isn't the C7 4.0T, but it's nice and clean, and I'll enjoy that V10 soundtrack while I'm banking the cash for a nice CPO '13 or '14.

Thanks again to everyone who dropped in on this thread and offered advice, best wishes, etc. This is a fantastic group of folks, and I've enjoyed reading about the "5" and being inspired by so many of you to spend more money on making my S5 look great while I had it.

Cheers,

Storm

[Mops@Nemesis]

Sweet! Great car for sure. Such a beast. Please paint those amber lenses

[Storm33]

HA!

I am already looking/making arrangements for the following essential mods:

- RS grill
- Orange reflector blackout
- 45/35 tint, front/back

This car is just begging for an exhaust, too I think. And, if my stock S5 wheels will fit (with the help of center rings), I think they'll be rolling the Blizzaks this winter.

[Steve_K]

Oh wow Storm, the S6 V10 is an awesome car. Might not be a 5, but now you have 4 doors and the V10 soundtrack is one of the best out there with a good exhaust. Some nice wheels would round the package off very well too.

So glad you kept it in the Audi family and hope you have many happy miles on the S6 buddy. All the best

[b518]

Nice glad to see everything worked out

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[jauri]

more pics!

[Gspothit]

I've went through a similar event like you Storm33 and i can understand. Really sorry for what happened.
After i had the event i decided to move up to a bigger/safer car, i guess is just something my brain realised and i couldn't go back. I suggest a 2012 A7 or 2011 A8 with CPO ... but for an SUV i'll hold for the new Q7 if i were you and just get something in between till that is released next year. Good luck with everything!

next generation Q7 won't get here any sooner than 2015. Macan is best to be Porsche deal.

[Gspothit]

Update / Closure:

I went by the insurance office Friday to sign over the title to my S5 and collect my check.

I headed out to Chicago early this morning and drove home in this:



It isn't the C7 4.0T, but it's nice and clean, and I'll enjoy that V10 soundtrack while I'm banking the cash for a nice CPO '13 or '14.

Thanks again to everyone who dropped in on this thread and offered advice, best wishes, etc. This is a fantastic group of folks, and I've enjoyed reading about the "5" and being inspired by so many of you to spend more money on making my S5 look great while I had it.

Cheers,

Storm

damn! big insurance check I assume

[Brick Oven]

Congrats and post pics as you mod!

[DadzS6]

Certainly not a bad replacement at all and you get to list to a V10 now, which is awesome! Not sure if RS5 wheels will fir, but I have the stock 20' titanium wheels from my 14' RS5 I would give you a great deal on. They would look awesome, especially on a black car. They are a 26et, if I am not mistaken.

[eKKoMan]

Awesome choice! Please come to the A6 C6 section and introduce this beauty... Its the first facelift S6 i see on this forum.

[Jsivadas]

Congrats on the replacement

[Storm33]

Moar pics...these are more fun to upload than my most recent S5 pics.

My S5 would probably beat this in a race, but I think I'll manage to enjoy it...

[Steve_K]

Hey Storm,

I must say that I really like that S6 for some reason. The wide stance from the front, tapering to the rear with those very cool LED tail lights is just pure perfection. And the interior of that thing , looks like it's just rolled of the production line. You are very lucky to have got your hands on this car bud, it looks like it's been very well looked after.

Hope your wife is doing better after the accident.

Take care my friend!

[bknewtype]

this is the first s6 i ever seen with the facelift and prior to the c7. very very nice.

[2011_S4]

Nice replacement! Enjoy!

[brnt]

Certainly not a bad replacement at all and you get to list to a V10 now, which is awesome! Not sure if RS5 wheels will fir, but I have the stock 20' titanium wheels from my 14' RS5 I would give you a great deal on. They would look awesome, especially on a black car. They are a 26et, if I am not mistaken.

PM me what you want for the RS rotors.

[2f4st]

well, its available now, not live yet tho lol. If i decide to bid on it, id appreciate if you can answer several questions, but will see once its live, they kept it as a clear title. Wonder why it doesnt start though, as normally airbag deployment is the cause of these cars being no starts at auctions, not in this case though. I know many of the electrical components are in that rear corner, I need to see if my parts car interchange with this car.
https://www.iaai.com/Vehicles/Vehicl...oadRecent=True