The Red Sled is Dead (sorry, sammm!)

[Nexus Flux]

Sucks about the car, but at least you are OK

Get better soon

[altiain]

Sorry to hear about the car. Glad to hear you walked away from it!

[bnordin]

That is not a good look on a Miata! Good news is that you get to shop for a new ride.

Stevan,
I hope Barbara feels better. Jack D works for my back!

[Sharpie]

Craptastic. Glad you're okay. Hope you feel better soon.

[juxt3r]

Insurance adjuster just left. It's definitely a total...like we didn't know, right?

Should hear back re: settlement by Wednesday at the latest.

Anyone happen to have a facility I can borrow to pull the drivetrain and other usable bits should I decide to buy the salvage?

[jrj512]

Definitely pull those Sportectomy parts, if you can.

Sorry about the loss, but glad you're okay. I blame Sammm for selling you a faulty car.

[apex2apex]

Like everyone said, glad you are OK.

Car can be replaced.

[Titus]

Anyone happen to have a facility I can borrow to pull the drivetrain and other usable bits should I decide to buy the salvage?

PM sent.

[cwisenheimer]

Insurance adjuster just left. It's definitely a total...like we didn't know, right?

Should hear back re: settlement by Wednesday at the latest.

Anyone happen to have a facility I can borrow to pull the drivetrain and other usable bits should I decide to buy the salvage?

First of all: Glad you're okay. Cars are replaceable, you're not.

Secondly: Very sorry to hear about the car though. BTDT. Sucks. Big ones.

Third: remember that your add-ons do not increase the value of the car to the insurance company, therefore they do not decrease its value either if you take them off before it's towed to the junkyard. You might do the numbers on taking their offer for the total plus the value of your add-ons (after you take them back off, whether you reuse them or sell them) versus the value of the buy-back/part-out.

Curtis

[Sharpie]

I couldn't see the pictures until now. Ouch! Really glad you're okay.

[juxt3r]

First of all: Glad you're okay. Cars are replaceable, you're not.

Secondly: Very sorry to hear about the car though. BTDT. Sucks. Big ones.

Third: remember that your add-ons do not increase the value of the car to the insurance company, therefore they do not decrease its value either if you take them off before it's towed to the junkyard. You might do the numbers on taking their offer for the total plus the value of your add-ons (after you take them back off, whether you reuse them or sell them) versus the value of the buy-back/part-out.

Curtis

Words of wisdom. Thank you!

The two Flex on the front are done. The rears very well might be, too. All of the wheels are done. The only other things I've added are the radio, voodoo knob and Nardi wheel & hub. The first two I pulled yesterday. Wheel & hub will come out in the morning.
Interestingly, the adjuster seemed to think the rollbar was a value-adding item, as the car didn't need it to be...you know, a car.

I'm very curious as to what kind of value these folks will give to the car: lowball vs. retail.

[trickyrix]

I'm very curious as to what kind of value these folks will give to the car: lowball vs. retail.

It's been a while, but from past experience, they err on the high side. YMMV, of course. I'll be curious to see what they offer up as well.

[bmcreider]

My mother just bought her car back not too long ago after her Miata was stolen and ditched in a creek.

I think she paid $500 to buy the car back, which they took out of the check they gave her for what the retail value of the car was...in their mind. They said 3g, she bought it private party for 4g...

But - her's was easily fixable, your is destroyed. Is it worth it to drop $500 or more on that car knowing that you are most likely not going to get that much money back in parting it out? And the hassle of storage and disposal?

edit: I would expect a lowball, KBB like offer. We all know Miatas sell above KBB though. And believe me it sucks to see a red NB like mine destroyed like that and it definitely sucks it happened on/near your birthday. But all you gotta do is save a few pennies and take the insurance check and go shopping.

[black roadster]

I'm very sorry to read this Steve. Hope you get better soon. Any news on the commercial driver? He needs to be held responsible.

[Walsted]

...edit: I would expect a lowball, KBB like offer. We all know Miatas sell above KBB though. And believe me it sucks to see a red NB like mine destroyed like that and it definitely sucks it happened on/near your birthday. But all you gotta do is save a few pennies and take the insurance check and go shopping.

Standard Presumptive Value may be more than KBB, and is what the state presumes the car to be worth. It may be helpful to know that value when talking to insurance folks.

Hope this helps.

[CobaltFire]

I used a little-known capability when my '65 Mustang was totaled. Instead of taking a check, require them to replace the car with a like-optioned and condition replacement. That netted me 3k more, because they couldn't find one in the condition mine was for anything like what they wanted to give me for it.

This is especially useful if you actually WANT to replace it with a like car!

[cwisenheimer]

I used a little-known capability when my '65 Mustang was totaled. Instead of taking a check, require them to replace the car with a like-optioned and condition replacement. That netted me 3k more, because they couldn't find one in the condition mine was for anything like what they wanted to give me for it.

This is especially useful if you actually WANT to replace it with a like car!

What? I've never heard of such a thing. Was this a special deal with a particular insurance company, policy, or other? I would have loved to have used that concept.

[juxt3r]

Walsted, thank you for the linky! Checking it out right now.

My mother just bought her car back not too long ago after her Miata was stolen and ditched in a creek.

I think she paid $500 to buy the car back, which they took out of the check they gave her for what the retail value of the car was...in their mind. They said 3g, she bought it private party for 4g...

But - her's was easily fixable, your is destroyed. Is it worth it to drop $500 or more on that car knowing that you are most likely not going to get that much money back in parting it out? And the hassle of storage and disposal?

edit: I would expect a lowball, KBB like offer. We all know Miatas sell above KBB though. And believe me it sucks to see a red NB like mine destroyed like that and it definitely sucks it happened on/near your birthday. But all you gotta do is save a few pennies and take the insurance check and go shopping.

You have valid points, all.
The primary reason I'd take the salvage is the drivetrain, which could net (if sold) maybe $2k. Sure would make engine replacement for my '90 a veritable non-issue. I'll lift the car up on Sunday to see if the subframe impacted the engine. As far as I can tell at the moment, though, the closest thing to the engine that's utterly toast is the PS pump.
I know the sammm-foamectomied driver seat would bring top dollar as well. It's not as comfy as the NA seat he did "for me" a few years back, but it's pretty darn decent.

If they offer me what I'd like to see or close to it, I'll let them have the car and just source my desired parts elsewhere. No biggie...or so I'd like to think.
I've found a couple of local 99s with similar options and nearly identical mileage valued right around KBB retail value. Maybe a reasonable number to consider as a starting point, though I certainly have my doubts.

Thanks again, everyone, for your well-wishes, thoughts, advice and help!!

[CobaltFire]

What? I've never heard of such a thing. Was this a special deal with a particular insurance company, policy, or other? I would have loved to have used that concept.

State Farm. Someone I knew told me to tell them I didn't want cash, that I wanted a replacement that met my cars specs and condition, so I did.

In the above case it may not be worth it, as he is seeing cars listed @ KBB value that match his. However, in my case (true 64.5 Mustang 289 in 8/10 condition, numbers matching) it netted me a whole lot more money for an extra 2 weeks wait.

Not sure if it is a law or just a reasonable request, but it worked for me!

[Tim the Teacher]

The Track Dog sticker made it through the wreck....you could salvage that

Glad to hear your okay