Deer killed the Forester

Royal Tiger · #1 06-30-2007, 08:20 PM

We hit a deer last week on the Northeast Extension of the PA turnpike on the way to the Philadelphia airport, and it totalled the Forester. We now have to fight with the insurance who want to lowball me. She was in amazing condition mechanically and was pampered. But since she ran so well, it's all we ever drove, so she is 20 miles shy of 120k. They offered $6k and I said no. We'll see what happens.

ensteele · #2 06-30-2007, 11:45 PM

The poor deer! Sorry to hear about your forester. You can never come out ahead with insurance.

nonSTOP_service · #3 07-01-2007, 12:23 AM

That does suck, but mileage kills value. Doesn't change that fact that NO ONE likes to deal with insurance.

The problem is friend, who else are you gonna find to give you 6k for a wrecked machine?

budbaer · #4 07-01-2007, 01:34 AM

Hold strong, you don't have to take the first offer, it's a negotiation. They will find a number you can live with, just stay cool.

SSSVX · #5 07-05-2007, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budbaer

Hold strong, you don't have to take the first offer, it's a negotiation. They will find a number you can live with, just stay cool.

He was right then.

So do you have any tricks/techniques on negotiation to share with us?

Royal Tiger · #6 07-05-2007, 01:02 PM

The first offer was the basic NADA value. We faxed over all the current receipts for new items on the car, like tires, and mechanical repairs. We then settled on the new total plus the sales tax and got the total of $8,612.50.

shotking · #7 07-01-2007, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royal Tiger

We hit a deer last week on the Northeast Extension of the PA turnpike on the way to the Philadelphia airport, and it totalled the Forester. We now have to fight with the insurance who want to lowball me. She was in amazing condition mechanically and was pampered. But since she ran so well, it's all we ever drove, so she is 20 miles shy of 120k. They offered $6k and I said no. We'll see what happens.

Pa turnpike is brutal when it comes to deer sometimes i swear its worse than some of the back roads. Sorry to hear bout the Forester man, good luck with the fight.

Royal Tiger · #8 07-02-2007, 12:40 PM

My wife is beside herself. She loved that car. It still starts, even with close to $7k in damage. I consouled her like any decent husband would, with a new one. We bought a 2007 Forester Sports Edition today with 4 whole miles on it. I still have to get the settlement for the old one for the down payment, but I signed all the papers so she's ours now. Garnet red with anthracite cloth interior and the different grill and front bumper that comes with the Sports Edition. Power everything, 6 cd changer, automatic climate control, etc... No sunroof though, but that's OK because I want to get a drop down DVD player put in for the kids. The best part was I got it for $4k under sticker since the 2008's are in. I know she still misses the silver one though.

Kelvin · #9 07-02-2007, 01:09 PM

Have any pics of the old one? I'm curious as to how a deer could cause 7k in damage!

Royal Tiger · #10 07-02-2007, 01:57 PM

It doesn't look all that bad, but the estimate was over $6600 and the insurance companies own adjuster had over $5500. We hit it with the driver's side front headlight. Hood, grill, bumper, left fender, radiator, a/c, battery, headlight, headlight support, expansion tank, and some other items, plus labor. The headlight alone is almost $200.

shelfy · #11 07-02-2007, 02:16 PM

sorry to hear about your car, but happy that you and the family are okay. i desperately want a forester sports, but in the 2.5xt variety.

Kelvin · #12 07-02-2007, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royal Tiger

It doesn't look all that bad, but the estimate was over $6600 and the insurance companies own adjuster had over $5500. We hit it with the driver's side front headlight. Hood, grill, bumper, left fender, radiator, a/c, battery, headlight, headlight support, expansion tank, and some other items, plus labor. The headlight alone is almost $200.

Are these all quotes for 'brand new' parts? Did you bother throwing together an estimate with used parts? I've had good luck with car-parts.com, and the price for a 2001 driver's side headlight on a subie forester runs from $40-$80. Hood? $150. Bumper? $200, with cover and reinforcement bar.

It's cool you got a new car and all, I just kinda doubt that it needed $6,000 to be fixed. I hit somebody in an old car I had once... it was technically totalled.... they said it'd cost me $3-4,000 to fix. I paid $700 to have it straightened, and a new radiator and stuff installed so it was driveable, then over the next 2 weeks sourced a hood in the correct color, and got the fender painted for $200. Poof. Under $1000 and it was back on the road.