my front wheels about fell off when i backed it into its spot at the body shop, im hoping like heck its a goner so i can just get a new G, Ive already found the most expensive 2003s that i can to hopefully show them what it would cost to replace it.
The only thing that worries me, is that this adjuster has never had to deal with an infiniti, I hear that the rear quarter panel dent is one of the hardest to repair. All he told me is that there is a lot broken underneath that most parts are aluminum so they arent fixable and that he is going to have to do a lot of pricing.

 

You can get an estimate yourself. You don't need to rely just on the adjusters numbers, especially if he isn't familiar with Infiniti. He'll talk to whomever you get the estimate from and if they're close, then it won't matter. But if they're far apart, they'll talk about it and the adjuster may learn something. Any chance you can get it to an Infiniti dealer? That's the only place I'd have this repaired.

There's another possibility because so much of your damage is underneath. If they determine it's fixable, but then discover later that it should have been totaled, they may just pay to get it repaired anyway. I had this happen on an Audi 90. Original estimate was about 60% of the car's value, but the final repair was almost 80%. I was glad to get it back because it was wrecked literally 24 hours after I bought it and most of the damage was cosmetic. And despite what some posters have said, in most states it's around 75% in damage that gets a car totaled, not 50%. Iowa is just one of the 50%-ers.

 

unfortunately it is at the nearest general motors dealership because it was the only place i could get it to, and i know the body shop guy pretty well. There isnt an infiniti dealership close enough. Sadly but optimistically, I think the value they are going to look at is probably around 12-13k so 6000 or so in damage, Ive had this adjuster give me 5k damage for a deer on another car and that was just cosmetic work,

 

Im kind of astounded, the appraiser called me back today, he told me that they are valuing my car at $20k and that there is $11,700 in damage, and told me they are not totaling it. I think this is nuts because if anyone has looked at the value of G35s lately, its not good. So I told him i really dont want to have to deal with this car, he is having his salvage guy look at it tomorrow to see how much he would pay for it. Anyone have any idea how much salvaged, easy fix G35s are going for? Ill take my $11,700 and whatever the salvage buyer gives me and run is what i am thinking...

 

That $20K figure is off the charts. It's above the high retail value from several sites, and I loaded your car up with everything. I found a few on Autotrader that were more than $20K, but they had either incredibly low miles (like 4,000), or were supercharged. But most were $17K with comparable miles to yours.

If it's totalled, and they're valuing it at that figure, then let them fix it at an Infiniti dealer, I don't care how far away it is. The salvaged value won't be anywhere near $8,300, and you don't want to deal with a salvage title. You can't get financing on it, and it's difficult to sell. If they total/salvage it, you'll have to pay off your loan, which may not leave enough to repair it, and then you're still stuck with a salvaged title. Wow, Iowa's got some fvcked up insurance if they think your car is worth that much.

 

My car was fully loaded, and i thought it was very high too. From what it sounds like at 11,700 damage, it wasnt totalled, but will have a salvage title, what should i do?

 

Well, they can't do both. They can't NOT total it AND put a salvage title on it. It's one or the other. If it's totaled, they pay you the value of the car and take it away from you. You can then buy it back for the salvaged value and get it repaired. But this only makes financial sense if you can recover some/most of the repair costs by doing them yourself and still not owe anything on it because it will be a salvage title and a bank won't finance it. And you still face the problem of trying to sell it later.

If it's not totaled, then they have to pay for the repairs and the title stays the way it is. I would consult with your agent ASAP about this, like tomorrow! Don't listen to what the adjuster says, find out what your policy says.

 

I guess my understanding of it is wrong then, I will have to call her tomorrow. Isnt making much sense to me 11,700 is over 50% of 20,000 which would make it salvage, which would total it, correct?

 

It would make it totaled. Period. A wrecked car is either totaled or not totaled. There is no "salvage" status, but there is a salvage value. That's determined after a car has been totaled, and is based on the amount of damage the car has sustained, and is somewhere between $0 and (full value - repair estimate). But it's not quite that precise.

Depending on your state's laws, if the insurance totals the car, and you buy it back for the salvaged value, it's possible to keep the title clean if the car is always in your name. You can then get it repaired and nobody will ever be the wiser. If you don't buy it, then the car gets a salvaged title, and even if repaired back to it's pre-accident state, it will at best have a re-built title. These are difficult to get financing on and even more difficult to sell since no smart buyer would touch it. But if you've got a classic car, like a '63 Corvette, nobody's going to care about a re-built title. But you're talking about a 2003 G35.

If they are totaling the car, take the money and get something else. If they aren't totaling it, then get it repaired at an Infiniti dealership. But don't buy it back if it's totaled. It's just not that special to go through all the hassles of getting it repaired.

 

There may be some gray area, I found that if a vehicle is damaged over 50% of fair market value that it may just be required to have a damage disclosure on the title, which is also, not good for my end of the deal. But what confuses the hell out of me, Is that Iowa is one of few states that has a 50% threshold for salvage. So wtf.

http://www.co.bremer.ia.us/new/damage.pdf

 

P.S. thanks for your insight, it is keeping me level headed throughout this.

 

a car totalled out by the insurance company can be purchased by a salvage company who may resell it with a salvage title. salvage is usually one of three denotations on most state titles, actual mileage, true mileage unknown, salvage. only the actual mileage designation is a clean title. if i were you, i would ask your insurance appraiser to get the latest valuation for the car for your region. also, tell him you would feel unsafe driving a car with that much damage.

 

Ive already told him that basically i dont want the car back because i feel it will never be right. He responded with, "let me see what my salvage guys will give me for it" he is getting back to me tomorrow.

 

good luck. hope he totals it out for you.

 

Here is the situation as it sits, I need some advice. He is valuing my car at 20,000 and saying there is 11,700 in damage. I guess this isnt considered salvage at this rate, it just has it to where i have to include a damage disclosure on the title. My thinking in this is, I believe i can find these parts much cheaper on my own (he had a headlight priced at 860 bucks) and once i find all of the parts needed, I can have it repaired much cheaper and then sell the car. I have a hard time believing that a few suspension components, 2 wheels a headlight and some paint/dent work is going to cost 11,700. He said they were replacing the entire rear end assembly, but i still think id be a few thousand under 11700 using used or much cheaper parts. any thoughts on this?