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From: evans@wivax.UUCP (Barry Evans)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Wanted: info on totaling a car [forwarded message]
Message-ID: <20370@wivax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Dec-84 13:37:26 EST
Article-I.D.: wivax.20370
Posted: Fri Dec 14 13:37:26 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Dec-84 09:40:45 EST
Distribution: na
Organization: Wang Institute, Tyngsboro, Ma.  01879
Lines: 49

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This message was forwarded because of notes problems at hpscda!hpscdb!garyg
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Wanted: info on totaling a car

Last night an errant left-turner met my 84 Mustang. His 80 Toyota
is probably totaled. My `Tang had the front end pushed over a few
inches, the left front wheel pushed back into sheet metal, and the
top of the car now has a slight "v". There is now a 3/4 to 1" vertical
gap between the drivers window and the top of the car where the front of
the car was pushed up & back. The frame/body is bent in 2 directions, both
top and bottom. (I sure am glad I wear belts, else I would be too.)
The steering column being pulled over an inch or so is what broke
a bone in my hand (makes typing fun).
 
I think my car is totaled. I'm afraid that the insurance co. might
not agree. (the other car is insured by AAA.) I don't think I really
want to drive my car another 90K mi with handling problems, leaks 
in the 'T tops', wind whistles due to air leaks in  the `T top`,
doors that won't close right, etc. I don't even want to think about
getting a good wheel alignment after the front suspension has been
pushed inches out of position.

Has anyone on the net had a similar experience? How does one persuade
an insurance co. to total a car instead of fixing it?
If it is fixed, what should I expect? How demanding (nit picking)
should I be? The car cost about 10.5K (used w 12K mi) 2 months and
1800 miles ago. It now has 13.8Kmi. Current retail blue book looks like
11.5K + tax.


Thanks in advance for any & all information.
Please send any mail to the address below, not the originating adrs.


>From the artificial intelligenge of hpscda!hpscdb!garyg

Gary Gitzen
Hewlett Packard
5301 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95051
(408) 246-4300 ext 2507

/* ---------- */
-- 
Barry Evans - Wang Institute (617) 649-9731 x383
    [apollo, bbncca, cadmus, decvax, harvard, linus, masscomp]!wivax!evans
    evans%Wang-Inst@Csnet-Relay