SilverJ

I was at my dealer the other day to get my drivers side seat repaired and one of the SA's was telling me my six speed was the first one hes seen in a 4G TL. He then said that some insurance companies are offering "extra" coverage for manual transmission cars. Meaning if your car gets stolen, you would get more money back than if it were an automatic. I called my insurance company(state farm) and they said they don't offer anything like that.
To be honest though, if my car were to get stolen, I definitely would not get true value because blue book value doesn't take into account the rarity of a manual trans 4G TL. Not to mention its highly unlikely I would even be able to FIND anything comparable.

I mean shoot, here's a quick search on auto trader. SEVEN of them. In the entire country ! Most of those are high mileage too or very overpriced.
Used Acura TLs for Sale in Easton, PA 18040 - AutoTrader.com

I would definitely want to know if there's some insurance company that would recognize our manual TL's as rare and reimburse us accordingly in case of loss.

TLbullet

I def agree. I look on autotrader every few months or so just to see how many are 4s in US. I have 5k on mine. I was wondering if anyone had less. The car is def a rarity (taking nothing away from auto version, still fun to drive) just not sure if insirance companies would agree.

csmeance

If you car does get stolen, etc, you don't have to take what the insurance company offers. You can negotiate based on the price of the car in the market, etc.

For Auto on a 4G according to my dealer source, it's a $770 subtraction from the price. Leave it there if it's 6MT.

SilverJ

thats my point. My car has 12k on it. There ARE no comparable vehicles right now being sold. And a manual 4g is going to sell for 2 to 4 thousand dollars more (or even more) than its auto counterpart.

Schu

Your car is not worth more than an automatic... as a matter of fact, it is worth less.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

the dealer doing what dealers do best!

feeding you bullshit

NBP04TL4ME

Heavily debated topic. In fact it comes down to the buyer.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

but not insurance companies.
they view the car as a regular commuter car.

as its not a SUPER rare car.

NBP04TL4ME

But they only buy totaled ones..........

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

SilverJ

Any of you guys who say the manual isn't worth much more than the automatic counterpart have never shopped for a manual or sold one. Basic economics will tell you the demand for manuals is significantly greater than the supply which will make them inherently more valuable. There are TWENTY ONE manual 4G 's in the country.
I could probably find at least 5 guys ON THIS BOARD who want a manual. There are over THREE thousand automatics. Which one you think has a greater percentage of demand ? C'mon now.

TheMuffinMan

iTrader: (1)

And there's probably 5000 automatic 4G's and I can definitely find 20 guys on this board who wanted an automatic (and currently own one). What if it's the other way around? There was far less demand for manual cars so they made less? (Which is really what the case is)

Those numbers really don't mean much to the insurance company. This isn't a limited production car like and ITR that's serialized.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

yes, to specific buyers; you will get a premium.

BUTT in the eyes of the insurance companies, the 4G (auto or manual) is a regular degular commuter car.

its neither a classic nor a super rare car.


Please look up the definition of a classic. then look up the definition of a rare car.
I'll wait.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

if you crashed your car today; you will get fair market value of your car.

and just like the poster above stated; you dont have to accept the insurance buy out. you can negotiate for more.

SilverJ

I'm not saying its a classic. I am saying its rare. BY your own math.
Lets say 20 guys interested in Auto on this board. out of 3000. Whats that about .8 % ?
5 guys on this board interested in manual out of 21 available...that's about a 23% demand approximately.
I am not saying the insurance company recognizes this, but they sure as hell should. Because these cars are very hard if not impossible to replace.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

its not a rare car. period. end of discussion.


life isnt always fair.
the insurance companies are always out there trying to get us common folk.
but that's all we are to them, common.


no matter how hard you think your car is special; it really isnt. it's common.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

i have a 3G 6MT.

I think its special. I think its rare.


but in the grand scheme of things, its really not.

and i would get fair market value for it; even tho i think its something special.

W.B.MASON

50000 posts calling for the end of discussion, kind of ironic would you not agree

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

is the 4G rare?

SilverJ

I am not going to fault you for your lack of understanding for the word "rare" the very definition of the word rare means the car is rare
"not found in large numbers, sparse, limited production."
The 4G manual is RARE. And at this point because there are so few, so are the type S manuals.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

im not gonna fault you for not understanding how the insurance deems if a car is rare or not.



the system is wrong. I get you that the 4G 6MT is rare.
the system is at fault here.


you can negotiate the buy out if the car is ever totalled. you dont have to take their first offer.

C8N

Pretty much all sports sedans in a manual is rare. But one thing we are forgetting is that, it is the demand for them that drives up the prices. It could well be that there is just 1 out there in the market but if no one wants it, it is what it is. Insurance base prices according to what the market calls for.

SilverJ

we are in agreement . The system is wrong, and the car is rare.
Next time I bring my car in for service I am going to ask the service adviser who told me "some" insurance companies offer greater value for manuals which specific companies hes referring to.

I hope I never have to negotiate with an insurance company for reimbursement on my car.

TheMuffinMan

iTrader: (1)

Honestly - I really doubt you're going to find an insurance company to insure your car for more because it's "rare". Next you'll be telling us I can insure my white BMW 335xi with the awful red interior for more because it's "rare". Or that some other color combo (CBP/Umber) is "rare".

Insurance looks at your car as a 201x Acura TL w/ Tech package and xx,xxx miles. Period. You can argue for a higher price if it's totaled but I doubt they'll come up.

Companies like Hagerty specialize in insuring limited production/classic/exotic/rare cars however they have strict regulations on what you can and can't do in them. They also require a squeaky clean driving record and for your car to qualify. I looked into it for my S2000 (which does qualify) but it was just too many restrictions.

sockpuppet

No, it doesn't come down to the buyer. it comes down to the "market" (so, all the buyers).

Without checking your facts, your approach is mostly sound, however what matters is not what is available or what is not available...it's what the market is willing to pay for it. I have a one-of-a-kind ashtray I made in my youth. Real nice. Almost round. There's only one like it. And plenty of smokers around. How much do you suppose I can get for it? (NOTE: I'm not comparing my ashtray to a manual TL...I'm illustrating a point).

This. It's just that simple. And if it's not, then you're letting your insurer walk all over you.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

but guise, his 4G 6MT is RARE!

aIRpeACE

iTrader: (2)

your car is not that rare and not worth more than an auto.

i understand it's your car and it worth more than any other cars to you. it may worth more to specific group of buyers. but to the general public or even to the dealer, it's actually worth less because demand is low for manual.

NBP04TL4ME

I stand by what I said - it is the buyer. Only the buyer can determine what a given car is worth to him or her. The "market" may dictate what is available for sale and what others may or may not pay, but each individual buyer determines the implied value and whether they are willing to pay it.

Is a 3G or 4G MT a classic? - it's waaaay too early to determine that.
Is a 3G or 4G MT rare? - Yes they are and will only continue to become more so as time goes on.
Does the 3G or 4G MT cost more to insure or have more trade in value? - absolutlely not.
Does the 3G or 4G MT cost more on the market to buy? - Yes to those buyers and sellers who perceive more intrinsic value. To the masses - nope.