My car was totalled in an accident Sunday afternoon! Someone in an older Plymouth Voyager ran through a red light while I was entering the intersection at 11th and Julian in San Jose, and I center-punched the van. Two of the three people in the van were taken to the hospital, and both vehicles sustained extensive damage. If I had entered the intersection a half-second sooner, the van would have hit me on the driver's side, and I might not have been here to write this!

On Tuesday the body shop told me they would have to replace the entire front end of my car, which will cost at least $14,000, and take about 3 months to fix. They will recommend to the insurance adjuster that the car be scrapped. At this point I am awaiting word from my insurance company to find out how much the will give me toward another car, if they decide to scrap it. I loved my car (in spite of being a card-carrying member of the "Scratched Rim" and "Replaced Tranny" clubs), but if the insurance company declares it a total loss, what should I replace it with? 2001-2003 CL-S? New Accord Coupe? G35C?

 

if i were in your position, and seeing how i ALREADY owned a CLS, id go with the G35c, since it has a more contemporary look...plus power and more power

 

Man, sorry to hear. I remember when I wrecked my 98 integra and they filed it as a total loss, it was 6 months ago when that happen. I used the money to buy a used 97 cl 2.2. I say get a accord coupe or another cl-s. Sorry to hear. I know how it feels.

 

man dealing with that just sucks, ive gone through it twice in the last 2 years.
If they ran the red then they are at fault and its their insurance that should pay out right?

Take your time finding a new car, get what you like the most, good luck.

 

I'd go with accord 6-speed with navigation. it looks hot man.

 

wait until the new 350z convert is out...

 

It was the other driver's fault, but I do not think he had insurance. The rental car expence is coming out of my pocket. At this point, I am awaiting word from the insurance company on the disposition of the car. I hope they total it, but am not sure how little they will be willing to give me for it. Anyway, I hope to have something else to drive by the end of the month if the insurance company does the right thing.

 

get a 6 speed cl-s w/ intake and headers

 

Wow that sux man. That is close to SJSU where i go. Hope everything turns out good for ya!

 

Jeez those bastasrds never have insurance out here in Cali, and that makes it not worth taking them to court. Thats called getting the shaft hardcore. I hope you have the insurance that protects you from uninsured asses, sounds like you do.

As for the insurance you can haggle with them if you think they are being unfair. You can even challenge them to find you a another CL in the exact same condition. If you had any mods, tinting, recent maintenance, fax copies of the receipts. Get the most you can out of the deal.

I'm sure you know all this already, but just in case... Again good luck.

 

That's a bunch of crap! I totalled my '98 Integra GSR in LA last July and it sucked! But the insurance was pretty decent and that's how I got my CL-S 6-speed...I babied that GSR too!

If I were you, I'd go with something different...I personally wouldn't buy something I've had before...the G35c is pretty sweet...especially if you can get your hands on a 6-speed. But you will be dishing out some cash. Definitely try to haggle with the insurance and do what was mentioned earlier...if they can find you a similar car.

I am driving up to LA and then to the San Jose area for a few days and then to Sactown. I hope I don't encounter any of these uninsured careless drivers! I don't want to be stranded or having to rent something just to drive back and forth between Arizona and California!

Well, good luck with the settlement...and good luck with the new car search.

 

I just can't believe insurance isn't mandatory in every state. I live in NH, and it's not mandatory, and I'm prayin' that if someone hits me, it's a MA driver (insurance is mandatory in MA).

BTW...Good luck!!

 

if the other guy didn't have insurance you can sue him for everything if you really wanted to

 

Sucks about your car and I hope you're okay. At least the damage was done more to them since your vehicle was impacted in an area where it can absorb a lot of force.

I wouldn't get another CLS unless it was a 6speed.

 

Just do lots of research and faz it to the insurance company. That is what i did for my totalled 1994 Altima. I went on autotrader and looked up Altimas in my area, visited them, kept a log book on what was wrong, why they werent is as good condition as my car, and faxes recipts of my mods. I ended up getting 5,100 for my 1994 Altima automatic with 100k miles, but it was in perfect condition. Their initial offering was only 4,000 for it. Fight with them.

 

It is required in Cali, but people here are
1) majority idiots
2) LOTS of illegals, LOTS just driving around

Sucks, driving in this place most of the time people cant stay in their own lanes half the time especially on corners, even minor ones.

 

Its just waste of time and youre own personal money. Reason why they dont have insurance in teh first place is probably cause they cant afford it. So there is nothing to gain. Sad, but you cant really do anything to go after them.

 

Sorry to hear about that. Get a 350Z or G35 Coupe.

 

Gentlemen, thank you all for your suggestions (especially those concerning the insurance company!) and support. Today the body shop said the insurance company will be totalling the car, but the process will take another couple of days. Sounds like it is time to do some homework and prepare to defend myself against getting low-balled! A car will be chosen after I find out how much I have to work with. Thanks again; I will keep you posted!

 

Start removing all your aftermarket equipment. If you have a Navi, you might find someone willing to pay a few $100 to swap.

 

I do not have Navi, but should get my winter mats and mud flaps. Unfortunately, the Comptech headers may be unsalvageable. After the accident, I could not see them under what was left of the hood, since everything was crammed up against the engine. When I make a trip tomorrow to the body shop to empty my trunk and CD changer, I will take a second look.

 

pics of damage?