Fatal_Ice

I feel like a bad Dad cause I crashed my baby. I dozed off at the wheel and landed between a fence on my left and a parked car on my right. Could you guys let me know how bad this axel damage is, and is she ever gonna be the same. I got her a month and a half ago. Its a 2004 TL with only 10K on it.

mn2trance

Where's the pic?

Fatal_Ice

acuranewbie

Damn your car took a beating for sure, well I guess you can be thankful that your dozing only injured property

ludachrisvt

iTrader: (2)

Doesnt look that bad .... there was no frame damage ... it may not ride the same but you can keep your hopes up! If it doesnt just go trade it

ImaTLguy

Fix it....and sell it - quick.

Even when completely fixed properly, you have lost about 20% of the value of the vehicle, because it has been
repainted/has an accident history.

I am a former licensed auto wholesaler - and those are the just the unpleasant facts.

Fatal_Ice

Is it really worth it. I bought the car that is a 14 month old 2004 with only 8k miles now has 10k fully loaded with Nav for $27,500 I don't know if it is worth selling off this car cause of the accident since I think I gained that 20% value on the initial deal. I've only had the car a month and a half, and the impact wasn't that hard I don't think. I was told the fire dept cut off that portion of the bumper. I dont feel that I can get another TL for that price so I feel like I'll be losing anyway.

ImaTLguy

Obviously, it is ultimately your call. All I'm saying is that you've lost about $4000 of the vehicle's value - as a practical number. I don't know what state you reside in, but from an insurance standpoint there is a term called "diminished value". Not all states recognize this.

For example, a woman hit me, and the damage to repair my vehicle as $4500 - as quoted from the body shop & insurance company. I was able to go back to the insurance company, and seek "diminished value" compensation - and got another check for $2000 - on a vehicle
valued at $16,000.

I have experience buying/selling "damaged/repainted/body work" vehicles. I can tell you that once a buyer (dealer or other auto retailer) takes a paint meter around the car, and/or runs a CarFax (or some even use Insurance databases and your VIN), that regardless of the current auction/blue book value, your vehicle will be valued at about 20% under those numbers. (sometimes even more) Original paint means a lot in terms of value in the auto dealer business.

This may not be the same case, if you were to resell the vehicle to a private party. But any Acura or CarMax/AutoNation dealer will likely discover any paint/body work/insurance claims, and will appraise the vehicle accordingly.

Now if you plan on keeping the vehicle for several years, and don't mind the repaint....nothing wrong with that. All I am saying is that now, for the life of your vehicle, it will always be valued at about 20% less than an original paint/body vehicle by other licensed dealers.

NFLblitze1

that sucks man.......

did you get hit from behind...cause it looks like the red car in the first pick took a fender bender as well

03CoupeV6

I have to agree with the value comments... having an accident history reduces the value of a car sometimes significantly, even if the accident was minor. My 99 Accord was involved in a minor front-end collision which required replacing the hood and bumper, but didn't damage the fenders or headlights or deploy airbags. When I traded it the offers were $4500 on a car with less than 100k miles and fully loaded (leather, etc). The book value was about $7000 on trade at the time, but every dealer cited the accident as the cause of their valuation being low.

Now neither of my cars, 02 TL or 05 AV6, have accident records and I hope to keep them that way.

trancemission

you need to read the first post. actually here, let me make this easier for you.




Fatal I am thankful that you are okay, I know it couldve been alot worse. The car does not look that bad to me. I hope you can get it fixed and back on the road. Keep us posted....

vp911

Agreed, all that matters is that you are OK. The car can be fixed.

Fatal_Ice

Looks like its not that bad. Damages are $5200. I have been talking to the Insurance company and so far they are saying that Georgia is the only state obligated to pay diminished value. Is that true???

Budman231

OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I Can't even look at it...!

ImaTLguy

No - I made my Diminished Value claim in NC.

cincinnatikid

another Anthracite takes a hit...

erok72

dude....

1sweetTL

Like TRANCE said the most important thing is that you are ok and no one else was injured.

It doesn't look all that bad.

I say you have it fixed and drive around for a while if you can tell that there is a difference in performance/handling and it really..really bothers you then sell it.

If you can't tell the difference, then don't worry about it.

Keep it and try to be a better parent from now on.