One less LS on the road :(

[Fla02LS]

I got into an accident last friday and just got word the insurance is going to total the car. Very bummed out!!!

To explain the accident, i was at fault, rear-ended a mustang, but the cause of it is what sucks. I was on a major road in the morning, speed limit 45 but traffic usually at or higher than limit. It was a six lane road (3 each side) and my side had all green lights. Apparently there was a person in a wheelchair crossing the cross walk on a side road which caused the first vehicle at light to completely stop to yield to wheelchair person because they were going to make a right turn at light. Well that car coming to a complete stop at a green light created a chain reaction of cars slowing down rapidly. I was about the 8th car back so by the time i realized my lane was coming to a complete stop i slammed on the brakes but didnt have enough time to stop. Slammed into the back of a mustang which then got pushed into the back of a truck in front of it. No injuries to anyone, with the exception of one pissed off woman(mustang driver) who was a manager at an Arby's and was obviously going to be late for her shift. I got a $166 at fault ticket. Sucks but sh!t happens.

The worst part on my end is how much i have spent in repairs just this year (tranny, a/c, etc). Adjuster said the payout would be $6600 but the repair facility said i could get that raised due to the recent new tranny and a/c work should raise value a little bit. From the pic below you'd never think the damage was "total" worthy. Other than minor mechanical issues the car was flawless. Not a crack on the leather, worn interior, nothing. Exterior had maybe 2 or 3 tiny dings, otherwise flawless. Not to mention new tires at $140 a pop.

 

[hite337]

That's totaled? From the pic it looks like a hood, grille and a bumper. The headlights aren't even broke

 

[Kumba]

Your frustration is understandable, but just start adding up new parts. Headlights are $500/pop. Imagine the hood is a couple hundred, along with the front fascia. So lets say you have $2K in parts between the hood, grill, trim, headlights, bumper fascia, etc.

Now for the expensive part, repainting the whole front clip. Not sure if the triple-black has to be blended like mine did, but if it does then they have to paint the front doors too. Prep and Paint aint cheap.

Last time I had a car totaled they gave me the option of 100% payout and they kept the car, or 80% payout and I kept the car. Maybe you can ask if that's an option?

 

[Fla02LS]

That's totaled? From the pic it looks like a hood, grille and a bumper. The headlights aren't even broke

My wife said the same thing when it first happened and i showed her the pic. That sh!t adds up quick though. Here's a quick rundown from estimate:

Front bumper and related parts: $766
Grill: $200
Headlights (HIDS) $650 each (they werent "broke" but hardware was)
Hood:$1769
A/C condensor: $154
Front Inner Stucture:$396
Horn: $50
Paint & materials: $522

Goes on and on. Looks minor but once i saw what it looked like with bumper off and disassembled there was alot of unseen damage. Labor total was $1300, parts were over $5000....add the towing, rental, etc, etc...... Total. Sucks.

 

[T-Money]

Very sad :/.

 

[hite337]

Damn. That really sucks. Makes me hope I don't wreck the front end of mine. My bumper alone may total mine!

 

[Ranchero50]

This is why I don't tailgate and when someone is riding my arse I leave even more room between me and the guy in front...

I am curious how much you were paying for full coverage insurance on a seven year old car?

The damage looks like as easy junk yard trip with a full tool box. Find another black one and trade some parts.

 

[joegr]

...Headlights (HIDS) $650 each (they werent "broke" but hardware was)...

They're quoting halogen headlights. The HIDs are twice that.

See if you can buy the broken HID assemblies back. You can probably sell them to someone with halogens for a conversion project. (The outer housing is the same for halogen or hids. They would just have to swap the reflectors, ballasts, ...)

 

[G-RELL]

Sorry buddy... +1 on seeing if you can get it back.. If not move on,

Good Luck, let us know what happens next

 

[JoshMcMadMac]

Dig up all of the receipts you can find from the last year for repairs and maintenance. Those should be applicable to go towards the pay out. Also remember that the insurance company works for you; if they give you an offer you feel is too low, the burden is on them to prove it.

 

[Telco]

The insurance company is using an average black book value to set the value on your car, and they will only pay 80 percent of that to repair the car before totalling it. They don't take the actual condition of your car into account. What you need to remember here is the car is YOURS, not the insurance company's. They act like they have the last word, but if you think you can fix it demand that they pay out to you and you will make the repairs. Do not send them the title. It'll be up to you to make up the difference between the payout and the actual cost of repairs, but it's up to you what happens here. You will have to fight with them over it though, because they are out to pay as little as possible on the car.

So far as the repairs you made before the accident, my own company only considers repairs made in the last 6 months, older than that and they don't consider it. If the repairs were in the last 6 months, the amount spent is added to the car's value. You must provide receipts to prove it though.

If fully covered, that means your injuries are covered as well. No idea how fast you were going, but consider that my wife's back was screwed up royally in an accident in which she was going about 35MPH in the right hand lane of a multilane highway. A car pulling out of a parking lot right off the road, taking off from a dead stop, hit her in the side of her mail truck (she works for the Post Office driving one of those little white truck/van things). The end result was a spinal fusion. You need to visit the doctor to get checked out, especially anything that feels stiff.

I hate suggesting this as well, but you can sue the person you hit for slamming on the brakes right in front of you. Yes, you were ticketed, but it seems to make no difference. When I wrecked my 87 S15, I was sued by the woman I hit and she wound up taking home twice as much as I did. In my accident it was at a 4 way intersection where my lane had right of way with no stop signs and the crossing road had stop signs. The woman I hit came to a stop, then pulled out in front of me as I was about to enter the intersection. I hit her about 1 second after hitting the brakes. The way she acted before the wreck I think she thought it was a 4 way stop. She was ticketed, and it was ruled 100 percent her fault, yet she still took home a sack of cash from my insurance company. Between it all, you may net enough to fully repair your car.

Good luck with it.

 

[cirelle]

buy back is usually an option, if the car doesn't have much frame damage. Didn't look like you popped the airbags. That usually makes the car repairs prohibitive in which case you may want to look around for another one and parts this one out. Just a thought.

 

[Andrizzle]

With all your threads about you wanting to get rid of your LS. I can see why you aren't exactly heart broken.

But yea, the LS can be totaled in the front easily. This is why it's insane how cheap these cars sell for, the hood is around 1500 and each HID is around 1600. That is totaled to what some people paid for their LS.

 

[G-RELL]

I'm dying to find a lightly damaged Gen II for cheap

 

[Bullschmidt]

I'm praying that I never get in a fender bender with mine. As much as I have wanted to get something new to play with I would be heartbroken.

FLA02- I hope you find something new that excites you. It's sad to see a fellow 05' go to scrap

 

[Fla02LS]

They're quoting halogen headlights. The HIDs are twice that.

See if you can buy the broken HID assemblies back. You can probably sell them to someone with halogens for a conversion project. (The outer housing is the same for halogen or hids. They would just have to swap the reflectors, ballasts, ...)

You are correct, she came back and told me she originally wrote it as regular healight.

 

[Fla02LS]

This is why I don't tailgate and when someone is riding my arse I leave even more room between me and the guy in front...

I am curious how much you were paying for full coverage insurance on a seven year old car?

The damage looks like as easy junk yard trip with a full tool box. Find another black one and trade some parts.

I wasnt tailgating myself. I noticed the "stoppage" in my lane and laid on the brakes pretty good but still didnt have enough time and slid hard into the mustang.

 

[Fla02LS]

Dig up all of the receipts you can find from the last year for repairs and maintenance. Those should be applicable to go towards the pay out. Also remember that the insurance company works for you; if they give you an offer you feel is too low, the burden is on them to prove it.

I have discussed and submitted the receipt from the the tranny. The only repair that they are considering is the new tranny. All the other stuff they consider basic maintenance, the new a/c compressor, radiator, etc.

 

[Fla02LS]

The insurance company is using an average black book value to set the value on your car, and they will only pay 80 percent of that to repair the car before totalling it. They don't take the actual condition of your car into account.

My insurance is Progressive and they use JD Powers and have some system where they plug in the vin and other info and it gives them a value. They admit the car was in phenomenal condition, the only thing that was used in determining value was mileage. I had 185K. Thats alot.

 

[Fla02LS]

Honestly after seeing the car in its dismantled state and the damage i dont want it back. I thought about keeping it to part it out but thats just too much work that i in no way want to get involved with. Dont have the time, space, or patience to do so. I think the payout is fair and i think they will adjust it upward with the new tranny added. All of us have an emotional attachement to our cars, these adjusters just see wrecks all day everyday and just care about assigning a value. I will of course try to negotiate the highest amount. I told them that if you searched i doubt you would find a 2nd gen LS, black on black with all the options mine had. Pretty unique car i would say so its hard to put a value based on what is out there on the market.

 

[Alax7]

Sorry to hear about your accident.

Post up what cars you're looking in to, its always an interesting topic.

 

[Fla02LS]

Choices Choices now?????

Submitted the paperwork for the tranny repair which they are now saying has raised the value enough that the % works out that they "can" repair it. Question is, do i want my wrecked LS returned "repaired" or go with the total loss and collect a check and move on.

What a freaking day!

Already been to a dealer and had a deal all worked out on a 2009 MKS... Black ext, cashmere int, loaded to the sky with every option under the sun. All i was waiting on was a check from insurance and to sign my name and drive home in my new MKS. I fully understand they are in completely different leagues, sport V8 versus luxury V6 but i think id rather the MKS now. That thing has so many damn options its insane.

 

[joegr]

Choices Choices now?????

Submitted the paperwork for the tranny repair which they are now saying has raised the value enough that the % works out that they "can" repair it. Question is, do i want my wrecked LS returned "repaired" or go with the total loss and collect a check and move on.

...

Point out that they have the wrong cost for the HID headlight assemblies, and that should bring them back to total it. ($1800 each, retail)

http://www.fordpartsgiant.com/partl...~2005-lincoln-ls-1952284-1953473-1592540.html

 

[RodLS]

Choices Choices now?????

Submitted the paperwork for the tranny repair which they are now saying has raised the value enough that the % works out that they "can" repair it. Question is, do i want my wrecked LS returned "repaired" or go with the total loss and collect a check and move on.

What a freaking day!

Already been to a dealer and had a deal all worked out on a 2009 MKS... Black ext, cashmere int, loaded to the sky with every option under the sun. All i was waiting on was a check from insurance and to sign my name and drive home in my new MKS. I fully understand they are in completely different leagues, sport V8 versus luxury V6 but i think id rather the MKS now. That thing has so many damn options its insane.

I say take the check and run unless you are madly in love with it.

MKS? I know I won't be buying another Lincoln unless they make another performance luxury sedan.

 

[T-Money]

I say take the check and run unless you are madly in love with it.

MKS? I know I won't be buying another Lincoln unless they make another performance luxury sedan.

1+

I really didn't want them to fix my car after it was wrecked. I wouldn't enjoy knowing it was in a wreck.


I would consider a 2010-11-12 mkz as a dd. with the sport package (modified suspension/18" wheels) with some exhaust work and a cold air I feel it could make 30mpg highway. If I get the job in looking for I'll have to commute and i am seriously thinking this would make a nice dd for me. (I'd still have the ls for fun of corse)

And mks huh... Not my cup of tea,, but have you driven the ecoboost?? You can get the loaded out ecoboost models even with the appearance package for 24-28k these days. It's crazy they are 55k new 2 years later you can get one with 20k miles for mid 20's.
But yea the ecoboost I think would be a little more lively than the regular. But up to you.. Also if you wanted to replace with a similar car look to 2005-08 jag STR or an XF.