Tacoma totalled on freeway, didn't look that bad either

My wife was driving our 05 Prerunner TRD DC and was hit on the side.
Insurance company said it was going to repair it, and did some exploratory cutting. Then decided they were totalling it, so I can't even buy it back now as it's missing most everything on the passenger side. I was hoping to buy it back, as it was still running and driving great, doors opened and shut fine. Would have been a great mountain roads vehicle, as we've been using it for years.
But, it's a goner now.

They are offering me only 9300! I was floored. I told them I couldn't possibly replace it for $9300. Geico doesn't care. Said there was scratches in the paint, plus numerous dings and some tailgate damage (father in law dropped it on the trailer jack and then drove around his farm that way). Also a cracked windshield, which happened a few months ago, but was only on the passenger side near top, so not much of a priority. -$300 for windshield, -$700 for paint scratches/dings, -$1k for tailgate, -something for dirty carpet (bugger me, have you seen many 14 year old tacomas with clean carpet?!) on and on. So, the full coverage I'd been paying for all these years wasn't replacement value, it's done this way instead.

I challenged them to find another truck like it for $9300, and he even tried. He actually spent fifteen minutes doing that, while I sat with him. Couldn't. Closest was about 12k.
I'm wrecked man. Just spent $3k last year on the head gasket job.

What do I do? I am considering suing the person who hit us, for all the additional costs that aren't going to be covered. Not only is there the difference in what they are paying vs what it will cost to buy another, but there will be work time lost, taxes I will have to pay on purchased vehicle and god knows what else I haven't thought of. I am a little stressed, you may be able to tell.

On the way home I stopped at the Toyota dealership and told them to cancel the frame they ordered, because the truck was totalled. Sales guy was called, and he tried real hard to find me another, but couldn't.

This was my wife's DD, so she will now be driving my vehicle, which stresses me out also because it's rather dear to me and I am not good at sharing. Ha ha!

So, looking for advice, or leads on another truck.

 

Glad that your wife is okay. But make sure she gets checked out by a doctor for any injuries that may arise, regardless if she feels fine. If she needs treatment, get it done and insurance may likely cover it, along with pain and suffering, etc. That compensation can add to what they're offering you for the total loss.

You can hire an appraiser to inspect the vehicle as another option, but that won't guarantee a higher valuation, and you would have to pay out of pocket.

I'm sure there are more ways you could attack this, but you have to weigh in how much your time, and your wife's time is worth. Getting into an accident sucks, and I wish you the best.

 

Yeah, she's totally fine. Was pretty upset that her truck was wrecked. Heh!

 

Any pictures?

 

Damn that's rough. I used to work for a body shop so I'm very familiar with that whole process. Unfortunately once insurance companies make up their mind on totaling a vehicle that's the end of it. I've seen it a lot. You can try and keep fighting it or suing the person that hit her but who knows what that will get you. Good luck man, glad your wife is ok and sorry about the truck. Always sad to see a taco die.

 

Take the settlement and find a nice little 1st gen.

 

When my 99 totaled out they only wanted to give me 1000 bucks for it. I fought them tooth and nail and ended up settling at 5500 for a 99 prerunner with 600k miles

 

I know some people like 1st gen tacos, but I never did. Only would want one for a weekend offroader. But damn, loved rallying that prerunner in the desert here in Utah, and cruising up the mountain road by our house. It would eat it all up, the bumpiest parts of the road, small washes, was always amazing. We use it a LOT for going up and down the mountain behind our house, as we paraglide and mtnbike up there, so make multiple runs on weekends, and weeknights. Probably a few thousand miles of just rallying up rough roads. Another local pilot has an 07 4x4 taco, but it's ROUGH. Riding in it is like riding in a horse drawn cart. It has some kind of lift, maybe. Ours was all stock prerunner. Bilsteins and OEM springs. Rode amazing. That's why I want to replace it with the same, but I am having major trouble finding one.

 

I just ran the numbers through kbb and guessed mileage at 110,000. It gave me the value $9299 in my zip code and that didn't include deductions for the damage to glass, tailgate and body. I think the insurance company is pretty close, generous maybe if your mileage is a lot more than 110,000.

Spending money for expensive repairs on a vehicle this old is always a gamble. That doesn't factor at all into the value if it gets wrecked. I've seen guys brag about buying a $3K vehicle, then spending $6K on restoring it instead of buying new for $30K. The problem with that is that if a drunk hits you next week the car is still only worth $3K to the insurance company, the new one is worth $30K.

 

I only have one from today, when I emptied if of all personal belongings, and they have it chopped up.

She might have one of damage, though. Must have, she sent it to a friend. I will get from her.
They said that the OEM step was pushed so far that it bent the floor, I guess. And that was a major determining factor.

Maybe I can buy another cab. Just swap it on. But the frame is already toast, and I already told Toyota not to complete the frame order, so maybe better not.

 

Yeah, I hear you. I am in Utah, near salt lake city. Our has 203k miles on it, but had lots of OEM goodies, so it was pretty nice when new, presumably. We've had it for about ten years.

Guy actually told me that if I can find the receipt for the head gasket repair, they might be able to bump up the value a little bit to help out. I'll be looking for it.

 

What I learned when my pristine 1986 T-bird turbo was declared "totaled", and the insurance company offered me peanuts for it, is to drag out the negotiations. Time is money for them, especially if they are paying for a loaner car. Get a professional appraisal. Look up comparable trucks for sale. Research your states consumer insurance bureau on how to negotiate claims. Also strip the truck of aftermarket parts. In my case I got over $1100 more than they originally offered, which included replacing brand new tires and wheels with junk yard take offs. Good luck.

 

Of his wife or his truck?

 

Hire a lawyer they fight insurance companies every day over this stuff.

 

How about of your wife

 

Ha ha ha ha! You guys are alright.

 

He drives an X runner... He doesn't have a wife.

 

I'm wondering why you are going through your insurance. Shouldn't the person at faults insurance be paying for it?

 

Often your own insurance will settle with you to get the ball rolling then his insurance seeks their claim against the other parties insurance.

 

Well that is screwed up.