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Totaled Tacoma - Rebuild in Process!

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Chris311, May 30, 2023.

  1. May 30, 2023 at 7:09 PM
    #1
    Chris311

    Chris311 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    1999 White Tacoma SR5 V6 TRD OR 5 speed M/T
    3" OME lift, SPC UCAs, URD Crankshaft pulley (the red gives more HP)
    Hello all,

    So I was involved in a hit and run last month. Luckily they found the other driver and my insurance is pursuing their insurance to pay for damages. Unfortunatley, today my insurance decided to total my truck after the body shop found more damage, but I plan on buying the truck back and getting it repaired.

    Currently I am appealing the insurance's valuation, as the 3 closest (within a 500 mile radius) Tacomas with similar options for sale, are listing for $5-7k more than what insurance wants to give me. There aren't that many first gens for sale that are similarly specced as my truck.

    Currently my truck is at a Caliber Collision. I was already planning to do a full re-spray and some other body work by the end of the year, but now I am using this as an opportunity to accelerate that timeline.

    I just wanted to share this story and will keep this thread updated as work progresses.

    Thanks,
    Chris

    PS - I've previously had a Sea Blue F150 and a Nordic Green Mica RX8, and loved the color for both of those vehicles. So I think I would like to go with a color along the blue/green part of the color wheel. If anyone wants to share color suggestions, please feel free.

    20230424_194723.jpg
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    20230424_194736.jpg

    20230428_213040.jpg
     
    Last edited: May 30, 2023
  2. May 30, 2023 at 7:21 PM
    #2
    PennSilverTaco

    PennSilverTaco Encyclopedia of useless information...

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    Central Bucks, Pennsylvania
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    They totaled it over that?!?!
     
  3. May 30, 2023 at 7:28 PM
    #3
    Chris311

    Chris311 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    3" OME lift, SPC UCAs, URD Crankshaft pulley (the red gives more HP)
    Yep, initial estimate from a visual inspection was $5500. This included new ARB bumper, fender, broken lights, and replacing damaged suspension components. Insurance was cool with repairing the truck at this price.

    However, once they took the front apart, they found that the fender apron was bent, the core support was damaged, and the airbox cracked. This pushed the cost of repair to $8k. They only valued my truck at $8k, so they totalled it.
     
  4. May 30, 2023 at 7:28 PM
    #4
    PennSilverTaco

    PennSilverTaco Encyclopedia of useless information...

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    Has it been issued a salvage title yet, or do you still have the title?
     
  5. May 30, 2023 at 7:33 PM
    #5
    Chris311

    Chris311 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    3" OME lift, SPC UCAs, URD Crankshaft pulley (the red gives more HP)
    No salvage title at this point, but the adjuster wasn't 100% sure if it needed one or not. He was going to find out since there is nothing preventing the truck from being roadworthy. No damage that would make the truck unsafe to drive. Hell, I drove it for 4 weeks while waiting on Caliber to have an open appointment.
     
  6. May 30, 2023 at 7:36 PM
    #6
    PennSilverTaco

    PennSilverTaco Encyclopedia of useless information...

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    I always thought that getting totaled meant it got a salvage/rebuilt title?
     
  7. May 30, 2023 at 7:41 PM
    #7
    Chris311

    Chris311 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    3" OME lift, SPC UCAs, URD Crankshaft pulley (the red gives more HP)
    I'm not sure 100% what the requirements are. I see some places saying that the vehicle has to be unsafe to drive, and other places saying that a car the insurance deems not worth the cost of repair would need a salvage title.

    I also just edited my first post to add another photo. You can see the CV inner boot torn, and the UCA ball joint leaking. I emailed Caliber to see if they can send me pictures of the damage they found when they took the truck apart.
     
  8. May 30, 2023 at 7:55 PM
    #8
    19975lugger

    19975lugger Hand-me-down

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    Fabtech 3" spindle lift kit with add-a-leaf and shocks. Borla exhaust. K&N cold air intake. American racing wheels.
    I’m sorry for your loss bud.
     
    Black97v6MT likes this.
  9. May 30, 2023 at 7:58 PM
    #9
    19975lugger

    19975lugger Hand-me-down

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    Fabtech 3" spindle lift kit with add-a-leaf and shocks. Borla exhaust. K&N cold air intake. American racing wheels.
    Raptor liner that b!@$#h !
     
    Chris311[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  10. May 31, 2023 at 1:25 AM
    #10
    1997tacomav6

    1997tacomav6 V6 5sp,RegCab,TVS1320 Supercharger,Haltech, 780k

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    97 reg cab, v6 5sp 300hp supercharged, Methonal Injection, 780,001 plus miles, Original Owner
    V6 5sp,RegCab,TVS1320 Supercharger, 56mm pulley, methanol injected Haltech ECU, AC Tvs1320 supercharger,(MUST DO) every 125,000- 150,000 needs rebuild Projector headlights HID 5 speed manual Amsoil for all drive train Smaller 56mm custom pulley, (MUST DO) 2004 DESNO fuel injectors, zero ping ping, 2004 side door mirrors Dick Cepek Rims, Michelin tires LTX, ATM Pathfinders Dynopro ATM ( that last 100,000 miles) Now running Dynopro ATM mud and snow tires KN cold air intake Cat back dual exhaust with ss exhaust tip, Raised exhaust tail pipe to 2" below body line Optima*dry cell battery,red top Alpine sirius radio, 200 watt amp, focal is165 split door pod speakers Focal door speakers Subwoffer behind seat Viper alarm, Electric Locks Dark tinted windows, bucket seats corbeau lg1 Tacoma Rubber floor mats TRD fender extenders, Bilstien shocks, King shocks JBA UCA trailer iv hitch, electric brake control, Drilled slotted brakes, High carbon steel (MUST DO) EBS green stuff 7000 series pads(MUST DO) TRD engine oil cap TRD stick shift, Marlin crawl shift kit. Rear sliding window 2002 4Runner functional hood scoop cut into Tacoma hood, 4Runner dual overhead map light Gentex Auto dim + Compass + Temp, garage,rearview mirror Snow Methonal kit stage 2 Custom 3 core aluminum radiator Linex bed liner Haltech stand alone ECU, Intake supercharger gauge. Stainless steel brake lines, Custom leather wrapped steering wheel, Haltech stand-alone ECU,
    Easy fix, shop around for a better price tho
     
    Black97v6MT likes this.
  11. May 31, 2023 at 9:02 AM
    #11
    Chris311

    Chris311 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Looks like I may have to anyways. Once a vehicle is totaled, Caliber will no longer work on it.

    I've called two other shops and they won't work on totalled vehicles either due to contracts they have with insurance companies.
     
  12. May 31, 2023 at 9:42 AM
    #12
    Bivouac

    Bivouac Well-Known Member

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    Remains to be seen I bought the tires and wheels the rest came along
    Each state has it`s own rules when it comes to salvage titles.

    It must be the state you live in that has strange rules .

    I never heard of a body shop not able to take what ever jobs it wanted at least where i live.
     
    Black97v6MT likes this.
  13. May 31, 2023 at 9:46 AM
    #13
    JJ Customs

    JJ Customs Supreme Leader!

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    I would steer clear of Caliber if I were you. They have become the Macco of collision repair in my opinion. They purchased a shop here with a great reputation where I had work done prior. Took my wife's 4Runner to them and it took 5 weeks to replace a rear bumper cover and I refused the work 4 times. I did a little research and figured out they are a chain and you know all the things that come with that. Low wages, high turnover. Cheap parts purchased in bulk and all about the profit margin.
     
    Last edited: May 31, 2023
  14. Jun 2, 2023 at 3:05 PM
    #14
    Chris311

    Chris311 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Just wanted to provide a quick update.

    I've appealed my insurance's low ball market value offer. I have a coworker who's wife is an adjuster for the same insurance company I have, and she helped me put together the artifacts I need to submit for the appeal to improve my chances. We included 4 examples of same spec Tacomas in similar condition and mileage selling for more than double their offer. These weren't cherry picked either, we selected based on distance, and these were the 4 closest trucks listed for sale (closest one was still over 700 miles away).

    I also scanned and submitted all receipts for recent work and parts that were replaced, to prove my truck was in excellent mechanical condition (their report listed it it as fair).

    Fingers crossed I can get them to agree on a better value.

    Fingers crossed
     
  15. Jun 2, 2023 at 3:08 PM
    #15
    Cloud99

    Cloud99 Well-Known Member

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    Good luck. Sounds like you’re getting good advice.
     
    Black97v6MT and Chris311[OP] like this.
  16. Jun 8, 2023 at 4:17 PM
    #16
    Chris311

    Chris311 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    3" OME lift, SPC UCAs, URD Crankshaft pulley (the red gives more HP)
    Finally agreed on a settlement with insurance. They doubled their initial offer, and even though they have it as a total loss in the claim, they are not issuing a salvage title. They explained that if the amount of damage is under a certain threshold, Texas does not require a salvage title be issued for owner retained vehicles.

    I'm hoping that with the money from insurance, I'll be able to get the repairs done cheaper than Caliber and still have a little left over.

    Edit: added some photos from when I picked it up from Caliber yesterday. The core support and fender apron are bent and rolled beyond repair, they have to be replaced according to caliber.

    20230607_170258.jpg
    20230607_170302.jpg
    20230607_170308.jpg
    20230607_170314.jpg
     
  17. Jun 9, 2023 at 2:55 AM
    #17
    Cloud99

    Cloud99 Well-Known Member

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    Glad to hear you are getting to keep it without it being deemed "salvage".
     
    Hamer95USA and Black97v6MT like this.
  18. Jun 9, 2023 at 6:46 AM
    #18
    Bivouac

    Bivouac Well-Known Member

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    Remains to be seen I bought the tires and wheels the rest came along
    All I can say I have no idea of insurance Laws in Texas .

    Did the insurance company of the other driver blame the accident on you ??

    Pay a claim to your insurance company so they low ball a totaled vehicle payout to you and pocket the difference ?

    Good luck getting the repairs done!
     
    Black97v6MT likes this.
  19. Jun 9, 2023 at 7:34 AM
    #19
    1997TacomaSR5

    1997TacomaSR5 OG TACO - 3ook+ ...where 2 wheel next

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    So the ins.carrier raised the ACV to 16k from 8k? Which would be more in line with current JDP/NADA valuation for something clean.
    What ins.carrier was this exactly that wanted to play games

     
    Black97v6MT likes this.
  20. Jun 9, 2023 at 9:17 AM
    #20
    Chris311

    Chris311 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    USAA. They made several mistakes, along with IAA. I received a call from IAA before i even had a chance to look at the first offer, and told IAA that at the time I did not need to schedule a tow to take my truck away, and that I was thinking about keeping the truck but needed to look at the settlement offer first.

    The person from IAA decided to submit paperwork saying I had accepted the settlement. Without confirming with me, my claims adjuster took the word of IAA instead of mine. This also happened on the same day that I talked with my adjuster on the phone and told them that I did not accept the settlement, and would be sending an email as well saying the same thing.

    So my adjuster literally completely ignored what I said on the phone and in my email, and went ahead with paying out the initial settlement offer based on hearsay from IAA.

    I also wasn't getting my follow up emails and phone calls returned for a few days. I had to reach out to a completely different adjuster for them to look at my account and tell me what was going on. That is when I found out that IAA had lied about me saying I accepted the claim. This was after a week of being gosted by my adjuster.

    I've reached out to Texas Department of Insurance to discuss opening a complaint against USAA, however I was told that since a settlement was reached in the end, a complaint may not be warranted anymore.

    Edit: sorry, just realized my previous posted about the initial offer value was a typo. I meant to put 6k instead of 8k. 6k is after they took their cut, this new offer came out to 10k after they took their cut, so not 100% doubled but close. The actual market value was a little over 12k, which is about what NADA lists for my truck in my area. They took about $2300 for their cut as what they think the truck is worth in its broken state.
     
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2023

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