I need sympathy (car accident)

SoCal 370Z

At least the guy that hit you did the correct thing and stop. Much better than a hit-n-run.

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PRSMESA24

Yea ill do the right thing IF they ask ill besure to let them know... I do enjoy being honest because these days that is a rare thing and a good trate to have... I dont think im going to do a diminished value claim either it seems like thats going the extra mile... as said, $h!t happens.

fly yellow

If it were a private party sale for 13K then I would say go ahead and tell them about the accident, but it's a dealer trade. I wouldn't say a word if you are not required to by law. When you trade a car in the dealer is making money on both ends of the deal. If they put your car on their lot they're going to try and get 15K for it, or they may just wholesale it and only make a couple hundred bucks. If the damage is found out then the worst they will do is break even on your trade. The car doesn't look like it has structural damage, but the stigma of it being hit will make someone pay less. Regardless the dealer still made money on selling you the new Z.

As far as a diminished value claim, I would definitely do it. The insurance company will probably give you a thousand bucks without a fight. You can decide if you want to go for more.

frost

Forrest

When you trade in your car they are giong to make you sign paperwork and ask you a specific question and i think the question was "have you done any repair to the car that resulted in over 1,000" in damages? i think thats what they told me or maybe they just asked "have you done any repairs to the car" i cant remember.

I believe thats in the paperwork. I didnt read it cuz the car i traded in never was in any accident.

fly yellow

Every state is different. In Maryland all we have to sign and attest to is that the odometer hasn't been tampered with. I think dealers have to disclose if a new car has received damage over 2K, or what they call lot damage. Dealerships have lifts and mechanics that they can really go over a car with a fine tooth comb if they choose to. No matter how good a body shop is there will be some tell tale signs if there has been major structural or frame damage to a trained eye. Dealers consistently have excuses on why they lowball you on your trade. There is no way I would give them one more, If there is no law, then it's on them to figure it out. It does not appear that the OP has any frame or structural damage. I'm sure he could slip it through. I would just make sure to polish and wax the entire car so the bumper doesn't appear any brighter and the paint isn't any smoother to the touch where the new paint is. Of course he seems like a very honest guy, which is admiriable, but he shouldn't be punished by losing 3-4K on his trade because he has some cosmetic damage, and if he is honest and loses trade value I would get the dealer to document it and submit it to the other party's insurance company for a diminished value claim. He wasn't at fault here and deserves to at the very least get the same deal he had before the accident.

PRSMESA24

The car dealer i am working with my family has done buisness with him for over 10 yrs and baught 10 or so cars... My dad is the guy when he wants to buy a car he goes to 10 dealer ships and sits there all day for the best price then walks out and waits for them to call him with a better price. lol. So my dealer will be very honest with me as i will be with him... if it affects my trade i will do the diminished value claim and get all that i can...

jginnane

Yes, there's similar language on the form you sign in NJ. Along with altering the odometer, etc.

The most important thing (aside from nobody being hurt) is that right before the accident, the written professional trade-in appraisal valued the car at 13K. The $3,000 the insurance adjuster wants to pay does NOT cover the loss in value from the accident, because there IS a Carfax history (and car dealerships can't re-certify a used car over a very small threshhold.).

But you can clearly establish: It was worth 13, got hit, got repaired, now your dealer says it's only worth 7 or 8. There's an extra 2-3 K that's owed from the diminishment in value. If you have to hire a lawyer, do so, because his fee will come from the insurance company on TOP of the payment they'll make for the car. (Lawyers like these kinds of situations... if you want to start wearing a neck brace, that could help spook the insurer even more.

nogoodname

wowsers...... that totally sucks, you gotta be honest with the car.

Karma does bite back !...but man, what a crappy way to get a Z....lol

cwj370

I still say if you bought a car from a used car dealer and later found out it had been wrecked, you wouldn't be happy! And if that buyer joined this site how impressed would they be to know you held back the truth or were advised to follow the "dont ask dont tell" rule, they will, after all be part of the Z family.

ZYUL8R

Even if you tell the dealer....i seriously doubt the dealer would pass on the info to the consumer. Especially if they do a good job on the repairs and its not noticeable.

PRSMESA24

No i wouldnt be happy. However, when buying a used car i know im kinda walking into a shady deal cause who knows what has happened to that car inside or out good bad nasty or weird. lol. i do always ask for somekind of warranty though even if its for 24 hours. ill beat it up make sure it runs to my standards and live on.

And i know when my car goes back on the lot the dealers not gonna write on the window in front of there parking lot... NEW REAR BUMPER FReSH PAINT !. lol.

NotmyGTR

If your plan is to fix it, and let the dealer know.......just take it to the dealer and get it fixed. If Nissan fixes it, it can be resold by them for a higher price if its a Certified Nissan Pre-Owned. If you fix it somewhere else, they will not be able to sell it Certified. Hence they wont give you that much on a trade......since they cant sell it for more money.
Like I said in an earlier post, if there is no structural damage, get it fixed and trade it in. Bumper crease, and new paint isnt something to lose sleep over if you dont tell them. Trading in a wrecked car with frame damage and not reporting it is B.S. Most grown men only want to be, and be treated 3 ways: Dont lie, dont cheat, dont steal. If you put a carbon hood on the car, that means you have to remove the stock one...then put the stock one back on before you trade it in. If the bumper needs to be replaced and painted, I dont see that as being shady. In the end with all the input....do what makes you feel comfortable, without compromising your own personal integrity.

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1996 Skyline GT-R LM fully tuned by Mines/2006 Nissan Titan 5.6 SE Texas Edition/2009 370 Base w Sport Pkg

PRSMESA24

1 thing i forgot to mention. I purchased GAP insurance with my car (not really sure why) but will that help me in anyway ???

EDIT. just did some research on GAP seems i needed to total the car... now i need to wonder how i got suckered into that.

NotmyGTR

Thats not really considered to be suckered in. If you only have your ride for 2 months.....still owe 30K if you financed......and you total it. Gap eliminates your remaining money owed. Not only that, your regular insurance doesnt get involved, so your primiums wont go up on your next vehicle purchase.

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1996 Skyline GT-R LM fully tuned by Mines/2006 Nissan Titan 5.6 SE Texas Edition/2009 370 Base w Sport Pkg