OT: A revoltin' insurance development

Jim, why did you do the rear-ender repairs yourself? Would that not have been the responsibility of the other two drivers, since they rear-ended you?

RJ

I bought one once, but I put a 350 Chevy V8 and a narrowed rear end in it. It was a good car after that.

RJ

On Sun, 06 Feb 2005 01:40:40 GMT, the inscrutable Ernie Leimkuhler spake:

Any decent metalworker should be able to walk into a frame straightening shop, watch what they're doing and using, then go home and build one out of box steel tube. He should be able to straighten his own sheetmetal pretty easily with that, some clamps, a torch, and a porta-power.

Jig up, Glenn! $100 worth of scrap steel should make a fine sheetmetal-frame straightening unit. Pull, hang a fender on to check fit, pull again, and you're done. (Hopefully. ;)

Because *any* involvement with *any* insurance company puts one on their radar. Does not matter if it was rear-end, all they know is, you had an accident. And that goes on the record.

My buddy at work happened to have the correct rear bumper for my truck, which he got cheap off ebay. It turned out to be the wrong bumper for his (4wd) truck, so I just paid him what he paid for it - fifty bucks - and bolted it on.

Jim

In my case it was auto insurance. I wouldn't think it would make any difference in the State law whether it was auto or home insurance. I think I get your point though, there may be a difference in the policy details or knowledge of the agent or adjuster. I have had to educate a couple of adjusters on the value of some obscure cars.

Cheers,

Kelley

If your vehicle is worth less than 2 or 3 months earnings, you are a FOOL to insure it. Just put on the mandatory 3rd party coverage on and "self insure" the rest. That way the buggers can't "expropriate" your vehicle and you are free to fix it yourself or have anyone you chose fix it in whatever manner you choose.

And up here there is NO zero deductible on comp - even on total loss by fire or theft any more, and State Farm is harder to get money out of that to get blood out of a stone.

How about a '78 Olds Starfire (Monza clone) with a 502 stuffed under the hood? I have most of it done. (Full tube chassis hid under "stock" metalwork. the only real obvious thing are the tires and bolt pattern on the rims) Hid most of the tubing in bodywork, for instance the rockers now hide the outer support tubes and there is a slight bulge in the floor where the new frame rails go through. Still have the exterior bodywork to finish up. Making some IMSA style flares for the wheel wells and a nice rear spoiler.

If the vehicle was parked on your property your homeowners insurance may cover it. I know my vehicles are covered if something happens while they are parked in the garage or on MY property.

Definitely more than I'm doing. Should be _very_ impressive when you're done. Do you have pictures?

I'm more interested in going around corners, and the huge engine in front tends to mess with the weight distribution. That, plus a desire to be able to change spark plugs without removing the engine led to the

If I'd _really_ wanted to do the least work I would have found a kit to drop in a smallblock -- I'm sure there are still some around on shelves, even if there aren't any to be had new.

They do, but not by as much as you might expect it should.

Most claims aren't for total losses, even on older cars -- depreciating the whole car lowers the maximum payout, but doesn't reduce the cost of repairs below that limit. A $1200 car still needs a $250 windshield, just like a brand new car.

Personally, I think of car insurance like catastrophic coverage, not an HMO. Collision and comprehensive get a lot cheaper with a $2500 deductible, then drop those coverages when the car isn't worth them any more.

Most homeowners insurance clearly and specifically excludes coverage of any sort for cars, motorcycles, RVs, boats with anything more than a small outboard motor, etc.

The only coverage that usually applies is personal property coverage for contents -- if your car is broken into or stolen, whatever belongings you had inside the car are covered under your homeowners insurance. (But be sure you really want to file a homeowners claim for a small loss.)

Or drop in a twin turbo Mazda rotary -------