Insurance just totaled my LX. Not sure what to do now.

[RAMf1]

I was able to get more extensive body repair done by telling my insurance that the car is worth more to me than their estimate and I did not want a salvage title. They eventually paid for all of the body work... Over $8k...

Got forced off a dirt road and slid into a small ditch and rubbed up against a stout tree branch. Creased the entire passenger side.

 

[hondatech81]

Take the 8k and fix it!

 

[MSLX]

A friend of mine in Lansing used a 3rd party appraiser on his son's Taco and it really paid off for him (I think he netted an additional $6k). I will try and get a phone number for you today and shoot it your way.

 

[Blake1]

Well there is another option you know... it worked on my Saab 9-5 !. I have a local Saab shop that had a few parts cars.. it needed a hood / rear bumper / and front grill plus paint. Like you I could have found a diner car in matching color and probably been done for $1-2K.. the problem with that is MY TIME is more valuable. BUT.. the specialty Saab shop does work with insurance.. and have an in house body shop. They simply supplied the used body panel / painted and I was on my way.. it was close to 4K as they replaced all the parking señor bits/ stuff behind bumpers, etc.

The lesson.. Find a Landcruiser /lexus shop that will work with used parts. / where they have a parts car on the lot or if you can source a door and fender to swap out. as for the step / you could just remove those and put aftermarket steps / sliders on .. or look for a salvage one. I bet you could find all you are looking for in 45 minutes on EBAY. I bet there are lots of shops if told they could bolt on used parts would apply fix for under 10K.. (insurance will only pay for repairs up to 75% of the cars value. The trick is protecting YOUR time.

If I was a college kid I would have just made a road trip to pick up the body panels myself.. ( I did that in the 1990s).. Hope this helps..

There are a lot of these truck s in salvage yards these days!.

Like you on the SAAB .. If I had not just mechanically refreshed it.. for thousands of dollars. I would have taken the measly insurance pay out at salvage. .. (ie. if the accident was 6 months earlier)

 

[Kabanstva]

How many miles are on it?

 

[peneumbra2]

NEVER accept an insurance company's initial offer. We had a similar situation with a built 80-Series, and they offered a paltry sum for the vehicle.

We went to third-party arbitration, and eventually got twice as much as their initial offer.

Insurance companies are not on your side.

 

[erse]

Does the door open and close OK? if so get rid of the step and throw some sliders on it, then wash it and call it good. Take as much money as the insurance company will give you, keep the vehicle and then get a better insurance company. Like @MongooseGA said compared to average wheeling damage this looks pretty tame.

 

[TexusLexus]

Yeah I have a lot to consider. I currently have a third party working for more money from the insurance. Could even have them repair it in the end. With today being a holiday I won’t know anything until tomorrow. I find it funny that the insurance took 2 weeks to come up with their decision and they’re giving me 3 days to decide on my end . I’ll keep everyone updated in the coming days on the outcome. In the meantime I’ve already been scoping out the replacement of it goes that way.

 

[Import Driver]

I rebuild wrecked vehicles. I have full coverage on my clean title LX. If it gets totaled I'm prepared for a low payout. As for insurance, Progressive insures my salvage (actually "rebuilt" in IA) branded title vehicles.

If I got $13,500 I would seriously consider taking it and starting fresh. I would probably go buy something newer with lower miles, less frequent repairs.

BUT... I would probably take the $8k keep the truck and be quite happy driving a CHEAP, dented truck (or maybe fix it myself).

I run this scenario through my head very often. Results are different almost every time. I love driving my LX but I don't love maintaining it.

 

[scubadoober]

How much are those steps from Lexus? I would guess just replacing the step is a huge chunk. Ditch the steps and see what insurance will do.

 

[TexusLexus]

How much are those steps from Lexus? I would guess just replacing the step is a huge chunk. Ditch the steps and see what insurance will do.

I’ve actually thought about that. I’ll see what happens with the arbitration first.

 

[Foehammer]

Take the 8k, keep the truck as a weekend warrior and get a decent little car for zipping around? (Or just dump the money into the truck, or something fun) That's what I would do; although 8k seems a bit low.

Or can try and get an appraiser and take the best they'll give you. Shame as it's a clean, maintained example and has lots more miles left in her.

 

[Import Driver]

Looking at the damage against, I would...

Keep it. Push the fender front out or pay a PDR guy. Leave the door. Remove the skirts. And be one happy LX driver with $8k more in my pocket and the same truck with a battle scar and a story. My final answer. (Not necessarily yours)

 

[rvk]

$13.5 is pretty good. My 2000 was crushed under a tree and State Farm gave me $9.5k after a month of negotiating. They initially wanted to give me $5.5k. It was in great condition.

 

[TexusLexus]

Looks like I’ll be taking it back and either selling or repairing it. Anyone interested I put it for sale. For Sale - 2000 LX470 - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/2000-lx470.1353358/

 

[Piney1]

8K is not a lot of body work. My wife’s GX got sideswiped and it scratched the entire driver’s side, barely any dent but enough to require body work. It was over 8k to fix. That color is a real tough one to match, be sure to get a craftsman to do it and not just any dude with a compressor and spray gun.

 

[GSENN]

I was hit a couple weeks ago and repair cost is about $9k. Just body damage. This was in absolutely perfect mechanical shape. Brake master cylinder and all components replaced at Toyota, radiator replaced at Toyota, KO2s with 5k miles, new OEM CV boots, new OEM windshield about 2 months ago. They offered me $13.5k and around $8k if I keep it with a salvaged title. Trying to see if I can get some added value for everything I’ve done in the past year. At a loss of words because I was planning on keeping this forever. Not sure what to do now. If I had no other choice I’d love to find a 06-07 to replace it. Any advice?

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That does not look bad at all..

There are services called "no paint dent repair" that I think could fix all of that damage except for the foot step.. but you can find those on ebay from time to time in the same color. Google "no paint dent repair" in your area alot of them are Mobil services that will come to your door and give you a quote.

While on the subject..
My damage is more than that.. I need a fender, and hood and front L&R headlights in the color code "C/TR 057/LF" aka GOLDEN PEARL
Anyone got any good experiences aka recommendation for auto dismantlers that carry LX470 stuff?

 

[99UnDaCuvaBrutha]

keep it and the $ they give you. if the door opens and closes, the damage does not appear too bad.

 

[MechE30]

Looks like I’ll be taking it back and either selling or repairing it. Anyone interested I put it for sale. For Sale - 2000 LX470 - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/2000-lx470.1353358/

Looks like you sold it in thirty minutes. Crazy

 

[TexusLexus]

Looks like you sold it in thirty minutes. Crazy

I took it down. I’m letting insurance take it. I went to the shop and looked at it. Minimum would’ve been $7-8k for repairs and a quality paint job. This was my primary vehicle and wouldn’t be worth it to repair and have a salvage title. I would’ve had to pay another $1500 for labor and service fees to get it back from the shop.