Lucky me driving home last night I ran over something that fell off a dump truck. Now there is a bent sub frame along with damaged exhaust.

 

Bummer!!! I'm an avid motorcycle rider, and it's made me extremely cautious whenever driving behind trucks/trailers loaded with stuff. What can cause an annoying repair on a car can kill a motorcyclist... Hope you can get your 460L fixed properly without too much headache.

 

Stay safe out there!

So apparently it was not a part from the dump truck. It was a drive shaft from a pickup who's transfer case exploded. Now it's going to get interesting since both of us have State Farm.

 

Damn! Well the good news is I also have State farm and they've always been good about claims so you're in good hands! I mean with your neighbor...

 

Oh man that s--ks. Hope your insurance covers you and gets you back on the road.

 

Estimate so far ... $7700.

 

Surprised the insurance co. didn't total it.

Would that be preferable to you if they did or are you dead set on getting that frame repaired?

 

Well nothing has been decided yet, but it's not the main frame, it's only the sub frame. Sort of like getting an engine replaced, or any other major mechanical component. But as far as totaling, $7700 is far from what a fully loaded '11 460L would be valued at. So I don't see that happening. In addition, I would not want it totaled. These are not easy to find and I simply like the car.

 

Sorry to hear. A few weeks ago while driving to work doing around 60mph, the spare tire on a truck in front of me dropped down from underneath and started rolling right at me. Luckily, I was able to swerve around it.

Big picture, at least you are ok. Cars can be replaced. Hope everything works out.

 

We just had a very bizarre and tragic accident here in Mass. A teacher on her way to work was killed when a manhole cover went airborne and went through her windshield. It was just unbelievable.

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/02/1...l-fatal-crash/

 

That's crazy about that manhole. You just never know what's going to come flying down the freeway. It's all about fate and luck I guess.

The only reason I asked about them totaling it as they do that with any frame damage typically. They would give you book value on the car or "one model year newer" depending on your insurance. You can always try and haggle that, or it doesn't hurt to ask, then you could theoretically get a newer car. Some people just prefer this assuming they're not underwater on a loan.

Just bear in mind that your car will show frame damage on any carfax report should you decide to sell it later. No one will touch it.

 

Back in the early 80's my uncle in St Louis was driving home on I270 East when a semi driving on I270 West lost a trailer tire and it traveled through the median and hit the front end of his pristine and I do mean pristine 1970/71 Buick Electra 225 2 door hard top with a 454 engine and totaled it.

Dennis

 

I know what you mean about finding the right car. Insurance certainly should cover it for you and if it can be repaired properly, that is the way to go. It's a hassle I know, but in the long run, if you can get it right, you'll be good to go.

 

Not sure how the whole sub-frame vs frame distinction would play out in the carfax arena. If we go purely from a structural point of view, it's a removable cross-member that essentially holds the engine. On the other hand, the part does have the word "frame" in it. Either way I did tell the insurance that I will pursue a diminished value claim. We'll see how well that one goes.

 

You'll definitely experience "diminished value," and hopefully State Farm will compensate you for that. I'd recommend you document completely the damage (via photos, etc.) and when you do go to sell it one day use the documentation to help the buyer understand this damage was not to the Sub-Frame. I'd be willing to buy a car like this (for a reduced price, of course) if the previous owner was upfront about it and had lots of documentation on the actual damage and repairs.

Good luck!