Yup, it finally happened. 99 North, it's only a matter of time before you get in a wreck... Chevy 1500 plowed right into the left rear of my RX. Bumper, lights are gone, flip-up door is totaled, the left rear side (right before the left passenger door is totally smashed in, almost touching the tire.

Appraiser is stopping by within a few minutes to tell me what's up. Any of you guys have been rear-ended before? What was the damage/outcome? I'm no mechanic, but I know that with unibodies it's very difficult to repair - any comments on that?

Appears to have no problems with drive train whatsoever, but we'll see once they get it lifted up at the shop and look. Can they total the car since the unibody is damaged? Any of you bought/sold an RX that was in an accident before? What does it do to the resale value?

By the way, my wife was able to drive away home, but the Chevy got towed - who said this car is wimpy???

 

did any airbags deploy?

 

Nope, no airbags activity. As the matter of fact, the appraiser just left, and she said the damage is repearable, from what she can see... whatever. I'm not sure if I'm starting to "see" things, but now I'm thinking that the doors on the other side (non-damage side) are slightly out of alignment (no more then 1mm maybe?).

 

Glad you are safe - sorry about your car.

I was rear ended- no major damages- just a few big scratches to my rear bumper. I was rear ended when I had to stop on the freeway (because the traffic suddenly backed up) and the lady behind me in a Chevy Trailblazer couldnt stop/react fast enough and rear ended me. Funny part is, her Chevy's headlights, front bumper, radiator grill all suffered major damages!

 

The general rule that an insurance company will use before they will decide to total a car is that the cost to repair the damage would have to exceed 65-70% of its fair retail value. Generally, you would need to sustain pretty major structural or engine/transmission damage before reaching 65-70%, so I would guess that they will decide to have your's repaired. Since it appears to be the other party's fault, at least you probably won't have to pay a deductible.

Good luck, and insist on Lexus perfection!

 

Ditto!

 

Sorry to hear about the accident, but the Mrs is OK is the good part.

First determine if the damage is cosmetic or structural. These days a good shop can get the structure fixed to the right tolerances.

By the description the RX will not be totaled (only if the loss is 75% roughly). Does the other fellow have adequate coverage to cover the loss? If not, your ins may have to pick up the difference.

Your choices are:

Get the RX fixed and keep it [go to the most reputable shop and get the whole car painted with Lexus finish] ... You will essentially absorb the reduced cost of the veh involved in an accident when ever you want to sell the RX.

Get the RX fixed, have it trucked to used car lot, sell it declared as involved in an accident, try to recover from the insurance co the loss in value due to accident. {Consult a lawyer, long drawn process, requires deep pockets]

Insist that the insurance co finds another RX for you [same options, milage etc .... used car unknowns]

Salim

 

I SO feel you on the accident. i recently purchased a black rx330 like a month ago. well i live in NY while i was driving on the SIExpway some old man decides to come into my lane without looking. Next thing you know my left side is totaled lights cracked, bumper dangling. i noticed while the hour i waited for the police to show i saw about 3 more 330's just look at my car and feel the pain

 

I had a new Chrysler Voyager minivan that was rear ended by a dump truck. Major damage to back end, door, floor and supports. Not enough damage to total the minivan, so the insurance company paid $12000 to fix it. The Voyager drove ok afterwards, but ugly weld marks were apparent with the lift gate open. Also, the car creaked all the time. Traded the sucker in although we took a loss.