Alexb

iTrader: (1)

So I live in the DFW area, and last night I got stranded at a rangers game during the tornado and storms, while my car was left at a kroger uncovered. It was not pretty in the garage this morning. There are at least 30+ dents in it, mainly the hood and roof. But some on the doors, bumper, fender, and the piece that goes from the tops of the doors to the gutter on the roof. Trunk as well. Basically there is a dent on almost every surface, passenger side did okay though.

Obviously it'll be hard to judge without a picture, but I don't think you'd be able to see the dents through a camera lens. Anyways, I'm wondering if anyone has had severe hail damage before and what the costs looked like (I'll be going through insurance). Honestly, I've had a lot of body work done before, and quite a few of these dents are creased, and I doubt paintless dent repair is an option.

Anyone have any stories for me of how your experience worked out? Do cars get totaled from hail very often? Keep in mind, there are AT LEAST 30 dents probably over 40, haven't counted yet.

Edit: Oh, and it's a 2006 with about 42000 miles on it.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

yeah, I was on Belt Line in Irving with my Civic Si and managed to get in under an awning before the big stuff started coming down, picked up several off the ground that were 2" diameter and heard of a bunch of cars with broken glass too

they might total it, just depends, never had enough damage to bother claiming one before but have heard of it happening

EightCostsMoney

iTrader: (2)

Most of the time totaled is the case. However, it all comes down to how much it is going to coast and how much your car is worth.

Lancifer

If they decide to fix it the out of pocket cost to you will be your deductible. For instance , my car is in the body shop due to vandalism(probably some jealous ricer driver). The cost to repair 5,300 bucks. My out of pocket cost 500. The Insurance company, if they approve it, will give you the cost of repairs minus the 500 deductible so I will get 4,800 from the insurance company.

Find out what your deductible is, I pay a higher deductible so I can have a lower monthly payment. Your deductible, if you have comprehensive/full coverage, may not be the same. So find out your deductible and you will know your out of pocket cost.

Mind you my 5,300 quote includes the following:

Repainting the hood, front bumper, back bumper, driver side door, driver side rear door, roof, passenger side rear panel /w removal of 2 dents and a new driver side mirror.

For the amount of dents you have it is up in the air as to the total cost. If the total cost for repairs from more than 2 body shops exceeds the amount your vehicle is covered for (my 2004 RX8 is covered for 30,000) then they will consider it totaled and cut you (or your bank if you still owe money) a check for the full value of the car. I only know all of this because I am dealing with insurance bullshit now.

Hope that helps.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

I just might be the all time king of hail damage, this little number was appraised at over 9k worth a few years ago, even my plastic rain gutters on my roof had dents, my side doors were dinged up, mirror glass was turned down when I finally got to my car after watching it from the window of the pool hall I was at. (which later had a huge chunk of ice fall through a vent on to our table) I cried all the way home, it was the worst feeling I'd had in my entire life just watching the car get wailed on and not being able to do anything about it.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ht=hail+damage

My car didn't total out as I still owed considerably more than 9k on it at the time, I received a new hood, new roof skin, new doors, new trunk, and a new paint job that had streaks in it so I had to go back and get it redone again. The repairs turned out fine, just be careful where you take it, some of these shops will do pdr instead of replacing panels and charge the insurance company false labor, I think pdr is fine for some small stuff here and there, but if you have major dings it's going to be better in the long run to have the entire piece replaced. Be aware it might take a while to get things done too, be patient and do what it takes to get it repaired right, as opposed to just quickly. I was in a rental car for almost 2-3 months after mine happened as all the shops were full of cars that got hit that night, so be weary of that.

Alexb

iTrader: (1)

Thanks guys. This was all good advice! Keep it coming!

And ya, it seriously hit:
Both fenders,
Front bumper,
Hood (absolutely trashed)
Roof (absolutely trashed)
Doors (diver back door looks like someone swung a hammer at it, no joke)
Piece between gutters and door (don't know if that is considered roof),
Trunk,
Back bumper too I think
Possibly rear fenders, haven't even bothered to look

basically it got everything besides passenger doors. Creases on just about every surface I think...

My car was kelly blue booked at 13,700 or something. It's a 2006 with 42,000 miles. But in reality it's not worth that, I've been hit a few times, had 2 different hoods, bumpers, and 1 new headlight and one new fender and had the rear bumper repainted. needless to say, my car is a trooper. Oh, and new intake ducts. So it's probably worth considerably less, but I'm not sure if they take that into consideration.

Also, my deductible is 500, and I have USAA. I mean honestly if the repairs were great, I wouldn't mind. But at this point, totaling it might be the better choice. What do you guys think if I was given an option.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

Good thing you have usaa, they're one of the best companies out there. If you think you can find another car withsimilar mileage than totalling it might be the way to go, one of the reasons I have kept mine all these years is the color, I might have let go after all my damage if it was just another black/silver/etc., so that was one of my considerations. All the things you mentioned are fixable, so you'll wind up with a new car on the outside if you decide to keep it, of course if you get a decent check and don't owe much on it then maybe putting that towards an R3 or something might not be a bad idea either

Alexb

iTrader: (1)

Well, the car is completely paid off, and I've been dying to get a bigger car. I love the RX-8. It was my first and only car, and it's honestly like a part of my life. However, I'm about to go away to college and Honestly I want a late model tahoe. The problem is the price difference for one with reasonable mileage. So I'm not sure what'd I'd do at this point.

If anyone else has any experience or advice with this let me know! Especially when it comes to getting it painted, and body-shop times etc.

monchie

Just get the Chevy Tahoe, let it be with the rx8. You don't have to listen to me, but with all the hassles with insurance, body shops, etc., i'll let go with the rx8 and get a new one.

Alexb

iTrader: (1)

I would love to! haha just not positive that's an option for me yet. Getting an estimate Wednesday (That's how long the line is, a lot of cars around here got hit bad). The question is how much is my car really worth, and I don't know the answer to that. Blue book says 13,700. But I'm not sure if insurance overestimates, or underestimates.

Anyone ever had a car totaled and want to shed some light on that for me?

autoaesthetica

I have typically heard of totalled cars being bought back and parted to at least make up some of the difference.

Its a serious shame cars are totalled for hail, but I suppose I understand it.

For those who have had really nasty hail, how did the paint itself fare? Many chips? Or just strictly dents? I only know from detailing experience with RX8s that the paint is mega thin on these and pretty brittle(have seen some terribly rashed cars.

Alexb

iTrader: (1)

I don't understand the first part of your comment? Who is buying them back? the owner who had the damage in the first place? That doesn't really make financial sense to me to buy back a car the insurance company just bought and part it out, because a part out is not gauranteed?

Maybe I misunderstood.

autoaesthetica

My mistake, sorry about that. That's what I have successfully seen done(owners buying back for cheap). To be honest, I don't understand it either, and I certainly wouldn't do it myself.

Alexb

iTrader: (1)

Well I finally got my estimate. They seem to think it's only 4,000 worth of damage and that they can PDR most of them, but need a new hood.

It's funny though, because I have a dent in my rear-driver door from a while ago, and I took it to the same shop and they said it would be 450, because they couldn't PDR it... yet they can now.

My guess is it will cost well over 6,000, and that it should've been totaled... I'll update when it's finished.

Oh, it is going to take 2 weeks in the shop... :/