The day I've been dreading

[Jim Corey]

It happened. Wife got rear ended in our 86 740GLE. We've had it since it
was new, has about 350,000 miles on it. Was still in fine shape. But of
course, all we get is "book value". Totaled for insurance purposes. Ha! Try
to fix or replace it for the amount I get. Lemme see here. I'm insured.
The other guy is insured. And because she was lucky enough to hit an older
car, she's out $1100. (Even though repairs to our Volvo are substantially
more than that). And I'm screwed because I keep a good car running. (But
you should have seen the front of her Beamer!!). If we'd been driving our
S-80, the damage dollar amount would have been far greater, but insurance
would have fixed the car. But I'm convinced our 740 will be running long
after the S80 is dead and gone.

 

[Rob Guenther]

Sorry to hear about that :-( over 500K Kms on her... wow! We've only just
broke 160K Kms (not even quite 100K Miles just yet) on our 1993 965 - owned
since new too... and just like your 740, means more to us than its worth -
still worth the nearly 40 grand it was when it was new (we'd get maybe
4-5000 tops from insurance - 10%-15% or so, of its original value... despite
the fact that it drives better then our brand new VW Golfs, which are both
worth MUCH more, only because they are newer... Hell, even the paint on the
Volvo looks better then my 99' VW)

you pay throught the nose when your old car gets smashed up, and no one
realizes it's still a $30000 car to you (or however much they were back
then), nor do they care... or you pay throught the nose to own a new car...
and pay more when it gets smashed up (that BMW folded up, because that's how
cars in general crash now... it's safer for the occupants that way - but the
car is written off easier)

Your S80 is a pretty solid car tho, I would think... we've got basically the
same motor in our 960, and it's definately one of the cars best features,
and NOTHING has gone wrong with the engine.

Are you looking at any specific replacement cars? There are still a lot of
940's around - and we had a look at the XC70/V70 and they seem very well
built and nice cars - a little pricey tho (tho technically, adjusting for
inflation our 960 was more money then either one).

 

[Allan Shearer]

Glad to know she's OK.

Our very first Volvo (only 6 years ago) was (is!) an '83 240. Pristine
condition ... very low mileage ... and what happens only 5 weeks after
we own it?? Hit a deer!

Same story ... the insurance company wanted to right-it-off, but there
was NO body/structure damage - as the deer came through the grill into
the engine compartment before bouncing off into the ditch (like your
Beamer, this deer didn't make it either!!).

Insurance paid-out $2500 (CAD) and I pitched-in an additional $2K and we
were able to rescue it from senseless demise. In the end I got any/all
stuff in the front engine compartment replaced, plus we redid the Turbo
at the same time (not that it got damaged, but while I was forkin' out
the cash, I might as well redo the Turbo, eh?!).

We were fortunate - our 'baby' is still with us (but sadly, up for sale
now).

Well ... I have another '86 740GLE for sale if you want it for parts?

Yours,

Allan


.... and Jim Corey spake, saying:

 

[James Sweet]

It happened. Wife got rear ended in our 86 740GLE. We've had it since it
was new, has about 350,000 miles on it. Was still in fine shape. But of
course, all we get is "book value". Totaled for insurance purposes. Ha! Try
to fix or replace it for the amount I get. Lemme see here. I'm insured.
The other guy is insured. And because she was lucky enough to hit an older
car, she's out $1100. (Even though repairs to our Volvo are substantially
more than that). And I'm screwed because I keep a good car running. (But
you should have seen the front of her Beamer!!). If we'd been driving our
S-80, the damage dollar amount would have been far greater, but insurance
would have fixed the car. But I'm convinced our 740 will be running long
after the S80 is dead and gone.

Insurance companies will *always* try to lowball you. Stick at it, be
persistant and refuse to back down. If you start talking about back/neck
pain, mention suing for injuries, it'll get them sweating and all the more
likely to give you a fair price.

When my brother got hit in his '79 242 they tried to give him $600 and take
the car as totalled (car still perfectly driveable) but he kept pestering
them until they gave him $980 and let him keep the car.