Pelican Pete

Hi all,
Thanks for all your help concerning my mom's car with the hydrolocked engine.

Here's the latest, including a recap:
Insurance is definitely paying for the water damage.
At first they offered a "recycled" engine found locally.
I told them that the used engine would not have a warranty in effect, therefore the value of the car would be dimished.
So they offered to pay for a new engine, but would have to charge "betterment" because the engine is newer than the one being replaced.

I argued that the value of the car would not be increased at all because the warranty of the vehicle would not increase -- Audi does not "restart the clock" every time a new part is installed. The vehicle warranty runs out at 50k miles. Period.

So the adjustor told me that they would have to charge 30% betterment on the engine. At $6900 bucks for the part, that's $2000 + $500 deductable.
They figure this out by assuming the average life of a new car at 130k miles. So at 30k miles mom's car is almost 30% there (typical insurance company math.)

After some initial negotiation, they offered 20% betterment. That's assuming that the car would last to 150k miles. Mom's car really is 20% on its way to 150k miles. Their math is improving.

Today I spoke with the manager, and he made the mistake of telling me his car has almost 300k miles on it. So he used that figure, and is now charging only 10% betterment, and waiving the deductable. So mom's total outlay should only be $200 more than what her deductable would have cost her anyway.

Let's just hope that they live up to their word.

-- P.

chipstar-32

hope it works out for you/her

Andy_FL

Better get that in writing.....

RKA

Haha! Nice job!

chipstar-32

agreed

Dr Pabs 09

good work

Silver Streakin'

nice. get a contract before authorizing the work.