Wrecked a car on a test drive. What's the right thing to do?

SeanPizzle · 05:37 PM

I have a quandry here.

I looked for a long time for a car and found one with a private party. It's just like a car I regretfully sold 9 years ago. The plan was to drive the car today and meet for a PPI at an indy shop on monday. Well, as I spilled the beans in the title, I hit a turn with a slick patch on worn tires with too much throttle and caught it but overcorrected and rode a ditch and hit a fence post. The car still drives no problems, but several panels will need repaired or replaced. It's a good thing that I liked the car because I told the buyer right away "don't worry, I am buying it." My plan is to call insurance company tomorrow and go through the hoops of filing a claim. We completed the paperwork tonight and the car is officially mine. I will pick the car up with a trailer on monday and hopefully drop it off at a body shop.

The whole thing makes me sick. Dream car. Pristine shape. Too much HP and too little experience in this car and I hammered it before the ink was dry.

I figure I will eat the deductible and get hit with some insurance rate increase.

Am I doing this wrong?

HardDrive · 11-27-2011, 12:12 AM

I'm not sure of the insurance issues, but I think you are doing the right thing purchasing the car.

SeanPizzle · 11-27-2011, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I'm not sure of the insurance issues, but I think you are doing the right thing purchasing the car.

I sounds like one of those "Mayhem" insurance commercials. Realistically, it was his car in the official sense and his insurance should cover it. But it was my fawk up, so I don't want him to pay the price. The moment I shook his hand with intention to buy the car, it was mine and my insurance covers me on any car I buy immediately.

HardDrive · 11-27-2011, 12:50 AM

Not so sure I would be posting any of this on the internet to be honest.....*ahem*.....

Rick V · 11-27-2011, 12:55 AM

Just have the car fixed as you would have if you bought it 5 years ago. Sorry to hear of the issue.

SeanPizzle · 11-27-2011, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Not so sure I would be posting any of this on the internet to be honest.....*ahem*.....

I am not suggesting doing something untoward or fraudulent. I bought the car and I wrecked it right away, thus the claim. My first claimable insurance mishap in 25+ years of driving.

Rick V · 11-27-2011, 01:11 AM

What kind of car?

KFC911 · 11-27-2011, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanPizzle

...I figure I will eat the deductible and get hit with some insurance rate increase.

Am I doing this wrong?

Nope...well done imo. Well, not the "too much throttle" on the test drive part

.

DanielDudley · 11-27-2011, 02:27 AM

Many people experience this the first time they drive a Fiat Panda.

You are good to go, although I am surprised you didn't just take it back and tell the guy you were testing his tires, and you can't buy the car because they are defective.

Seriously, you need to take a few driving courses.

Seriously.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick V

Just have the car fixed as you would have if you bought it 5 years ago. Sorry to hear of the issue.

+1 here, make the car right and enjoy it. sorry the experience started out like this, though...

MarKoBrow · 11-27-2011, 04:39 AM

Looks like you just bought a car....

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Any parent of a four-year-old-child can tell you that the rule is "you break it, you buy it".

You're doing the right thing by purchasing. Get it fixed right and enjoy it. If it really bugs you that it's not 100% original after the repairs, sell it at a slight loss and look for another.

recycled sixtie · recycled sixtie's Garage

can look at anything positive that can come of this. I know this is a real downer and will cost u money but you both came out unhurt unlike a young fellow near us that did trick riding on a friend's motorcycle and killed himself. As you appear to have good character and said that you were buying it immediately says a lot for you. As for which insurance covers the bike, no doubt you will find out.This feels like a big deal now but a couple of years from now you will barely think about it. See how it gets fixed up at the body shop and as the above poster says you might not want to keep it if you are not satisfied. If you are satisfied, then great. Let us know what you decide. It's tough but try and be happy. Learn from it and move on.

But for the Grace of God go I.

vash · vash's Garage

rule one..don't drive hard on the test drive. damn.
damn damn damn.

glad you were not buying a motorcycle!

LakeCleElum · 11-27-2011, 06:28 AM

UR doing the right thing, but not sure you really had many options if he wanted to push it. He could have held you responsible for the damage had you not bought it.

Easiest car sale I ever made was in college. The guy looking at it hit another car 2 blocks from my house. I was with him. SOLD.

BeyGon · 11-27-2011, 06:39 AM

My insurance and I would think most companies cover you when driving someone else's car. It covers me in a rental also.

tevake · 11-27-2011, 06:46 AM

Well Sean that is a tough start to ownership. But you are doing the right thing.
Welcome to the forum. Where are you located? Maybe we can steer you to a good choice for the body repair and get things going a better direction.

As mentioned once you get this behind you, the pleasure will out weigh this bummer quickly. And you will be left with a fun car and the knowledge that you got a little karma in the bank.

Cheers Richard

Zeke · 11-27-2011, 06:55 AM

I don't understand the "quandary." You said you bought it and you're covered. I think the only thing here is the timing sequence. Technically if you shook his hand while the car was on the post, it was not yours. I wouldn't define that here if I were you.

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

I always make the owner drive the car with me shotgun, I'll only take the wheel after I get a good idea the car is OK after that. I actually try to minimize the time behind the wheel - if it's a private party purchase.

Dealership then anything goes.

that would be one hell of a nightmare to be involved wrecking a car on a test drive. No thanks.

rjp

SeanPizzle · 11-27-2011, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

I don't understand the "quandary." You said you bought it and you're covered. I think the only thing here is the timing sequence. Technically if you shook his hand while the car was on the post, it was not yours. I wouldn't define that here if I were you.

The quandry is: I could have had my insurance cover it and leave him with the car and the headache of getting it fixed. Or I could "consummate" the deal and put the car in my name and insurance and do the non-douchebag thing. I liked the car and the damage is cosmetic (ie, just panels and no hits to the wheels or suspension).

The car is a low mile supercharged E36 M3. I sold one of these 9 years ago when I started my family and have always regretted it. I have read this board for several years as I considered getting into a porsche, but I would have to spend about 4X as much as this car on the porsche I really wanted.

Thanks for the welcome. This is certainly an unorthodox situation and I appreciate the advice. The most important advice I read hear years ago, I didn't follow: DON'T LIFT! I lifted, overcorrected, transferred weight on an unfamiliar car with worn, cold tires. I chalk it up to my stupid tax category for the year.