vandals!

Aufgeladen944 · 08-27-2010, 10:42 AM

No, not the band. My car was apparently vandalized at some point over the last week. I didn't notice the damage until yesterday evening, as the car was dirty and the visible damage is somewhat subtle. I think it happened while it was parked at work, as I live in a very nice neighborhood.

Here's the damage: the jack supports (the "faux" ones behind the front wheels) are pushed upwards into the floor pan, worse on the driver's side, and the driver's fender is severely mangled and creased. The passenger fender might be repairable. I think that someone tried to take the wheels off my car, but I have locks on them, so they gave up or got scared. Either way, I'm not sure what happened exactly but I'm really pissed about it. I do use those supports if I have to get under the front end, but I also put some wood in between and I never let the jack itself hold the car; I use jackstands in from those points (yeah, where they're supposed to go).

I filed a claim with my insurance company, as the estimate I got from the place that I had repaint the car two years ago was "over 4000" with new parts; they'd have to really get under it to see the full extent of the damage.

It's not looking good. Where I go from here depends on what the insurance company wants to do. Any thoughts?

Aufgeladen944 · 08-27-2010, 10:43 AM

^The last pic shows why I didn't notice it; you really can't see it unless you bend down and look at it. But it's going to rust as the paint is cracked where the fender creased.

And I know the pics aren't the greatest, especially of the underside, but trust me, it's pushed up pretty good.

968rz · 968rz's Garage

That sucks! From the info and pics I would agree that some a$$hat was trying to liberate your rims.

Get a job you scum bags and start paying for the stuff you want like the rest of us do!!!!!!!

Aufgeladen944 · 08-27-2010, 10:55 AM

Thanks. And yeah, it does suck.

If my insurance does total it, what's a reasonable figure they should cut me? 111,000 on the odometer, but the car is in really fantastic shape, except for the wheels, which are rough, and the tires, which are baldish.

It also has a Turbo S engine and transaxle with about 45k on it, by the way

krystar · 08-27-2010, 11:12 AM

if they total it, i would totally buy it back. that's NOT critical damage.

HondaDustR · 12:16 PM

+1. My car's practically nothing but that sort of stuff and it's been perfectly fine. Totally sucks, though, to have it happen to one that's in such nice shape.

On a side note, one time I got a text message from somebody I know that backed into my driver's side door and probably would have had their insurance pay for it. I told them not to worry about it without even having seen it yet...tells you what kind of shape my car's in cosmetically and how I feel about it, but it would piss me off too if it was some idiot valdal.

968rz · 968rz's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aufgeladen944

Thanks. And yeah, it does suck.

If my insurance does total it, what's a reasonable figure they should cut me? 111,000 on the odometer, but the car is in really fantastic shape, except for the wheels, which are rough, and the tires, which are baldish.

It also has a Turbo S engine and transaxle with about 45k on it, by the way

Hard to know for sure what the insure comp. will offer but here is what NADA lists..
1986 Porsche 944 Turbo 2 Door Coupe price report at NADAguides.com

joeporsche1 · joeporsche1's Garage

Yes that does thoroughly suck.. boy id be jumpibn mad..I dont think theyll total it.

Aufgeladen944 · 08-27-2010, 06:16 PM

If I hit "slant nose option," NADA gives it another 5000, too.

fmartenies · 08-27-2010, 06:18 PM

Do you know for sure your insurance uses the NADA Retail figure? And not KBB Private Party Sale?

piperporsche180 · piperporsche180's Garage

Farm Bureau of Michigan gave me real world value for my 1988 951 that had the front bumper ripped off. Since then I have bolted up a new one and made it my dream car

Born2bwild1191 · 08-28-2010, 07:43 AM

What the heck is the wide body package? If we go by the bottom total for what our cars are worth, that's freakin awesome.

Aufgeladen944 · 08-29-2010, 08:49 AM

Neither Edmunds or KBB go back that far; real world value is a little hard to figure out, honestly. Repainted 944 Turbo with a Turbo S motor and transaxle that's been relatively babied the last four years? I dunno, I lean towards the NADA value.

Either way, tomorrow is appraisal day, so I'll find out for sure. I just drove it to CT to visit a friend on leave from the Navy, and it drove fine out there and back (I had the car looked at first to make sure it was safe).

joeporsche1 · joeporsche1's Garage

Good luck.

Aufgeladen944 · 08-30-2010, 03:21 AM

^Thanks. As it is, I lean towards fixing it, no matter what.

Before I invest a buttload of money into the body, however, I want to make sure the mechanicals are up to snuff. I'm concerned about coolant use, especially. I don't see any leaks. Would a compression and/or leakdown test give me an idea of what the headgasket is doing? I don't see coolant in the oil or vise versa, so that seems okay. I also have some oil leaks which are getting worse, and those would need to be fixed. It's all minor stuff (well, not the HG if that's blown, which I don't think it is), but it's adding up.

I guess we'll see what's doin'.

968rz · 968rz's Garage

A pressure tester left on car for awhile (over night) might help diag a HG, sometimes it fills the weak cylinder. Sometimes there is a temp dependent leak that only opens up at a certain temp, this might not show up.

fmartenies · 08-30-2010, 02:34 PM

Does your oil look like chocolate milk or do you see occasional white puffs out the exhaust?

Aufgeladen944 · 08-30-2010, 02:38 PM

^No, and no. I just have to put in some coolant every now and then.

fmartenies · 08-30-2010, 02:59 PM

That would cover visible checks for water in the oil or water in the combustion chamber. Try a compression check, if all 4 cylinders are 150-180psi, all increase at the a similar rate, and all end up within 5 psi on the 4th crank from the starter then your HG is probably fine.

If you have a small leak near the top of the system it would not cause a puddle. Or it could be normal usage with your driving style in the summer heat.

Aufgeladen944 · 08-31-2010, 05:43 PM

Well, the grand total is $2900. They're not throwing out the passenger fender, as the shop says it can be fixed. The car wasn't totaled, which is either good or bad, depending on how ya look at it. Yes, it's good that the car can be repaired. And it's also good that my insurance company thinks it's worth good money. But I wouldn't have minded $12k in my pocket and then buying it back and making a few grand, either.

I'm glad I have insurance...