First of all, thank goodness that neither you, nor anyone else, was seriously hurt.
Your candor and description of how you felt right after the incident is refreshing - It's a truly horrible feeling.

Most of it looks cosmetic, BUT have them take a very close look at the frame by the rear bumper. (see link)
https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...r-job-huh.html

Best of luck..
.

 

WP Tollway is crazy when it rains, same for pretty much anywhere on Hwy 99 too. Having grown up in the greater Houston area, I'm not used to the grooved roads that stretch, and now others in Houston are implementing. I understand 'why' I guess, it's just a little unsettling especially at the speeds posted. My 996 was terrifying in the rain sometimes before I got my Michelin Sport 2s installed. I thought I'd skid right off 99 in the rain numerous times, even at reduced speeds.
I remember from a young age my dad telling me how right as it starts raining is the most dangerous time for this sort of issue, has stuck with me to this day. We have such intermittent weather in the area it makes it hard to judge what car to drive at times, and especially say if you leave my area in Tomball and are going to Katy, could be totally different weather by the time you arrive.

That's a beautiful car, hopefully you get it fixed to your liking!

 

Just wanted to share an update with you guys and some proper photos.

The shop owner has come up with an estimate of $51,000 and sent it to the insurance company. From the front it's all plastics, the middle intercooler, and head and DRL lights, the only item that is worrying is the front panel of the luggage compartment (item 10 in the diagram below).

At the rear, the bumper and spoiler are gone, the shock frame below the bumper is squished, and the muffler is destroyed, the only worrying damage he found was that the muffler touched one of the pulleys on the engine so he is saying that we may change the pulley as a precaution.

Shop owner is saying that all mechanical parts, axles, wheels, etc seem to be intact. He is also mentioned that there is no frame damage, so far. No suspension items seem to be damaged as well, but he will only know more when he starts disassembling the car. He thinks that the car should be totaled.

Now I need your help and opinion on the following:
1. At $51K before further inspection, do you think this car is a total loss (the average between trade in and retail price is around $84K for my car)?
2. If the car is not totaled and it ends up with me again, do you think that with the damage mentioned above that this car will be safe to drive and reliable? Or will the accident have effect on the future reliability of the gearbox, engine, etc.? Please share your experience, if any.

 

From the sounds of it, the car is perfectly safe to drive (as in, no major damage to the frame).

 

Tell you what, and Im not kidding..

If you have 51k damage and the car is worth 84k, then have the insurance company call me and sell me the car as is for 33k. Heck I would pay 35k.
Your body shop is a certified criminal, replacing parts that do not need replacing to pad the bill.

This is why auto insurance is so high, for nonsense like this..

 

OP, just been through something very similar, where I had to do my best to convince the insurers to total the car. Trust me it’s in your best interests if they do.

One way to help persuade them. Make it clear if they repair it you will be engaging a specialist lawyer to sue for diminished value.

 

The shop OP got estimate from is a recommended shop from many in Houston area. I would want my car back in same or better condition and I would not accept reused parts if they have scratches on them even if I couldn’t really see them.

as far as totaled, if insurance can sell for 44k at auction and payout is 84, then insurance is ahead by totaling it. It will depend......

 

Urge them to total it, buy it back and sell it here. I have done just that and started over, with a nice profit when all was said and done.

 

I don't understand the pressure to total it. This looks like one of those (rare) cases where a serious accident results in damage that actually can be repaired perfectly.

If they can make you whole by fixing the car (and paying for its diminished value, if that's possible in an at-fault accident), then it's all good. No?

 

Im unclear why people think he should get dimished value for a single car accident fot which he was at fault

 

Yeah I don't think you can collect diminished value from your own insurance company for an at fault accident. That loss is on you, unfortunately.

 

If it were my car, I would follow the shop's recommendation and total it. There is the known damage (that can be fixed) and the unknown. Take the money, add some and get yourself a C4S if it is to be another 911. Make sure to change the tires once the tread depth drops below 3 mm (per TR's recommendations) and drive slow in the rain. Hard and expensive lesson to learn but nobody got hurt and stuff can be replaced. FWIW.

 

You absolutely can.

 

There could be hidden damages to components that may shorten their service lifetime. That would always be in the back of my mind so totaling it would be the best case scenario if that were my car. It's a pain finding a replacement but that is better than dealing with an insurance companies during the repairs. And you may be without the car for an extended period of time. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

I will pay 36K! Most everything mentioned is simple bolt-on; or can be repaired; or bought used on e-bay for 1/5 of price (like under-bumper structure), then paint couple of bumpers... Super sweet deal! I totally believe if you approach it as reputable shop does - every little nut bought new from Porsche, plus lots of super expensive labor at $150/h - then it can come up to 51K. But that's not how *I* would approach this.

It would be interesting to see image of totally destroyed muffler. Probably some dent in it, that doesn't not affect muffler function at all.