I received and accepted an offer to sell my '09 Targa 4S three weeks ago. The buyer was coming in from CA to pick up the car this weekend. Everything was good to go when I decided to take the car for one last drive. While filling up at the gas station I was parked behind a fuel truck, who suddenly started his motor and then proceeded to back in to my car. All my screaming and yelling could do nothing to stop him. Damage was done. It was a less than 1mph bump which put about a 3 inch long, very minor dent in the bumper. It also happened to hit the headlight and the turn signal. Added up to a $5000 repair as all three needed to be replaced. The "accident" now appears on AutoCheck and I imagine it won't be long until it appears on CarFax. The buyer has seen the damage. I even have pictures of the car without the bumper to see that there was no internal damage. They are still interested in the car, however don't want to pay the original price (don't blame them). What is your opinion on how much less the car is worth? I'm going after the insurance company for the difference. Purchase price was $49500. Thoughts would be appreciated!

 

how much are they willing to pay?

If their new offer is $2k or $5k less, that should be the amount right?

 

I agree. You had a done deal with an agreed upon price. Prior to closing the deal the damage occurred. How much are they willing to pay now to close the deal? The difference is real world diminished value.

This of course assumes the same buyer is reasonable in their reduced offer to re-close the deal.

 

If there was no sheet metal damage, and parts were replaced with factory parts, this car is as good as if no accident occurred from a quality standpoint. I say stick to your original agreement. You have pics as to the damage and can prove the car is as good as before. This is just a lowball attempt.
I had something like this also happen to me.
If ever I do sell my car, a diminished value offer I will not accept. Find a buyer who is more appreciative of the car and it's condition. Bumper covers and headlights get changed all the time for many reasons. Just because it's a reported accident doesn't make it any less of a car given the extent of the damage. If your buyer cannot understand this, find another.

 

What are the details of your car? Trans, color, options, mileage....

 

I am able to stick the insurance company for the fuel truck with the difference. The buyer is being very cooperative. They are not the issue. You say that a reported accident doesn't effect the value...I have to disagree. I've had some fanatical Porsche enthusiasts come look at this car who wouldn't buy it because I didn't have my tires inflated to his imaginary PSI recommendation! The word "accident" on a CarFax report is enough to run off a lot of buyers. Even the insurance company is stating that if it appears on there it will have "diminished value" and makes the car harder to sell. The buyer is just wanting to know how much less they should pay for the car.

 

details....'09 4s Targa, 61k miles, CPO warranty Macadamia, PDK, Sport, Sport Chrono

 

I disagree. The accident will now show up on Carfax so when the buyer goes to sell the car, they will have explaining to do. I usually walk away from such cars unless the seller shows all the work performed, the pre-work damage in photos, and then discounts the car due to the lack of a clean Carfax.


That is just the world we live in. I actually walked away from a car in December who the seller claimed hit the wall in the garage which caused $5K in damage so they filed a claim. Claim ended up on the Carfax and they were unwilling to discount enough to make it worth my while.

 

Repaired and a small dinished value should be fair. If your buyer is a *****, they'll want the world, x2. You may not be able to save the sale from this event. But who knows. Stick to your guns, be fair and open. If they still want the car, it will still happen.

I'm always paranoid in driving anything once it is sold. It gets parked and mothballed in the corner, until picked up.
Here is my last photo of my car, five minutes before delivery to the new owner. A memorable automotive moment for me.

 

here is the damage

 

So is the trucking company's insurance picking up the DV claim? I assume you are filing for DV from them, which then gets passed to the seller.

 

I understand. But in this case, the explaining can be done and with pics. Diminished value is realized only at the time of sale. If the buyer intends to keep the car forever, or until the diminished value is no longer a consideration, then the seller loses. Which the seller does not know at this point. Again, I think a reasonable person, who is sincerely interested in that particular car, who understand the extent of the damage, will place little value on a Carfax report from that perspective. Also, what is "enough" discount?

 

My car is a 2010 C2S, Carrara White/black, 6MT, Adaptive seats, with 17K miles. It had bumper cover damage from a lady in a parking lot. About $5k in damage. I have all pics etc from damage/repair.

I know, I need to drive it more.

 

That's it? I imagined an ax mark in the front.
Busted headlight?
I'd be fine with that. New bumper. Get it painted off the car.
Pay cash. Or reduce the repair cost and let the new owner take care of it, still with cash.
I don't think that marring should be a reported carfax tag/blem on the vin. Tagging is getting out of hand.
My wife could inflict that damage picking up the kids from school. And it would still be my fault.

 

Whenever anyone buys a vehicle they should be mindful of the day they will sell it unless they are turning it into a dedicated track car or Baja racer. The accident will be there forever if they keep it 100 years and it becomes a rare collectable and they try to sell it Carfax's future overlord will still be there.


The car in question was at market value. I wanted to take $2k off due to the accident and cigarette smell. Seller wouldn't budge.