Recently Bought or Sold a MM? Help me fight the insurance industry!

[joehobbs]

Hey Guys,

Some idiot smashed into the front of my 1984 2wd MM. His insurance wants to total the vehicle and offered $2,400 in settlement. I know the truck is worth more than that, especially after installing a rebuilt trans (thank you mikewarme), new clutch, alternator, radiator, tires and brakes... the problem is I've only found 1 listing NATIONWIDE of a 2wd Diesel MM for sale and that's making it tough to present a good case for a higher settlement.

If you've recently bought or sold one please help me get a fair settlement and let me know how much $ it went for.

General condition, miles, and pics would be helpful. If you have a link to the selling page (craigslist, ebay, etc...) that'd be gold.

Thank you!!!!

Joe

[Clay]

I don't think they are that wrong, but check Autotrader?

[joehobbs]

Nothing on Autotrader.

One way or another I'm looking for facts...either to fight the insurance company or change my idea of the truck's value.

[geezer101]

Ask $1000 more and argue for the insurance company to find the equivalent truck on the market for sale - anywhere...

[pennyman1]

Insurance companies always low ball on the first round. I agree - tell them 3400 or find one in the same shape to replace it. Diesel MMM trucks, or any diesel trucks for that matter, are going up in value. Besides, how many diesel MMM are in Hawaii to choose from? They are hard to find in the states in good condition...

[Giovanni89]

The best thing you can do with them is bide your time. A lot of people need the car to be replaced right away and have no means but to accept a lowball offer. I had a motorcycle (and my knee) totaled with 300 miles on it. They wanted to give me 15% less than I had paid the week before for a brand new bike. It took a month, but I got the full price I paid including taxes and registration.

[xboxrox]

Braddah, sorry to know about your loss :( I agree take your time settling with the insurance company... Talk with YOUR insurance company, ask them to help you get more money... And, if possible (if not too late) perhaps talk to a personal injury attorney to include (add in) a personal injury loss... Start seeing your doctor about pain since the accident; follow a personal injury attorney's advice... A body shop here in Kailua estimated my passenger door repairs and said my truck is worth $3,000.00 easy any day of the week as is... That estimate was given about six months ago... Parts for your truck will be hard to get local & expensive to ship from the mainland (Row52.com PicknPull B&R Auto Wrecking in Oregon) An option is to take the money they offer; then buy back your truck for the salvage value... Then order & ship the major parts from the mainland and do the labor/welding/body/paint yourself... Make ONE BIG shipment of parts; too expensive otherwise... Pray too...

No Malice -- George
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/d/mighty-max/6770711677.html
https://cars.trovit.com/listing/1983-mitsubishi-mighty-max.1UkOo1-1px1g
https://www.greatvehicles.com/classiccars/for_sale.cgi/Mitsubishi/Mighty/California/22078507
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/d/1984-mitsubishi-pick-up/6753624974.html

PARTS: http://www.mightyram50.net/vbulletin/showthread.php/7293-86-Ram50-2-6-needs-engine

[85Ram50]

I'd show receipts for those improvements to include the shipping as part of making the case.

[joehobbs]

Thanks for all the info fellas. They won't budge on the price right now so it looks like the next step is to work through my insurance carrier. In the meantime I'm going to have them supply a rental truck as a replacement vehicle...maybe they'll get tired of paying $250 a week while they dick around with the settlement offer!

I've learned that they don't consider private party listings when valuing a vehicle and since there aren't any for sale at a dealership they're just going on the book value. Appreciate those links anyways George, mahalo.

[xboxrox]

http://https://www.nadaguides.com/?psvar=nadacarvalue&s_kwcid=AL!4561!3!297643751676!e!!g!!nada%20car%20 value&ef_id=EAIaIQobChMIrO6pj7-m3wIVAihpCh056wQMEAAYASAAEgLefvD_BwE:G:s&cid=BrandGE&opti_key=aud-308281272372:kwd-173506198&opti_ca=260564444&opti_ag=19776123284&opti_ad=297643751676&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrO6pj7-m3wIVAihpCh056wQMEAAYASAAEgLefvD_BwE

[Giovanni89]

Look into arbitration. They will tell you that they won't budge and to just accept the offer, but you can go through arbitration to state your case. Depending on how much more you are asking for, it may cost them less to just go ahead and cut you a check.

[BradMph]

You need to save all your receipts just for such a problem. Sorry about your truck. :shakehead:

Maybe tell them your neck is starting to hurt from the accident. Make sure they don't file a total on that truck too if you repair it. I hate insurance companies when they aren't your own.

[joehobbs]

Thanks XBOXROX, that seems to represent the book value really well. I'm trying to make a case for actual cash value...which, as far as I can tell is what the truck would actually sell for...which I feel is more than the price recommended by KBB or NADA.

Giovanni89, appreciate the message. Key words like "Arbitration" are helping me stay on top of a game plan.

[4doorciv]

I was looking for a first gen while still living in Hawaii for a while. Insurance totaled my 95 TSI AWD talon at 1.5K with me keeping the car. I know how it is arguing with the insurance company over a car.

[xboxrox]

joehobbs; another avenue to prepare getting back on the road might be:
1) Shop around for another truck, Craigslist, GSA Auctions, Public Surplus, GovDeals, GovLiquidation...
2) Advertise your truck or parts for sale (pending insurance settlement) see if any buyers make offers...
3) On Oahu, I've only seen three Gen 1 trucks one each in Kaneohe, Waimanalo and mine in Kailua... There are probably more, a few maybe..?
4) In the long run, it's probably cheaper to buy something already fixed the way you want it than to pump money into fixing it up yourself... Sellers often take a loss especially if they pumped a lot of parts & labor to make something nice...

Have Faith, better days are ahead...

[joehobbs]

Thanks man, I appreciate it!

[geezer101]

Good advice from xbox. Picking up a runner or an abandoned project build can yield bonuses. If your truck is complete at least you have a ton of salvage to work with. I don't like your chances of finding another diesel 2WD but if you source a regular gas engined truck you have the option of a swap or mating together the best of what you have on the table.

[joehobbs]

It's going to come down to a suit in small claims court...the insurance company with their "dealership quotes" and me with...nothing at the moment.

This thread has been helpful for some things but not at all in its original purpose. If I'm going to make a claim and convince a judge for a higher settlement I need data. Private party listings don't count...but actual private party sales would.

Nobody...reading this thread...has bought/sold or knows anyone who has bought/sold a well running 2wd Diesel MM lately?

[xboxrox]

Small claims court; yeah maybe it could work for your case joehobbs..? Good thought... Maybe check Google how best to prepare & win a case in that setting (evidence, evidence, evidence...) I once went to small claims court for damage to my car from the way a construction company put cones in the road... A hit & run driver smashed my (parked) car's rear end; not enough cones..! Anyway, the construction company representative had the court's arbitrator ask me if I would be willing to do arbitration just moments before my case was to be called ( I agreed to arbitrate) I settled for $100.00 which in hindsight was a mistake but I had more important things to do & I had a high paying job at the time... My car was a beater for going to work (Seattle circa 1990)... Perhaps their company rep saw my large folder of photos & large poster drawing of the road & parked cars (as evidence) that it scared him into arbitration..? Something good will come of this if you choose; just stay positive & be patient as all heck... Good things take time to come about; meanwhile, if you need transportation, get it anyway you can (carpool, bus, whatever...) Not buying another vehicle will give you some peace of mind to rack up the potentially long period of time needed to end up in a win win situation...

Has more than one estimator looked at your truck's damage..? Has your insurance company's estimator looked at your truck..? Good Luck

[Giovanni89]

Another possibility, have a car dealership appraise the vehicle. If you can toss a dealership a bit of money to write up an appraisal of what they think they could sell the truck for, that would be good. Dealerships always sell for more than private sale. I'm willing to bet for a few bucks you could get a letter of appraisal from a dealer saying they could sell that truck for 4k. An independent adjuster/appraiser may be able to give you a similar service. If it goes to small claims court, that should be good evidence of the true value. It may be enough to keep from having to go to small claims court.

[xboxrox]

Giovanni's suggestion is a good one; do it..!

In my life's experience, when something legal happens (personal injury, loss, fire, flood, auto accident, DUI, divorce, etc...) getting an attorney is mandatory... Mandatory if you want to minimize your loss and maximize your compensation (be made whole)...

I would begin contacting personal injury attorneys to do two things:
1) Learn what type of lawyer you need (specialist in your type case) use the phone book yellow pages
2) Find a lawyer who says he/she can help you AND is willing to take your case

I see a potential difficulty in finding a lawyer that will take your case, for two reasons:
1) They don't like to work for small $potato$ cases (but some will work pro bono)
2) Most lawyers are too busy to take on more work (unless it will be front page news or big bucks cases)

Good luck in finding an attorney who is willing to take your case (ABOVE ALL, START CONTACTING SOME ATTORNEYS) 1st hour is FREE ADVICE

Apologies for Lecturing

[maggie1642]

Probably too late to help you out but I bought a 2WD diesel MM about 6 months ago off of graigslist. Original paint california truck in real nice shape. Head was off so needs rebuild but I still gladly paid $4000 for it. If u need the listing or pics let me know

[joehobbs]

YES! Maggie1642 that would be amazing! Thank you so much. It is not too late and I really appreciate you taking the time to reply. Right now I'm at a dead end. The insurance company won't budge and I haven't found anything concrete that will support my case for a higher settlement.

[MrPaco]

Maggie FTW!

[Giovanni89]

Maggie, you know we want to see some pics! And welcome to the forum

[maggie1642]

21781217822178321784

[maggie1642]

I should mention I am in the rust belt so I was lucky to find a california truck that someone had already shipped to michigan. I would expect to pay less money for this truck on the west coast. I will see if I can find the original listing for you.

[Giovanni89]

:thumbup: Sweet!

[joehobbs]

Right on! Thank you so much!

How many miles does it have?

[maggie1642]

got about 180 000 on it but PO pulled the engine apart. I assume he planned a rebuilt but passed away before completing it. My buddy has several diesel rangers, one was a great running parts truck. So we thought an easy engine swap would get her on the road fast. Unfortunately for us we learned the hard way that Ford made a lot of changes. weekend job turned into month and half of weekends working on it. we eventually got it together. still a few small items to finish up but hope too be driving it this summer