DrewFlu33
Member
- Location
- Minneapolis, MN
- Car
- Not an Infiniti anymore
Hi all,
I've had my "new" 2003 FX35 for about 3 months now. To add unncessary background, I'm pretty fresh into a large pay cut that I took leaving my job as a CPA and enrolling in a north of the Twin Cities I had the misfortune of encountering a ladder in my lane. A truck in front of me towing a trailer with a Bobcat on it ran it over and I had no choice but to do the same. At first, I felt lucky to have no punctured tires and still be driving, but my exhaust developed a terrible rattle at 1500 RPM. Thinking it was a heat shield, I stopped by the local Infiniti dealer, they agreed that it was the heat shield, then cut it off and sent me on my way for $26.
This didn't fix it. The general consensus is that the impact must've jarred loose some baffles in the muffler which now needs replaced. To add insult to injury, the original flange at the midpipe-muffler connection apparently rusted out, as there is now a repair flange there. For OEM parts to replace the mid-pipe and muffler, I'm looking at something north of $1,200 (with OEM muffler and midpipe running over $1,100). I've got estimates for after-market parts in the range of $750.
After talking with my insurance agent (State Farm), I learned that I am treading a very fine line between a comprehensive claim (no deductible, no increased rates) and a collision claim ($500 deductible, rates increase ~$160 for six months' premium over a 3 year period) depending on whether the ladder is classified as a "projectile." Based on my description of the incident, she thinks it will be comprehensive, but the only way to find out is if I actually file the claim. I don't think it helps my case that I had a total loss claim on a 2010 G37 last November from a deer collision (comprehensive). Oh, and by the way, if it's not obvious, money is a little tight.
Now for the advice:
Does anyone have experience with insurance companies on older vehicles? Will they even allow an estimate for OEM parts on a 10 year-old vehicle? If so, I'm thinking I'll claim it then buy an Invidia or other cat-back and be on my way.
If not, I'll get a check for $750 which wouldn't cover the Invidia. There's also the chance of the claim being classified in the collision category, in which case, I've lost money and am really in a pickle.
Does anyone have any insight? What would you do?
I've had my "new" 2003 FX35 for about 3 months now. To add unncessary background, I'm pretty fresh into a large pay cut that I took leaving my job as a CPA and enrolling in a north of the Twin Cities I had the misfortune of encountering a ladder in my lane. A truck in front of me towing a trailer with a Bobcat on it ran it over and I had no choice but to do the same. At first, I felt lucky to have no punctured tires and still be driving, but my exhaust developed a terrible rattle at 1500 RPM. Thinking it was a heat shield, I stopped by the local Infiniti dealer, they agreed that it was the heat shield, then cut it off and sent me on my way for $26.
This didn't fix it. The general consensus is that the impact must've jarred loose some baffles in the muffler which now needs replaced. To add insult to injury, the original flange at the midpipe-muffler connection apparently rusted out, as there is now a repair flange there. For OEM parts to replace the mid-pipe and muffler, I'm looking at something north of $1,200 (with OEM muffler and midpipe running over $1,100). I've got estimates for after-market parts in the range of $750.
After talking with my insurance agent (State Farm), I learned that I am treading a very fine line between a comprehensive claim (no deductible, no increased rates) and a collision claim ($500 deductible, rates increase ~$160 for six months' premium over a 3 year period) depending on whether the ladder is classified as a "projectile." Based on my description of the incident, she thinks it will be comprehensive, but the only way to find out is if I actually file the claim. I don't think it helps my case that I had a total loss claim on a 2010 G37 last November from a deer collision (comprehensive). Oh, and by the way, if it's not obvious, money is a little tight.
Now for the advice:
Does anyone have experience with insurance companies on older vehicles? Will they even allow an estimate for OEM parts on a 10 year-old vehicle? If so, I'm thinking I'll claim it then buy an Invidia or other cat-back and be on my way.
If not, I'll get a check for $750 which wouldn't cover the Invidia. There's also the chance of the claim being classified in the collision category, in which case, I've lost money and am really in a pickle.
Does anyone have any insight? What would you do?
