Glad you are ok. I read a post on this forum a while ago about a guy that had his tires changed at a place that missed the jacking points and made a crease in the frame. It was a total loss because the uni-frame could no longer be certain to crumple in an accident. You very well may have a total loss here if the frame underneath is bent at all.

 

That's a hard lick! Stupid careless drivers. Appears safety worked with the bag and belt. I can't speak for Harry's work but I have used European Motors for 2 repairs and have been pleased with the repairs. I would get it to a shop ASAP to start the process of repairing and to figure out what is best and everything involved. Glad your OK, physically.

 

Sorry to see and read about this happening to your car.

You'll never get "in-kind rental reimbursement", just a regular car rental unfortunately. Work with your local AM dealer and/or AM certified body shops for appraisals. Stick with the certified shops only on this.

 

This is going to take some leg work on your end for you to come out as good as possible. You'll need to find repair costs, times, rental costs, and the value of a car with an accident in it's history. Then you'll be in a position to decide what you want to do. At that point, hand the bill to the driver at fault. Let him/her deal with their insurance company. When things go south, you can sue them. Your insurance shouldn't be involved at all unless you want them to handle the deal and subrogate for you, but then you're not in control.

 

 

oh my god this makes me so sad!!!

 

If it's your dream car, why do you think you won't be able to live with it after the repair (assuming it's repairable... and I'd bet it is)? When a car is repaired properly, you should never notice a difference in how it drives or looks. Do you actually plan to sell your dream car someday, in which case, the diminished value would matter? I don't understand your concerns.

Regardless, I'm really sorry that happened. I'd be devastated, too.

 

We can have more than one dream car, right? I wouldn't want to own it after that. It's fine for the next owner to start off with when repaired correct. That's a 20K repair if done by a certified shop; my guess.

 

Do you think I should just drop off the car ASAP to the Aston certified shop? Either way it will need to go there to be fixed or assessed. Or should I take it to a dealer first as is to see how much devaluation happened?

All I know is that the car will never be the same again after a repair no matter how good and even though it’s my dream car it’s ruined

 

Sorry to hear this. I'd have AM dealership send a tow truck and let them handle it from here. You can potentially file a diminished value claim if the vehicle is repairable (not totaled).

It's not the same when the car is marked with an accident on the report.

 

Absolutely. You need all the of the facts. How much will it cost to be repaired. Their number is what your insurance company will use instead of their regular appraisers who assume Earl Scheib is painting it. It's a big deal to repair an Aston per factory standards. Certified shops charge like $40+ an hour more (than they would on MB. Audi, etc..) and the total time is much longer.

After you get that number, then go by your dealership to discuss (service manager). They are on your side and want you to continue to be customer in either your repaired car or a new to you one. They should give you honest advice.

One thing about cars; there's always another.

 

"There's always another".... not that he custom ordered and is the original owner of. Unless he can go to Aston Martin and order another good-looking generation Vantage, he'll be driving somebody else's specified car.

It only matters that there's an accident on the history report for resale value. So if you don't sell it, the accident doesn't matter. If it's repaired properly, it absolutely will feel the same (anything else is in your head). And if it feels the same and looks the same and you still want to sell it, I think you're being ridiculous.

If your wife had to have surgery, but the incisions healed and you literally couldn't tell she ever had surgery, would you divorce her because "she's just not the same"?

It's a silly collector mentality to think a car is inherently worse just because it's been in an accident. If Aston Martin looks at it and says it's repairable, they mean "it can be like it was before the accident." In fact, I'd encourage you to ask the AM certified shop specifically that--will it be like it was before the accident? If they say no, then you're justified in selling.

 

Happy to hear your ok- Sad about your pride & joy. Hopefully your insurance company is in step with your wishes. They will go after the at fault driver's insurance. Keep a log of your conversations with everyone you speak with. Allow what your are told to sink in. Don't be too quick to answer or committee unless your 100% satisfied. The question about diminished value has come up before with various answers but a lot depends on the laws of the state you live and the car is insured. Some insurance companies offer "agreed upon value" policies. Good luck!