Jul 18, 2014
Todd Burch Hi All,
OK, this will be somewhat like group therapy for me. Like many of the folks who have been around this site for awhile, I waited 3 long years from my deposit to delivery of VIN 1653, a beautiful dolphin gray S85 with almost all of the options which arrived Dec. 31, 2012.
Unfortunately, on July 5 I had an accident which, I found out today, has totalled my car. 20 years of accident-free driving came to an end in a split second. July 4th was indeed not a great weekend for Teslas. I haven't been able to really stomach coming to this site much lately, but here's the story in a nutshell.
I was driving on an unfamiliar paved rural road with a 45 MPH speed limit. After traveling around an S curve, I came upon a 90 degree turn in the road:
There was a single curve sign, but it was BEFORE the S curve (about 1500 feet back) and I unfortunately subconsciously associated the sign with the S curve. As soon as I came around the S curve (which didn't seem all that sharp), I was staring at a 90 degree bend in the road. To make things worse, the terrain is very slightly sloped such that it is difficult to see that the road makes a sharp turn. To make things even worse, there are absolutely ZERO signs at the curve! NONE!! No chevron arrows, no turn arrows, nothing! I consider myself a good, alert driver with my head on a swivel, and this surprised me!
By the time I saw the turn, it was far too late. I was already on gravel by the time I hit the brakes. (I didn't even lay any rubber on the road). The car went airborne almost at that moment, because there was a 3 foot drop on the side of the road. Suspension was in low. When the car slammed down on an empty dirt trailer lot, my rear suspension snapped. (Right rear tire was 80 degrees out, flapping in the breeze):
The snapped suspension AND dirt combined with the mass of the S meant I had virtually zero stopping ability. The car continued across the empty trailer lot, slammed through an abandoned portable basketball hoop, through a large barrel of discarded junk, into a wall of small trees, and stopped about 30-40 feet into the treeline. Fortunately, I missed a few 6-10 foot diameter Oak trees by 5-10 feet on each side.
Pano roof was ripped off, front end was a mess, suspension was snapped. Airbags did not deploy (fortunately), because they weren't necessary and would have done more harm than good in this case.
Fortunately, there were no injuries. The car immediately indicated a few faults, but primarily an issue with low coolant (my battery pack coolant started leaking out immediately) and low washer fluid. Touchscreen and console were fine--no apparent damage to the inside of the car except the pano roof crossbar plastic cover had come off (I think when the basketball hoop slammed into the roof). The door handles even operated flawlessly.
Tesla had tried to call me, but I didn't have cell phone coverage and couldn't answer. When a police officer arrived, he said that cars run off the road at the curve "almost every week". Now I'm sure he's exaggerating a little, but the county REALLY needs to add much more signage at that turn. A local told me that almost every car that goes around that turn crosses the yellow line at the center of the road. Very scary.
Anyway, I didn't receive any ticket. No improper driving, speeding, or anything. I'm not pushing off the blame, after all I was driving, but I made the mistake of associating the curve sign with the wrong curve in the road. Goes to show that a very minor brain fart can turn a regular day into a nightmare.
Anyway, I couldn't sleep for days, replaying those few seconds in my mind and wishing I could take them back, but also recognizing that I was fortunate that nobody was hurt. I hugged my wife and sons a little harder that day, that's for sure.
To get to the point of my post, my insurance company has decided to total my car. They found "at least" $45,000 in damage, and that's without even disassembling anything or looking at the electronics in the front end or analyzing the battery pack.
I received a call today indicating that some external company had valued my car at $62,500. They apparently were having real trouble valuing it because there are so few out there to indicate a value.
Specs: 2012 (delivered Dec. 31, 2012) S85, Pano roof, leather seats, air suspension, sound upgrade, tinted windows, new 19" tires (only 800 miles on them, grrr!), tech package, fog lights, metallic gray, with 31,500 miles on the odometer. Basically, that configuration costs $98,500ish new from Tesla. So I would have to basically shell out $35,000 to get back to driving what I was driving before! Ugh.
I couldn't believe my ears. My insurance company was saying that my car, which was in almost mint condition, was worth less than 70% of its original value? I complained to the adjuster, and he agreed the value was low. He said he didn't have the authority to raise the value, but would pass it up the chain where a higher value could be authorized. But he did tell me "this could take awhile". UGH. I've already been driving a crappy ICE for 2 weeks...how much longer?
I've found several examples showing that this was a lowball value, and one where a similar car with ballpark similar mileage (22,000 miles) sold for around $80k. (There aren't many for sale in the 30k mileage range).
So anyway, does anyone have advice for someone who looks like he's on the path to fighting a battle with the insurance company on actual cash value?
I won't mention the company right now. If they end up making me happy, I'll praise them. If they end up screwing me, I'll let you all know and warn you that this company may not be the ideal company to insure your Tesla with. (BTW, yes, they are a well-known insurance company).
On the bright side, I'm looking to get a P85 vs. an S85 this time. It will probably be a loaner/floor model--not sure I can handle the wait to receive a new one. (Wasn't 3 years of waiting enough? I think the current wait list is several months long).
Any advice would be appreciated. For now, after going 1.5 years without visiting a gas station, I'm spending $55 a week on gas and a crappy driving experience. :crying: I am bummed!�
Jul 18, 2014
Owner my sympathies for you Todd. Thankful the were no injuries.
Our cars were almost twins...�
Jul 18, 2014
efusco Dang, so so sorry man. That really bites.�
Jul 18, 2014
gg_got_a_tesla So sorry Todd.I was right there with you for 3 years just a few reservations behind. Wish you the best with the insurance payout and getting a P85.
�
Jul 18, 2014
karmamule I wish I had helpful advice to give, but just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear you have to go through this. But, very happy to hear no one was injured in the accident!
Good luck getting a boost in estimated value from the insurance company, I hope they do improve the situation for you.�
Jul 18, 2014
tezco My condolences and hopes that your next S will make this a distant memory.�
Jul 18, 2014
invisik So sorry to hear this... It is not an easy thing to deal with on many fronts. I hope you can get into another Tesla soon.
-m�
Jul 18, 2014
Seven7 Sorry about the car, glad your okay! You might want to get your own independent appraiser to give you a pre crash value on your car.�
Jul 18, 2014
jomo25 First and foremost, I'm very happy to hear that there were no injuries! Great to hear you are OK, bodily at least!
Sorry to hear about the car, the insurance lowball, and the pain of ICEing around now. I hope those all get resolved well and it rids you of the mental anguish you've been feeling.�
Jul 18, 2014
Apoclyps glad you made it out unscathed. wishing you the best for the replacement!�
Jul 18, 2014
phat78boy I'm glad there were no injuries, it looks like it could have easily been worse.
As for your vehicle, very sorry to hear about it. I would also agree that payout seems low. Hope they are able to get you a fair price and soon. Good luck on shopping for your new love.�
Jul 18, 2014
dsm363 Glad everyone was ok and sorry to hear about the car. Hope you get to have the excitement about getting a new one.�
Jul 18, 2014
jomo25 And now you can get one with auto folding mirrors, parking sensors, and ionizer! (I just had a recent build loaner today and was slightly envious of the things I couldn't get last year)�
Jul 18, 2014
evme I am no lawyer, but if what the locals say is true and this happens often, I would see about suing the county. Not even for the money but to have that fixed. Better fixed now before someone eventually gets hurt.�
Jul 18, 2014
Vger I second this. Find a way to pay it forward. Save a future life.�
Jul 18, 2014
spentan Sorry to hear.
Hope insurance gets you a little more. Get a valuation from an independent appraiser for sure (pre-crash). You should be able to at least replace it with a new one without paying too much.�
Jul 19, 2014
DITB I third this.
And press on with your insurance company. If they are so certain it was only worth 62K, then ask them to get you a replacement car at 62K, in the same condition, and with the same equipment. Oh they cannot? Well, maybe then the evaluation is too low?
For that drop and all that happened, could you tell us a bit more of your experience physically, as in - with that fierce flight, landing and stopping you went through, did you just get up and out of the car? Insurance companies should really appreciate they don't have to pay any medical cost for "normal crashes". Of course, the car thief that rammed cars and a building at 100+ mph is not a "normal crash"�
Jul 19, 2014
James Anders Fight it. Don't cash any check until you're satisfied. Make them make several offers. Ask to talk to someone higher-up. Push the issue. Complain. Bitch. Moan. Scream.
Years ago, I had a similar incident. I went around to 3-4 dealers and had them write me a brief letter (on their stationery) that my car in that used condition would sell for $XXXXX.�
Jul 19, 2014
flashflood All excellent points. I hadn't even thought about the lack of medical cost. Insurance companies should be grateful to cover cars this safe.�
Jul 19, 2014
Nichen So sorry about this. But hey, you weren't injured that's what counts in the long run. And about the county's responsibility...I think you should sue them. Investigate and look at the number of accidents that has occured at that curve. If that doesn't work...push the Insurance company a little harder. Don't give up the fight.�
Jul 19, 2014
Todd Burch Thanks for the comments so far everyone.
I have already registered a formal complaint with the county about signage at the corner.
It was actually pretty gentle. When the car landed after the 3 foot drop, there was a bit of a smack, but I felt the pain more for the car, not for myself. The stop was also fairly gentle too. With all of the mass and the fairly small size of the trees/brush that I went through, the car took awhile to slow. Because of the trees and brush I couldn't easily get the doors open without really pushing against them and risking more damage, so I ended up lowering the window and getting out Dukes of Hazzard style.
All in all it was a relatively gentle experience though.�
Jul 19, 2014
curt_toolman Todd, I can only send one PM per hour but you have my email address. But the answer to your question is yes.�
Jul 19, 2014
tomas Yikes, sorry to hear Todd� feel as if I know you from posts. It's a shame, but nobody injured is the key thing. Hope you get sorted with insurance� enjoy the next MS!�
Jul 19, 2014
ModelX I am so sad this happened to you, but glad you were in such a safe car!�
Jul 19, 2014
spaghetti Todd - sorry to hear about your experience. Glad you are safe. hope things work out for you quickly and to your satisfaction.�
Jul 19, 2014
curt_toolman Todd,
What did Virginia last value your car for? I'm sure they didn't take account for high mileage but maybe it can help support your claim for more money.�
Jul 19, 2014
EarlyAdopter I think they are. That's why collectively our insurance rates remain so reasonable even after the high costs of repairs has come to light. While $5000 for a fender bender or $30,000 for a minor crash seems crazy high, those costs pale in comparison to repairs on humans.�
Jul 19, 2014
apacheguy Bummer. That's a very unfortunate sequence of events. I've never come across a 90 degree bend as you describe except at an intersection. I'll have to watch out for that when I'm in unfamiliar territory.
If it's any consolation, you'll get a P and (likely) a coveted D pack.�
Jul 19, 2014
v12 to 12v Sorry to hear about your accident. You might ask the local county for their official claim form. I had an accident and the local governing entity paid my claim without any questions because they didn't want to go to court. Fortunately, I was able to state on the claim that the police said that their police chief hit the same sinkhole and destroyed his car before me and the sinkhole was not marked, blocked off or repaired. No fuss, no muss.
You should look into hiring your own independent adjuster to get a valuation and give a copy to the county with your official claim form and a copy to your insurance company. Also, send a copy of the police report and a report of what the officer said to you. Be sure to send everything by registered mail so that you get a receipt and a paper trail. The county's insurance company and your insurance company would probably choose to work out a better settlement for you.
Your accident brought to mind a question I had. I knew that Tesla would call you if there was an accident and ask if you needed the police, medical assistance and if you would like them to call a family member or friend. I have always wondered what Tesla would do in a situation where someone was out of cell range or if their phone was otherwise out of reach or out of commission. Did Tesla call the local authorities or someone else? TIA for any insight.
Insist on being made whole again. That is what insurance is for. Insurance companies have attorneys and adjusters on call to meet their needs. Sometimes we need the same tool box. I'm not an attorney. This is just methods I have used to avoid the expense of an attorney. There was a time I had to resort to an attorney with an insurance company but that was a catastrophic, complex incident with other parties. Your best move was to inform your insurance company ASAP. They can decline claims if the incident is not reported promptly. (A sleazy loophole that they will use in some States.)
We'll be thinking about ya. Best of luck.�
Jul 19, 2014
JakeP So sorry to hear about this Todd, cannot imagine the pain you feel at losing your Model S. Hopefully the insurance resolution will be less painful in the end, and can put you back into an equally perfect Tesla configuration.�
Jul 19, 2014
djplong Glad to hear you are ok and wishing you luck on appealing the lowball offer.
One piece of advice going forward. Look around for insurance that guarantees a form of replacement value. Some companies advertise that they will guarantee a replacement car, sometimes up to 1 year NEWER than the one you had insured. I would imagine this coverage might cost a little more - but in "reduced hassle factor when filing a claim", it might be worth it.�
Jul 19, 2014
Bugeater Wow, really sad to hear this! I've had to deal with insurance companies a few times. Two cars hit and totalled while parked in front of my house...
Things I would suggest:
* Always speak calmly and politely with whoever you are talking to at the insurance company. They didn't write the rules. You may just get an advocate inside the company by treating them well! Worked for me...
* Contact Tesla. They more than anyone else have a vested interest in the resale value of the car being high! Either the local service center or a delivery specialist. Or maybe some inside contact you have at Tesla. They may be able to find comparable sales or even provide their own trade-in value to you. As others have said, make them find a comparable sale. No guesswork. Also, listing out the current value of each of the options your car has can go a long way to setting the value above what they are claiming. Their adjuster just has no idea or way to compare without that info. This way even if they can't find a comparable car, they will have a way to price similar cars and compare to yours.
* As for the county, make sure your claim is letter perfect to the law. With that, they will have no way out whatsoever. I did a claim like this once and was able to get paid with no questions asked. Detail EVERY expense, including the cost of gas for driving the ICE car in the mean time! Note the loss of sleep, time spent having to do all the work hassling with them and the insurance company... Anything you can think of. Require them to put new, very visible signage at the corner.
* Make the county pay for any difference between the price the insurance company pays you and the actual replacement cost. Include the interim costs too! That will motivate them to settle sooner than later!!!
Good luck! Really glad to hear that no one was hurt!
PS: My P85 came 2012-12-15 so I feel a kinfolk(sp) with you...�
Jul 19, 2014
wamochi +1
i changed to liberty mutual for both cost savings and the fact they include new car replacement coverage in Year 1 up to 15,000 miles (total the car in that time, and you get a brand new one covered). after Year 1, i believe you can add a rider for better car replacement coverage which basically guarantees a "better" car (1 year newer with at least 15k less miles) than depreciated value.
not all insurance companies have the new car or better car coverages. GEICO, for instance, has neither, which is part of the reason their rates are so low.
good luck, and hope to see your new P85 on the forum soon :smile:�
Jul 19, 2014
tezco I did the same thing when State Farm's proposed settlement for my 300ZX TT was $10k too low. The driver that ran the red light and T-boned us had no insurance and was an illegal who fled the state when he got out of the hospital, so they were left holding the bag, but they did agree to up the settlement to a reasonable amount once they had more data from some independent sources.�
Jul 19, 2014
spatterso911 Yikes, just tuned into this thread! Sorry to hear the news Todd! I hope this gets resolved quickly for you.�
Jul 19, 2014
scriptacus Sorry to hear about this; hopefully the county takes the blame here if what that officer said is true. Re the insurance quote: the price does seem low, but isn't it higher than Tesla's own loaner resale program by about 11k? (1% per month of age, $1 per mile) Maybe they're using something based on those numbers for their valuation instead of private market sales.�
Jul 20, 2014
AmpedRealtor This thread offers a great example of why "agreed value" auto policies are valuable. I just switched to Encompass with an agreed value of $106,000. If my car ever meets this fate, I will be reimbursed dollar for dollar the exact purchase price of my vehicle. This ensures that I will be in a position to purchase a new one. The annual deductible for this type of policy, with even better coverage and lower deductible, is less expensive than my previous policy with Hartford. I'm paying just over $1,300 annually for 250/500, $500 deductible and $106,000 agreed value.�
Jul 20, 2014
pgiralt I assume this agreed value changes over time? I can't imagine they would pay the $106k after the car is a year old, right?�
Jul 20, 2014
Todd Burch You can't extrapolate that because those cars sell very quickly and with relatively few miles on them, so the discount isn't very large. If you assume 1% per month of age and $1 per mile, nobody's car would be worth anything after a few years of driving!
Also, if you try to sell your car to Tesla, you can't really use that either, because a) they want to turn around and make a profit on buying a used car and b) they don't really want to be in the used car business.�
Jul 20, 2014
Trnsl8r Sounds like you're going to name the company either way, so why hold out on us?
(Condolences on the car. Mine was picked up the same month so consider kinship felt.)�
Jul 21, 2014
Gizmotoy Sorry to hear, but glad you're OK. Best of luck with the insurance companies and county. Certainly that initial insurance estimate could have been taken as a joke it's so low. Certainly you can scope out other sales, but the insurance company won't pay them much attention. One option is independent appraisal from a certified appraiser, which gives you actual defensible ammunition against the insurance company. They're often used for diminished value claims, but could be useful here as well.�
Jul 21, 2014
GlennAlanBerry Try to stay calm, but firm when dealing with your adjuster and anyone else from the insurance company. The more evidence about the value of comparable vehicles that you can gather and present is going to help you justify a higher value for your car. $62K for an S85 with 31K miles does seem quite low, but you need to do the research and present what you find to the insurance company to bolster your claim. Good luck!�
Jul 21, 2014
AmpedRealtor The agreed value is good for the first year. When the policy renews, we renegotiate the agreed value at that time. The fact that I was able to obtain an agreed value for the next year of $106k based upon the car already being almost a year old, the hope is that if the car were a total loss then I would recover more than ACV (actual cash value) for the car and an amount guaranteed to cover my loan amount.�
Jul 21, 2014
pgiralt
Interesting... this sounds ripe for abuse. 5 years from now you crash your car into a wall to total it and get yourself a brand new car? Or does this mean that the cost of repair now needs to be over $106k before they will total it?�
Jul 21, 2014
Trnsl8r Not unlikely that a brand new replacement from Tesla will cost more then $106k in five years...�
Jul 21, 2014
AmpedRealtor Let me amend my previous statement, which was factually incorrect and I apologize. I didn't have the actual policy language in front of me, but I have since looked it up and asked for a clarification. The initial agreed value, in this case $106k, is good for one year. When the policy is renewed in a year, we will negotiate a new agreed value at that time. The thought process behind this type of coverage is that if the car were declared a total loss, the agreed value payout would be significantly higher than the actual cash value of the car at the time.
My hope is that I never need to use this type of coverage.�
Jul 21, 2014
Todd Burch AmpedRealtor, what are your premiums like for that type of coverage?�
Jul 22, 2014
Gizmotoy I see. That's really interesting. So presumably you track the agreed value, roughly, to the car's depreciated value + some amount that gets you to where you'd need to be to get another one? Or do you continue to settle on a dollar amount near the original sticker price?
Another poster earlier in the thread had a good point: I wonder how this affect's the company's desire to total a car? If they know the agreed value is $100k and it needs $80k of repairs, will they repair it rather than totaling it out like would happen under traditional insurance?�
Jul 22, 2014
pgiralt Ahh - ok - that makes sense. Seems like good protection. How much more are premiums over a "normal" policy to get this?�
Jul 22, 2014
swaltner Agreed value policies are great. I have my Ariel Atom on such a policy. I purchased it used, so it already went through the bulk of its depreciation. It has basically maintained it's value since I purchased a few years ago, so I've just left the agreed value at the original purchase price. I check eBay auctions at times to confirm the value. They know what the vehicle is worth, and would complain if I tried to insure it for too much.�
Jul 22, 2014
wk057 Sorry to hear about this.
Now um... not to seem insensitive, but... any idea whats going to happen with the car now? I'd love to get my hands on some parts if they end up being available.�
Jul 23, 2014
Todd Burch My guess is the insurance company will scrap it for parts. No idea how they do that.
On the (bright?) side here's a continuation of my saga:
I called Tesla to find an inventory car similar to my preferences. They only had two in the system, neither of which worked. Slim pickings on Ebay as well, so...the guy at the Tesla store suggested I just put in an order for a new one.
So, this morning I did just that. Here's my new config:
Black P85
Alcantara Headliner
Alcantara Dashboard Trim
Pano Roof
Coil Suspension
Black Nappa Leather Seats
Carbon Fiber Decor
Carbon Fiber Spoiler
Parking Sensors
Premium Lighting
Tech Package
Red Brake Calipers
Sound Upgrade
Standard 19" Wheels.
I think I will remove the 19s at delivery, sell them, and replace them with aftermarket black 20" wheels. If anyone will be in the market for a new pair of 19" tires with wheels around October, let me know
So, for those interested in the differences from my last car, here are my changes and the "whys":
S85 --> P85
I was getting used to the S85 acceleration. I wanted more!
Air Suspension --> Coil Suspension
Here I decided to save a little money. I don't really use the adjustable height or care about the leveling. Sure, the lowering for improved aerodynamics is nice but the decreased drag appears to be fairly minimal. I hear the coils have a little better feedback from the road. I wanted to save some money and reduce potential future maintenance costs, so went with the coil this time. The car won't look as "lowered", but I think I can get over this aspect.
Piano Black --> Carbon Fiber
I have no issues with the Piano Black, I actually liked it quite a bit. But I always wanted Carbon Fiber, and couldn't get it on my S85. The Piano Black did show some very minor microscratches, but they were barely noticeable and only in bright sunlight. If I couldn't get the carbon fiber, I'd get the Piano Black again.
Standard Headliner --> Alcantara
My S85 didn't offer alcantara. I think I will really like it, and look forward to it being on the dash top as well. I had some issues with bright reflections off the pleather on the top of the dash, so this will improve that aspect.
Fog Lights --> No Fog Lights
Fog lights were standard on my first car. I don't really need them and don't find the additional cost to be worth it.
No Parking Sensors --> Parking Sensors
Parking sensors weren't available when I got my first car. For $500, it's a cheap option so I went for it.
Delivery is October. Now I have 3 months to work with the insurance company on getting a reasonable offer (and going back to the pump!) before she arrives...�
Jul 23, 2014
Kondo From the ashes rise the Phoenix ..... as long as the insurance company gets its act together this will have a happy ending. Ordering a month ago would have been worse so all things considered, timing is pretty good�
Jul 23, 2014
texex91 Looks like a nice build--congrats!�
Jul 23, 2014
Todd Burch Having 31,000 Model S miles under my belt helped me decide which options were worth it. It also helped me with a decision on which car to get. No other car entered my mind�
Jul 23, 2014
AbeFromin that's gonna be a sweet replacement! good call on the coil suspension.
if you are going to go from 19's to 20's anyway, why don't you just get the graphite grey 21's from Tesla? (black on black on black)
nothing looks better, and we're talking one inch here. i've just never liked aftermarket wheels on the Model S. always comes out looking cheap and like a used car.
p.s. - you think premium interior lighting is worth $1k? i certainly don't. good thing i didn't have to pay extra for it.�
Jul 23, 2014
gg_got_a_tesla Super config, Todd. Coming from the "old" gray, did you consider the new, darker gray at all before going for black? You may get the best of both worlds with the dark gray...�
Jul 23, 2014
Todd Burch I have read far too many concerns regarding bent wheels and blowouts with the low profile 21s. I agree they look AWESOME on the black car, but don't want to deal with blowouts all the time. As I understand Tesla's wheels are cast instead of forged, making them weak. Perhaps Tesla has improved this?
I've always thought the S's lighting was lacking...but I had a very early car so it's hard to tell what's changed on it. In any sense, I've heard it looks pretty cool at night.
- - - Updated - - -
Hey GG, that's one of the things I considered. But without some REAL pictures of the new gray, I can't make that decision. Maybe Tesla can send me some in the next 2 weeks before I have to lock in my order.�
Jul 23, 2014
EdA Sorry to hear about the mishap.
I may take you up on the wheels/tires. I'm visiting in Norfolk now (sans MS) but there's a chance I may need
them for my wife's car which is coming next month...Perhaps I can swing down in the fall and grab the wheels/tires.�
Jul 23, 2014
omarsultan Sorry to hear about the accident but glad no one was hurt. A new P sounds like excellent therapy.�
Jul 23, 2014
qwk I think that you are going to be very happy. If I were to do it again, my build would be almost identical to yours minus the sound upgrade, which is funny since I currently have a Grey S85, Black leather, etc.:wink:�
Jul 23, 2014
Todd Burch That would be great. I'd even be willing to head up north (some) to meet you.
If I can find someone interested in new 19s, I might be able to get aftermarket 20s put on right when I take delivery, leaving almost no mileage on the wheels or tires.�
Jul 23, 2014
EdA I go to Philly semi-regularly. Norfolk less regularly.�
Jul 23, 2014
wk057 Yeah, probably. Sometimes they'll offer something to you regarding that aspect, but, not usually. I'll keep an eye out.�
Jul 23, 2014
AmpedRealtor My apologies in taking so long to respond.
My premium through Encompass for 250/500 comprehensive coverage, $500 deductible, windshield coverage, agreed value and inclusion in my $1M umbrella policy came to around $1,300 per year w/ multi policy discount. You can probably get it for less if you don't need umbrella coverage, then you can reduce your comprehensive to 100/300 and bump upyour deductible.
Unfortunately I don't know, but when it comes up for renewal in a year I will definitely know and would be happy to share the info.�
Jul 23, 2014
Newscutter
Where's the P85+ upgrade sales pitch??�
Jul 23, 2014
ACDriveMotor Nice build Todd! Love the black P85.�
Jul 23, 2014
pete8314 Sorry to hear about the accident, I hate reading threads like this. Your spec was more or less the same as mine, and I agree with your new spec (and the bit about getting used to the standard 85!), but I'd go for the new grey having seen the side by side pics on another thread, and pass on the sound upgrade and go straight for the Reus upgrade instead.�
Jul 23, 2014
lgagliardi So sorry to hear about the accident. I'm sure you along with all of us try to take great care of our wonderful, BEST CAR ON THE PLANET, MODEL S. Glad everyone is OK. About your new build, I have never driven a more smooth car, some of that is obviously because no ICE but I do attribute it also to the air suspension. I would at least drive one without it first to see if it made a difference. If I couldn't drive one first, I would have to order the air suspension for fear it would not be as smooth.Just my thoughts. I hope you get your car soon.�
Jul 24, 2014
Todd Burch Just confirmed my new P85 order...er...9 minutes ago. All is as I posted a few posts up but I made two changes:
1. I'm going to get the tan interior, not black interior.
2. I'm not getting Tesla's sound upgrade. Couldn't justify the cost given the so-so quality. Instead, I'll be getting the Reus aftermarket sound system. (Talked to Rick and Cliff on the phone and they seem really nice!)�
Jul 24, 2014
EdA You're the man!�
Jul 24, 2014
pete8314 Good choice. Cliff is a good guy, and the upgrade is good value when compared to the premium Tesla charges.�
Jul 28, 2014
Miuaiga @AmpedRealtor, having checked with my present insurer, I don't qualify because this is the only car I have registered in my name, and I drive it routinely. Did you encounter issues related to those constraints?�
Jul 29, 2014
AmpedRealtor No, they simply asked me how many miles do I drive annually and whether I have experience driving performance cars. I do own multiple vehicles, however, so my name is on title to more than one car and several properties which were also covered at the same time.�
Jul 29, 2014
nolngrgrsngslde I wonder if they will ever agree that a car is a total loss or, would they try to fix it. In other words, they will not want to declare it totaled.�
Jul 29, 2014
AmpedRealtor I hope that I never find out.�
Jul 31, 2014
stephenpace Another option for you: At REFUEL 2014, there was a guy there with Tesla 19s who had power coated them black. I thought they looked excellent on his black car. 19" tires are cheaper and wear better.�
Aug 1, 2014
JohnQ Everyone who needs winter wheels should be PMing Todd like crazy to get those 19s ...�
Aug 1, 2014
Todd Burch My latest thought is that I'm going to get the 19" matte black TSportlines and swap the tires/TPMS at delivery, so I'm open to offers for anyone who wants fresh standard 19s that will only have a few miles on them.�
Oct 14, 2014
Todd Burch Well, here she is!
Just picked her up today, 10 days prior to expected delivery date. Soooooo nice to be back in the Tesla saddle again! Be on the lookout soon for a detailed "VIN1653 vs. VIN55228: Model S Evolution" thread in which I'll detail how things have changed on the Model S over the last 2 years.�
Oct 14, 2014
techmaven Looks great!
I saw your #1653 at Dorn's. Very sad.�
Oct 14, 2014
Chuck P85D 
O.
M.
G.
that is FYYYYYYYYYYYNE. :scared:
i usually hate aftermarket wheels on the Model S. but THOSE?!? that looks like Penelope Cruz wearing fish-net stockings. NAUGHTY.�
Oct 14, 2014
Todd Burch Thanks!
- - - Updated - - -
Seems like everyone within 50 miles of Richmond saw my poor car there!�
Oct 15, 2014
LetsGoFast I'm another Richmonder who saw it there too. One of my friends spotted it driving by. At that point, I hadn't read this thread.�
Oct 15, 2014
Todd Burch Well I *was* only kidding...but maybe everyone near Richmond *DID* see it!�
Oct 15, 2014
ruby110 Congratulations! Enjoy - again!�
Oct 15, 2014
sistinas So which insurance company was it? Hope they gave you a better compensation figure!�
Oct 15, 2014
Todd Burch It was Geico. After complaining, they offered $70K (after removing the $2k deductible). I thought I was really getting shafted, but Tesla amazingly said that was a fair deal. The $7500 tax credit has to be removed before starting to determine value.�
Oct 15, 2014
SCDrJ Sweet wheels man. Best of luck with the new car.�
Oct 15, 2014
dave I wish the state took that view when calculating my annual property tax on the car...�
Oct 15, 2014
Todd Burch +1!�
Oct 15, 2014
huntjo Looks like you got some sensors out of the deal!�
Nov 6, 2014
Chuck P85D Todd, i may have missed it, but what's your thoughts/feelings on your new car? loving the P85 or what?!?�
Nov 12, 2014
bluetinc Hi Todd,
The new car looks great! I'm glad it's all worked out as well as it has. You offered me a charge two years ago when I was nearing the end of my cross country trip, one which we didn't need, but I still appreciate your offer.
I happened by the Tesla's up for auction, and see that 1653 is up in PA now, figured I'd update the thread, perhaps 1653 will continue on in some way...
Salvage 2012 gray Tesla Model S with VIN 5YJSA1CN8CFP01653 on auction by Friday, November 14, 2014 | AutoBidMaster
Peter�
Nov 12, 2014
Todd Burch Thanks for the info Peter. Looks like they've done some minor repair...still hard for me to believe they considered it a total loss! Interesting that the repair estimate listed there is less than half of what it was at the other shop.
I also wonder about the condition of the battery. They don't have my UMC...so the battery's likely been sitting uncharged since early July.�
Nov 12, 2014
cgiGuy It makes me wonder if at some point Tesla's unwillingness to touch totaled cars will result in virtually no interest from "wholesalers" due to no interest at auctions. Which would probably result in the insurance companies taking a bigger hit on any total loss of a Tesla. Which of course means.. we will probably all pay higher premiums after it comes full circle.
I'm sure there's plenty of value left in parts that don't require Tesla Motors intervention, but an intact battery is a big ticket item that virtually no one else will be able to service for a long time.�
Jan 14, 2016
bluetinc Well, the car seems to be living on, if only on the life support of a 12V battery tender, and it's up for sale again:
Tesla Model s 85KWH Tech | eBay
Peter�
Jan 14, 2016
wk057 @Todd
Happen to know what the firmware version was on that car when it met it's untimely demise? I might consider picking it up from this guy on eBay, if it goes for a reasonable amount, to use in my conversion project...�
Jan 14, 2016
Btr_ftw What are you trying to convert? I think 29k is a fair price hopefully it stays around that.�
Jan 14, 2016
Todd Burch Wow, it makes me a little sad to see this, but happy to know that it's alive and kicking!
As for firmware version, I don't remember the number but the accident happened on July 5, 2014--so I'm guessing whichever firmware was the latest at that time is what is on it, unless it continued to receive updates. (If it's alive and kicking, wouldn't it still get updates?)
Was that a 4 or 5.something version? I can't recall.
- - - Updated - - -
To add to that, I wonder if Tesla would have any problems updating the car's firmware. I don't see why not.�
Jan 14, 2016
wk057 I was just trying to think if it was pre-diagnostic port lock down or not... not that it matters a whole lot.
Usually Tesla stops letting cars update once they are offline for a while.�
Jan 14, 2016
qwk FYI, Pre 5.8.4 was a free for all access(no rolling codes ect.). 5.8.4 came out around the time this car got totaled, so it's a toss up.�
Jan 14, 2016
islandbayy Not really, if you can get into a Dealers Auto Auction, Like Copart, you can pick up Functional Model S's for ~30k.�
Jan 15, 2016
Btr_ftw Define functional. I have yet to see a functional model s that doesnt need any work in the 30s. Coparts main focus is dealing with salvaged vehicles so this is a bit surprising.
If you come across one in the 30s with no work needed Ill give you a heck of a finders fee.:biggrin:�
Jan 15, 2016
JohnBinSC Can p01653 be made road worthy again?
Can someone explain what a UMC is and the significance?
I also saw p01653 listed on ebay, relatively close to me (250 miles), and was intrigued. I googled the VIN and eventually ended up on this thread.
There was some allusion in the thread about Tesla not having anything to do with totaled cars. Does that mean that they won't allow this car to become a functional car again? If it were repaired would it be able to:
use a supercharger?
have the 8 year battery warranty?
be able to be serviced by Tesla?
I may have the skill set to be able to get p01653 back on the road, if not in perfect cosmetic condition. My main worries are:
1) the main battery
2) the panoramic roof
Concerning the battery, the ebay seller says he can drive the car around the neighborhood and the battery seems to say it is OK. But he also says he cannot charge it at his house because he does not have the right charging cable. Does this sound right or is this a warning sign?
Concerning the glass roof, the ebay seller says he tried to replace it once but he broke the new replacement. This makes me wonder if the roof structure of the car is distorted from the collision. Todd said that the car went through a portable basketball hoop which slammed into the roof. Todd, can you provide any more color on how much damage was done to the roof of the car?�
Jan 15, 2016
Cyberax They try to discourage restoration of totaled cars. But they'll reactivate it if you allow them to inspect it for damage.�
Jan 15, 2016
JohnBinSC Thanks for the reply.
Is there a chance that Tesla would not reactivate the car if they think the damage was too significant?
What can you not do with the car if it is not reactivated?
Can you charge it (regular, not supercharge)?
Can you drive it?�
Jan 15, 2016
Todd Burch UMC is "Universal Mobile Connector". It's basically the charging cable for the car that is usually used for plugging into an outlet in your garage. When the car was towed away, the charging cable wasn't with it, and they never grabbed it. I don't know that the battery was left without a charge for a long time. As I recall, at the time of the accident the battery was around 85% charged, so it had plenty of juice. Also, it's likely that the Tesla-authorized body shop they took it to had a charger.
The UMC can be purchased from Tesla for $650, which includes a storage bag and a few adapters for different outlets (NEMA 14-50 and standard 120v NEMA 5-15). Given that the car has 120 miles of range remaining in that screenshot, I can't imagine he'd be driving it around without some way to charge it.
I can unequivocally tell you there was no distortion to the roof. The car hit the basketball hoop with the nose. It easily gave way, and the hoop came over and hit the panoramic sunroof. The sunroof was open at the time (hot July day). I guess the hoop caught the glass and ripped it out of the opening. After the accident, except for the front end of the car, the pano roof, and the right rear wheel, you would think the car was new. I found the glass from the pano roof about 30 feet behind where the car came to a stop. I don't believe the hinges that hold the glass are intended to be super-strong, so the glass broke free from the roof without any distortion to the roof structure. (It was a flimsy basketball hoop anyway).
As I recall, there was literally no other damage to the roof--not even a scratch.
Of course I haven't had custody since, so don't know if any damage has been inflicted since.�
Jan 15, 2016
JohnBinSC Todd, thanks so much for responding, and providing that additional info about the roof structure.
One last question. Do you think there is a chance that the battery was damaged, or even subjected to superficial damage in the accident. What I am thinking about is that you said the right rear suspension broke loose (looks like the lower arm). Could that have resulted in the car sliding along the ground ON the battery, producing visible external damage (even if not meaningful internal damage).�
Jan 15, 2016
Todd Burch There was absolutely no battery damage at all. It was not sliding on the ground. In fact, after the car came to a stop the only error message was "Coolant low" due to the fact that the coolant line was pierced and leaking.�
Apr 21, 2016
ElectricLove Todd, I've got this car now, fixing it up for a friend who is a long-time TESLA nut and he is very excited about it!
I have a few questions for you though; The airbag light is on, did the airbags go off in the accident? (if they did they have all been replaced b/c all are intact now)
The cut loop for emergency personnel is gone did they cut it when rescuing it?
If you wouldn't mind could you email me at srschere at asu dot edu, I would really appreciate it... The forum has cut off my PM'ing ability due to some political BS with the company I work for, so I have to keep putting my personal email out like this...�
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