Stolen car saga continues (Looking for advice)

"maximillious" (maximillious) 10/10/2017 at 11:37 • Filed to: None

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Hey Folks,

So the stolen Subaru was recovered last week. Only the ignition had been removed (I assume to start the car) but everything else was present in the vehicle. We are currently in the process of getting the car back from impound, then we have to get the ignition repaired and get the car inspected for other mechanical damage. Our trusted mechanic may not be willing to do the insurance inspection... if that is the case I do not really know what to do.

I was considering taking it to a dealership to have them inspect, because those guys love to find the smallest problem on the planet and tell you it needs to be fixed. On the other hand it would be nice to find a trustworthy mechanic in the Denver area to run the inspection so I know I am getting honest results and repairs.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

MonkeePuzzle > maximillious 10/10/2017 at 11:42

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I dont know specifics about insurance, but if you are looking for a trustworthy mechanic in Denver I’ve taken several of my subarus to http://www.motortechautomotive.com/

nice folks, reasonable prices, and always give me a nice list of what is really a problem vs. what would just be nice to have fixed.

oh, and I get a christmas card from them every year :D

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/i-love-my-mechanic-and-the-christmas-cards-they-send-1672878972

TheHondaBro > maximillious 10/10/2017 at 11:47

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The dealership would tell you everything , but some of it could just be old car stuff. I’d recommend you take it there and ask for the full report, but also ask about anything that seems out of the ordinary. That might clue you into what damage has been done by the robbers and not just from the fact that it’s an aging car.

When my dad went to trade in his well-maintained 2015 Honda Fit for a 4Runner, the dealership (very good dealership) found so many small things that were wrong with it. I was both intimidated and impressed.

MonkeePuzzle > maximillious 10/10/2017 at 11:57

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out of interest, where was/how was it recovered?

just a broken ignition is a crazy lucky. although, perhaps less so if you were hoping to get her a newer car.

my buddy’s similar year Impreza was half stolen, he found it backed out of his apartment’s parking lot and just sitting in the middle of the lane, the had defeated the ignition with hammers and screwdrivers but when they turned the steering wheel it locked and they abandoned their attempt.

benjrblant > maximillious 10/10/2017 at 12:03

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You lucked out! I’ve also heard of several Land Cruisers around town that have been stolen. Not confidence inspiring.

maximillious > MonkeePuzzle 10/10/2017 at 12:10

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It was recovered in Aurora parked on the side of the street. They did the hammer and screwdriver deal to the ignition but stole nothing else. The car was bone stock (even the cassette deck). I get the feeling it was used to commit another crime because they took the front plate off. but who knows. We love this car, we just had the full rebuild of head gaskets completed 9 months ago (timing belt and water pump too), but if the thief fucked it up mechanically we would prefer we know so that it can be properly repaired or totalled, we do not want to find big problems caused by this later

notsomethingstructural > maximillious 10/10/2017 at 12:22

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I work on the claims side for insurance on buildings. You get it estimated by people who will find everything and quote book rates. Then you fix it wherever you want. You would be crazy not to get the estimate at the dealer. If you conceivably could make an argument for something damaged, claim it all the way up AT LEAST to pushing a total loss. Your car was stolen!! Curbed wheel? Claim it. Broken door handle? Claim it. ANYTHING with wiring definitely claim that since they ripped out your ignition. Like I said, run it right up to a total loss. As a theft recovery you might be boned anyways so you might just want them to total it and then buy it back for “parts value” and fix what you want with a rebuilt title. Unfortunately that’s probably what I would do. The hit as a stolen vehicle makes it practically a salvage title in the eyes of any buyer already. Just get as big a check you can out of it. Talk to Tom McParland he might be able to help you juice up the market value on your car as it sits since they’ll only pay up to 75% of market and “market” on any car more than 15 years old is an absolute joke.

Oh, and when you go to fix it, if the dealer and an indy shop are like $150 apart on what you want to fix, I would encourage you to do the dealer so they know you’re not just cross shopping them.

MonkeePuzzle > maximillious 10/10/2017 at 12:37

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for sure better to know now when insurance is interested, and not 6 months from now when it starts throwing check engine lights and you attempt to explain its from the theft.

From other posts on the CO stolen FB page it seems removing the plates is about not being tracked on toll roads and cameras.

Glad you got it back, I LOVE that year of RS, happy to help if there’s anything I can do.

maximillious > notsomethingstructural 10/10/2017 at 12:50

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Thank you for this information. We are definitely aware of the “Claim everything was done by the thief” The tricky part we have been struggling with is finding a dealership with autobody and mechanic repairs. I found a huge shop here in denver that does both so we are probably sending it there. I spoke with the lead mechanic and told him to mark down literally every speck of dust he found on the engine. He seemed on board with that and super sympathetic to our situation. (Sounds like he actually had a similar experience himself which is good). I really appreciate your input on this. My goal is to get this guy totaled, there are only two for sale in the country from dealerships to price against market value and they are almost 100% over what we paid for the car and they have WAY more miles than ours does. The benefit of buying a rarer car. I had similar luck with a total 2005 Civic SI. Wound up walking away with 2k over what i paid for the car 3 years and 30k miles prior.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > maximillious 10/10/2017 at 13:04

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Any idea how they got in? Did they fish in through the window old school style or use a jiggle key in the lock? If it was a jiggle key you are going to want to replace all the locks on the car if they are worn out enough for a jiggle key to work.

maximillious > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/10/2017 at 13:50

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We honestly have no idea. there was no broken glass so it could have been either. I will mention the locks to the shop and see what they say.

gawdzillla > maximillious 10/10/2017 at 15:49

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Denver is like the subaru capital, mechanics are dime a dozen, why are you even asking oppo where to find a local mechanic lol

just go around the block u’d get a hand full

notsomethingstructural > maximillious 10/10/2017 at 16:32

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Not bad if you can get it. If they’re gonna total it and you’re gonna walk, let me know maybe I’ll buy it back from you.

maximillious > gawdzillla 10/11/2017 at 20:06

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I like to look for recommendations from people who i know take an interest in their vehicle and its maintenance and upkeep. I dont give 1/3 of a fuck what Suzie Von Momager feels about the “service” she received at a shop