After a spirited night of driving I was coming home. When coming around a corner where construction was going on my car spun out I was turned at a 45 degree angle toward a cement barrier. I tried to counter steer but the back end went out to fast and with much aggression (beside I have not learned to control my Z yet) I then tried braking but the momentum was not going to let me save myself. I hit the front right corner of my bumper and slide a bit. MY bumper is cracked, scrapped, my turn signal is rough around the edges, and my fog light is destroyed. By the way I was not speeding at most I was gong 15mph around this corner. For some reason in this construction process they laid something down on the road that looks like tar tat has dried. It looked very slick and dark black (definitely not asphalt) I think this is what caused my downfall.

I reported it to AAA and they are going to come out next week to access the damage and give me an estimate. I have already gone to my local Nissan dealer to get a written estimate for all the parts (at their most expensive price).

Now I'm looking for an aftermarket front bumper that isn't part of a widebody kit or aggressive.

I work @ Carmax so I can get a discount on the Nissan parts so even if I stick with stock I can make some extra money after AAA cuts me a check.

Question: My car is a 96' TT the paint besides chips looks fairly good. even so you think I could argue for an entire new paintjob on the car arguing that I don't feel it will match properly?

Also any opinions and pics of bumpers you think compliment our Z's nicely. The JSpec is nice but I'm not sure If I want the added hassle to get hold of the different turn signals. (the fogs are the same correct?) But I also suppose if I'm getting a new fog lamp from Nissan I could just order a JSpec one and AAA would be none the wiser.


Oh yeah definition of irony. 2+ months ago I ordered testpipes and HKS Hi-Power from Concept Z. The testpipes havnt been in so I've been waiting for them to arrive @ Concept Z. I have a $500 deductible with my full coverage policy. I'm a lil short on cash so I called Coz to cancel for now so I can pay my deductble and re-order my stuff in the next couple months. He looks up my order pauses and tells me "That order shipped out today..." I told him the situation and laughed about that all days fro them to finally get my parts in and ship it that it's the day I get in an accident. He laughed about how ironic it was. I told him it was ok and I'd scrounge up the money.

Last Question: If I'm askin for AAA to cut me a check shouldn't they be able to just subtract my deductible from the check and I worry about it when It comes time to pay.

Thanks Tim

 

Good luck with the insurance fraud. Seriously!

 

It's all for the betterment of the Z. Really the only thing they're getting screwed on is the cost of the bumper most of the Aftermarket ones even polyurethane ones are cheaper than stock. I still want a really good shop to paint the bumper. My discount on Nissan parts is negligable.

 

Taking money to replace parts after an accident and then spending it on something else is not fraud. If he never got in an accident and then filed a claim, that is fraud.

 

no... but its his own insurance. so the premium is going to go up artard. lol. just replace it out of your own pocket instead of making your own insurance go up hahaha... i say go 99 j-spec uber sexy oem not to flashy and much better flow to the intercoolers

 

go bumperless with one massive interfooler

 

i can score you a burgundy stock tt bumper for little more then the price of shipping. shipping + $40 maybe

 

i think the betterment is only apply when you paint the whole car and only original condition of the car is fair or the paint looks dull, worn out moldings etc.. because the insurance company will determine the resale value of the car after being painted is usually higher. so, it shouldn't apply if you're only painting part of the car or do spot painting.

i've done a paint job on my two cars in the past. one is 95 Acura legend and the other is 02 Toyota Rav4 due to vandalism (not theft) somebody scratched the whole paint and cracked the front windshield. i had to pay the betterment on Acura Lengend b/c the paint was fair condition that what they determined but i was able to negotiated w/ the shop. so, i didn't have to pay for betterment and was able to waived the deductible amount. on Toyota Rav4, there was no betterment b/c at that time the car was still new b/c i bought brand new and the paint was in good condition. i was able to waived the deductible on this car too.

i think you can negotiate with the shop to waive deductible if you paint the whole car. if you're only do spot painting, most likely they will not waive.

 

1990-1996 Nissan 300Zx Grd Front Bumper Cpe Urethane
$374 @ bodykits.com



I think this one looks nice plus I can use USDM lights!

Hopefully with the money I save I can get HID's for my fogs to compliment my new HID headlights.

Flab ZXTT you saying If I paint the whole car the paint shop will waive my deductible (hopefully) and then I pay the after my insurance pays the amount to paint the bumper?

Ill keep you all updated on the status of my car. Too bad in two weeks I'm going to San Diego (yes a whales V@gina..LOL!!!) I know my car wont be done by then so Ill have to wait until after. At least I save a newly painted bumper a 6 hour drive on the highway. Plus I'll have my exhaust on by then hopefully a few more MPG's on the highway and It will sound good!!!

Tim

 

dude... don't get HID for your fogs thats stupid... they aren't projectors so they will disperse light like crazy and look really weak, just get a bulb that will accent the HID's color you already have if thats what you want to do.

 

you don't want my stock turbo bumper? tear. $50!

 

^^^ Sorry wanna upgrade!!! SNWBRDER your right. I'll just get some super white bulbs or something. Plus two extra ballasts will be extra work to mount.

 

well... if you end up short on money.... throw a PM my way

i don't know how much you've looked into it, bu the jspec fascias are VERY nice looking

 

I still would choose the bumper I have pictured above to go on my Z but I think I have a better chance getting the Jspec since its factory.

On Z1 they state that the stock intercooler ducts don't fit well with the 99 Jspec bumper. They offer 99 intercooler ducts. http://www.z1motorsports.com/product...oducts_id=1537

Is this true? When I go to have it painted would they be able to mount the stock ducts for me or would I be better off getting the 99 ducts. Sucks because I dont think AAA will cover the ducts.

Is there a Nissan Part Number for the 99 Ducts?

I have the Part# for the bumper and the signals.

 

i read up on that a bit and what i was able to find was that you either need those ducts or just to upgrade intercoolers.

this talks about it
http://www.speedyzx.com/Jspec/fascia.html

 

I hate to be that guy but...

Isn't this whole using your insurance for your accident to upgrade going to cost you more in the long run than just paying to fix it yourself?

Aren't your rates going to go up on this?

 

if thats the same bumper i bought, there are some fitment issues with it. nothing really serious, but it is annoying

 

thats EXACTLY what i said in the beginning and no on paid attention. also i got that greddy front as well mine was a fiberglass one though it blew ***** for fitment. jspec probably be right on since its factory

 

Oh dang! I didn't see that.
In that case... I'm with snw. If someone hits you and you want to upgrade, that's a whole different story. But all your fault??

 

SNW I already reported it to AAA before I even posted up the thread Sorry I didn't state that I really wasn't trying to ignore you I respect your opinion and value your input. I don't have the means to fix my car so I'll suck it up and when October comes around and I sign my new policy I'll have to deal with a little higher insurance. Shouldnt be too bad though I'm paying $100 a month for 3 cars right now (yeah I know screw me)

I'm going to have to set up a payment plan for the deductible at the place I paint it. Or have AAA cut me a check minus the $500 deductible. This came at the worst time like I said I just spent $800 on my exhaust thats on its way. I know for me to drive this car and have no savings is retarded but thats why I'm trying to get a second job and waste less money.

I think I'll have to go with Jspec just annoys me because if I ever go to a meet I'll just be another Z32 owner with a 99 Front Fascia. Whatever no Z I've seen on the streets around me has one so atleast I'll be different around here.

Tim

Thanks for the Input. I'll keep you updated