My 2020 AMG GT convertible had a collision with a large rock on a narrow Malibu road and has been totaled. My passenger and I were uninjured.

The car had less than 5,000 miles on it and was in perfect condition. I had planned to drive it to Monterey for Car Week in August.

I now have to figure out what the car is worth so that I receive proper compensation from my insurance company. Any suggestions on determining value would be appreciated. Similar vehicles online for sale vary wildly in price but none has my car's low mileage.

And I will be looking for a replacement vehicle. Blue and red are the two colors I am most interested in, anywhere from a 2018 to a 2021. (I had a 2018 brilliant blue coupe that I traded in for the convertible.)

 

Sorry to hear that. What matters is that you both are OK.

 

Scott:

I’m real glad you and your passenger werent hurt.

asfar a compensating value goes, I would have been messaging you for your expertise.

I think you can use an aggregate of the carious models sold and for sale on the more prominent sites.

Also, your MB dealer may be a good reference as well. As you know they have books that list the auction, wholesale and retail sales over time.

Hagerty has a data base full of the premium auction prices.


Very best of luck

Jerry

 

That’s horrible to hear and kind of crazy. Rockslide? So sorry…
Walking from the wreckage was at least a good outcome and the most important thing.
Will be interesting to see how insurance co. will deal with replacement value. Assuming duties hold, is the 25% increase even factored in at this point?
i.e. does that creep into pre-owned market values?
Good Luck.

 

Thanks, all. Obviously I wanted to avoid injuries and the road was narrow and there weren't any better alternatives except to hit the rock as close to the center of the car as possible to keep from having the car tip over or go over the cliff. It destroyed the undercarriage but kept my GF and me from being hurt,

Jerry - good advice but I don't know how to access the Haggerty results. Right now online there is a 2020 with 22.8k+ miles for sale around $80k by a Lamborghini dealer in Texas and a 2021 for sale in Florida with 5.6k+ miles for around $129k. (I suspect the 2020 has led a rough life.) The variance is extraordinary, but it's obvious that low mileage on these cars makes them more valuable. (I would be interested in the 2021 as a replacement vehicle.)

 

Sorry to hear this! Good luck on your search for the next one. Keep us all posted!

 

I’m sorry about your car but happy you are fine.

 

This is terrible news but pleased that you and your passenger came out unscathed. Last time I was up there (prefire) I hit some small rocks and it sounded like IEDs going off.

 

So glad you’re OK, Scott, and damn sorry about the car.

As for a valuation: how about using the VIN and miles, condition, etc. and plug them into sites such as KBB.com; NADA.com, etc. You could also plug the data into Carvana and see how much they would have given you for the car.

Good luck!

 

KBB and the others give lowball amounts because they have little experience with the car. Bring a Trailer has essentially nothing comparable to my car in their database.

I have an amount in mind that I think the car is worth, and it's over 6 figures. I suspect I am going to have a fight, but I am prepared for it. In the end, I may have to go the appraisal route, but the appraisers will almost certainly take into account the very low mileage (4700) and the car's perfect condition before the accident. The best comparable is a 2021, mentioned above, at $128,900 for almost a thousand more miles and comparable equipment. While I am entitled to actual cash value and not a replacement car, the two figures are nonetheless related. I suspect the 2021 would sell for $120,000 if an offer was made. I would also be looking to that car as a replacement. It seems to have everything I had on the 2020.

 

Hire an independent appraiser. The insurance company could low-ball you on valuation, and the money will be well spent to ensure you get what you deserve.

 

I will if I am low balled.

 

There is a 2020 red roadster for sale in Jacksonville. I looked at the car. Nice shape. I ended up buying a blue GTC. Good luck with the insurance company.

 

https://www.classic.com/m/mercedes-benz/amg-gt/roadster/gt/year-2020/

https://www.classic.com/m/mercedes-benz/amg-gt/coupe/gt/year-2020/

 

I reached a settlement with my insurance company. They were very fair. I'm now going to begin a search to replace like for like. It's not going to be easy.

 

FYI:

I had a chance to speak with my insurance company’s underwriter today and took the opportunity to discuss payout values (for total loss). Here’s what I was told for 2020 models:

AMG GT: $96,000

AMG GTC: $107,000

AMG GTR: $112,000

Naturally, there are several factors that can influence the final valuation, but these represent their current averages. Keep in mind, these figures can fluctuate month to month.

 

Very sorry to hear, Scott!

But so grateful that you and passenger are healthy and unscathed!!

Here's to hoping you get a super fair insurance settlement

 

I am having difficulty finding a 2020 GT with less than 10k miles on it. My car was in perfect condition before the collision with the rock and only had 4700 miles on the odometer. This search is becoming frustrating. There is nothing out there even close. There's a 2021, but it appears to be overpriced by $15k.

 

My insurance company has now paid me. They were very helpful and it was stress-free. If anyone wants to know the name of my insurance company, PM me.

I now am going through the rigors of finding a replacement vehicle. My 2020 GT had only 4709 miles on it. There is nothing out there that is comparably equipped with less than 20k miles, and I am sure those cars were driven hard. Mine was only in the rain one time, and it was always garaged. I usually took it out only on sunny Sundays, with the convertible top down, and stored it in my heated garage with the top up.

A 2021 with a little less than 6k miles is about $129k, and my settlement was nowhere near that.

Does anybody have any ideas where I can get a comparable GT?

 

Will ask around my network. Local car preferred?

The best ones are probably not on the market. Do you C&C much? Might spot one or two. Doesn't hurt to ask. Porsche Santa Clarita C&C first sunday of every month is huge. Hagerty in Van Nuys organises one every now and then. Also since they store cars there, clients may sell through them.

Btw, were you affected much by the fires? Hope everything is ok.

 

I don't C&C. California car preferred but I may need to expand my search. I am currently spending most of my time (and money) restoring an antique that has been accepted into the Pebble Beach Concours D'elegance in August. I'm trying to find a suitable replacement GT online. But if anybody knows of a car that is available, but not being advertised, I'd sure like to know. Please PM me.

As for the fires in January, I was evacuated for 6 days by the Palisades Fire, but it never got closer than 1.7 miles. I grew up in the Palisades and the first house I owned and the two I rented as a young lawyer all burned to the ground. My parents' former house near the Riviera Country Club was unaffected.

 

I'd be happy to lend you my coupe to use for Monterey. I would just ask you to take it in for BG service before the trip and I would obviously pay for it. You may want to buy it once you've driven it. Open cars are bad for the skin. We after all are geezers.
I'm happy that you came through the fire unscathed more or less. Still must have been a frightening experience. I am pleased to hear that you are restoring the Rolls Royce and have been invited to show at Pebble Beach. Congratulations!

 

The only problem with offering Scott your car is that he will ask to borrow your wife as well. 😂

 

Well, I got rid of that problem ages ago!

 

Scott, I hope you find that ‘Unicorn’ replacement soon, and good to hear that your insurance company stood behind their product.

How do you like your Lucid Air? I really wish they had a service centre closer to our area; it’s the only reason I haven’t seriously thought of buying an Air, or placing an order for the new Gravity.