In the continuing pursuit to baseline components that will give me some idea of the benefits that may or may not come from the use of after-market components I assembled a stock y-pipe with inlets to test on the flow bench.
The intake was not entirely stock, incorporating the RS4 accordion hose and an 85mm MAF sensor housing. These two components are what I have on hand and are unlikely to detract from the flow numbers generated by any of the down stream components that I am measuring.
The assembled components are a bit unwieldy to mount to the flowbench, but with the help of some bungee cords I was able to get all of the piping in place.
My fight with the Insurance company was more evenly matched thanks to some internal and external factors.
Being able to do research on the Internet helped with understanding the dynamics of the situation and learning from other’s experiences. The links to articles and videos (now in the posts) were valuable for understanding the bigger picture.
The shop that routinely services my S4 was instrumental in informing me how the Insurance companies handle claims. Because they routinely are dealing with insurance companies they were able to tell me ‘how it goes’.
I had a property & casualty insurance license which put me in the company of insurance agents on occasion and afforded me the opportunity to solicit suggestions as well as understand what was motivating the other side.
I was trained (not licensed) as a real estate property appraiser which allowed me to scrutinize the market value appraisal reports generated by CCC with a critical eye.
I’m a B5 S4 enthusiast and this car was crafted to my specifications from the moment Audi started bending metal. My long history with the platform has exposed me to the various aftermarket parts available and that familiarity was fundamental to calling B.S. with poor comparables as well as insisting on being awarded with appropriate compensation for the modifications that my car had.
Hiring an independent auto appraiser ended the debate with the insurance company and resulted in a payout I was satisfied with.
If you find yourself in a similar situation fighting an insurance company hopefully some of the information I have posted will assist you.
Dealing with the Insurance company was an educational experience, frustrating, but fruitful in the end. When it was over the payout for the damaged Santorin S4 rose from $10,000 to $16,500, a 65% increase from what the insurance company offered me initially.
Along the way I learned that the value offered by the insurance companies is likely less than what the car is really worth.
The insurance companies hire a firm called CCC to provide them with market values for cars, this is simply a recommendation.
This insurance company blindly accepted the recommendations of CCC in spite of glaring errors in the market value assessment report.
The CCC reports I reviewed had errors, exhibited poor appraisal techniques, and the people I spoke with at CCC were unsophisticated and rude.
This insurance company justified their actions with weak logic and repeatedly deferred to the company they hired, CCC, acting like there was nothing they could do in situations that they in fact had full control over.
Policy and claims are two separate entities within an insurance company. Policy, who you deal with most of the time, are in the business of taking your money, therefore they treat you nice and are helpful. The claims side of the business has to pay you money, they are far less helpful, more than that, they’re working to protect the company’s bottom line at your expense. Claims people are the enemy, don’t forget that.
Insurance fraud is the second most common crime, second to tax fraud, as a result Insurance companies behave like every claim is fraudulent and cut their losses by paying out less across the board.
An informed car owner who is willing to put up a fight is likely to get a higher payout. The process is most painful for those who have legitimate claims and want to get what they rightly deserve.
The Insurance company enters an agreement with you then happily takes your insurance premium, if you have to use your policy hold them to providing what you’ve paid for.
With the outside involvement over with regards to the Santorin S4 I turned my attention to acquiring a replacement S4. That effort is documented in the AgS4 posts.
