Wife's car was flooded from Melbourne storm tonight!!!

[Gti Dave]

Hey guys just want your opinion, the wife was driving to work this evening and was caught in the bad melbourne weather this evening and ended up being trapped in a big pool of flood water causing the car to stall and would not restart. Second later, water started to pour into the car up to the level of the base of the seat. Some guys helped to push the car out of the mess a few minutes later but car still wouldn't start. Waited for 2 hrs and after following the manual's instruction for flooding, the car started again and was driven home.
Problem now is, I don't want a flood affected car as it may cause problems down the track. So far the electricals work and the car drives alright but don't know how much damage has been done.
Does anybody know if AAMI might give us a write off or will they just decide to go cheap and replace the carpets and give it a clean?

Your opinions and experiences are much appreciated.

[anthony]

What car is it,and do you want it to be written off ???

You will meet an accessor,and discuss all the options,but at the end of the day,they will unfotyinatly have the final say.

[Sharkie]

I believe the policy used by the insurers (Suncorp & AAMI at least) is that if the water came over the doorsill it is an automatic write-off. You will however, have to check with your insurance assessment centre.

Not too sure what they would do in your case since you left the scene and drove home .....

The damage to the mechanicals would be minimal if the engine did not ingest any water, it is the othe runprotected bits that will cause problems. Exposed metal under the seats, dash, pretty much anywhere else thats not in the engine bay or underneath will rust and cannot easily (or cheaply) be fixed. Hence the reason they write-off cars as mentioned in my 1st paragraph.

I was told this by a Suncorp Assessment Centre Manager, but don't quote me, check with AAMI directly ....

[Gti Dave]

ThAnks sharkie. I wanted to leave it there but dad was too macho with s big technical ego so wanted to start it while I was gone just to prove how smart he is. He even wanted to give the car a clean himself so I said don't even think about it.
From what I can gather from the response of the aami guy over the phone, he said it's a big difference when a car is only engine submerged compared to the whole car being submerged 3/4 of the way. Fingers and toes crossed aami writes it off cause it'll never be the same and will only mean complaints and problems in the futre when things start corroding.

[Gti Dave]

Hey guys just an update, AAMI finally sent a tow truck to pick up the car. Apparently according to the tow truck driver the car is going directly to Manheim Fowles. Hope I get my personalised plates back. I wonder how long its gonna take for a final verdict? I assume that if its going to the auction place then its a write off? If so, I better start looking for a replacement.

[kaanage]

It STILL hasn't been settled????

[Gti Dave]

Nope unfortunately not. I guess with them being inundated with and I quote them "1 million claims"....it takes a while. Hoping to hear the final verdict from them very soon. Really need to get another car as only having 1 car and not knowing what the result is, is driving me and the wife nuts.

[Gti Dave]

Hey guys got the final verdict and its a write off. Thanks Sharkie for your input. Definately sounds like you were spot on about AAMI and Suncorp. Can now go car shopping YAY

[Gti Dave]

Got a new replacement car that should be better than my dear lil pog gti. Picking it up tomorrow. YAY