Insurance write-offs

[mrpbailey]

My brother crashed his car about 10 days ago into a wall. Car in question is a 2000 ford puma 'black edition'.

We were certain the car was going to be written off but the obvious concern was what price they Would value the car. It was very good condition with only 39k (genuine,provable) miles on the clock.

Anyway he got the call yesterday, and the guy from direct line said "we don't mess people around anymore with lowball offers, just price the car reasonably and that's that. We will give you £1150 minus your excess".
When my brother told me this I did question the validity of the statement, surely it's just insurers sweet-talking?
To me the payout should allow you to purchase a similar spec/condition car?? Which could well consist off differing opinions between insured & the insured?

Now I know you can find standard 1.7 Pumas for less than the £1150, but not with under 40k or the 'black edition', which I feel should make a difference as the interiors a lot nicer.

Am I right in telling him to challenge the value?

Thanks

[rallycross]

Always worth a try but that is a very good offer for a 2000 puma they are not worth much these days (For a guide value its too old to be in g/g).

[petrolsniffer]

Challenge it people on here have had experiences of going back and forth 2-3 times before they got a value they were happy with.

Get on autotrader,ebay,ph,gumtree and email some ad's of simular spec/year cars.

[dooosuk]

You'll need evidence to challenge it.

What are other Black Edition Puma's selling for (even with higher mileage)?

[GreatGranny]

Never accept their first offer.

Try to find adverts for cars similar in spec/mileage etc.. to demonstrate what he can't buy for £1150.

It might go back and forward for a while but it will be worth it.

[thescamper]

Any evidence you provide needs to be the price that the cars sold at, most insurers will not consider advertised prices as evidence.

[velocemitch]

Had a similar experience a few years back with an old Fiat Punto, I challenged the valuation, backed it up with adverts for similar cars and the insurance paid up.

Got to be worth haggling, you've nothing to loose.

[mrpbailey]

It's difficult to judge really as there's not many of the special editions for sale. The ones that are range from £500 rusty examples with over 108k miles, to £2500 for a clean example with 60k miles. Yet there are standard 1.7 pumas with similar mileage going for £1k - £1500.