Posted on 07/04/2023 2:37:57 PM PDT by nickcarraway
New cars and trucks are packed with sensors and technology that protect and pamper drivers and passengers. But those features are also raising the cost of repairs after accidents.
The average cost of making damaged cars good as new has soared 36% since 2018, and may top $5,000 by the end of this year, according to Mitchell, a company that provides data and software to insurance companies and auto repair businesses. That big increase is the main reason that insurance premiums have been soaring — up 17% in the 12 months through May.
New SUVs and pickup trucks, including a rapidly growing number of electric models, have become so complex and luxurious that seemingly simple repairs can cost a small fortune, auto experts said. Insurers are often on the hook for much of those costs, leading them to raise their rates.
Materials designed to crumple or deform in a crash to protect pedestrians or passengers, for example, can be hard or impossible to repair. Many bumpers must be replaced after low-speed dings because the safety sensors embedded in them may no longer work properly after repairs. Other systems, even some that do not appear to be damaged, must be inspected or recalibrated.
“The modern digital architecture is so advanced that systems beyond point of impact are being disrupted,” said Ryan Mandell, director of claims performance for Mitchell. “Getting a car back to pre-loss condition is harder than at any point in history, and will only become more challenging.”
Industry experts have been particularly focused on the cost of repairing electric cars and trucks, which aren’t built like gasoline cars and have different parts. In addition, many mechanics aren’t trained to work on them. In recent months, news reports and stories shared on social media about astronomical repair bills for electric
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
new front brakes
rotors ?
600
goodyear
Excellent, you seem to have a good one! :)
“Computer Complexity.”
About 8 years ago ran into a pick up truck going about 10 miles/hr.
Didn’t hit the truck proper but hit it’s huge trailer hitch.
Pushed my radiator back about 2 inches.
Was first told it was a cheap repair, and about an hour later got a call that my computer system for the car was behind the radiator and my car was total!!
Why in God’s name that system isn’t beyond the engine block is just evil!!!!
When I took the dogs out back this AM two spotted fawns ran across the yard around us, this year’s crop. Dogs barely give them a second look.
My brother had a Toyota Taco pickup, maybe 8 years old. Superb truck, though it’s not in rough service. One day he fired it up and literally every dashboard warning lamp lit up. He took it in, turns out rats had munched the wiring harness. His ins wanted to total the truck! The dealer wantedk $8k to fix it, he found a better deal @ $5k which ins paid. But the good thing w/Toyota is he traded the truck with $6k for a brand new one.
Even the highest-spec performance /racing rotors for my Fiesta ST cost under $350 / pair. These are machined and coated in USA and include molybdenum, chromium and carbon content. Not sure why you’re paying so much.
And a tune-up for my Nissan Z24i? Around $50 in parts including new spark plug and coil wires.
the pads were ok
why the rotors
couldn’t they turn them
the two front wheels
total cost 600
About 10 years ago I got pads and rotors from my wholesaler for 29 bucks total. It was a 2001 Ford focus.
Today same part numbers 143 dollars.
Still all comes from China
I’m a 60 something and I like it when I walk up to the back of the SUV with both arms full of groceries or whatever, all I have to do is stand next to the hatch for a brief moment, and it opens.
I just went through that. The damn thing sounded like a machine gun. There’s a video on YouBoob where the guy says it’s easy, should take only 20 minutes. Yeah, right. Maybe if I had two elbows in my right arm.
I’d bet his prices include shop labor.
Shops don’t turn rotors any more. To time consuming and new ones are a larger profit
Car repairs are expensive because of the pool of money created by “warranty policies”.
College costs are expensive because of the plethora of government “student loans”.
Health care costs are expensive because of the gigantic pool of money created by “health insurance”.
Auto prices are more expensive due to the reality of banks loaning money to idiots.
Later, rinse, repeat...
thanks
that’s what I thought
they did it memorial day
otherwise with one technician
it was all booked up
When I bought a new gladiator for my business, the sales reps didn’t like the fact I only wanted power windows and locks, and nothing else. More crap you have more stuff is going to break. I have the advantage of being a mechanic in the past, but I don’t want to fix useless to me garbage.
try to get my teeth cleaned
same thing
wait
The cars are basically unrepairable after even a minor, low-speed accident, unless you willing to pay to essentially replace everything connected to the windshield wipers.
The sunroof failed on my 2014 Ford Expedition back around 2016. To fix it, they had to completely tear down the roof liner, some of the dashboard, and take out the seats. It was a $3,500 repair! The car had gone out of warranty after I made the repair appointment but before the actual appointment date! I could have brought it in the same day I made the appointment, but the shop was full for three weeks. The dealer I bought it from (used) went to bat for me and got it covered under warranty. Whew!
I loved learning how to tune up and maintain my first 2 cars. Timing, dwell, distributor cap, points, valve adjustments. Once you get good at something like this, you can tune up a car for more power, better mileage, etc.
A friend in Kalifornia has a 1970s pickup truck. He replaced the original 2 barrel carburetor with a 4 barrel. When he went to get it smogged, the creeps would not sign off since it was not original equipment. It passed all the actual tailpipe emissions tests. He put the original back, received the smog certificate, and then put the better, more effective, efficient 4 barrel carburetor back on.
Or an electric start fob. I want a key.
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