Widowmaker, it cost me around $300, that was 9 years ago. Also he reused the headliner and the rear window - this was my Oldsmobile, not the Stang.
Thought you were closer to me, I'm from Delaware County, can't recommend any shops out your way.

 

i had the top on my 05 vert slashed not long ago. i went to the dealer because the insurance was paying. i did that because i felt more like they would do a good job and if the work sucked i figured i had more chance of pressuring a dealership that doens't want bad press than a self employed shop owner who doesn't give a crap. At the dealer the vinyl top was 1600, the headliner was 600 and the labor was about another 1500 or so if memory serves. The a-hole who cut mine also climbed on top and ruined the frame, my total was $6500. i could have had the job done at an upholstery shop with me supliny the top for about $2k not counting the frame. The frame was the bad part they tell me and really upped the labor. anyway, you must be fully covered this is the time to use your insurance. If not you are going to be out at least $2000.

 

Man that sucks. If I had a vert I think I’d keep it unlocked and put a big sign in the window with “Car Unlocked”.

 

So, a little update...

The damage is covered under my insurance (thankfully) and in a stroke of good news (for once) the claim is considered a comprehensive claim, meaning that my deductible will only be $100 rather than $500 (praise god).

Also I should clarify some things for those who have been commenting. The car was vandalized behind my home at college, not my home home... so unfortunately it could have been any one of 12,000+ ******** that did it.

Nothing was stolen either, as the cuts were only about 3 inches in length each. Purely an act of ***-hole-sim, for no purpose what-so-ever other than "hey ya'll watch this!"

Anyway I'll keep you guys updated on the progress of the repair. I'm thinking it will just go to the dealership considering insurance is the one paying...

 

i would if anyone shoudl know what they are doing it will be the dealer.

 

So, update...

rant

Got a quote from the insurance agency for $1700 for a new top and headliner. I figure, okay, I'll go to the dealer tomorrow and see if they will fix it for that much.

The next day, I receive a check in the mail. I think this is awesome because I can get it fixed immediately. I open the envelope and realize that the check is for $1200. WTF. I call my insurance agency and am informed that I am being charged a $400 "betterment" fee. Of course I have no idea what this means until I am told that because I am getting a brand new top as opposed to one that is four years old, I have to pay $400 dollars.

Has anyone ever heard of this before? I feel as though it is just a sneaky way of charging me as $500 deductible rather than the $100 that I am supposed to have.

Anyway, I find out that the local dealer simply ships all upholstery work to a local shop. I go there, and the guy tells me that he'll fix it for $1400 if I pay him cash, in effect eliminating some BS $300 fee to drive the car a mile from the dealer to the shop apparently. The guy has been nothing but cordial to me, even going out of his way to come back to his shop after business hours to park my ride inside due to the impending blizzard. I hope he does nice work...

It'll be done Tuesday. Will post pics...

/rant

 

After perusing through this thread, it sounds like a bait-and-switch act was dropped on you by the adjuster if they weren't UP FRONT about it when disclosing how much you'll be receiving.

You may want to clarify this with your adjuster: did he/she say you'd be receiving the $1.6K? Or did he say you were due that much in compensation, and just conveniently failed to mention the "betterment" fee?

For the record, I've not heard of a "betterment" fee. More often, I've heard it's a pro-rated payout for age on said repaired item.

In other words, I once had a windshield which needed to be replaced because of a comprehensive insurance claim. They made me pay a deductible, plus cost depreciation of the windshield (claiming that after so many miles, a windshield will have pits from road gravel, etc.) B.S.

Same thing applies with slashed tires and the wear already incurred; though I think you can extrapolate the rest of this example with no problem.

I do believe, as a poster said above, that said nuts need to be sliced and diced -- whoever these nuts belong to.

Sorry to hear 'bout it.

 

coming from a fellow vert owner, thats some scary ****. Makes me want to keep mine in the garage

 

We have been through Hell with tops. Do NOT get a Kee top. Less than a year and ours was splitting seams, never did fit right, and the rear window was becoming delaminated. The upholstery shop dented the car, and then had the ***** to say we brought it in that way. Long story short, we are on our second replacement top (cloth both times, this time with a different manufacturer and shop) and I'm not liking verts so much anymore. Just make sure they don't use Kee tops. Forgot to say, first top was covered by ins (1300), second one was out of our pocket ($1400).

 

I'd keep a watch on the vert after you get it fixed. I'm quite sure they'll strike again once they see you've fixed it.