The problem, though, is WHOSE "acceptable" standards.

"Acceptable" means VERY different things to you, to me, to Chinese manufacturers and rebuilders, and to the US Department of Transportation.

Anyone who thinks communist chinese auto safety standards are "acceptable" should look at the crash test results for the Chery, and other red chinese automobiles and SUV's that were sought to be sold in this country. They are death traps.

But regardless, American consumers would buy them by the six-pack if they sold them at Wal Mart, because of two things:

They would be cheap,

and they would get good gas mileage.

Never mind they are such rolling death traps, that they would crumple up like crepe paper in any wreck, even a little one, and that their build quality is such crap they would not even outlast their monthly payment book, they would be discarded like used toilet paper in 2-3 years or less.

I guess my definition of "acceptable" is that it is at the same standard as what it was just before the accident.

Please don't waste my time looking at the crash test. I have seen first hand how shoddy their work is. My folks once looked at a Russian car. The Lada Samara. I tell you, the engine block looked like it was something that we got drunk and decided to make out of a hunk of metal.

The problem is that people are penny wise, pound foolish. They dumped their PAID FOR cars to get a new car payment because it got a few mpg more. Yes, if you owned that car for maybe 15 years, it might pay for itself. They don't calculate the interest payments, the increase in insurance, etc, etc. They just get a lower sticker shock at the pump. Obviously anything you say is utter rubbish since it would never happen to them. It only happens to "the other guy", not me. I look at what it costs me in the long run. Sure, lower sticker price today is good but that does not mean cheap when you consider the long term.

A case in point. I bought a trans for my truck for $3900. I could have had a Ford Reman for a little more than half that. HOWEVER, since I know how I play and that I will break it sooner or later, I opted for the more expensive one. Why? Because that guy has a reputation of covering it under his warranty for as long as you own it. If the Ford reman breaks and I have to pay for a new one after 3 yrs is up, I am at that point already.

I believe that all the states automobile ownership laws contain provisions for "self insurance/responsibilty" however that "SR" clause is typically expensive or cumbersome to establish. In other words, consumer insurance is the convenient and economical method of meeting statutory requirements, not a monopoly.

As to other issues in this thread:

Most modern auto policies are standardized ISO documents, tailored for each state's minimum requirements, so it's important to know what your state's regulations allow or disallow. Some states have "fair adjustment" regulations for insurance companies that set specific criteria for handling claims; most states have consumer protection divisions that will intercede on the consumer's behalf since insurance is a licensed and regulated industry in all states.

Generally, any ambiguity in an insurance contract will be resolved in the consumer's interest, since insurance is generally viewed as contracts, not only of adhesion, but of exclusion. However, it does require that the consumer take responsibility for knowing what is and isn't covered and who has control over claims decisions. Typically, the biggest dispute is over "actual cash value" when a vehicle is deemed "totaled."

I just read the OP and not the whole thread. They are just following the "used/cheap" parts process as they have been with extended warranties - which are pretty much administered by insurance companies. You may have a "GEE WHIZ BANG,INC" extended warranty contract, but it's administered by "GREAT BIG HUGE INSURANCE, CO" Your S500 blew the trans at 75,000 miles. They will not pay for a Benz rebuild, MAY have a contract with a chain-type trans shop, or may say: We'll send a used transmission to the shop.

I've also seen an insurance company "depreciate" the engine of a C320 with 17,000 miles on it - hydro-locked because someone thought it was a German U-Boat and not a small German passenger car. They wanted to pay the claim minus $2200+ if I recall correctly.

How do you know the original bumper was not made in China?

Good point. Not for nothing but, for a year or two in the nineties, Ford did up the "foreign" part content in the Crown Vic / Grand Marq to about 51% to get them off there CAFE standards list..

I'm beginning to think that liability and medical coverage is the way to go. set up a side savings account so that you are self-insured in the event of a collision. obviously, the insurance guys are looking for anyway to give you the short shift, so might as well insure yourself. that way you call the shots as to body shop, quality of parts, etc etc.

I think those of us with older cars are essentially self insured anyway. I carry full insurance, but I don't actually expect it to help me in anything more than a fender bender. Fortunately, my insurance premiums are pretty cheap so I've never really worried about it.

I suppose that is one way. Questions would be:

1. What is the difference in price between those cases?
2. What happens if you need say $5000 and your fund only has $2000?

EXACTLY, The first thing you need to make DAMN SURE mr insurance adjuster understands is that You Know Where The JP'S Office is--and You Know What To Do when you get there. You be casual about even so much as letting him thing its his perogative to use cheap chinese parts to the rental and you are facilitating your headaches.

The moment you start that conversation, the adjuster will refer you to their legal department.

And all you have to do then is make one more contact with one more higher up before following through---What I meant is exactly what I said, He has to know whats what and not even hesitate to file a suit. It will possibly be drawn out to 90 days but anyone who lets insurance co's do this become part of the problem. And a lot of the time the "Legal Dept" is an Emminent -PUT ON to scare the "mark" into being complacent, of the times I have gone up against a big insurance co in small claims court-I have won every time and the lawyer was form a legal firm ---That they had to pay SERIOUSLY-not the insurance company.

ARE YOU ONE OF THOSE TARDS THAT WORK OF THE INSURANCE COMPAINES. iF SO YOU KNOW WHAT i THINK OF YOU YOU WORTHLESS DIRTY POS. HE PAID HIS INSURANCE THE COMANY OWES HIM A NEW BUMPER AND NO BULL ****. IF THEY GIVE HIM BULLSHILT THEY SHOULD PAY HIM FOR HIS INCOVIECE. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PROFIT OF THE INSURANCE SLUT, IT'S ABOUT GETTING THE DAMB COVERAGE YOU PAY FOR.

WHY IN THE HELL DO ANY OF US PAY INSURACNE THEN? THE HELL WITH THEM IF WE ALL STOPPED PAYING ARE INSURACE THEY WOULD BE OUT OF BUSINESS.

IF JIM WANTED A DAMB CHINSE CAR HE WOULD HAVE BOUGHT ONE.