(1/19/16 wrap-up posted) Car wrecked - what to do with it?

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2015 1:40 pm

Earlier this week my step-son ran into the back of a parked landscaping trailer/truck combo and wrecked my kids' 1999 Toyota Corolla in the process. I don't carry collision insurance so the damaged Corolla is my problem to deal with. I bought the Corolla knowing I could replace it fairly cheap ($2500 - $3000) if something like this happened, and I plan to do that since my kids need a car ASAP. The question is, what should I do with the wrecked car? I'm very capable of doing most of the repair (basically parts replacement) work myself, and I'm quite sure there's no frame damage, but the list of replacement parts needed is pretty long (see below), so I'm guessing repairs would be cost-prohibitive. Also, I have no bodywork experience, and I'm not sure if the bent/torn metal sub-frame in the right front corner is even repairable. The parts needing replacement that I've identified so far are as follows:

*DS & PS airbags
*DS seat belt / retractor mechanism
*Windshield
*Right front fender
*Right front tire
*Front bumper (cover)
*Right front headlight
*Front impact beam - heavy steel, behind bumper cover
*Right front fender liner
*Windshield washer fluid tank
*There are also a couple wiring harnesses behind the headlight that disconnected (and one tore off) upon impact, and I haven't been able to figure out yet where they go or what they are even for.

The photos below are my best attempt at showing the damaged area. (BTW, the fluid on the ground is WSW fluid - no damage to the radiator.)

Again, even if I can justify the replacement parts, I wonder whether the bent/torn integrated sheet metal between the headlight and tire is a showstopper.

What do you guys think - have it hauled off to a junkyard, or any other suggestions? (And no, I'm not interested in making this a dedicated RallyX car.)

The following is the view from directly above, pointed straight downward into the area where the WSW fluid tank used to be - lots of bent sheet metal here:

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2015 2:05 pm

ouch.... sorry to hear that happened. First, I think I'd send the step son to a street survival school, might be money well spent there. As for the car, and if it were me, I'd drop it on CL if it's still running for 500-700 bucks and be done w/ it. A cheap running car will be snapped up quick. Otherwise, time to hit the breaker yards and collect parts. Really is your call on what to do.

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2015 2:14 pm

How many miles are on it? I might be interested in taking it off your hands to put on the yard for work.

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2015 2:37 pm

~135,000 miles. Drivetrain is in great shape - no leaks, burns zero oil, etc.

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2015 2:41 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

ouch.... sorry to hear that happened. First, I think I'd send the step son to a street survival school, might be money well spent there. As for the car, and if it were me, I'd drop it on CL if it's still running for 500-700 bucks and be done w/ it. A cheap running car will be snapped up quick. Otherwise, time to hit the breaker yards and collect parts. Really is your call on what to do.

Thanks for the suggestions, Rodney.

The car runs fine and can be driven, but currently on spare tire, and airbags & driver's seatbelt are non-functional. Hadn't thought about craigslist - that sounds like a viable option if there's some demand for cars in this condition.

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

You said that dedicated RallyX car is out of the question, but have you considered Lemons or Chump?

It's not rallycross.

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2015 4:04 pm

Andrew Jonell wrote:

You said that dedicated RallyX car is out of the question, but have you considered Lemons or Chump?

It's not rallycross.

Hmmm, hadn't considered it. Not sure I'd have the time and definitely don't have anywhere to park/store the car. Good suggestion, thought, Andrew - might give that some more thought.

(follow-up) - after a little more thought I realized this car would be no fun on track - it's an automatic.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2015 4:09 pm

Sorry Keith, but I have to ask. What was his story on running into a parked landscape trailer?

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2015 5:15 pm

"Blinded by the combination of sneezing and the setting sun."

Neither are reasonable excusus IMO, as I'm sure you'll agree. If everyone drove straight ahead when their vision was hindered, attorneys would be even richer and there'd be a lot fewer people walking this Earth.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2015 5:51 pm

Keith Quistorff wrote:

"Blinded by the combination of sneezing and the setting sun."

Neither are reasonable excusus IMO, as I'm sure you'll agree. If everyone drove straight ahead when their vision was hindered, attorneys would be even richer and there'd be a lot fewer people walking this Earth.

I was just curious as to the story given. Not saying it didn't happen as stated because I wasn't there, but I hear some good ones here at work. I think it's hilarious as their parents seem to believe them no matter what. My favorite was the bosses daughter who flipped her Acura MDX while "spitting out the window". The NCSHP told her Dad that was one he'd never heard before, but her Dad still believed her. Another one was another worker's daughter who T-boned a truck (totaling both vehicles) because she didn't see him coming. She hit him broad side...as he passed right in front of her, but she didn't see him coming? She left out the part where she was yapping with her friend and rolled through the stop sign.

Glad you son was OK.

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2015 6:06 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

Glad you son was OK.

Step-son, but thanks. Luckily, no one was injured.

My son is 3 years younger and a far better driver. I dare say even my 16 year old daughter pays better attention to her driving than my step-son. Then there's my step-daughter, who has a less-than-stellar driving record - 3 accidents in 5 years. Seems her brother is following in her footsteps. At least she has her own insurance. Having 3 young drivers on my insurance policy is painful enough.

RickyBeam · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2015 7:10 pm

Other than the air bags (which almost NO ONE will ever replace), it's not all that bad. Luckily, that's a body panel that's easy to replace. The bumper can be bent back out (hammer, tow straps, ... did I mention we have a frame straightener behind the shop?) Duff's had worse done to it. (in fact, something similar, damage-wise, was done to the RV)

BretLuter · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2015 11:44 pm

Keith Quistorff wrote:

Earlier this week my step-son ran into the back of a parked landscaping trailer/truck combo and wrecked my kids' 1999 Toyota Corolla in the process. I don't carry collision insurance so the damaged Corolla is my problem to deal with. I bought the Corolla knowing I could replace it fairly cheap ($2500 - $3000) if something like this happened, and I plan to do that since my kids need a car ASAP. The question is, what should I do with the wrecked car? I'm very capable of doing most of the repair (basically parts replacement) work myself, and I'm quite sure there's no frame damage, but the list of replacement parts needed is pretty long (see below), so I'm guessing repairs would be cost-prohibitive. Also, I have no bodywork experience, and I'm not sure if the bent/torn metal sub-frame in the right front corner is even repairable. The parts needing replacement that I've identified so far are as follows:

*DS & PS airbags$40 each / Airbag sensors ~$20 each
*DS seat belt / retractor mechanism$15
*Windshield$150 installed (New- WAG)
*Right front fender$40
*Right front tire $20-30
*Front bumper (COMPLETE)- $50
*Right front headlight$30

*Right front fender liner$15
*Windshield washer fluid tank$15
*There are also a couple wiring harnesses behind the headlight that disconnected (and one tore off) upon impact, and I haven't been able to figure out yet where they go or what they are even for.

The photos below are my best attempt at showing the damaged area. (BTW, the fluid on the ground is WSW fluid - no damage to the radiator.)

Again, even if I can justify the replacement parts, I wonder whether the bent/torn integrated sheet metal between the headlight and tire is a showstopper.

What do you guys think - have it hauled off to a junkyard, or any other suggestions? (And no, I'm not interested in making this a dedicated RallyX car.)

I added approximate pick + pull junkyard prices in red above. It's a pretty common car, so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding everything locally, but you'll have to hunt the parts down and pull them yourself.

Doesn't look like the repairs are too bad, but I can't tell about any bent/torn suspension or suspension mounting points. Still, doesn't look that bad to me. Would be fairly easy to do a quick and dirty repair, would probably not be worth it to try to fix it back to "as new" condition, IF you're that picky about it. I'd also want to factor in a full alignment after repairs are made.

LKQ usually has a holiday sale on the day(s) around holidays, so they should have one coming up around Christmas. Probably the Sat and Sun following, if I had to guess. The sale USED to be 50% off regular prices, but they recently changed it to 40% off- still worth looking into if you need the parts.

As others have mentioned, putting it up on Craigslist AS-IS would also be an option, it should be fairly easy to sell and it's not hard to do.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

My mom had a similar rear-end accident with her old 1999 minivan which popped the radiator and AC condenser. So it was not driveable. I hammered the sheetmetal enough for the hood to close, replaced a headlight light, put in a new radiator, and got it straight enough that the hood wouldn't fly open, and craigslisted it to an immigrant for something like $2500.

If it drives and is inspectable, there's a huge market. Versus selling as-is for maybe $500.

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Sat Dec 19, 2015 11:06 am

BretLuter wrote:

I added approximate pick + pull junkyard prices in red above. It's a pretty common car, so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding everything locally, but you'll have to hunt the parts down and pull them yourself.

Doesn't look like the repairs are too bad, but I can't tell about any bent/torn suspension or suspension mounting points. Still, doesn't look that bad to me. Would be fairly easy to do a quick and dirty repair, would probably not be worth it to try to fix it back to "as new" condition, IF you're that picky about it. I'd also want to factor in a full alignment after repairs are made.

LKQ usually has a holiday sale on the day(s) around holidays, so they should have one coming up around Christmas. Probably the Sat and Sun following, if I had to guess. The sale USED to be 50% off regular prices, but they recently changed it to 40% off- still worth looking into if you need the parts.

As others have mentioned, putting it up on Craigslist AS-IS would also be an option, it should be fairly easy to sell and it's not hard to do.

Thanks, Bret - great info - has me reconsidering repair as an option - will touch base with LKQ. I definitely don't plan to try to get it back to "as new" condition - it already had plenty of dings, faded paint, etc. - just want it safe and not looking like too much of an eyesore. Of course, finding the bumper cover and fender in the existing color would go a long way toward that goal - def don't want to get into paint work. And the suspension appears to be completely undamaged - no sign of impact to any suspension parts, and quick toe and camber checks indicate alignment is still straight.

BTW, what is "WAG"? (windshield replacement) Not familiar with that term.

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(1/19/16 wrap-up posted) Car wrecked - what to do with it?

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