Any reason not to repair?

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Just got the insurance estimate back on my car. For those that don't know, a deer ran into the side of my car Saturday night. The damage was literally only $200 short of totalling the car. That said, is there any reason I should bitch and try and get them to total it? Honestly, I like the car, and for the $ they would give me, I'd prefer to have just have my car back together. The damage consists of headlight, fender, complete front door assembly, rear door outer shell, and respraying the front bumper and hood. There is no visible damage to the B pillar.

A lot of bodywork for sure, but its just bodywork. The front wheel was untouched, so no suspension damange to worry about. The engine on the car is great, 180k miles and doesn't burn a drop of oil, clutch replaced at 145k, shocks are still good (and still under koni warranty). The fact that I have owned the car since new has value to me as well, as far as knowing it was maintained well.

Is there anything I'm not thinking of, any reason I should try and push that estimate up another $200 to get the car totalled? To me, it seems like the best of both worlds. I get almost the entire car repainted (and the bumper and hood had a LOT of rock chips), and no salvage title, but I wonder if I'm missing something.

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2012 9:02 am

Just for reference the body shop called me to price parts. It just wasnt the door... It was the headlight, fender and both doors(is what they priced not sure if it was all needed or not, just know what he asked me for).

IMO, that is very close. Most times when a body shop gets into a car that is hit, there are generally stuff that is found after the estimate is done!

Good luck either way!

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2012 10:06 am

insist on writing it off and buy it back from the insurance company if the $ works

#winning

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2012 10:27 am

Ryan Holton wrote:

insist on writing it off and buy it back from the insurance company if the $ works

#winning

x2

I wouldn't care about the "clean title" especially considering you aren't worried about the damage and have no interest in getting rid of it. Once you do, a "clean title" isn't going to be worth much, considering the car won't be worth much. - AB

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2012 10:35 am

Is that process as simple as it sounds?

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Yeah, how would that work exactly. I don't know for sure what values they use, but say the value on the car is $6700, if its a total loss, I get a check for that minus deductible, and can buy it back for salvage value (10%ish, right)? If thats the situation, then I get $5500 and keep the car as opposed to $3200 and keep the car w/ a clean title. Do I understand this right? Sounds like I might want to push them in that direction.

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

BriceJohnson wrote:

Yeah, how would that work exactly. I don't know for sure what values they use, but say the value on the car is $6700, if its a total loss, I get a check for that minus deductible, and can buy it back for salvage value (10%ish, right)? If thats the situation, then I get $5500 and keep the car as opposed to $3200 and keep the car w/ a clean title. Do I understand this right? Sounds like I might want to push them in that direction.

The times (that's right, plural) I've bought back my totaled Miatas, it was a few hundred dollars. The 1996 I bought back for $420, and the 1994 I bought back for $400 or $500... can't remember exactly.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2012 1:29 pm

I think it depends on what you want to do going forward. If for the money you will get if they total it can you get a car that you will be happy with? Or will you be happier with your car fixed.The body shop will probably fine at least $200 of stuff they can bill for so you can probably get them to total it.

I've know Insurance companies that will want more than the 10% for a salvage car to buy it back but you can see what they offer

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

I'm kind of inclined to just go ahead and get it fixed. Sure, I might end up better off financially by having it totalled and buying it back, but in the end, my plan is to fix the car, so I'm sort of just trying to figure out if I should try and screw the insurance company over or not. I guess you could also call it "sticking it to the man" though. I think for karmic reasons, I'll just fix it. If other things are found once they tear it down, thats a little different. Thanks for all the advice.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2012 9:22 pm

They will find other things. They always do, and at some point, they won't total it an pay the repair bill.

Total it now.

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

If it's purely cosmetic damage like you suspect (sounds like it is if there is no broken glass and the wheel is fine) then I like your idea of "yay free paint job!". I say get it fixed and enjoy your shinier car, like you said it's been with you since new and if you're tied to the make/model, you won't find another one that has been cared for for the price.

On the other hand, if you have the upgrade-itis bug, this is certainly a perfect time to do so by getting it totalled.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2012 10:50 pm

Come to think of it, the last few cars I've owned (except Rodney's new HS machine :thumbsup:

) have been vehicular punching bags and it really hasn't been that bad of an experience. This sounds like it's purely bodywork, so that's a great thing.

The Si had very serious tree damage prior to my ownership, the S2k, well it was battered before and during my ownership, the IS300 took a $10k rear-ender on 40W, and my current ITR has been repainted on >50% of the panels. I'm one of the few that feels bodyshop don't really want to over$ee any missing opportunities to fix as much as they can maximizing their revenues, especially these days. Just be patient with the repair as it'll take a while so you guys will probably put a few more miles on the MCS unless you have/opt for rental coverage.

That said just fix it if you don't plan to otherwise use the payout for a newer more pricey car. What else could you get for around $5k that is as reliable with a known history anyhow? Not much, unfortunately...

Good luck and glad no one was hurt!

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Apparently the insurance company seeing an estimate that close to totalling the car prompts a visit from the adjuster, who is looking at the car now. We shall see.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

So the latest is that I'm getting a check for $3400 to cover the repairs ($3900-$500 deductible). Actual repairs will likely cost me a little less, depending on how I decide to do a couple things. The car remains with a clean title, and should be fixed by the time I get back from my California trip.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Thu Dec 06, 2012 6:38 pm

congrats Brice! Be like driving a new car....

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