So...someone crashed into my 1998 Celica GT :-(, What to do? Options

[marblesmike]

Hey guys,

So I had my car parked on the street over the weekend and one of my elderly neighbors slammed into my car. The rear bumper is completely damaged (looks like it's about to be folded in half), as well as the tail lights and rear side panel on one side. The hatch still works and locks, but air and water is getting in the trunk now. I might be forgetting something and can upload a couple photos later. The car still drives okay, although I've only driven it twice since it's happened so maybe I'll notice something as I continue to drive it. Fortunately the driver left her information and lives right around the corner so we're going to go through her insurance company to handle things, especially since I don't have collision.

So right now I'm debating whether or not it's worth using the insurance money to repair body or if I should use that money, sell the car as is for $1500 or so, and then get something else. I'm leaning towards just repairing the car since I enjoy driving it, have recently upgraded the speakers, changed the distributor cap/rotor and plugs, changed the alternator so I know what's been done on it recently maintenance-wise. Plus, we're not sure if her insurance company will set a cap amount due to the age/wrecked condition of the car. They might declare it a total and just give me $3000 for the value of the car.

Thoughts anyone? What would you guys do?

[Keiri]

Personally, I'd pull the upgraded speakers and, if you kept the old parts to replace them, the things you just replaced (dizzy cap/rotor, alternator, and plugs) then I'd just take the money you'll get, sell the car as-is, and then buy another Celica. Heck, if that happened to my Celica I'd let the neighbor's insurance total the car out, take the check they would provide, and put that towards a down payment for a BRZ.

From the sound of it, they'll probably total the car because of the rear panel damage would necessitate a costly cut and weld repair job depending on the amount of damage.

Either way, good luck and keep us updated on what happens.

[richee3]

Do all other panels still line up perfectly? Doors, fenders, hood, etc.? If the gap is no longer consistent you could have frame damage, which I wouldn't fix if it was mine. Otherwise let her insurance company fix it up and continue on your way to 1,000,000 miles.

[marblesmike]

No, the panels aren't lined up at all on the one side. It's pretty bad. I have a hard time imagining 25mph did that damage. I'm going to go out on my break in a few and will snap a couple photos.

EDIT:











This post has been edited by marblesmike: Sep 23, 2013 - 5:24 PM

[Box]

Odds are they'll want to total it. If it were me I'd see what they'd pay for taking the car, and what they'll pay for letting you keep it. If it's within $1,000 I'd keep it and fix the damage the best I could myself. I've fixed similar damage with just a porta-power and you could never tell the car was hit. Then either keep it or sell it off for $1,500-2,000 and buy something else.

This post has been edited by Box: Sep 23, 2013 - 2:06 PM

[marblesmike]

Odds are they'll want to total it. If it were me I'd see what they'd pay for taking the car, and what they'll pay for letting you keep it. If it's within $1,000 I'd keep it and fix the damage the best I could myself. I've fixed similar damage with just a porta-power and you could never tell the car was hit. Then either keep it or sell it off for $1,500-2,000 and buy something else.

I don't have any experience with body work so it'll all be done in a shop.

So they give you different amounts for a total depending on whether you keep it or if you have it towed away?

Is there any way they'll give me money and let me keep it so I can sell it and combine the funds to put towards another vehicle?

[The_enD]

I am no expert, but why do I have a feeling a bit of hammering, new bumper, crash bar, license plate panel and it may be a success.

[Box]

Generally what happens is once they total it out you have the chance to buy it back with a salvaged title. That's if they don't pay to have it repaired anyway. I just have a feeling what it'd cost for a shop to repair it will be more than their book value. I had never done any bodywork outside of painting before, and it wasn't as hard as you're thinking. All it takes is some common sense and patience.

[The_enD]

I don't see where any body work will be done. Everything will be thrown, replaced and painted to match the car.

[Box]

From what he said and by the looks of it the back side of the body is dented in, and would need pushed back out. Even just replacing the damaged panels and painting to match will cost a sizable amount for a body shop to do.

This post has been edited by Box: Sep 23, 2013 - 3:20 PM

[marblesmike]

Going to get an estimate in a little bit so I'll update the thread when I know what's going on.

It's depressing to see my car like that :-( so I hope it can be repaired. However, if not, I'll use the insurance money towards an E36. This Celica has helped me become more mechanically inclined so that I feel comfortable working on cars.

[marblesmike]

Yup, estimated at $4000-5000 worth of damage. There's structural damage underneath the body. Looks like I'll be getting a new car :-(

So, if you were me, would you buy it back with the salvage title and try to sell it for cheap to someone on here or elsewhere? Think there would be much interest?

[Keiri]

Yup, estimated at $4000-5000 worth of damage. There's structural damage underneath the body. Looks like I'll be getting a new car :-(

So, if you were me, would you buy it back with the salvage title and try to sell it for cheap to someone on here or elsewhere? Think there would be much interest?

Depending on how much they are willing to pay you out for and what they want to buy it back, I'd do that and then either sell it for scrap to a junkyard after parting it out or sell it as-is to someone who wants it.

[Box]

Just depends on the buyback cost. Being there's structural damage(from pics I don't see how), anything over $500 just let them take it. Remove your sound system and any other small things you can use in your next car first though.

Look at the positive though, odds are they'll be paying you more than what you could've ever sold it for. Now you can get an E36 or what have you instead, and never ever park it out on the street.

[njccmd2002]

thats a shame, but if you cant fix it, just give it to insurance.

Its a hassle to part out cars, believe me. unless parts are hot, like for a rare car, selling that car for parts will mean time youll spend doing shipping quotes, for shipments that will never leave your house. Especially in this site. Unless you have a dollar sale, trust me, you wont make much...

[marblesmike]

Just depends on the buyback cost. Being there's structural damage(from pics I don't see how), anything over $500 just let them take it. Remove your sound system and any other small things you can use in your next car first though.

Look at the positive though, odds are they'll be paying you more than what you could've ever sold it for. Now you can get an E36 or what have you instead, and never ever park it out on the street.

Any tips on getting the most from the insurance company? I guess I should mention the spark plugs, distributor cap/rotor, alternator (which is upgraded to 160amps output) are less than 2 months old, as well as my subwoofer amp that was damaged in the crash, and the premium speakers/headunit in it?

And then after all is said and done I can strip out the speakers and aftermarket head unit before they tow it away? Sorry, I'm new at this. I've never had it happen before.

This post has been edited by marblesmike: Sep 25, 2013 - 10:12 AM

[Box]

This is where documentation of any work and parts for it would come in handy. Without any receipts it's kind of hard to prove what was replaced and new before the incident. I would just go ahead and remove what you want to keep for it, as soon as they take it it's going to a junk yard. Another thing that'd help is to find dealer listings of Celicas in similar year range and condition to show what it'll actually cost to replace it. Being the accident happened the way it did I don't think you should have too much trouble.

[marblesmike]

This is where documentation of any work and parts for it would come in handy. Without any receipts it's kind of hard to prove what was replaced and new before the incident. I would just go ahead and remove what you want to keep for it, as soon as they take it it's going to a junk yard. Another thing that'd help is to find dealer listings of Celicas in similar year range and condition to show what it'll actually cost to replace it. Being the accident happened the way it did I don't think you should have too much trouble.

Still waiting to hear from the claims adjuster. Not sure if he/she will be coming out to look at it again since the body shop took extensive photos of the car including the odometer. And here's the kicker: one of my friends said he or his brother would easily buy the car as is (including the salvage title) for $1000. I might put an ad out there asking for $1300 or something to see if there's any other interest but that doesn't seem too bad. I guess it all depends on how much the salvage title costs to buy back. The car is still in my dad's name so he'll be handling any communication with the insurance company (not his insurance company but the driver's since we don't have collision on the Celica) and he thinks he'll be able to negotiate a pretty good deal including the salvage title coming back to us.

Does $1000 sound fair in regards to selling the car as-is?

[Box]

As long as it still runs and drives you should be able to get around $1,000 or so. People that're desperate for a car and only have $1,000 or so to work with won't care about the damage.

[marblesmike]

As long as it still runs and drives you should be able to get around $1,000 or so. People that're desperate for a car and only have $1,000 or so to work with won't care about the damage.

Yeah, but won't it have a salvage title on it that means they can't legally drive it until they fix it?