My 87 wagon was rear ended after it got new flex joints, upper conrtol arms, tie rods, tires and rims, struts and mounts, A/C compressor drier, expansion valve, etc. It has 182000 Miles on it. Rear main was replaced when the trans was resealed. The estimate to repair is at $4000.00 with al lot of exterior plastic ($1000.00) in the estimate. Any suggestions or I am open to selling it. Santa Fe, NM.

 

Are you mechanically inclined? One of the best ways to get money out of totaled cars is to part them out. If the damage is not to a great extent though, it might be worth repairing.

 

It usually takes "forever" to part out a car. During this time, it keeps getting uglier and ugler as it sits on your property looking more and more like a junkyard candidate. Will your neighbors put up with it? Will you?

 

Screw ur neighbors unless u live in city limits or a HOA. Sorry but i live to plz myself then others.

Also depending on the insureance if u have the repair receipts they might pay u for the repairs u had done if it was recent enough.

 

Of course I meant an HOA or other regulated neighborhood. Crimminy, do I have to explain every stinkin' detail for you every time I post something? You don't know where the guy lives. I don't either. That's why I posted what I did. Will you, will they. That implies a yes, no, or maybe. Understand?

 

no insurance?

 

They are offering me $5800.00 plus I keep the car. The repair estimate was $4000.00 with a lotof unnecessary plastic parts. I am inclined to settle and put the car on ebay.

 

maybe im nuts but if the car is totaled, doesnt the insurance company keep the car and give you 5800 dollars then they sell it to salvage. if they offered me a check for 5800 and the estimate was 4000 with unecessary parts for say 500 to 700 dollars you get a drivable car for around 2500 to 2800 dollars. do you like the car? will it be straight? do you have good body shop with a good frame shop? car has many miles left. your choice. im nuts id keep it because the devil i know is better than the devil i dont.

 

My 87 TD was clipped on the passenger rear as a SUV tried to go around me as I was braking in PHX. Total mess on the tailight and plastic. The insurance was $ 2000 which I took, JB welded red plastic on lens and shaped with a heat gun. Point being if your hatch still works and mechanical is good patch it and drive it. As ANDY says if it is straight or a frame shop can patch it drive it.

 

You could take the insurance money, buy the car back from them, then find another TD with a nice body and a bad motor or transmission for cheap and swap all your goodies over. That assumes you have some time and space to work on the project. Or with the money you're getting from the insurance co, you could probably pay a shop to do the swap for you if thats what you're into.