Update: Car is now Sold

So we totaled the Maxima (97 gxe). The mom was driving it home from work and tried to leave her stop sign to cross a busy avenue and didn't see a Toyota Camry (2000-ish) and got T-boned at an estimated 30-35mph on the driver's side. She's OK but sore, and it is not covered by any insurance so we're left with a wrecked but entirely drivable car.

We're wondering what the best course of action is for sale? I was thinking to put it on craigslist and I plan on it but first I need advice on the price to list it for. I am clueless on the asking price. 1997 GXE auto with 122k miles, runs smooth, newer Illumina 5way struts, newish tires (215mm Avid h4s), and an AstroStart remote starter and alarm system. What do you guys think?

First pic is about a week before the accident -- testing the new camera at night.






And the Camry that did the T-boning:
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/5726/img0161r.jpg


Or else, if we feel we cant get a decent price, the dad wants to bring it to a gravel pit or farm field to kick the crap out of it and basically beat it it until it's a heap of mangled steel.

Thanks everyone

 

pics dont work

 

daang. that toyota did work on that max.
im sorry bro!

 

Doesn't look that bad..just replace 2 doors and your on your way...otherwise, we'll buy parts from you

 

haha doors were rusting anyways. You could replace them if you like the car. Shop around for used ones. Otherwise, parting it out may be the best option. Your looking at 2k-3k if you plan on selling it.

 

well, it looks like it needs two doors and the rocker pannel... that rear fender neer the door MAY need some bending but it looks to be just cracked paint... did the frame get bent on the bottom? sounds like minimal damage it you drove it home fine... i say get a fix estimate... keep it... if you sell it anywhere, take kbb or what you feel apropriate for the car as of a week ago, and subtract approx cost of repairs...

 

Damn looks like u took most the damage

 

Are you guys serious? That car is totaled. It does have lots of useful parts though.

 

Ouch man sorry about that loss, best bet would be to part it out

 

True dat....most likely that B-pillar is bent in as well and will not allow a new door to mount up or for the front door to close right, you would have to cut out that section and weld in a new one, not worth the money and trouble.

I wouldn't price it at more than $1000 for the whole car, that's why parting it out pays better if you have the ability and the room.

 

Its totalled, no question about it.

Unless its just me, it looks like the rear quarter has had some bondo work done in the past, as it looks like it is peeling now from the impact. IMO put it on craigslist for $500obo and take whatever cash you can get for it if you do not want to part it out yourself. Sorry to hear about your loss but glad everyone is okay.

 

Damn that sucks but thank god you're ok.

 

Yeah it totaled but its an easy fix. Up to you if you want to keep but from looking at those pics, if that was the camry after the impact, I must give credit but the front end on that car is very strong.

 

yep, i totaly forgot about the b pillar! DOH!!! but yeah, it would require about as much as the rocker would. and it looks like the doors shifted up and it might not have ruined the b pillar up top. if it bent all the way up top then it would include your roof... then your screwed! you MIGHT be able to get 1000 for it on cl, the whole front end could be parted out for that much... good eng and auto trans with 122k... its worth a shot...

 

what are you talking about.. that thing is not drivable.. i would put it on craigs list and see what a happens..

you only had liability?

 

Maxima's are cheap where I live. Routinely running ones going for the $600 to $1000 range. I would part it out for the most amount of money.

 

Good things are windows, hood, fenders, bumpers, door handles and inserts, mirrors, radio, tires There are lots of things that you can do without knowing how to work on cars. Heck, the cluster, ECU, interior.

The cost of a Maxima isn't worth the labor of repairing that. The roof and entire frame looks compromised.

Jesus Christ, that Camary can be repaired with one trip to the junkyard.

 

that would be a WASTE to beat it up and waste all the parts and money. part it out or sell it for $650 OBO.

 

Yeah man, thats all her fault. sorry bro.

If u dont have a place to store it, jus Junk it. Take ALL sensors out the car first, especially if u plan on gettin another max.

 

+1

 

hell, now is a good time to try all the how-tos on the engine u were afraid to try while she was a DD. This could be a good learning experience.

 

+1. Learning how to work on a car can be worth its weight in gold.

I would suggest once you are done working on it to just part it out. Even if you don't want to worry about parting out the heavy/hard to take out parts (Engine, Transmission), you could still make some decent money from the interior, tires, seats, lights, doors (pass. side obviously), starter, alternator, coils, sensors, etc. Those aren't hard to take off.

Help someone else complete their Maxima

 

It's not an easy fix, unless you consider using duct tape and 8 gallons of Bondo with rattle can paint.

Doors easily replaced, hard part is bending and welding the new rocker/rear quarter in place. Frame rail most likely bent in, will need to be yanked and straightened.

Part out or sell car for $500

 

Wow! That sucks man.

 

The mom seen the thread and your concerns and best wishes brought a tear to her eye -- she wants to thank everybody on here for responding with advice and showing concern.

Right now we're trying to find a place to store the Maxima semi-long term in order to start parting it out, I will update on whether or not it will be parted out in a few days. Otherwise, based on what what was suggested, I think asking $650obo on Craigslist would be fair to start and let negotiations take it closer to the $500 mark so both parties feel satisfied with the deal.

The pictures don't show it well but the B-pillar is very much deformed and pushed into the passenger cell. It's firmly pressed against the driver's seat and the entire roof is tweaked to the point where the front passenger door has a gap along the top seal from frame distortion. It wouldn't be worth it to fix.

For future reference, if we do part it out, the interior is grey cloth with a power driver's seat.

Thank you all for the responses.

 

I decided to part the car out. Anybody need any parts let me know. will repost this in the classifieds section as well.

 

good choice with the part out. with the bent bpillar and roof... not even worth the attempt! hopefully the locals are in need of some max parts!

oh and i forgot to send my regards to your mom! but im glad shes ok too!

GL on the part out! and dont forget the things like ecu, tails, headlights, stock exhaust *if its not rusted out*, starter, alt... all those can come off pretty easy and are worth a pretty penny...

 

Glad you mama is o.k.

 

And where pray tell would this be?

 

Dont cry ma.... we got ya back....

 

Man I work in the collision industry and Im a painter and bodyman, that car would be an easy fix if you knew someone in the business. Your going to spend alot on parts and labor. You could get used parts. You could actually replace the whole front and rear door opening section as one piece, replace the hinges and doors, and pull that quarter panel, but its gonna be alot of labor to pay. Too bad You dont live in florida I would give you 800 for the car, but you could part it out and make alot more if ya got the time.

 

damn i wish i had one from dat gen just so i could get parts

 

Junk yard quoted $650 just for an engine. Now figure the tranny, wheels, tires. Part it out, its worth the effort.

 

I've been trying to sell it on craigslist, but everybody who contacts me thinks $600 is way too much and I've been offered $300 by several different parties. What is with this magic number they keep throwing at me?! It's getting to the point where I may just look for another good Maxima with a blown engine and/or tranny and swap the parts over myself, because this is turning into a hassle...

 

WOW.. what a bad hit,glad you and your moms are ok. I am sure the best thing you can do now is just find a good cheap bodyshop or someone that you know that can fix the car up for a very good price. I would keep the car if you can't get a another car. If your not getting the deal that you want for parting the car out, than you should do as what I and the paintguy84 said. It's our call Good luck.

 

I have contacted you and am one of the parties that has offered you $300. If you would return a text/email/call we might be able to make a deal but the car is not worth $600.

 

yeah dont take 300... thats just people low ballin... if people are saying a junk yard engine is quoted at 600, well thats a good indication of what they are planning too... youd just be selling to someone whos going to part it...

or maybe has the same idea, buy a max with a blown engine and swap um... either way. if you dont mind a little work, i think the part out would be better... if you dont want to work, well then wait for someone who wants to pay 600...

just my opinion...

 

Junkyard only gonna give u 100 bucks or less for it.

 

If he has the time to part it out, it's worth more than $600

 

FIX THAT THING BRO! I got in the exact same accident almost a year ago now, bought new doors rocker panel, ect. I looked at new cars for about a week before I decided I couldn't part with my first max.