hey there everyone,

i recently got rear ended (and pushed into truck in front of me) and car looks "totalled". good thing is that no one was seriously injured. basically the front bumper & hood got pushed back and the rear bumper is pushed in & both quarters are pinched (the rear subframe folded up so that it all was rubbing on the tires but had it pulled out a bit so that i could drive it). insurance is offering ~$2,100 for car (ccc evualation; they ballparked $6k+ for repairs) less ~$400 if i keep it. its a 96 gle w/180k & mechanically excellent condition; also just put in new suspension, steering & brake stuff). options i'm considering:

1) buy car back and fix myself though i'll never be able to get the quarters straight (without spending way too much $) and she has some significant rust already.

2) buy a 99 gle that hydrolocked and put mu current engine/trans into that one, maybe switch over my new suspension, steering & brake stuff, and just drive it. i haven't seen this car yet.

i'm leaning toward #2 but am wary of car that was "submerged" (though guy claims he barely got into viaduct before car died, that less than an inch of water was on floor of backseat area and that he got out and (with help) pushed car back up out of water immediately). could car have sucked water from bottom parts of the snorkle setup so that it realy wasn't in that deep or am i just kidding myself? if car is ok water-wise, am i going to have issue with 96 engine and or trans into the 99 (it's a fed spec as is my 96)? should i just swap engines or engine/tranny together? how big of a job am i getting into swap the engine/tranny (i'd do it myself)? also, how is the insurance offer; any tips on how to get a bit more out of them?

what does everyone think & thanks for tossing in your $.02. help me with info so that i can make a good decision. thanks.

 

heres tghe most sensible thing to do, take the insurance money and buy the car back, take off your suspension and junk the car yourself to a junkyard for $500, buy a car which is clean of rust and engine and transmission running in good condition, theres no point in fixing yours tooooo much damage to the rear specially, and never buy a flooded car too many hidden problems in there-way to many, look for another car

 

Take the money and buy another car.

 

Find a "new" 4th gen to buy.

 

2100 take tha cash and you can find one for 1500 and done

 

in fact didn't i just see someone selling there pristine max for $1500 !!?

 

Not pristine but too far from Chicago.

 

This....

 

What kind of rims are on it, and their condition after accident?

 

thanks for the input everyone. yeah, it would make more sense to just take the money & look for another car... i got a bit of emotional attachment to it though. also, it's probably best to stay away from water damage issues for there are too many potential problems down the road.

fyi, the current rims are just the stock honeycombs (no accident damage but with pitting).

 

There's no better way to replace the lost love and heartbreak of a woman than to get another woman.

Trust me, get another 4th gen and your emotional attachment to your 96 will disappear real quick


DW

 

hate to say it, if i had money to change i'd buy a 5th gen this time around. newer and easier to find parts. 03 se dark blue for me.

 

Don't the 5th Gens have poor reputation?