As I mentioned in a previous thread I authored, I have a 1996 Maxima with frame damage.

I really want to have this damage repaired and I am not being taken seriously by the few autobody centers I have contacted. I would have to pay for the repairs out of pocket. Anyways, I have not shown the automobile to any shop in person, and before I go attempting to convince someone to work with me to repair it, I wanted the opinions of the much wiser and more experienced Maxima owners. I am located in San Diego.

So, please let me know. I can take any picture from any angle if it will help; here are two to kick things off

 

Does this car have extra special memories for you?

Apart from that, a couple of thousand bucks at most could buy you a decent replacement Maxima with a straight body. You are in California, on the west coast. Rust free Maximas are plentiful.

Why would you spend close to that much, or a lot more, to repair it.

Please help me understand.

 

Sorry to hear about the accident. A few years ago my I30 was involved in an accident the picture below. For a few hundred dollars, I managed to get a body shop to pull out unibody damage, I replaced the doors and axle. So I patched it up and my daughter drove it for another 3 years. The b-pillar was never right and it needed the rear quarter of the car to be cut off and replaced. That was going to be roughly $1,400 without paint. So I just couldn't make the numbers work. I started looking for a replacement Maxima or I30. Eventually, I found a 98 model Maxima for approximately $1,500. Although I have put a lot of work into the 98, the I30 needed roughly the same amount of maintenance. In the end, I have a better car with the 98 model.

 

No, it does not, I don't want to be wasteful or inefficient. But if the consensus is that it is not possible to cost-effectively repair the car, I will abandon the idea.

I am looking for your, and others, opinion.

Thank you!

 

If it was possible to just replace the door and fender, I would replace them. I have repaired cars which were damaged that way sucessfully.

But it is likely that the pillar below the windshield has been bent. Straightining that would be quite difficult and time consuming. Keep in mind that there are a lot of electrical wires in that pillar.

I think that the reason the shops don' take you seriously is that they need to spend time to examine your car, then give you a repair quote. They also know that the repair cost will be very high.
So if they gave you a free quote, they would waste their time, which they dont like to give you for free.

A suggestion...... offer to PAY for a realistic assessment of what needs to be done.

Ask what they would charge to straighten the pillar once you have removed all other damaged sheet metal. You will probably need to remove the wiring from that area. You should be able to replace the damaged sheet metal yourself. But then the car would new paint. That is not cheap.

You will have a reasonable idea of the scope and cost of this project. Then you will probably understand why your were told not to bother.

 

Thank you for eminently experienced response. I appreciate the advice as well. I will be sure to pay someone to do a thorough examination and make a more concise estimation if I decide to move forward.

I am almost certain now, however, that their would be no benefit to investing in repairing the vehicle.

 

Does the rear driver side door open and close properly?

I can't tell from the photo if the B-Pillar post is bent or out of alignment.

 

To be honest, that kind of damage is severe. More n likely the pillars have been bent, which is very costly to repair on any car. If I was in your shoes.. I'd spend that money on either a straight body, lower mileage 4th gen maxima. Or go buy a 240sx, which is a fun cheap car as well. I love my 4th gen, but If it came to damage like that, It would be time to let it go. If the damage was very minor, sure then the repair would be worth doing because it's not severe and I get to keep the car.

Also, the paint is looking a bit stained.. and even then with new paint if you decide to repair it, they're gonna have a hard time matching it up.

If you really care about the estimated costs, pay them to give you an estimate. Money talks.

 

part it out,or fix it yourself.And drive it as a beater.

 

yeah, i would scrap that max, that car will never be straight again without a boatload of straightening and bending, paint and heartache. trust me, i've been there and it's never going to be as solid as it was before the hit, constant noises and alignment issues will drive you nuts. plenty of good maximas out your way as craig has mentioned. good luck