Last Thursday I got rear ended on Market Street in Philly. The guy hit me pretty hard, the back of my car doesn't look too good. The bumper is pushed in, the left rear door frame is bent so that the door doesn't open or close, and the left rear quarter panel is buckled. The insurance adjuster and an independant bodyshop both looked at the car and said there's between $3500 and $4000 worth of damage to the car - the insurance company said the car is worth $3427.

The car has 220,000 miles but is in great condition and runs really smooth. Most parts are original. I had every intention of driving this car every day for another few years and taking it to 300k miles. As it is post-accident, it is drivable (has all working taillights, still tracks straight at 90mph!) but water gets in the backseat and trunk. Inspection is good until Sept 2007.

I have a couple of options:

A. Fix the car and keep driving it. It may cost me a few hundred bucks out of pocket, but probably not a lot.

B. Total it, take the money and buy another car.

C. Take the repair money and keep driving it as is. Then look for another car in the meantime (hopefully a 5-speed w/lower miles). After I find another car, part out the one I've got now and make back some $$$ from the parts.

Parts that are still good:

Front fenders, hood, front doors, entire interior, dash, steering column w/airbag, axles, automatic transmission, all engine parts (coil packs, etc)... The list goes on, basically everything forward of the middle door pillar is perfect.

I basically need to get through another year and a half of school, during which I can take the train to class most of the time. I only really use the car on weekends while I'm in school (which will be Apr '06 to June '07, straight through) and will use it to commute for the rest of my internship (now until end of March).

What do you guys think I should do? Are there any options I haven't considered?

Thanks,
Tony

EDIT: Pics added, see below.


The car doesn't look too bad, but there is a lot of crumpled sheet metal that has to be replaced. The door doesn't open.


View from the back, the trunk doesn't open at all.


Another view of the crumnpled right-rear and the misaligned trunk.


Side view, nothing really lines up on the right side.


I took the rear seats out so I could get my stuff from the trunk. The floor doesn't look too good in here.

 

I think B is your best option, but you could also do C as well. Sorry to hear about it, any pics? Wouldn't your ins company total the car anyway?

 

Is the insurance company even willing to pay for the repairs?

If they are, take the money and follow your option C.

It's a good chance at getting something slightly newer, 5spd, and you'll be back on the road sooner.

 

definety b or c i just got a 4th gen maxima 99 used 75,000 mile automatic with bose leather fully loaded for only 6,000

so just look around found mines in the washington post

 

B or C, fo sho!

 

Option B forsure, considering the milage. Add some more money in and buy a newer max. or c

vnt

 

take the money and drive it as it is. Although your car is in great running condition, its not worth fixing IMO. After an accident, your car will never drive the same...trust me.

 

C all the way so therefore you have the cash plus the car to part out and make an additional 2g

 

pm sent. .......

 

C!!!! For $3000 you can get another maxima or its a great down payment for a newer car. I don't think you can sell the car for much. But it would be great if you keep it as a parts-car. And part out more of the bigger items. But it A isn't even an option with that many miles

 

but if the frame isn't bent up, fix it

 

Yeah, I'm working on that. I have pics taken but they're on my brother's computer about 100 miles away and no-one's around to e-mail them to me.

Thanks for the advice, guys. Please continue to comment on the situation, I'm going to get some pics up and gauge interest in parting the car out.

Roger, the whole problem is that the frame is definetly bent. The left rear door frame is jammed so that the door won't open or close, it's stuck open just a little bit.

 

MaxKlinger,

I am with the majority here, don't bother fixing the car...let them total it, buy it back so you can part it out, and buy another maxima. Call me when you start parting

Seriously....just let that bad boy go...if you buy it back you can always swap motors/tranny...worst case.

 

Ditch it and buy a newer and better maxima. It stick what happens. But take the money and run.

 

considering that it has 220k miles...a new car is always nice so option B for sure...

either way same thing happend to me...but instead it wuz considered my fault n i didnt hav full coverage
http://southfloridamaximas.com/forum...read.php?t=739
lol....pics there to entertain u

 

Shady, the link doesn't work if you're not a member of SoFlaMaximas.

Sure thing, man. Want those orange turn signal lamps back?

 

dont make me register to see them

 

sure...I'll take anything thats free....:-)

 

take the check and sell me the front fenders

 

lol ma bad guys....heres sum pics....my damages just for that is 2,046 cuz the frame shifted a lil...

 

If you have the time then definately go with C. You'll make some extra cash for whatever car you decide to go for after this.

 

Take the cash and drive it the way it is.

 

that wuz ma car...not the thread starter's car...lol im just sayin oh if his is drivable he should be taking option C as i am....

and if u guyz arent talkin bout mine...then nevermind

 

Yeah, the white car is Shady's, not mine. Mine is RubyPearl. I hope to have pics up soon, just waiting for my brother to e-mail them to me.

 

BUMP! See the first post guys, I added pics so you can see what I'm talking about.

 

i cant believe how bent up the trunk floor is...that must have been a hard hit

 

i cant believe how bent up the trunk floor is...that must have been a hard hit

 

wow look at that trunk floor...must have been a very hard hit

 

wow look at that trunk floor...must have been a very hard hit

 

If there going to total it i would buy it back and drive it the way it is.Or if they want to pay for repairs i would pocket the money.

 

If there going to total it i would buy it back and drive it the way it is.Or if they want to pay for repairs i would pocket the money.

 

If there going to total it i would buy it back and drive it the way it is.Or if they want to pay for repairs i would pocket the money.

 

Is you neck and your back Ok after such a bad hit? Did it hurt?

I would get the money and keep the car, drive it until it dies.

Cheers,

 

Fortunetly, I am perfectly ok. I have had no neck or back pains as a result of the accident. The Max really took one for the team...the car is so bent up because it absorbed all of the energy from the other vehicle, and very little energy hit me. In effect, it did exactly what it was designed to do, which is to take the fall and protect the vehicle occupants. I'd much rather deal with a totaled Max than chronic back problems for the rest of my life.

Still considering driving the car, it really is the best thing for me to do financially until I finish college. However, I couldn't help but start looking at other cars - I test drove three 4th Gens this week with 5-speeds that I saw were for sale. At this point I don't really care how ghetto she looks for my own purposes, but I want a car that's clean and nice enough to be able to pick up a girl for a date, you know? That's my justification, anyway.

 

being that the door is closed shut, it probably has rear torque box damage., so yes, there is frame damage

 

sue their S S A .. the person was probably on the frigen cell phone. Then youll have enough money to ditch the car, buy a new max, and money left over for some mods.