Is it totaled?

[bmcreider]

I finally had an accident of my own design in this car, and not a moment too soon after I paid it off.

So my question is, is it totaled? My guess is yes. If so, state value is 6400 or so (apparently), but how much should I expect back on an 04 with 173k miles? I am planning on keeping it, buying a new miata and swapping the parts over.

I thought the Camry was going through the yield, she stopped, I was looking at traffic, so I didn't.











Camry wins.

[fwMiata]

Sorry to hear that.

yes. i would be suprised if it wasnt. My NA was totaled back in 06 for far less damage than that, and they gave me more than 6400. (96 base with 168k on it).

claim on your insurance?

I was once short stopped by a Camary exactly that vintage and color, the lady was habitual in the same way you hit them, going then not going while the driver behind wasn't looking. my ins gave her $50 bucks to buff the bumper and did not find me at fault. Fortunately my car at the time did not sustain any damage. SHe had done it like somewhere upwards of 20 times in the year.

[bmcreider]

I made a claim, seems reasonable I'd be the one @ fault. Good thing I still had comprehensive despite it being paid off (just last month ).

[Nails]

Before seeing fwMiata's response I was wondering the same thing. That Camry's bumper cover is obviously a different color. Good luck with whatever you do.

[Rogue]

Totalled? Likely
Repairable? Yes

[boisking]

Before seeing fwMiata's response I was wondering the same thing. That Camry's bumper cover is obviously a different color. Good luck with whatever you do.

Nineties Camries have paint fade issues. On gold cars, the rear bumpers fade faster than the paint on the rest of the car and look a few shades off. My sister-in-law has a twin to that one. I have noticed a few in the last year.

[mk2tmr2]

Totalled? Likely
Repairable? Yes

This.

My body guy would probably ask in the ballpark of $4,500 to repair that. Not including a full respray, but painting almost half of the car.

New fender, hood, core support, headlight and overflow tank is all you definitely need - judging from the pics. You can get the core support cut at the strut towers so you can weld in an entire front corner. It's not a small task but it can be saved.

If you're okay living with a salvaged title, I'd buy it back and fix it - assuming you're not ready to move on to your next project. Now's as good a time as any :)

[bmcreider]

The body shop has been taking its time...

But I finally got word on the damage. They say $8,500. I didn't think it'd be -that- bad. They said that I would get near trade in value for totalling the car. If that is so - that is horrible. $4,000 or less. The suspension, new brakes, new tires, and stereo equipment are worth $2,000 alone. It's either keep it and fix it (doubtful with that estimate) or keep it and steal parts for another Miata (hard to do with little cash reserves + little payout to afford 01+ Miata) or just get a different car (looking at RSX Type S currently).

No car can really match the Miata on reliablity, fun, insurance and mpg though. And nothing in the world is easier to work on.

[mk2tmr2]

Either the damage to the unibody is way more extensive than it appears or that body shop is full of beans.

I think it's the latter.

[black roadster]

Get a second and third opinion. If possible, get Steven to look at it. It also depends on what they feel they need to replace. I've seen a 99 totaled with a minor fender bender because the accident cut some of the wiring harness. Rather than solder it to fix it, the ins company required a new harness and labor for installation of the harness. That threw the car well over and was totaled. In actuality, the repairs were less using used parts and splicing the wiring harness.

To keep it from being a salvage title you can ask the ins adjuster to stop the estimate below the percentage to total. You get less but can also fix it for less. Title never changes hands and remains clear.

[OZMDD]

Yep, if it was mine, I'd ask the adjuster to pay a claim just below total value, take what $$ you get and hire Rogue to repair it. You will probably not go into your own pocket much, and you end up with a clear-title vehicle that is fixed properly. Win=win!