Car Crashed, seeking advice

[jelliott25]

So I got run off the road the other day, up and over the curb. Guy didn't actually hit me, nor did he stop. Got the tag but it was temp paper tag and the police haven't had any luck tracking the person down. Insurance guy says that filing an uninsured motorist claim probably won't go anywhere without an actual motorist to blame it on and I don't carry full coverage on my 92 miata.

So it looks like I'm faced with either paying for it or just letting it go and selling it off for salvage. The quote came back at $1500 approximately. Basically, the suspension on the right side is blown. Lower control arm is wadded up, hub, sway bar link, tire is blown all of that. What they can't guarantee is that something in the subframe of the car isn't bent which wouldn't show up until all of this is replaced and it's on the alignment machine. At that point, if the subframe needs replacing, that's another $1500.

I really..really don't want to buy a new car right now. For $1500 I'd just fix it and keep driving it but not for twice that. I hit the curb at about 20 mph on a 70 degree angle to right side.

Anybody have any thoughts about the robustness of the subframe under there?

I guess this is more a sanity check request than anything. Any advice? Am I insane to take a chance and have them fix the twisted bits? This is was my first new car, I've driven it everyday since August of 1992. It's like deciding to have pet put down.

[JDSM]

you love the car?..... buy used parts from the sponsors for the whole thing... you can do it on the cheap, i did my front left two years ago for about $500.

[Rob®]

The major question is who would be doing the labor if you kept it and repaired it? Replacing the subframe isn't the easiest thing to do, but it's certainly not a $1500 adventure. If you plan on doing it all yourself, and the frame/body is still straight and good, you can replace what they say it needs for decently cheap. If you'd be paying someone to replace it all, it might get fairly pricey...which brings you right back to the question at hand.

[surgeon]

Why not search craigslist to find a donor car? There was a red 91 in denton with no motor or transmission for 1000$, you could try to talk him down to 800$ and do a group build up to swap everything over.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/2462162749.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/2467901417.html

You could get something like this as a starting point...

[POS Racing]

You have any pictures??

You need to talk to Stevan Boyd at Miata Solutions he has resurrected several Miatas (most owned by Black Roadster) that were bent up bad that he saved!!

http://www.miatasolutions.com/

[redmenace]

(1) NA prices are on the rise. (?!!) Try finding a specimen comparable to yours (before the incident) and consider what the the known history of yours would be worth.

(2) Insurance adjuster numbers can be nutty and are textbooked by the automotive equivalent of a veterinarian. Talk to Stevan, who is a specialist and does great work at a fair price. (Speaking as a satisfied customer here.)

[jrj512]

(most owned by Black Roadster)

+1 on Stevan. He fixed up my wrecked car, too. If you can find a domor car for him to use, then it works out even better.

[sloked up]

there is a car here in flower mound i saw on craigslist for cheap (under $1000) that might work out for you. see if you can get some pics and if he could go down on the price of it. it was a project for him and his boys, but they lost interest and its just sitting there with the motor out right now... rent a uhaul trailor and take it back to your place, get the parts off that you need and either salvage the rest as a whole, or part out the entire car (might take a bit).

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/2476005874.html

[black roadster]

(most owned by Black Roadster)

BR --> <-- POS

[POS Racing]

BR --> <-- POS

BR --->

Front Subframes
Fit's 90-97 Miata's. 93 & Up Include Front Brace.
$125

Link - http://www.partsgroup.com/store.aspx...pension&Page=1

[black roadster]

What they can't guarantee is that something in the subframe of the car isn't bent which wouldn't show up until all of this is replaced and it's on the alignment machine. At that point, if the subframe needs replacing, that's another $1500.

Anybody have any thoughts about the robustness of the subframe under there?

Been in your same exact place. I did the mechanical repairs myself but I work on Miatas for a living. You need to examine the sub frame. If it's bent, there will be some wrinkles there. If there isn't any obvious damage of the sub-frame, I'd be willing to bet it is okay. If there are wrinkles or other obvious damage to the sub-frame it will need to be replaced.

You can get used parts pretty reasonably. The tough part will be the labor involved. The sub-frame supports the motor so at a bare minimum you will need an engine hoist to hold the motor when you drop the sub-frame. Along with that, all front control arms, shocks, steering rack, sway bar, brakes etc. needs to be removed. Dropping the sub-frame is easy. (6 bolts IIRC) It's getting to the point of dropping the sub-frame and then reinstalling it. Not difficult per say, just lots of work. Plan on replacing your motor mounts while you are there because yours are probably shot and they are easy to change when dropping the sub-frame.

All this work can probably be knocked out in a weekend if you have air tools and all the parts needed but I would still plan longer in case you run into stuck bolts, etc...

Good Luck!

[black roadster]

BR --->

POS ---> <--- BR

[jelliott25]

Thanks for the input everyone. I really do appreciate it.

I think what I've decided to do is have the car towed to the house and do as suggested with the used suspension bits and just fix it myself as I get time. In the meantime I'm probably going to buy a Mazda 2 or something similar for a cheapo daily driver and the Miata can be my project/fun car.

This was actually my wife's plan. Such a good wife.

Thanks again everybody..

[GregW]

Good plan. If you want parts, check out www.car-part.com

[cam76034]

I'd talk to your insurance guy again. When my daughter's car was damaged in a parking lot by a hit and run driver, I filed a UMC claim and Allstate paid it. Plus, you've at least got a police report, I didn't even have that as I recall.

[VFR750]

Your insurance guy is WRONG....this is covered in TX under your uninsured motorists coverage. A lot of insurance agents and adjusters give out incorrect information. Call your agent and file a claim. Some insurance companies will require you to file a police report, some maynot. My sons car had a door caved in while parked on the street at a friends house, he got a $1200 ck from his insurance co. under his UMC.

[jelliott25]

Even so, wouldn't filing an uninsured motorist claim make my rates go up?

[goofygrin]

More than having no car?

[OZMDD]

Your rates are unlikely to go up for one or two claims, unless you are already high-risk or have a history of claims/accidents.

[jelliott25]

Well, I went ahead and filed a claim myself. The claim rep said she would have turn it over to a different department for investigation as a "phantom vehicle" accident since it would be going under uninsured motorist if it gets paid at all. I guess I'll see what happens.

I drove a Mazda 2 yesterday. It was a hoot. Excellent shifter, chassis dynamics were great. Like a 4 door NA. Power was barely adequate but it's about the same as my car. I may buy one regardless. It was really nice and quiet in there. Even at highway speeds. Of course, after 20 years with an NA as a dd pretty much anything is going to seem like a Bentley.

Thanks again for all the input guys.