Adrian87Camaro

This is my first car and has been my daily driver for the last 10 years. Four days ago some guy lost control of his car and hits me when I am at a dead stop in traffic. The insurance adjuster came out this morning and said most likely it will be totaled. I cannot begin to explain the anger, frustration, and sadness that I am feeling right now. On top of it all I found out the guy was uninsured as well, which complicates matters even more. I have looked at nadaguides.com to check the value of my car, but it hurts to even think about letting it go. If I decide to keep it I don't know that I will be able to fix the damage. I am waiting for the adjuster to call and let me know if they decided to total or repair it. Can you guys offer any advice?

Below is how the car looked like before and after the accident.

83HO-T/A

sorry to see that

Adrian87Camaro

Thanks, man. I would be less mad about it if the accident was my fault, but I was just sitting there waiting in traffic. There are hardly any clean third gens around my area and now because of some guy there will be one less...

Guest

Just get it fixed

Coolwheels84

iTrader: (5)

Did you have full coverage? I would keep it and have a new door and quarter put on. Upgrade the wheels and have it repainted. It looks very fixable to me. I'm sure it would be out of your pocket though.

Rolling Thunder

I think your right most likely its going to be totaled. Its hard to get a good assessment of what happened from the photos but it doesn't look all that terrible. Really depends on your skill-set and who you can recruit for help. Does it still drive straight? Have you checked out the underside of the car/suspension?

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Well here's the rub. I've spoken about this in other threads.

Even if Adrian has full coverage on the Camaro and its in primo shape, the insurance company is only going to look at the Actual Cash Value of the car. Which is the cost to find an equivalent replacement car. If the cost of repair approaches about 65% to 75% of the ACV the insurance company will consider it a write-off. Unfortunately thirdgens do not carry a high value in todays market place. So the cost of hanging a new 1/4 panel, and painting it to match the rest of the car means an insurance company is likely to consider it a total loss.

With thirdgens the only way to properly give them full coverage now is with an "Agreed Value" policy, those unfortunately have mileage and usage limitations though. Meaning it can't be considered a primary car, you have to have a 2nd car insured as the primary driver.

My GTA is insured for $9,000, which should cover enough damage to the car to repair in the case of a collision. However, if the car had any structural damage I would scrap it in an instant and move on to something else. I am allowed to drive it to car shows and events, but I'm limited to about 5,000 miles per year.

Adrian87Camaro

Yes, I have full coverage. If I had the money and the skill set I would be to fix it myself. Unfortunately I have neither the money nor the the skill set outside minor to medium level engine repairs. It is hard for me to consider losing the car no matter the money I receive from the insurance because of its sentimental value. The adjuster has still yet to call me to confirm that it will be listed as a total loss though. So maybe there is still hope.

landell76

Sorry to hear that happened. Unfortunately I had almost the same damage on the opposite side minus the door yesterday from a box truck. I have not heard from there insurance yet but I am terrified to see the pittance they are going to offer me.

Coolwheels84

iTrader: (5)

Get your money from ins. Buy the car back at a fraction of that. Use the rest of the money to do minor repairs to make it driveable and fix the rest later.

antares57

iTrader: (8)

Insurance should offer you no less than 4K if totaled. Salvage value is probably $400 to $600. Use the rest to fix her up.

phasevariance

I'd fix it or sell it. I must be the only one who likes those rims : /

Ashton89iroc

I would most definately fix it! my 89 IROC was stolen from me and wrecked, insurance company rated it at over 9,000 in damages. I just kept the thing, bought a donor car and have been repairing it on my own over the past year. I replaced the nose, both front fenders, hood, both doors, rebuild the entire front steering and suspension system and thats all for major work so far...i'm replacing the rear quarter in the summer, but the point is i got it on the road again.....it looks like total ****, but its MY car and i love it to death.

here is a before the wreck pic, and a current picture.

total cost so far?
donor car- $500
some misc. work- $200

just bought a huge list of parts for a re-vamp of my front suspension and steering (bushings, ball joins, struts, etc.)- $300

going to paint it and replace the quarter panel myself this summer
paint and supplies-$200
new quarter skin-$100

no matter what your insurance company says, dont give up on your car. she took care of you for 10 years, i'd say its time to return the favor, lol

psychedelic_leg

if you have the money and welding skills you can just replace the quarter panel and get new rims. and if the wheel tubs are ****ed you can use this as an excuse to minitub the car. hell. I bought a rusty *** thirdgen which I didn't check over (yup I'm a dubass) and its almost rust free now. put in new floors doing minitubs (got one side done) replacing quarters (pain in *** but for me its worth it), new fenders. and thats just body work. I had no experience on fixing body work but its looking really solid now. I have bought all the equipment that's necessary as well. it only comes down to how much sentimental value the car has to you. if you have an interest in working on metal and painting the car you can do it.here's a little tip, get your quarters at a junkyard. way cheaper than buying fresh ones (I did buy the fresh ones but I woulda gotten junkyard ones if I went to check the price first.

ZZsmpch

iTrader: (1)

Just because he's uninsured, doesn't mean he should get off the hook. Take the bastard to court. I agree with fixing it. I don't know how it is out there, but around here, decent third gens are getting harder to find.

Ashton89iroc

I agree with this, here in Nebraska a good looking Third gen is nigh impossible to find. hell, you dont even see crappy looking ones around here.

Johnny Blaze

iTrader: (15)

Insurance would never offer $4000 for a third gen. More like $1000.

TheEndofanEra

Seeing as the NADA value of my 92 v6 is abou $3500, I don't see why he couldn't.

Johnny Blaze

iTrader: (15)

NADA for his 1987,

$2,225 $3,675 $5,375

Chances are insurance will go with the lowest, and even lower. Insurance companies are never generous, esp with older cars that don't havee specialty coverage.

Johnny Blaze

iTrader: (15)

I'm guessing you've never had to deal with an insurance company.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

I can guarantee that Insurance is going to total the car out. That is more than $4k in damage.

When my G6 GTP was damaged by rocks, I had minor dents and dings all over the car. No structural damage at all, and only one dent needed to be pulled out of the 1/4 panel, it was the size of a marble.

The cost of repair was $3,800.

zenish

junkyard door,quarter replacement,maybe bent rear axle,and paint.it doesn't look that bad to me.

Adrian87Camaro

So here's the story:

My insurance is offering $4200 to keep it and $4800 for them to junk it. Estimated repair bill is $6600; the door, quarter, and skin underneath all need to be replaced as well as all the wheel/tire/rear end damage. The cutoff amount for repairs on my car is $4300 (unexpectedly high for a thirdgen) which explains the total loss designation.

So I am determined to keep it and make it a long term project, but am wanting more out of the insurance. This is my only car and daily driver and was in very good mechanical condition, only 170,000 miles. It will be tough to find a car with as much style with no mechanical issues for $4200 given the short time I have before they start to ask for the rental car back. As I said before the guy who hit me apparently doesn't have insurance and I don't know that I want to step into the legal arena and take action against him. Does anyone have any experience with taking legal action under similar circumstances?

Johnny Blaze

iTrader: (15)

Sounds like a good offer.

That the cash and keep the car, buy a beater to drive, and a good shell to swap your parts over.

seiplentz

iTrader: (2)

Take the $4200 and find another shop to fix it for less then that. $6600 seems outrageous to me. Was it at a shop when the adjuster looked at it to go over it all? Most shops will work with a decent insurance job just so they get paid to do the repair. They get nothing other then a tow if it gets junked. Just need to look around youll find someone that will fix it.

Adrian87Camaro

I had a a guy from a respectable shop in town come over an look at it. He said they would have to cut that quarter out and weld in a new one. Then square everything up (other side buckled slightly from the hit as well). Then replace the quarter and door panel and repaint the both quarter panels, door, and roof. This is all assuming there is no additional damage other than what's visible.

I will be starting a new job in August where I will be traveling 50 miles roundtrip each day so I need a reliable car. I had future plans to do an LSx swap, so it looks like its time to start saving up for that. I plan to use the insurance money as part of a down payment on a new car then slowly save for the swap and the repairs.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Let it die, use the $4800 to find another higher option, lower mileage thirdgen. They are out there.

Unless its really worth that much to you.

My car? Its for sale for the right price. Only reason I haven't sold it yet is I hate leaving a project unfinished. Once it is finished and I have a bit saved up it will get sold to fund the jump into a C5Z or a C6 Vette.

ccusum

[quote=Thirdgen89GTA;5545058]Let it die, use the $4800 to find another higher option, lower mileage thirdgen. They are out there.

quote]

although I hate seeing any camaro or bird in the junkyard, I say the same thing, $4800 is a lot of money for that car. You can get much better for that price or a little more.

FooFighters92

iTrader: (2)

Really sorry to see this, she was a very nice ride. My buddy had a similar incident happen to his '88 350 Camaro. Some guy just hit his car out of nowhere while he was sitting there.



Here it is not too long ago after we worked on it:




Can't see it very well in the pictures, but the damage went in DEEP. We drilled holes and put a metal horseshoe type thing and bolted it on to the car, put a chain and wench on it and pulled all the damage out enough to straighten it out the best we could and then we went through and knocked out EVERY-SINGLE-WELD-ON-THE-1/4 PANEL...it was a pain in the ***. As soon as it gets warm out the replacement panel will go on and it will get painted. It sucks and takes a lot of work, but it is fixable.

Jay

iTrader: (2)

Someone who is not responsible enough to carry insurance is not someone that will be easy to collect from. Not sure what the legal specifics are in your area, but here if you win a judgement in small claims court then it becomes your responsibility to collect. If the other party refuses to pay, then you have to hire a sheriff to serve papers, and then try and collect from any bank accounts. You could file to have a lien put against property.

Winning a judgement is the easy part.

Adrian87Camaro

The car holds much more sentimental than monetary value for me, so I cannot part with it for $600. And I have decided any legal action on my part would be more hassle than I car to deal with.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

I get the sentimental value. But you should consider the car from an objective viewpoint.

Yes, the car was definitely in nice condition, looking at the pictures you've posted. But it was also a mid grade optioned camaro, with high miles.

For the money the insurance company offered you, you could sit in a nice, higher option, lower mileage thirdgen.

It is your decision, and I definitely get making decisions from a emotional standpoint. My daily driver, a 2006 G6 GTP which while nothing special was the first car I ever took a loan on to purchase. I took good care of it, and last november some drunken idiots destroyed the finish of the car trying to throw rocks over the highway divider wall. I had over $5000 in damage, NONE of it structural damage.

Statefarm paid for all of it to be fixed, however every time I got the car back from the shop I had to return it because something else was wrong, or there was something I was unhappy with. It went on for months!!

Finally last march I said screw it, traded the car in for a new Focus ST, which is faster, more fuel efficient, better handling, and a much nicer place to be. I got a good deal on my trade in. Other people probably will never notice the flaws in the G6, or simply accept them as part of a used car.

But while it took me 4 months to buy the Focus, half the decision was emotionally driven by my frustration and anger at the body shop and the people who vandalized my near PERFECT car.

2007xl50

I think both offers are very good, but if the car means that much to you then keep it for the $600. Like was said you can get a much lower clean 3rd gen for around 4 to 5 so pick one up and work on yours as you have time and money.

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

You may get lucky, I had a base 86 firebird. Bought it for $900 as it was falling apart, someone backed into me and the insurance company offered me $2200 for it