Hey everyone, about 3 weeks ago... my life was changed. I was in an accident with the 88 Camaro I've had for 4 years. It's the car I got my licence in, It's the first car I've Owned. It's very sentimental. I've poured my heart, sould, blood, sweat, tears into her since day one starting with wiper blades, to the paint and performance chip... I was pretty much T-Boned by a lady in a toyota. Is there any possible way that this could be fixed. I understand either way the car will never be the same. But like I said. The car IS my heart and soul. I've talked to multiple ppl (bodyshops) and half say yes, and the other half say no. So I'm caught in the middle. Please just be honest and let me know if y'all think she can be saved. Thank you everyone

 

I can include more pics if needed... I got plenty

 

looks like she got the wheel too...what did the body shop quote you that said they would be able to fix it ?

 

very fixable-will take a little work though,need to cut a section out of a junk third and graft in.i have seen cars damaged worse in that area fixed good as new

 

Agreed definitely fixable and worth fixing. From experience, every time I see a T/A I kick myself for letting mine go... Same exact situation as you.

 

There is no way I would let the insurance total that one. Make sure you get a good body shop to do the work.

 

I'm just curious, does the door still open and close? And yes, looks like you just need a new door and a new quarter panel welded in, and new GFX.

 

The door does not open that whole part of the car is crushed together. There is even metal on the inside poking through where the speaker is. And by the trunk lid there is a huge gap... It seems the body is twisted

 

And like I said, I haven't gotten an actual quote from a body shop. (I need to get another car in the meantime, I haven't had a car for 3 weeks) but do any of y'all know about how much It'd cost to get the body back to normal???

 

Depends on the shop. That's actually quite a bit of damage.

I'd say entire new quarter panel, door, gfx, rim like others stated. Then you have the side impact to the tire. It might have bent an axle flange, lower control arm, panhard bar, or the upper panhard bar mount. Least of the worries but a side impact like that can ruin a tire also. Just something to keep in mind.

How's the back end of the car look and how does the shocks and spring mounts look? How's the inside sheet metal look for the floor around the back seats and latch area? Has it been compromised also?

From the bends and waves in the skin and it having metal poking through the inside I would say it is more than just a quarter panel skin job. You're probably looking at taking everything from the sail panel portion to the back corner of a donor car. Including the metal for the wheel area.

Anything is fixable with enough time and money.

Obviously with winter coming you don't want snow and ice to building inside the car. You'll need to get it somewhere inside or use some duct tape and plastic over the door and hatch gaps after the insurance has looked at it.

What's your plans for the car?

If it's going to be a street strip car anyway might be better to start thinking mini tub or something along those lines since from the picture it looks like the fender opening and liner area is probably all bend up anyway.

It's going to all come back on what the insurance company does. They might total it no matter how much complaining you do. I've seen local cars back home fully built with 383 and etc get totaled and only pay out 2k.

For cost my sister's G6 was hit in a similar area but with impact to the wheel and quarter panel only. It was around 5k or so after they got it all fixed and painted. This hits looks a little more serious to me, but being more parts are available from a junk yard that might bring down the price some. Some body shops will use junk yard parts to save in the price tag others don't. It just depends on the shop. As with anything for cars usually most of the cost is in the labor fees though.

 

Just the body? Or is the frame twisted?

 

I enjoy a challenge, but that has some serious internal damage. Door jamb is crushed and I am sure the rocker and floor pan are wrinkled. These affect the geometry (squareness) and tracking of the car. If it were a high-dollar car it may be worth doing. I think you will be floored by the amount of money needed to repair that the right way.

I'd recommend another car. Keep the memories and the money. Paint your new car like the old one. Alternatively, it may be time for you to learn all about body work - do it yourself and have twice the pride in your ride. Just be prepared for a long stay in the garage.

 

Can it be saved-sure, is it worth it??? Doubt it. I have had cars that I loved, but there comes a time when you have to move on. I say get a differant car and maybe you can buy this one back cheap and it parts off of it for the next one.

 

No matter what the adjuster trys to tell you, they owe you a replacement car that's of "like kind and quality". They will try to pay you $500 and say that's all it is worth, but all you have to do is Google up a bunch of similar cars with similar mileage that have sold in the last six months or so, turn them over to the adjuster and they'll pay. Otherwise you refuse to settle and tell them you're getting a lawyer. Their primary goal is to settle, they want to be cheap, but mostly they just want to settle. They also owe you some transportation in the mean time. In the very end, tell them you want the car back or you want storage fees for it. These are all things they are very much used to dealing with and paying for.

 

+1

and IMO, you are better off looking for another Camaro... its not like they are rare... Yet

 

Sorry, from the pic I could not tell that the damage was that severe. On first glance, it looks like the door, rocker, and quarter panel. Maybe 3 to 4 K to replace the quarter, door, rocker, and paint.

You could do a rear clip. Providing you use a clean straight donor car, the the work is first class, the car could be made good again. It will be costly.

You could find a straight rust free body, good paperwork, and swap everything from your car. Paint it and call it done.

Or as others have said, hold out for a fair settlement and buy another Camaro. Since you need a car right now, it is sounds like you don't have a place to keep this one if it is not running, that may be your best bet.

I assume that the other driver's insurance it paying the tab since she hit you?

Either way, you have to play hardball with the insurance company. They owe you something for pain and suffering. It may not be much, but they will want you to sign a medical release. Your signature is worth a few bucks.

Use sources like Auto Trader and others to establish the value of our car. Search cars with similiar equipment, similiar mileage, and similiar condition. Print the ads to use to bolster your case. Mileage is the least important issue unless your car is a very low mileage original, then it is a major factor. Condition is much more important. If they continue to try and low ball you and brow beat you, tell them to kiss your butt and to call you when they are willing to be reasonable. Then don't say anything. Walk away. They will contact you. Make them pay for a rental car, and keep it until you settle. The longer you keep the rental the more it cost them. Just don't sign anything until you have a fair settlement from them in writing.

In 1999, I hit an 850 lb steer with an 85 Dodge Ramcharger 4x4. I bought the vehicle new, and kept it nice. It had 188K, but looked like it had 30K miles on it. Needless to say the steer and the truck both lost the match. I was dealing with my insurance company. The first offer was $650.00, and the truck was totaled. After I searched ads on Auto Trader, not only did I bump them to $3,245.00, but as part of the conditions of the settlement, they did not total my truck. The $3,245.00 was the cost of repairs using good used parts. The repair estimate was $5,600.00 with new parts.

During the online search I also found the replacement vehicle. It was a 1987 RC 4x4, all orignal with 53K actual miles on it. It was like brand new. I paid an extra $3500.00 out of pocket, but steped up a lot from my 188K mile truck to a two year newer truck wih 53K miles on it.

I kept the old truck in the back of my garage and used parts off of it for years. Eventually, I bought an 89 RC that had a sound body, good mechanical's, but a nasty smoked up interior cigeratte burns all over. I swapped the entire interior from my wrecked 85 which was clean as a new one to the 89 with the nasty interior, and made a lot nicer vehicle out of the 89.

The point is, you have several options.

 

totally fixable, that damage is nothing compared to what happened to mine, my 89 iroc was stolen one night, next morning the cops found it wrecked about 30 minutes away. the thief lost control on a turn or something, went through those cable guard rails and wrapped the steel cables all the way around the car, then hit a streetlight and tore the WHOLE streetlight out of the cement. the front drivers side corner was smashed all the way into the wheel and the entire driver's side was smashed like a pop can. the cables crunched up the body all the way around the car.....it was completely totaled, but i didn't give up on her. i bought an 87 iroc body for 500 bucks and replaced the whole front clip and hood, replaced both doors and rear bumper. it cracked 3 of my rims so i used the 87 iroc rims and replaced the entire front steering system (a-frames, struts, rotors, springs, tie rod ends, steering sectors, gear box, and steering column) got an alignment on it balanced the tires and she drives just fine now. amazingly it didn't hurt the engine or transmission. I was 17 years old, didn't know A THING about cars and spent the next 9 months doing this all on my own. its a mixed blessing really, if that wouldn't have happened to me. i never would have realized my love of cars, and id never have chosen the career I'm in today. regardless of what happened to me, you have my condolences my friend. i know how it feels

 

Thank everyone for the responses... like i said, she is my baby. She's my first car. I need to find out exactly how much it would cost to fix her