auto-body repairmen: Is my car totaled?
My car was hit a couple of weeks ago. (pics below)
Some auto repair shops i went to were estimating ~$8000 to fix it and others were estimating as little as $2200-2500. the ones who said 8000 said that the ones that were offering $2500 were just crooks and that the price would end up being much more and that they were just trying to lure me in. i visited about 5 shops and 2 said they could do it probably for under $3000 and the others were estimating probably more around $8000 and that it was totaled and i should just scrap it.
The car runs okay more or less but the alignment is jacked up. No leaks. When I accelerate, it makes a lot more noise than before and generally the ride is noiser than before (from the fans hitting something someone was telling me). I can't open the trunk. A/C works radio works everything works. Doors open fine.
When i turn or go over a bump, part of the bottom of the car scrapes against the pavement (this did not happen before the accident).
kelley blue book was putting it at $4500 assuming there were no cosmetic problems.
Those are the main things. What do you think? Am I better off scrapping it or trying to salvage it?
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e33/tnguyen129/Pictures988.jpg
scroll to the side for more pics
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e33/tnguyen129/Pictures989.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e33/tnguyen129/Pictures990.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e33/tnguyen129/Pictures995.jpg
airbags did not deploy on either car. i estimate i was going 15 and the car that hit me was going maybe 15-20, too.
when i said i can't open the trunk i meant the hood
Auto Salvage Ga
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Comments on auto-body repairmen: Is my car totaled?
12:47 pm
Auto Salvage Ga
If the frame is bent, according to the insurance company, it's considered totaled.
10:26 am
Auto Salvage Ga
scrap it
3:19 pm
Auto Salvage Ga
if the amount of money it takes to fix it is more then the car is worth then its totaled, scrap the sh it… or sell it,
3:27 pm
Auto Salvage Ga
I would scrap it out….Too many issues…..safety 1st…..
12:40 am
Auto Salvage Ga
You can't fix that car in this neck of the woods for $2500. It's totaled.
You could fix it quite easily and cheaply if you were able to do the work yourself and buy parts at wholesale, but you wouldn't be here asking us about it if you could do that.
Scrap it or sell it on ebay as a parts car.
7:07 pm
Auto Salvage Ga
My Sister just got in a car accident just like you same kind of damage. The car was a 04 and only cost $3000 to fix. You may need frame work which is expensive but depends on the business and your better off having someone see what you need buying thoughs from a company like keystone then you do all the work besides the frame work. Then take it to a frame work shop that will fix the frame and align it for you
9:22 am
Auto Salvage Ga
This car was hit hard and has severe damage. Frame bent. Did the airbag deploy ? Sell it for parts or let the insurance total the car and find a new one.
8:17 pm
Auto Salvage Ga
no this car is not totaled, but dont pay more than 2k for the work, that is not a hard repair for a body shop. shop around someone will be glad to do it for 2k.
6:21 pm
Auto Salvage Ga
I manage a collision center in Texas. Your car is not worth fixing. The estimates closer to $8000 are more accurate than the $3000 estimate.
As to the person who said that if the frame is bent then it is totalled, they have no idea what they are talking about. First off, your Corolla does not have a frame it is a unibody car.
Insurance companies total cars when the cost to repair it exceeds 70% of it's retail value. Scrap the car. It is not worth fixing.
9:54 pm
Auto Salvage Ga
WHAT? SO MUCH MONEY? What the eff are they charging you so much for?
I would have shared you my pix but trust me my car was worse than yours and it was only 3,000!
I was hit by a van going 50
and I was going about 30 on a freeway
she hit me up the side
my car went spinning
the body was misaligned
two doors stuck, wouldn't open
(one still doesn't after repairs)
Part of the front bumper fell off and just hung there
the transmission was completely damaged because the whole tire system broke back there
a door was completely smashed in
and I ended with lots of injury.
My air bag did not deploy.
I don't think you should scrap it. I had mine fixed and it works perfectly fine. I think you should go with the one charging you less than 3G. Misalignment means they have to fix the body, order parts plus the labor to fix it plus all the little screws, nooks and little levers and stuff.
Really with this bad economy would you rather buy another vehicle?
My hood did not open. If the car runs, there is no real engine damage? You might have to get some things fixed. The little tubing for the brakes were messed up in mine and they fixed that.
It's true, it might be totaled. But some girl I met had 8,000 in damages on her jeep and got it fixed.
Don't fall into those people's tricks.
3G sounds reasonable. It will cost them labor, shipping and getting the parts. I have a Toyota Corolla DX so it is a car like yours.
12:50 pm
Auto Salvage Ga
It is definitely repairable,we do similar jobs every day.Once set up on a frame machine the swayed front end will easily pull back to it's original position.The few new body parts it needs are very inexpensive. In reality here,the big dollar quotes are from a bunch of spoiled cry babies that don't want to work for their money.The guys that quoted lesser amounts are the honest ones and will probably do a nice job because they have enough experience to see that it isn't a big deal.