I have sad news about my 1981 300D. It was rear-ended the other day, crumpling the left-rear quarter-panel and the trunk floor. The body shop says it would cost at least $6000 to repair, assuming they can find a replacement floor section, which they think is unlikely. The car is running normally otherwise, although the muffler is now hanging too close to the street. The insurance company is offering $3984 for a total-loss settlement.

I'm inclined to take this settlement, but I just wanted to check on a couple of things.

1) Does this sound like a fair replacement price for this car? It is in good mechanical condition, other than a few mechanical problems (bad a/c compressor, vacuum leak on door locks, occasional freeze-up on the hazard/blinker switch). The transmission shifts reliably and firmly, and the engine runs smoothly, passes the blow-by test, doesn't produce smoke, and never needs topping up on oil. The car has 190,000 miles, but I think the engine was replaced (with a used one) around 100,000 miles. The body is a beautiful china blue, with minimal rust damage.

2) The insurance company says that they will reduce the offer by "up to 20%" (i.e., maybe as much as $800) if I decide to keep the car myself. I don't think I'd want to go through the trouble of fixing it, and with the smashed in rear-end, I wouldn't be too thrilled to drive it around as-is. So I'm wondering whether I can (easily) expect to get more than this value if I keep the car and sell it myself for salvage? I don't really know how that would work though -- list it in the classifieds, call a salvage yard, etc.

Thanks for any help you can give on these two questions! You all have always been very helpful, and I'm sorry to be leaving the shopforum, at least for now.

Matthias

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1981 300D, 178,000 mi., China Blue