Someone hit my car
 

Hi,
Last week,I let my son take the Ml500 to college.This left me with the T-100 and the S500.It was snowing,so I drove the T-100.I left the car on the street,because my driveway was hard to get out of (the car is RWD).I parked the car 8:00 at night and when I came back around 1:00 in the morning,I noticed someone hit the car.The front tire was flat and the right quarter panel was damaged.I found the hubcap underneath the car.I called the cops,and they wrote up a report.Next day,I see the car that hit mine a couple houses down from me.I get my car towed,after calling the cops.They got it all sorted out.Today,the insurance company calls and says that they are totalling the car.The car has 93,000 and is a 1993 T-100 original owner.It has not been in any accidents,or it doesnt even have a scratch.All maintence is up to date and the car is in good condition.How much should I get for it and should I total it or get it fixed (with my own money)?The car is very basic (automatic,no power locks,no power windows,standard long bed,no rust,nice truck overall).
-Thanks

I am sorry this happened to you but glad you got it straightened out (no pun intended) with the police and finding out who did the hit and run! You probably can work something out with the insurance company about "buying back" the car even tho they are totalling it. Don't take "blue book" stand your ground and have your service records in hand telling them its in better shape.

So, I assume they didnt report the collision? Do they have insurance?

I'd be tempted to call their insurance company, and calmy explain your situation. They hit your car, ran, and you found them...

You want your truck fixed by a professional, and that's it...

If it's still in good shape, I'd get it fixed... but, I'm cheap... I'd rather spend $500 fixing my current car, then buy another car.

good luck, sorry to hear about ur unfortionate situation

~Nate

Yes, a very unfortionate situation.

Hi,
The car is in really good shape for its age and it has been a really big help.The blue book value is about $3500,should I settle for that or look for more.The car has been repainted once,but just a touch up.No accidents,original owner,no rust,everything.The condition is somewhere between good and excellent.Here is the KBB value for the car with the options http://www.kbb.com/KBB/UsedCars/PricingReport.aspx?VehicleClass=UsedCar&ManufacturerId=49&YearId=1993&WebCategoryId=44&VehicleId=My8 yLzIwMDd8MTEzMTA%3d&PriceType=Private+Party&ModelId=479&Mileage=93000&SelectionHistory=11310%7c2953% 7c18966%7c0%7c0%7c399918%7ctrue%7c399937%7ctrue%7c399960%7ctrue%7c400029%7ctrue%7c400056%7ctrue%7c39 9975%7ctrue%7c399975%7ctrue&Condition=Excellent&QuizConditions=0.
I havent got an estimate yet,but the body shop guy mentioned that the front wheels were pushed up,but the steering still turns,its just that the car doesnt really move.The front bumper needs to be replaced,the right quarter panel needs to be replaced,and the blinker light and another little light needs to be replaced,as well as the tire and hubcap.This is just by looks and we have not actually gotten into the real things.These parts needed to be added in with paint (silver metallic).
-Thanks

Wait - how did you know that was the car that hit yours?

Hi,
The car that hit mine was parked right down the street.It had been hit on the same side as my car (drivers side)which means that the person had gone into the wrong side of the street (the street was bone dry).When I called the cops,they had told me that someone had admitted to hitting a silver truck.The cops said they had already come out and taken pictures of the damage.
-Thanks

At least it wasnt the mercedes ya know...

hope everything works out for you

I'd be inclined to have the truck totalled out, prinicpally because of the suspension and frame damage. (I'm assuming its BOF). Even with the racks in the body shops, it's a difficult job to get done right, and you wouldn't want a vehicle that crabbed down the street, wore out tires prematurely and never felt right. There's a chance of that.

I'd get a settlement and move along to another one. The T100 is a very good truck, though, in many ways superior to the equivalent Ford/Chev/GMC/Dodge pickups. Toyota is in that game to stay, and they are a VERY viable and credible truck choice.

If the car has a lot of mechanical issues due to the accident,I will have it perfectly redone.Could this cause problems when I need to actually use the truck as a truck?
-Thanks