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#1
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A blinker, headlight, rad support frame, fender bender...
First accident I was involved in. My friend's mother was leaving to go the bank and, without looking, plowed into the front end of the passenger side. BIG oops.
No one was hurt, the mom said she was just idling out of the garage and Crunch. She drive's a Jeep Commander so that's at least 2 tons? I'm glad we know the family and she has taken full responsibility of the accident offering cash and the difference in repairs. (so no insurance involved, yet?) I'm going to get estimates from body shops later tomorrow ( I cannot find any mechanical flaws, just cosmetic and framing woes...). Now my question is, given the condition of my car (Head gasket leak, no a/c, sunroof inoperable, paint faded and tired everywhere else.) Is it even worth the expense and time to repair? While I've put routine maintenance money into the car ( the most expensive being the tires) the price I paid for the car originally may be less than the actual repair at hand. The other option is to put the money in damage towards a new car (W124 of course...) Here's the damage: Here's the damage to the Jeep's bumper... Any insight would be greatly appreciated! |
#2
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As a rough guess that is 3K damage. Depends on the shop and whether they use OEM or aftermarket parts. Could even go to 4K if the shop is proud of their work. She might be surprised at the quote. I would spend that kind of money on another one, considering what you said.
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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine) 1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow) Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra |
#3
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Yea, rounded up some estimates today. Went to the dealership's certified collision place to get the outrageous baseline.
-1,357 Paint and materials -1,336 Labor =$2,667.51 TOTAL Stopped by a maaco on the way back -$829.25 Used parts and paint -526.44 Labor =$1496.93 TOTAL I'll be investing the money in damages in a future car. Time to shove my cracked U.S. spec headlights back on, knew they would come in handy one day. So worth it to keep your old parts. |
#4
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The maaco job will be only a bit less ugly than doing nothing.
Since it's your first accident, some gentile words of advice. Namely talk with your neighbor about the options. After you explain how much fun you've had with your first car and discuss the spread between the MB shop and the cesspool that is your average Maaco paintjob. Make sure she realizes that you're going to take the money and put it in the bank so that it covers the cost of the next car a bit later this year. She might have a fit over that and get exceedingly unplesant. Doubly so if you lay out all of the car's mechanical difficulties, which she doesn't need to know about. Though don't hide them or lie about them if she asks. On the mechanical side of things, your estimates are not complete if nobody has checked the front end alignment to see if a pull is needed to get the front wheels back in a straight line. Talk to your local mechanic about checking that. You might have to spring for 50$ for it. Just keep the receipt and add it to the pile. -CTH |
#5
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Thanks for the insight.
We'll be talking later tomorrow and that will be that. |
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