Well.......the dream is over.

About 10 days ago I was involved in a very minor traffic accident. I was swerving to avoid a car that was changing lanes into me, and slammed into a curb.

The right front wheel took most of the damage, bending the wheel inward. After the right front wheel hit the curb, the rear wheel then slammed into the curb, damaging that wheel, and causing the side curtain airbag and rear side airbag (in the door) to go off. Surprised the heck out of me.

It took 10 days for AAA to call me and tell me that the damage was about $15,000, and that it was to close too the value of the car, so they are totalling it out.

I am absolutely beside myself that what appeared to be relatively minor ended up costing $15K.

In any event, after two weeks of having the car, The Auto Club insurance still hasn't told me what they will give me for the car.

They explained that they do not use KBB value anymore, and use an outside company called Auto Tech to determine the fair value market of the car.

I see this as a way to basically screw me and give me less money for the car.

The KBB wholesale value is about $13K, and the dealer retail is about $18K, so I'll just ballpark it around $15K.


There is no room in my budget for a car payment. I can kick in about $3,000 of my own money, so I am setting my budget at about $18,000-ish.

I am making a short list of cars to buy.

1. Volvo S80 (2002-2004).
2. Honda Accord EX V6 (2002-2003).
3. Acura RL (2002-2004)
4. Subaru Outback H6 3.0 (2001-2004).

Any comments or other recommendations?

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".