I got rear ended again.... sitting at a red light... The car sideswiped the car next to it and rammed the car behind me so hard that the car ended up hitting me. I went to a body shop for a visual inspection to see what to expect and based on just looking at the damage he says possible frame damage.
My car is still driveable, it drives straight and doesn't feel any different prior to the accident. However after doing a 100+ mph test, I get a burning rubber smell coming from somewhere in the back.. The damage even went slightly into the passenger floorboard. My trunk is slightly caved in and generally the whole left side quarter panel is affected.

I refuse to total this car and the insurance company should pay whatever it costs because this type of accident is 100% preventable. It's only money and numbers to these companies but this car is everything to me. It is also very hard to find (in good condition). Not to mention I have $2500 rims that I literally just ******* bought 2 weeks ago. It has 140,000 miles on it. I've had it since 96k miles and I know all the maintenance history of it because I did it.

Any advice pls? If I lose this car I'll be depressed for months. I don't want a stupid check, I want it fixed.

 

I expect that's 100% totaled unfortunately. Quarter, trunk and floorboard, plus everything else in behind that's damaged. If it creased your passenger floorboard there was a ton of energy put into your car. Hopefully you'll be able to get a fair value from insurance and have them take the cost of the wheels into account.

 

Doesn't matter if the accident is preventable, all that matters is value vs damage. Without a doubt that is totaled. It would probably be a total on a new car just due to the floor buckling. That car will never be straight again.

 

damn, looks identical damage to my car I just got

 

What do you mean never straight again? You really saying it can't be saved?

 

Yes. The floor being buckled is basically unfixable. It's not worth the effort. If it were just a quarter panel, or just the rear section, then sure, but that car took a massive hit. The car did it's job, and it absorbed it, but its a goner.

 

ill pay whatever it takes to fix it. $5k, $10k, $15k idc. I got it.

the car still drives. My engine, transmission and drivetrain is still intact. That’s not a total loss in my eyes.

how hard can it be to push metal back into its original place.

 

I'd guess you're looking in the $15k-$20k range. No way it's worth it realistically. Better taking the money insurance gives for the car+$20k and upgrading.

 

why the hell does it cost so much wtf

what the **** makes it $20,000??

 

The entire chassis is smashed and twisted. It's not worth it. The car isn't worth what the damage is. Pull the wheels off, let it go, and start over.

 

This is unfortunately what happens when you have frame damage on a monocoque chassis. You can't pull the body off to fix the frame.

Having said that... if you're so into the car that you can't bear to walk away, there ARE options. One of those options is to buy the car back from the insurance so you get something of a check. You'll end up with a salvage title, but who cares? *IF* the car drives straight still, have a mechanic check out the drivetrain and suspension to make sure none of that is broken or bent. The body can be fixed even if it's hard to get the mounting points to the chassis to line up. It will be a little weaker than it was leaving the factory, and that's where you take a risk - will it properly absorb energy that could otherwise hurt you NEXT time?

That's the real reason I'd think hard about repairing this one. The money is an ancillary argument.

 

How does it work where you are with a salvage title? Here if a vehicle is written off it gets a salvage title then needs a thorough inspection and repair and is then issued a rebuilt title. Damage like that wouldn't pass a rebuild inspection here to be legally allowed on the road.

 

I live in South Carolina. There are no inspections. Salvage title is just so the buyer knows the car was substantially rebuilt (tons of flood cars after hurricanes end up with salvage titles)

 

Another issue to consider is the compromised deformable rear body structure that can't be repaired. That means if you get hit again in the rear, or spin off the road and back into a tree, that rear floor structure that was designed to crumple won't do it any longer. That could affect insurance coverage and rates. It's the risk that comes with owning an older model car.

 

In PA if a car is deemed a total loss you have to apply for a salvage title, and turn in the regular title. You can then still repair the car, and once repaired it goes to an advanced inspection station that looks over the repairs and deems whether or not the repair is acceptable. Lastly they determine if the car is safe and roadworthy.

I went through the process with my Lancer 3 years ago. I hit a deer and after some back and forth it was deemed a total loss. Knowing what it would take to repair it, and having a few connections I went through with the repair. When the repairs were completed I took the salvage title and the car to an advance inspection station and he deemed the car properly repaired and sent out for my R Title.

If this car has to go through that process it will likely never pass and get an R title just due to the structural damage of the floor and chassis