So...someone crashed into my 1998 Celica GT :-(, What to do? Options

[marblesmike]

Hey guys,

So I had my car parked on the street over the weekend and one of my elderly neighbors slammed into my car. The rear bumper is completely damaged (looks like it's about to be folded in half), as well as the tail lights and rear side panel on one side. The hatch still works and locks, but air and water is getting in the trunk now. I might be forgetting something and can upload a couple photos later. The car still drives okay, although I've only driven it twice since it's happened so maybe I'll notice something as I continue to drive it. Fortunately the driver left her information and lives right around the corner so we're going to go through her insurance company to handle things, especially since I don't have collision.

So right now I'm debating whether or not it's worth using the insurance money to repair body or if I should use that money, sell the car as is for $1500 or so, and then get something else. I'm leaning towards just repairing the car since I enjoy driving it, have recently upgraded the speakers, changed the distributor cap/rotor and plugs, changed the alternator so I know what's been done on it recently maintenance-wise. Plus, we're not sure if her insurance company will set a cap amount due to the age/wrecked condition of the car. They might declare it a total and just give me $3000 for the value of the car.

Thoughts anyone? What would you guys do?

[R4R44V15]

Sorry to hear that, man. Hope you get it all figured out!

My little brother had his Celica that he's had for a just a couple months totaled ($4300 in damage) in a hit and run accident on the 13th last month. He got these guys' license number AND we found the car the next morning and the police won't do anything about it because these guys are "really dangerous individuals", I guess. Turns out now that the insurance can't do anything about it either because these guys' Dad turned himself in for it, and because that doesn't match the police report or something, their insurance won't do anything about it if they cops don't, which they won't, and my little brother only had liability on his insurance. Now he owes $3k on his car AND is trying to figure out what to do with it now that it has $4300 in damage.

SO.. the situation could always be worse, I guess is what I'm saying here. Who knows. Look on the bright side of things! Maybe you'll get that $5k and find a deal on another Celica that is ****ing sick in comparison!