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TLDR: Insurance company salvaged my '07 Sport Manual due to cosmetic damage and cited no mechanical issues in the repair estimate. Do I take the car back and get it fixed and pocket the difference? Or, do I take the full amount and run?
Backstory: My banged up (but, mechanically very sound) 2007 Honda Fit was hit while parked. Person who hit it fled, but plates were gotten, his insurance took liability (after a police report was filed), and the car was deemed a total loss.
The car was parked on the right hand side of a narrow, canyon road against a rock retaining wall. The car was hit at about 10-20 MPH. The driver sideswiped the driver's side of my car, his tires being the only part of his vehicle to make contact with mine.
Damage: Some tire marks were seen on the doors, the mirror was chipped, the front clip (which was held on, successfully, I might add, by Zip Ties) came off on the driver's side, and the driver's side front tire (which was turned to the right since parking downhill) was hit and "pushed" further to the right.
This last bit is the only "mechanical" damage that occurred. I moved the car about 3 parking spaces and went up and down the street no more than 100ft. The only "issue" I experienced was that the steering acted as if it had no "bump stop" when turning right. I suspect that the DS front tire was struck, turned both wheels further to the right and broke some components of the suspension / steering mechanism.
There was no fluid leakage, the transmission (manual) was able to shift and operate in reverse, no out of the ordinary noises (i.e. power steering whine or U joint clicking). When the wheel was turned to the right, after about 1/2 turn, it slammed to the right.
The car was deemed a total loss after a virtual inspection by the other driver's insurance company. The repair estimate (see it here) comes to $5,500 (estimated $6,500 after a "tear down" inspection) but is 99% bodywork only. Most of the repairs that would be performed are cosmetic.
So, I'm left with a question and options: what's actually wrong with my car and should I take it back and have it repaired and pocket the insurance money, or should I let them keep it, take the money and run.
Give up vehicle: $7,682.11
Retain vehicle for Salvage: $6,449.56
If I give it up, I need to buy another car. My fiancé and I have a two month old who did not ride in my car; my fiancé's is much safer (newer CRV). I didn't love my car, but it can be kept running for a long, long time cheaply. I need to haul equipment for work and the Fit was perfect. It was banged up, but we live in a canyon without a driveway where cars do get banged up. Finally, the car market is nuts right now and especially out here in Los Angeles. A 2011 Fit is selling for $12k. If I took the money and ran, it would most likely go toward a down payment for a newer, used car instead of buying one outright as I'd be able to buy a little bit newer version of my own Fit. I'm not too keen on a car payment right now, but the idea of a newer car is enticing (isn't it always?!)
I also don't know what I would want... another Fit? Sure. A Volvo wagon? Yea, but maintenance costs. An Acura Wagon? Sure, but $17k. A Subaru? No. A CRV? No. And I have little time to sit around and choose.
If I took the vehicle back I could get it repaired and drive it or sell it to a salvage yard (current offers hover around $1,000... clearly not ideal).
Granted, there is a lot of personal decision making here (see above), but I'd love all your opinions (and jokes and attitudes, and sass) on what you would do or have done and why.
THAT was a lot of brain spew that I needed to get out. If you're still reading... thanks and sorry.
Last edited by Globalksp; Oct 2, 2021 at 09:02 AM.
Reason: #worthless
If it’s just like a work wagon to just put you tools keep it and fix what need to be fix but fix it right
if not then get your self a 93 accord wagon there built like rocks
If it’s just like a work wagon to just put you tools keep it and fix what need to be fix but fix it right
if not then get your self a 93 accord wagon there built like rocks
You're the 2nd person to suggest an accord wagon. They’re hard to find, I’ve been looking. Considered a newer Acura TSX wagon as well hoping for the same build quality.
And to some extent it would/could just be a work car, yes.
The gamble is that it was not mechanically inspected so I don’t yet know what all is wrong with it.
There maybe some damage to the DS drive shaft, subframe, and alignment/steering components based on the description, the pictures do look purely cosmetic.. If your emotionally attached, fix it- if not take the money and look for something exciting (a manual accord wagon sounds fun).
Ah, good to know. I’ve been looking for a concise year + available trim option list but have yet to find one (granted, life is busy at the moment and I haven’t been looking very hard).
