I really love the look of a hardtopped s2k. I did see the SLR Mclaren pics. Nice car.

Thanks for your responses everyone. It really helped clarify my options and put some preliminary dollars to them. I'll be getting more help with it from my insurance agent and local repair shops tomorrow. Within a few thousand dollars it looks like a salvage sale or repair are likely to be about equal options if its repairable, and most of you are predicting it is. My "best guestimate" figures:

Averaged Kelly and NADA values of undamaged car = 22,923. I paid 23,000 for it so that's probably close. Assuming 13,000 repair cost, I'd need about 9,923 from a salvage buyer to make repair and salvage equal options. I'll be seeking a salvage price before any decision but I suspect I would't get nearly 9,923. If thats true it would push it towards repair.

Getting a repair estimate will require some front end teardown and an appraiser fee, on my nickel, which increases the repair cost pushing it towards salvage. If a repair shop were able to buy new parts at discount, that would push it back towards repair. There's always potential of discovering unseen damage during repair, which if realized would push it back towards salvage.

I'll have better info for a decision in 1-2 weeks and I'll post it to help others. At first glance though the cost of picking the wrong option may be 3K. To me that's in a range where personal instead of monetary factors would decide it. I've fallen in love with the S2000 but I'd be comfortable chilling out a few years before having another one. In the meantime I can enjoy the countryside on my Victory cruiser. Its been giving me sad looks since I got the S2000.

Again thanks for your feedback. I'm going to try to return to work tommorow. I have the benefits to stay away but I'd rather be working. I went back to visit the family that helped me today and they were very friendly. Shortly before my unplanned visit, their school-age son had won a ride in an ambulance for writing an essay about EMT services.

Cheers,

Steve

 

keep us updated! if its a total loss will you be buying another s2k?

 

If its a total loss, yes, but I'll hold off for a few years and buy Polaris stock with whatever funds the wreck brings in.

Steve

 

in my opinion once you have a accident the car is NEVER THE SAME especially a car like a S2000 the car was engineered to perfection once you start altering it . YOUR GONNA NOTICE EVERYTHING ! in my opinion try to get if fixed and sell it and get a new one.

 

The teardown and estimate are done. The bill would come to more than $22,000. Of course thats including things one wouldn't care about like a scuffed rear tun signal cover, but its unrepairable.

It would make a good parts car so its for sale for whatever it will bring. Many photos, some videos, the estmate, current location and contact info are on my website:

http://www.stevesite.us/s2000/

I'll also be posting this in the For Sale forum here and a few other places. If it doesn't sell in two weeks it'll go for the best offer I get from the local salvage yards.

Everything's included except the Rick's camera mount.

Steve

 

Well, it sold for $4,100. Three serious inquiries, two looking for a DIY rebuild project for street and one interested in strip, repair & race. All were members of these forums.

There's nothing as good as having access to a large community of dedicated enthusiasts in a situation like this!

I wish the best to the buyer with his project!

Steve

 

@ sstodvictory: This minor crash broke your left arm ?!
How did that happen ?! No seatbelt?!

 

I have no recollection of the impact but I'm postulating I was gripping the steering wheel tight at that instant, so the air bag might have done the number on my arm. The officer on the scene thought I might have broke it getting out of the car because he said the ground was a small drop below where the car came to rest. Of course I don't remember climbing out or walking to a farmhouse either.

A friend told me that in driver education in IL they now say that the best hand position for driving is on the lower part of the steering wheel because of the airbag injury potential. I wouldn't call that a good driving position, but it might be a good crash position.

Steve