...so glad you were not seriously hurt. You are right - it could have been much worse. It will be hard to get a good price on it because of the accident. I'd hold on to it to get my money's worth over a period of time, assuming it is fixed properly. Otherwise, take a hit, sell it and get another one. Good luck!

 

Sorry about the mishap. If properly repaired, there really isn't any reason it cannot drive like new. If you just keep the car a long time, the devaluation due to the accident will be less and less.

 

If you have a good shop repairing your car, you will not notice a thing.
Come on guys, just cause a car has been in an accident doesnt mean that it is screwed for life. Sounds like your frame and suspension were untouched. The car should drive as straight as the day before your incident. New engine should work just like the old one, many owner's have had their engines replaced or rebuilt. Keep your car, enjoy it, dont waste any more money on another S.

BTW - I wrapped my 04 around a tree 3 years ago. Cracked the driver's rear axle and wheel, and "bent" the frame at the drivers door. (Really it is not the frame, just the side skirt that is welded to the frame). $16,000 later and the car drives better than the day I bought it. I dont know, maybe the alignment was off when I bought it from the dealer and it was finally made proper after the accident. Just my $.02 about accidents. They are not all life enders for the car.

 

The car will feel fine, don't listen to the people that say it won't they're just going off the common misconception that after an accident it will guarenteed be worse off. The reality is that, 95% of the time the car will feel the same if not better.

Sure a damaged frame would be bad, but there are very expensive machines that will make the frame even straighter then it was from the factory.

Car will be fine, get it back and enjoy it again.

 

Do what you feel and makes you feel the best.

 

You lie all the way through to the buyer that this car has never been in an accident and provide him all the past maintenance records, 23k MIGHT be possible, given that he believes your car to be in an excellent condition. Obviously I wouldn't recommend that kind of way. If the person know your car had such and such replancements, he wouldn't even think of paying more than 16k probably. I don't see the logic here. Sell the car right now and buy a CR? The best you can do now is to keep your current car and drive it. At least the frame isn't damaged, and that's a great thing.

Good luck on your recovery.

 

Agree.
In 5 years the fact that you had the engine replaced and no further problems might even out if you keep the car well maintained.
Just the fact that you kept the car for 5 or more years would attest that reliability was never in question.
A nice car that has a "blemish" on a Carfax might be worth as much as an obviously worn high milage auto of the same MY.
If you like the car after you get it back, keep it.
If you have the feeling that everything is not right after you get it back, trade or sell and accept the loss.

 

[QUOTE=afwfjustin,Feb 11 2008, 08:50 PM] I have always had very bad problems falling asleep at the wheel.

 

i'd take a lot of pictures of the before and after on the work. that way, if you sell it soon, you have the option to show an educated buyer what the issues were (and what they werent) and why it isnt a big cause for concern. of course, if you're selling it because of the accident, it's hard to convince someone else that your actions aren't justified... but if the buyer doesn't care, it doesn't cost you anything, and if they do, you have them.

as for straightening a frame, if done properly, i would expect straightening to cold-work a metal frame, which will increase the stiffness of the bent-then-unbent part. how much depends on the metal, the bend angles, the process, etc. etc. but the common vibrations would more likely be caused by a screw-up on the repair (oversight of damage).

whether you keep or sell it, spend some time and find a great shop!

 

34k for a CR is pushin it, you might get 34k + taxes and licensing.

...unless youre lookin at the one without radio and A/C which I still havent seen any of at a dealer.