Hi everyone,

So I had a little accident in my04 when the backend slipped out and mounted a kerb and hit a barrier. The damage is not bad in my opinion but my insurance company is going to write it off. Now I don't know what to do. Do I buy the car back and repair it and it will be classed as a Cat D or do I buy the car back and break it for parts or just move on and look for another one. The car is in amazing condition apart from stone chips, I had the car on a ramp and the underneath looks like new even with 96,000 miles. I found that it had been waxoyl'd and had some other rubber type protection in the arches too. Drives like a dream and has full Honda service history. Alignment settings had been done last year, new tyres and even had the steering wheel re-trimmed. It even has the original roof which don't tend to last this long and is still in great condition. I cannot stress how nice this car is and it is a massive shame this has happened.

The garage that I took it to sent an estimate and it was for everything new and quoting for parts that he does not know that are damaged but as a worse case scenario. The car drives perfect except for the steering slightly out now.

I would like to know peoples opinions please. I would break the car for parts as long as I get my money back but only when the weather warms up or if someone would like to buy it off me in the condition it is in. Just really want some ideas on what to do or an idea on parts anyone would like.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...%2005%2018.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...%2057%2041.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...%2057%2048.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...%2057%2056.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...%2058%2004.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...%2058%2011.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...%2036%2005.jpg

Thanks in advance.

Jay

 

I whacked my rear quarter on track. New door, front wing and steering rack needed too. Seem to remember approx £2.5k Inc painting. 2nd hand parts. Sounds like you've got a goodun. If you love the car, repair and keep it. If you don't, sounds like there are a fair few parts to sell on.

 

Looking at yours, there isn't that much damage, assuming the boot floor and subframe are ok. New bumper, rear wing probably repairable? New rear light. Wheel probably repairable, if not bent. Wishbones ok? They tend to break first, saving the subframe. Wheel doesn't look too out of line, but difficult to tell with the wonky bumper.

 

the key is the rear subframe and suspension. that's a big job if bent/broken

the bodywork looks minor. I'd try and get it aligned if everything looks ok - if that fails break it.

mileage will always count against it as there are a lot of low milers around

 

depends how much it is to buy it back?

 

Don't you just love insurance companies, I'd keep and fix it assuming there isn't much of any damage to the suspension. Make you wonder why we bother with comprehensive insurance.

 

Never really trusted insurance companies. Would get lowest coverage possible as I don't really believe that 'comprehensive' will cover everything.
When the time comes to assess damage they always seem to get their way with it.

as for the OP - I would say it depends on how much they ask from you in order to buy it.
If good price (highly unlikely) I'll buy it back and fix it, but most likely they will be asking everything under the stars; so maybe it is time move on and look for a low mileage one?

Best of luck whatever you decide!

 

its purely a financial call for them

say the car is worth £7k

and salvage is worth £4k

if it's more than £3k to fix they wouldnt bother, with new parts that's easy i guess

new rear light £200
new rear bumper £340
new rear wing £?
paint £?

 

Thanks for all the replies.

The boot floor is slightly raised but when I took it to the body shop I was told that it is not bad and would straighten out when he pulls the dent. He said the rear quarter could be straighten out. I drove the car 20 miles back home and then to the body shop and no knocks or odd behaviour, just the steering is slightly out. My boss said get a 4 wheel alignment done as that might be the issue.

They said that the car is worth about £7K and to buy it back would be just shy of £3K. I just do not know whether it is worth having a Cat D car.

I have been told that the body shop over quoted as a worse case scenario but the insurance company is taking it for gospel.

 

If you do decide to keep it, keep the accident photos too so that you can show them to a potential purchaser as in the unlikely event I was buying a CAT C/D car it would be nice to see the accident photos. Bit of a tough call on what to do, if you aren't bothered too much about resale I would buy it back and repair it and enjoy it for as long as possible.