98 Impreza Outback: Total or repair?

[John Bartley K7AAY]

Semi backs into my wife's beloved "IMP" while the Outback was parked.
Our insurer wants to total it at $6300.
Trucker's insurance company wants to repair it.
Left rear 1/4 panel on one side crunched badly.
5" diameter 3/4" deep dink behind the gas filler on right rear where
the Imp was shoved into another car by the accident.
How to go about making this decision: Total or repair?
Little extra cash to buy a replacement, so whatever replaces it must
be close in price, and should be a good snow car.
Your thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Josh Assing]

we had a 97 that insurance wanted to total -- but we opted to have it fixed
instead -- glad we did -- we put about 4000 into it and with only SLIGHT issues
(that we notice) it's as good as it was when it was new.

We couldn't have bought a car for 4000 as good as this; and the insurance wasn't
going to give us what a true replacement would have cost.

as long as the "frame" isn't bent and there is no drive train damage, I'd say
let the truckers company fix it... either way -- you've got a car w/o any money
out of pocket.

-j

 

[johninky]

If this was my problem I would take the money and drive the car as is
until the wheels fell off.

 

[Dano58]

Semi backs into my wife's beloved "IMP" while the Outback was parked.
Our insurer wants to total it at $6300.
Trucker's insurance company wants to repair it.
Left rear 1/4 panel on one side crunched badly.
5" diameter 3/4" deep dink behind the gas filler on right rear where
the Imp was shoved into another car by the accident.
How to go about making this decision: Total or repair?
Little extra cash to buy a replacement, so whatever replaces it must
be close in price, and should be a good snow car.
Your thoughts are appreciated.

What makes up the $6,300? If it's all body panels and labor, then I
would probably go for it. If it's a couple of hours on a frame-
straightening machine, I'd probably pass. I don't think you can ever
really get a unibody car 'straight' after it's been twisted, and that
will just lead to other issues down the road. Not sure I'd want my
wife driving in a car like that.

Dan D
'99 Impreza RS2.5 (son's)
Central NJ USA

 

[Frank]

Semi backs into my wife's beloved "IMP" while the Outback was parked.
Our insurer wants to total it at $6300.
Trucker's insurance company wants to repair it.
Left rear 1/4 panel on one side crunched badly.
5" diameter 3/4" deep dink behind the gas filler on right rear where
the Imp was shoved into another car by the accident.
How to go about making this decision: Total or repair?
Little extra cash to buy a replacement, so whatever replaces it must
be close in price, and should be a good snow car.
Your thoughts are appreciated.

I'd probably repair it. Since trucker is responsible, why is your
insurance company involved?

I discovered that when my Forester was totaled, that insurance company
will often declare a vehicle "totaled" when cost of repair may exceed
~75% of the book value. Reasoning is that during repair, extras may be
discovered which exceeds book value.

Frank

 

[John Bartley K7AAY]

What makes up the $6,300?

Insurer wants to pay us $6300, not to repair it.

If it's all body panels and labor, then I
would probably go for it. If it's a couple of hours on a frame-
straightening machine, I'd probably pass. I don't think you can ever
really get a unibody car 'straight' after it's been twisted, and that
will just lead to other issues down the road. Not sure I'd want my
wife driving in a car like that.

Concur in that judgement.

 

[John Bartley K7AAY]

I'd probably repair it. Since trucker is responsible, why is your
insurance company involved?

Because they were called first.
Trucker's insurance company has not yet provied a deccision.

 

[Catherine Jefferson]

Concur in that judgement.

So do I, and I faced exactly this decision back in April this year. My
husband got into an accident just outside of our apartment complex while
driving my 1998 Subaru Outback Sport. I assume this is exactly the same
model of car you had, since as far as I know there were no other Impreza
Outback models available that year.

In my case, it was an easy decision because the other driver plowed into
the car on the front driver's side and screwed up the engine
compartment. I'd have never felt safe driving a car that had that
extensive damage again. But if the damage had been to side panels and
suchlike, not to drive train or bent body frame, I'd have chosen to
repair it. It was by far the best car I'd ever owned.

While there are plenty of other, newer good Subarus out there, the
Outback Sport line ends with the 2007 model year. That's unfortunate;
it filled a wonderful niche.

 

[Blair Baucom]

So do I, and I faced exactly this decision back in April this year. My
husband got into an accident just outside of our apartment complex while
driving my 1998 Subaru Outback Sport. I assume this is exactly the same
model of car you had, since as far as I know there were no other Impreza
Outback models available that year.

In my case, it was an easy decision because the other driver plowed into
the car on the front driver's side and screwed up the engine
compartment. I'd have never felt safe driving a car that had that
extensive damage again. But if the damage had been to side panels and
suchlike, not to drive train or bent body frame, I'd have chosen to
repair it. It was by far the best car I'd ever owned.

While there are plenty of other, newer good Subarus out there, the
Outback Sport line ends with the 2007 model year. That's unfortunate;
it filled a wonderful niche.

The 2008 Outback Sport can be seen here for the U.S. market:

http://www.subaru.com/shop/overview.jsp?model=IMPREZA&trim=SPORT&command=overview

Blair

 

[phillystyle]

Hi Frank,

Is that 75% of retail book value?

Thanks,

-- SUB