Can We Rebuild Him? Do We Have the Technology? Better, Stronger, Faster?

[Face_Plant]

Unfortunately I was in an accident yesterday and insurance will be coming by to look at the car soon. I am very worried that they are going to total it. Does the damage seem repairable?

In the front most of the damage I see is to the bumper, plastic panels that lead air into the radiator, the bottom mount/support for the radiator, and the radiator itself. The crash bar is a bit pushed up/back on the driver's side. The metal structure behind the crash bar that goes around the radiator still seems okay.

No damage was done to the passenger side. The driver's side front fender will need to be replaced and there is a scratch on the driver's door. The air bags were not deployed and the hood, trunk, and both doors still open/close just fine. All four wheels still seem straight.

The rear is what has me worried. The rear bumper, my HKS exhaust, driver's side taillight, and driver's side rear quarter panel are smashed. Sure, I can just bolt on a new bumper and exhaust, but the quarter panel can't be replaced easily, which is why I'm worried it will be totaled...

[VIP BRZ]

Total

[Face_Plant]

Originally Posted by VIP BRZ

Total

I guess I should start looking for a new car

[Will BRZ]

Damn that sucks bro kinda looks like a BRZ on need for speed when you hit too many cars. Hard to tell without thorough inspection, but it does look totaled unfortunately. Hope you’re okay though good luck

[Face_Plant]

Originally Posted by Will BRZ

Damn that sucks bro kinda looks like a BRZ on need for speed when you hit too many cars. Hard to tell without thorough inspection, but it does look totaled unfortunately. Hope you’re okay though good luck

What about it makes you think it's totaled? The accident really wasn't as bad as the car makes it look. I was the only person injured, and all I got was a bruise on my neck/shoulder from the seatbelt. Cars nowadays seem to just disintegrate at the slightest impact...

[RickyBobby]

The total loss threshold for Maryland is 75% of the ACV (Actual Cash Value) determined by your insurance company.
From the pics (including hidden damage) of your car, IMO, it's going to be totalled.
Here's a good article from Edmunds on total loss: https://www.edmunds.com/auto-insuran...otal-loss.html

[Spuds]

I gotta go with totaled on this one. And I'm usually optimistic about these.

[Face_Plant]

Originally Posted by RickyBobby

The total loss threshold for Maryland is 75% of the ACV (Actual Cash Value) determined by your insurance company.
From the pics (including hidden damage) of your car, IMO, it's going to be totalled.
Here's a good article from Edmunds on total loss: https://www.edmunds.com/auto-insuran...otal-loss.html

Originally Posted by Spuds

I gotta go with totaled on this one. And I'm usually optimistic about these.

What about the car makes you think it's going to be totaled? I'm assuming the damage to the unibody? No glass was broken, no airbags went off, all doors, the hood, and the trunk still seem straight.

To me the front looks easily repairable: new driver's side fender, bumper, radiator, a few plastic bits, and it's all set. In the rear they'd probably have to cut that section out and weld in a new one. I was rear ended about 10 years ago and the car had similar damage, but they still didn't total it and were able to repair it. That car was worth less than my FR-S.

I guess if it is totalled, then keep an eye out in the classifieds for aftermarket parts I'm going to try to salvage. I still have all stock parts in the garage, so hopefully I can get my header/over pipe, various interior bits, etc back and resell them for a little extra cash to put towards another car...

[VIP BRZ]

Originally Posted by Face_Plant

What about the car makes you think it's going to be totaled?

I've seen 86's with HALF of this damage be deemed totaled

I have no doubt your insurance company will total it (i'll eat my hat)

[Face_Plant]

Thanks for the evaluations. The adjuster should be out within the next 48 hours and I guess we'll see what the official ruling is...

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by Face_Plant

What about it makes you think it's totaled? The accident really wasn't as bad as the car makes it look. I was the only person injured, and all I got was a bruise on my neck/shoulder from the seatbelt. Cars nowadays seem to just disintegrate at the slightest impact...

They're designed to crumble to absorb crash energy and save the people inside... watch crash test videos of cars from the 70's vs modern ones.


As for the damage, the rear 1/4 panel is one piece that includes the outer a pillar and goes all the way forward to the fender on the bottom. That alone is a really expensive repair to remove the old panel and put the new one on. Add in all the other damaged panels, and what the cars are actually worth, and it doesn't take much to write it off.


Having one damaged fender replaced, with blending to adjacent panels, is about $1600 Canadian. The bare fender alone is like $450 Canadian for the unpainted panel. That's a single bolt on panel with zero other damage.

You need a fender, front bumper, rear bumper, trunk, tail light, the whole 1/4 panel, lower rad support, maybe a subframe, etc, then basically painting the whole car.

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by Face_Plant

I guess if it is totalled, then keep an eye out in the classifieds for aftermarket parts I'm going to try to salvage. I still have all stock parts in the garage, so hopefully I can get my header/over pipe, various interior bits, etc back and resell them for a little extra cash to put towards another car...

If you want to take any parts off the car after it's been towed away you'll have to buy it back from the insurance company after they write it off.

[Tristor]

Totaled, the rear fender is a structural element.

[humfrz]

UGH! Yes, it can be fixed, but, I doubt the insurance company will opt to fix it -


humfrz