Disaster Recovery - The Worst Case Scenario

[UrPast]

I just want to say, you guys have been the best source for toys, mods, and go-fast since I purchased my BRZ. I do apologize if there is a topic better suited for this thread; Mods please move me around as you see fit.
Now I am hoping you will have some insight as to what direction I should head - following the disaster.

Last Tuesday during heavy rain in Colorado my baby and I lost control on a turn and slid into a ditch. I have to give the safety systems top marks as I walked away without a scratch but now I am faced with undoing the damage. Pending the insurance companies official response I would like to have some ideas in my head regarding what a typical repair cost would be, or what kind of damage is not worth fixing at all.

Thank you for all the information and I hope to stay with you when my baby is good as new


Attached are the picture I was able to take before she was hauled off. Please ignore the potato quality cell phone pictures

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

Originally Posted by UrPast

Attached are the picture I was able to take before she was hauled off. Please ignore the potato quality cell phone pictures

Sorry for your loss my man, but it's good that you're fine and alive.

Also none of us on the forum can do a real damage estimate without physically looking behind the messed up body work and sheet metal to see what's going on with the frame or other mechanicals. When you get an estimate share it with us so future people after accidents can know the cost. I am going to guess however it should be under $7500 worst case scenario frame damage $10000, and take notice these are uber liberal estimates.

[humfrz]

Well, now UrPast, welcome to posting.

I'm glad you're OK.

What a lousy first post ...... (the damage to your car).

It doesn't look fixable (as far as insurance) to me.

Which way to go ..... ?? I'd suggest you buy another car and drive slower on wet roads.


humfrz

[Poodles]

As these cars are still so new, value is high so totaling them out is harder. Having said that, airbags going off is a definite strike against it, and the driver's side wheel is definitely not aimed in line with the passenger side wheel, so there's obviously more damage than just the sheet metal.

[Mr.ac]

its fixable.

[Summerwolf]

I wouldn't want it fixed.

[Tcoat]

From the pics alone that looks totally repairable. Although the damge appears horrible everything gave as designed to protect the driver. I am not seeing the wheel alignment issues mentioned and doubt (could be wrong) that there is much mechanical or "frame" damage, if any at all.

Everybody looks at these pics and says that the car should be totaled and then moan and cry when insurance prices go up. If the car is repairable, regardless of how bad it looks then it should be repaired. That one should be as good as new (or maybe even better if they paint the bumper well) and there is nothing wrong with repairing it.

[UrPast]

Sorry for the late reply guys, life has been a blur of phone tag and running from lot to lot.
The insurance company declared it a total loss citing frame damage and transmission problems.
The good new:
I was able to request a time to "collect personals" from insurance and the salvage lot which allowed me to swap all of the go fast parts with the OEM parts that had been resting in storage. Just a warning to others - they WILL NOT let you take parts off without replacing them; makes it easier to rationalize hoarding all those lame OEM parts.

The bad news:
While taking my exhaust back I took a good long look at things that looked broken and noticed a big split in the transmission where everything had leaked out. All of the guts up front were pretty much as expected, rad broken and drained, washer reservoir missing, headlights broken and driver axle bent.

The next steps:
Still awaiting a final number from the insurance company but I have decided to invest in a new WRX for snow reasons, winter in Colorado is not always this dry and warm. With any luck I will be able to get back into an 86 before next summer; there is just nothing on the road quite like it.


P.S. Yes I will start being more careful in adverse weather condition, I have no desire to ever go through this again it is just to hard to see my baby like that.

Thank you for all of your help and I hope I can be of help for anybody else in a similar situation.

-UrPast

[UrPast]

If anyone is interested I will upload the pictures I took during the replacement process. Just not here, it's a pain to resize and crop them all to meet the restrictions.

[White64Goat]

We were in town last Wed. evening and Thursday (10/21&22) and thought we had brought the rain with us since we were told it hadn't rained for like 3 months but if your mishap was on Tuesday, I guess someone told us wrong.

[chaoskaze]

Don't wanna be like facebook....so it's like "Part Out" thread now?

Glad you are ok, you should have post more. First post as crash/total post just sucks.

[fumanchu1]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

From the pics alone that looks totally repairable. Although the damge appears horrible everything gave as designed to protect the driver. I am not seeing the wheel alignment issues mentioned and doubt (could be wrong) that there is much mechanical or "frame" damage, if any at all.

Everybody looks at these pics and says that the car should be totaled and then moan and cry when insurance prices go up. If the car is repairable, regardless of how bad it looks then it should be repaired. That one should be as good as new (or maybe even better if they paint the bumper well) and there is nothing wrong with repairing it.

@Tcoat See how wrong you were Chestnut Ned?

[Packofcrows]

Looks like $7k damage for front but it frame bent or damaged, then $10k-15k.

Bummer. Hope you are doing good.

Edit: Just read this

Originally Posted by UrPast

Sorry for the late reply guys, life has been a blur of phone tag and running from lot to lot.
The insurance company declared it a total loss citing frame damage and transmission problems.
The good new:
I was able to request a time to "collect personals" from insurance and the salvage lot which allowed me to swap all of the go fast parts with the OEM parts that had been resting in storage. Just a warning to others - they WILL NOT let you take parts off without replacing them; makes it easier to rationalize hoarding all those lame OEM parts.

The bad news:
While taking my exhaust back I took a good long look at things that looked broken and noticed a big split in the transmission where everything had leaked out. All of the guts up front were pretty much as expected, rad broken and drained, washer reservoir missing, headlights broken and driver axle bent.

The next steps:
Still awaiting a final number from the insurance company but I have decided to invest in a new WRX for snow reasons, winter in Colorado is not always this dry and warm. With any luck I will be able to get back into an 86 before next summer; there is just nothing on the road quite like it.


P.S. Yes I will start being more careful in adverse weather condition, I have no desire to ever go through this again it is just to hard to see my baby like that.

Thank you for all of your help and I hope I can be of help for anybody else in a similar situation.

-UrPast

I say higher than $17k in damage+paint...etc

I see their rationale.

Go for the FA20DIT!!!! Although many new changes and not truly the same engine anymore, you'll still be the twins's cousin with the FA20 2.0

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by fumanchu1

@Tcoat See how wrong you were Chestnut Ned?

Yep! And that is why I usually shy away from the "Is this totaled" threads. The pics can be so deceiving making it look way worse or (in this case) way better then it really is.