Salvage or non-salvage?

[JMT]

@Mike_H, @Alex01, @ac_, @Squatch, and anyone else!


My daughter wrecked the ‘91 XJ Sport. The insurance said it is borderline for totaling the vehicle. My two options are

1) No Salvage - Insurance will pay $2776-$1000 deductible = 1776.
2) Salvage - Insurance will be $3500-$1000 deductible = 2500

The parts to fix it are already in my cart at Carparts and cost $800

I don’t think there is any other damage I would need to file supplement for. The frame looks good.

What would you do?

 

[GeorgeB]

It all depends on the overall condition, how much you like it and could you get something better for the $976 you'll have leftover after putting the $800 into it?

 

[JMT]

It all depends on the overall condition, how much you like it and could you get something better for the $976 you'll have leftover after putting the $800 into it?

I keep thinking, I know this vehicle. If I try to get into another vehicle in the $2500 range, I will automatically be out $300 in plugs and fluids just to get a baseline. Then who knows what else will need attention. Tough call. Thanks for ideas to consider.

 

[Apparition]

Non-salvage, daughter pays everything

 

[Squatch]

If I was faced with this same situation, I'd be taking some measurements up front to make sure that everything wasn't way out of square, with an eye on repairing it myself. I've done it a number of times with "totaled" cars (front end damage), and gone on to put many, many more miles on them. Knowing the vehicle goes a long way toward wanting to save said vehicle. Just my opinion, of course. I know I'd approach it that way if our XJ was bruised up a bit.

 

[bobthetj03]

It's a 30 year old rig. Salvage it, fix it and put her back on the road with it. Raising 2 girls, it won't be the last time it gets dinged up. Disable the stereo and tell her to keep her makeup in her purse until she gets where she's going. This is being said on the assumption that she was at fault. If she wasn't, then I retract my tough love comment.

 

[Farmergreg]

Is she ok?

The XJ is the devil you know and you’ve gone thru it. Roll the dice on a replacement.

Ez fix especially if you (she) doesn’t mind a mismatch on the hood color!

 

[JMT]

Is she ok?

The XJ is the devil you know and you’ve gone thru it. Roll the dice on a replacement.

Ez fix especially if you (she) doesn’t mind a mismatch on the hood color!

She’s fine. She was at fault. She hit a parked car in the neighborhood. She had coffee and it fell into the passenger floorboard and she bent over to get it. BAM ! Similar to the tough love comments @bobthetj03 mentioned. And @Apparition, yep, she pays all and the increase in insurance premiums.

 

[JMT]

Non-salvage, daughter pays everything

That’s what I’m thinking. If I salvage title it, I have to go through all the cost of getting a salvage title. I have no idea how much it costs to do that. WA has a cost and tax in everything.

@Squatch, I’ll take measurements, but I’ve looked close and the unibody frame looks fine. Better safe than sorry though, and I agree, I know this car and I will know nothing about another car. If I fix it, she can sell it later with a clear title. Won’t be worth much, but it’s hers for now and it may not be the last time she dings something. Lord I hope it doesn’t happen again.

 

[Moab]

I dont know around you. But around socal they are going for a huge premium. My son wanted one. We couldnt find anything below 10k that wasnt junk. Might have been higher. For way less he bought a 2007 jeep grand cherokee with 100k on it. And its in near perfect condition. Xjs are getting hard to find. I say clean title and fix it. A couple grand is nothing compared to its worth. Tjey are way harder to find than a tj.

 

[JMT]

The other guys Toyota Tacoma.

 

[Apparition]

The other guys Toyota Tacoma.

View attachment 266682

View attachment 266683

 

[MaximusLJR06]

The other guys Toyota Tacoma.

View attachment 266682

View attachment 266683

Wonder how this guy will make out. That's a good bit of damage to the truck

 

[Sea Cot]

No salvage. Keep the title clean for the next owner, disclose the history whenever you sell. If it tracks and operates properly, fix it. If not, sell as-is.

 

[Squatch]

The other guys Toyota Tacoma.

View attachment 266682

View attachment 266683

Damn! That Taco doesn't look like it fared as well as the XJ. Cherokee for the win!

 

[JMT]

Damn! That Taco doesn't look like it fared as well as the XJ. Cherokee for the win!
View attachment 266698

The Taco taco-ed.

 

[Apparition]

The Taco taco-ed.

Looks more smash burger to me

 

[Squatch]

Looks more smash burger to me

I understand the logic/reasoning behind "crumple zones", but it still just seems counter to what I would actually want to be dealing with following a collision. But again, I get it...

*I assume that body-on-frame vehicles still are designed/engineered with crumple zones...

 

[Apparition]

I understand the logic/reasoning behind "crumple zones", but it still just seems counter to what I would actually want to be dealing with following a collision. But again, I get it...

*I assume that body-on-frame vehicles still are designed/engineered with crumple zones...

Crumple zones are good for everybody:

Occupants - of one or both vehicles if a 2 car accident
Tow truck drivers
Parts suppliers
Body shops
Car dealers
Car manufacturers

 

[JMT]

I understand the logic/reasoning behind "crumple zones", but it still just seems counter to what I would actually want to be dealing with following a collision. But again, I get it...

*I assume that body-on-frame vehicles still are designed/engineered with crumple zones...

I know the guy who's Tacoma was smash-burgered taco'd was not too happy. He's in Qatar on assignment with the Air Force. I talked to him. He was good with it, but it was a nice 2008 Taco, till it got smash-burgered. One body shop estimate: totaled.