• The site migration is complete! Hopefully everything transferred properly from the multiple decades old software we were using before. If you notice any issues please let me know, thanks! Also, I'm still working on things like chatbox, etc so hopefully those will be working in the next week or two.

Total it or buy it back?

Brammer

Brammer

New member
I recently rear ended someone (****ty, I know) and while his Jeep Wrangler came out virtually unscathed my 2002 Grand Prix GT did not. His hitch did some considerable damage and at the moment I cannot even pop the hood. Also it appears the bumper and fender are closer to the tire on the passenger side by about 1.5" as opposed to the Driver's side. Sadly, the total value is $2051 - $500 deductible = $1561 total. However due to existing damage that was never fixed it subtracts another $833, bringing the total value to a whopping $728. Now the buy back price is $200 some odd dollars, which would provide me the car and approx. ~$500 to fix it or do what I please with.

I have browsed local Craigslist for Grand Prixs (some GTPs :th_biggrin2:) and have found numerous ones, some older, some newer all with less mileage for anywhere between $2,000 and $4,000. At minimum to be roadworthy and pass inspection (due this month) my car would need headlights (and some hammer straightening as the mounting points are probably bent) and the hood fixed as it requires oil every month (178,000). The car does have some existing issues such as the blower motor resistor, the blend door, the fuel level sensor all need replacing and in replacing one of my wheel hubs recently I noticed one of the my CV axles will need replacing soon.

7LypHSd.jpg


nogO7XK.jpg


What would be my best course of action? Bear in mind I have a motorcycle as well that I use as transportation in the meantime.
 
Last edited:


for $200 i'd buy it back and part it out. hell its worth $200 in scrap price alone ...buy it and start a sale thread. the vultures here will pick her clean then scrap whats left over.
 
Hell, I'm tempted to buy this and swap out the dash and AC compressor from mine, then part mine out and junk it eventually.

But then this GTP tempts me as well.

As does this one.

This one too, but it's at a less than reputable shop and the price seems a little low...
 
I made the call to buy it back. For $218, might as well. It's still driveable if it's colder out and I don't want to take the bike. I'll part it out and then junk it. To top it off it's got a hitch ($150), my head unit, subs, amp and K&N air filter. All of that is worth more than $218.
 
Yea I would of bought it back for that price and just parted and scrapped it out if anything.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 


I say make $218 the fix budget and get on down to the salvage yard while weather is warm. Replace only what is needed, fix whats fixable and get the car back on the road. Just my opinion.
 
Brammer said:
I made the call to buy it back. For $218, might as well. It's still driveable if it's colder out and I don't want to take the bike. I'll part it out and then junk it. To top it off it's got a hitch ($150), my head unit, subs, amp and K&N air filter. All of that is worth more than $218.
Click to expand...

damn right , it would be stupid not to buy it. don't know what your salvage yards pay, but here they give you 200 for a car and 300 for a truck or van , and THEY PICK IT UP. you should have no problem selling parts between here, ebay, craigslist, and local. hell if you got 50% or better tread on your tires there's a hundred .. 150 bucks there. you can sell the sensors , door motors , mirrors , seats ,relays , switches , coils , hell everything (except the hood...lol) . someone is always needing something. it might take awhile , but i bet you could pick and sell a grand worth of stuff off it easy. then have em tow what's left away for more money.
 
Little confused on what your doing, but GENERALLY if you buy it back, that means they totaled it. And if they totaled it, its USUALLY no longer able to be titled. You get your car back and they give you a COD that you give to the salvage yard when you junk the chassis.
 


If there's no major damage (frame, core support, etc), he could just replace the front end and have it inspected at the DMV (at least that's what they do here) and as long as it passes inspection he can get a salvage title for it.
 
idrivejunk said:
I say make $218 the fix budget and get on down to the salvage yard while weather is warm. Replace only what is needed, fix whats fixable and get the car back on the road. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

I feel like you would be the right guy to give him pointers with the number of bumpers you've fixed.
 
I find it can be less work to fix than part out. People won't pay enough for the parts for it to be worth removing them.
 
Virginia is weird, even though it's totaled I paid the salvage amount and the title stays just as is. Doesn't become a salvage title or require an inspection to get back on the road.
 
idrivejunk said:
I find it can be less work to fix than part out. People won't pay enough for the parts for it to be worth removing them.
Click to expand...
just from my own person experience. i paid $98 for a EBCM from an ebay junkyard (had to buy the pump along with it ), and $40 for a power seat switch. couldn't find an ebcm local . found the seat switch local but they wouldn't sell it unless i took the whole seat for $75.
 


You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top