01-22-2011, 11:24 PM
Wailer wrote:
Thanks for the anecdote norse.
It's good to know this. I have a late 90s ES300 w/160k miles that is a great car mechanically but the bluebook is only $5k. It had some very minor bumper and rear quarter panel damage when I was lightly rear-ended last month. However, that minor damage cost the other party's insurance at least $3k ($2800 in body work + $200 in car rental). I was worried that they'd "total" it and give me $5k. There is no way I'd be able to find any used car for $5k and expect the same reliability.
It's good to know that if they did that I'd probably have the option to buy it back for, hopefully, cheap and fix it myself.
I had to pay about $90-100 to have a brake and light inspection (with certificate), pay for a smog, and DMV fee to get it back on the road legally.
I pushed out the trunk to be able to close the trunk lid properly. I also re-bent the muffler to body strap and re-bolt it into place. The rear bumper facia is cracked and the front top of the hood is dented. Not a clean body but drivable.