My 97 Accord was stolen off a Kaiser Permanente (Baldwin Park, CA) parking lot. Super bad timing! Any way, three weeks later, the car was recovered with minor stripping. Tires intact, engine etc. Looks like they went for a joy ride and crashed the whole left side. They stripped the airbags, rear (stock) speakers, and spare tire. Swapped my custom rear lights for stock, Honda emblems removed, glove box broken, (it closes but swings all the way down) & alignment is a little off

The insurance said the car was a total loss and now we are crunching numbers to settle this. I estimate a figure between $4000 & $4500. The insurance said I have a buy back option from them. I'm interested but I do not have the figure yet either. Assuming they offer the car for $1,000 to buy it back that would leave me with $3000-$3500 in my pocket. How much do you guys estimate repairs would be?

I've never done auto body repairs but the project doesn't look that tough. Looks like the left fender and driver's door would be replaced. What do you guys think?

See pictures below.




Modified by dman81 at 8:38 PM 10/25/2007







Modified by dman81 at 8:44 PM 10/25/2007

 

Airbags are the priciest part, hit up ebay, there's almost always a few on there. And are most likely the reason it was totalled.

Speakers = cheap go aftermarket
Spare tire = junkyard
glove box = junkyard
honda emblems = junkyard
get alignment

done

 

i see no pictures...once we get a look at the damages we'll be able to give you a decent cost range for repairs

in the mean time i'll say they probably helped you out with removing the custom lights and giving you stock lights in trade

 

Can you get pics of the damaged done over the leftside of the car. If all it was was scratches and light denting... you might get away with less than 1000 for it all repaired and painted. If the left side is bad... you may want to pick fender, and doors from a junkyard and repair only the 1/4 panel... if in this case, was affected.
Anyway... post pics if you could...

 

I'm having trouble finding a host. Any leads?

***EDIT****

Located!

 

photobucket for the host, regardless you got it back. i remember the day i walked up on little homie throwing my key cylinder for my driver's door on the ground... ***. but thats old now, i've moved on.

 

Replace left fender, replace left front door. You could get the left rear door repaired, the 1/4 panel and rear bumper are easy fix. Also needs left mirror. I think the entire thing can be done for less than 1k, specially if you bring the fender, mirror and door to a body shop.

 

pretty much echoed that response in my PM back to you, dman

 

okay here we go, i have to say i agree with these guys :

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gianinline &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Replace left fender, replace left front door. You could get the left rear door repaired, the 1/4 panel and rear bumper are easy fix. Also needs left mirror. I think the entire thing can be done for less than 1k, specially if you bring the fender, mirror and door to a body shop.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TheMuffinMan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Airbags are the priciest part, hit up ebay, there's almost always a few on there. And are most likely the reason it was totalled.

Speakers = cheap go aftermarket
Spare tire = junkyard
glove box = junkyard
honda emblems = junkyard
get alignment

done

</TD></TR></TABLE>

only thing i would add to that is a mud flap and left rocker moulding...and new key cylinders for your doors.

it hurts to look, i'm done.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by oem_certified_accord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">only thing i would add to that is a mud flap and left rocker moulding...and new key cylinders for your doors.

it hurts to look, i'm done.</TD></TR></TABLE>

good looking out on that mud flap, i had not noticed it.
Be sure to pick up a new left rear door molding.... There's a little trick on removing them without braking the clips.

 

I was actually thinking of replacing the key cylinder on the left side with same one just on the replacement door. If I decide to keep this, (depending on how much the insurance offers) it's going to be a salvaged ride so I don't want to invest too much money.

 

heres an idea!! how about just buying another acccord. to much work to restore it. Might as well buy another one. YOu are going to need speakers, airbags, yadadada paint job. .thats crazy man.. sucks

 

Yea that's also another option but since I want to buy a home pretty soon, it might not be a good idea either. I just want a ride to get me from point A to point B.

 

total it out and put the money towards another car.

 

by totaling it out he means parting the car out and selling it for parts.... strip that car naked sell every part on ebay or something and use that money for another accord. it would be the logical thing to do.. unless you plan to have the repairs done in less than a week which i doubt. Its just something i would do bro. just list the whole car on ebay and put the description as Honda Accord (Year) Parts you'll get alot of hits

 

part it............. dibs on the rear bumper

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by YeuEmMaiMai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">total it out and put the money towards another car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

quoted for truth thats exactly what I was gonna do...It not worth it imo your gonna be adding stupid amounts of labor then you still may not pass insoections...take the money and run

 

Part it out.... not worth keeping a salvage car.