Hi all. I just picked up a 94 Hatch DX from an older original owner neighbor who was in an accident. The car was hit in the front. The car has 43k original miles with a mint interior and i picked it up for $600. Now, the frame is bent and it needs a new front end. It also got a dent on the driver quarter panel. Ive taken it to a few shops and ive been quoted 2800-3600 to get the frame pulled, quarter panel, paint, and new front end done.

The damage looks pretty gnarly but the car runs, steers, drives, turns perfect like it was never in an accident and is pretty solid overall. Plus the original owner gave me meticulous records of his 14 years of ownership.

My question is, is it worth it?Doing the repairs would easily over the KBB value. I dont plan any mods Id just like to get it back to something close to OEM for a car with low miles. Do you guys think its worth bringing back or just selling for part?

I'd appreciate your input! Thanks!

 

I think it would by better 2 part it out if it cost that much 2 repair.

 

NO,NO,NO.... dont do that..... FIX IT... trust me you got yourself a great deal!! i got my EJ for $700 and it had a blown motor in it and whole front end was smashed.... i changed MOTOR,Radiator support, Radiator, Fenders, Bumper, Headlights and corners, and hood and it has been working like a beauty!! i have had her running on a Turbo for about 2 years almost and it has been running since i was 17 and i am almost 21 next month!!! it was all under 2000 with motor seeeee..... trust me!!!

 

clean interior.

 

Fix it. I'd give my eye teeth for a rust free 5th gen hatch shell, even it was in a front end collision.

 

I don't know it looks like you'll need to pull it on a frame the damage went all the way to the doors, and finding a rust free civic is not hard especially if your from somewhere where they don't put salt on the roads to melt snow(Minnesota) I don't know its up to you just get an estimate

 

That to me looks like you have a perfectly running car that is just cosmetically in the gutter.

I mean this is the perfect car to drive from point a to point b. Fuvk everything else.

use bunjee cords like me, and roll all the way to 210k

 

LOL!! So true. Its all cosmetic which is why im having a hard time justifying a 3k+ cosmetic repair. It runs like new! If there was a way i could crowbar it back I would!

 

Part it.
you have a clean inside you will be able to get your money back for it+ some.
its up to you but 3000k to have the frame pulled on a 600 car is not worth it.

 

for a comuter or even a track ***** not bad idea just to get the frame pulled then do the rest yourself... forget the paint as the front will all be one color.

 

Well out of the few quote that I got at various body shop it came down to this:

$2800 For everything including front end frame pull with aftermarket body parts, quarter panel, door, and dupont paint. Not bad.

$1800 For Frame pull aftermarket body parts, just the front no door or quarter panel, no paint.

Im going to need a new bumper, bumper reinforcement, foam, fenders, radiator support, hood, hinges, hood latch. I can probably repair the headlights and turn signal as they did not break surprisingly.

 

KEEP IT!!! ya like blaze said just get the frame pulled and do the rest yourself. it is cheaper to do the rest yourself by going to a junkyard and get clean body parts.

 

I'd personally fix it and then resell for more.

 

i say part out.

 

Think it comes down to is- whats it worth to you?

 

The only reason im contemplating repairing it at this cost is the car has 43k miles. I mean it still has the new car smell inside. Im gonna try to get more bids and see if i can make it work. Thanks for the feedback people!

 

If you have the time head out to a few you pull it yards and start looking for parts it might take a few looks to get it all but you should be able to find the fenders, hood, bumper, and headlights for really cheep. then get the frame pulled and a new core support weldded in, take the car home and replace the hood, fenders, and bumer cover yourself. Save a bit of cash and take it to get painted later

 

drive it like that till she dies

 

Fix it. $3400 for an EG hatch with no rust and super low miles seems like a good deal to me.

However, I'd go to another shop. It shouldn't cost $1000 to fix the door & quarter.

 

i just replaced my front bumper ($80) and rear bumper ($20), fenders($90), hood ($50), corner lights ($20), reinstalled my origional OEM head lights, new tail lights ($40)
pulled the front passengers side corner back out (a tie strap to a tree and take your time)
pulled the rear passangers side quarter pannel out (don't currently own the tools to do a perfict job but it's good enough for now)
was going to paint today but it's raining...
so i can't even get ya a decent picture right now
but only spent... $300
body shop wanted $1600 (cheepist in the area and a friend hooks me up) and that included paint
now all i gotta do is get it painted ($400-$500)
that's $800 in the pocket for other areas of the car
i love insurance
i'll do %90 of it myself and bank the rest

 

i called the local parts house and i got a quote for a front bumper, 2 fenders, hood, radiator support, bumper reinforcment, foam impact absorber for a total of $464 which i dont think is that bad at all for new aftermarket part. headlights and corners i can repair. now i need a deal on labor.

how the hell did you pull your frame with a tie strap?

 

fix it!! its not that bad