Soo, got in a wreck this Saturday.

[BobbyG2]

Hey guys, just figured I'd share some pictures of you of my first ever car accident. Everyone was ok, and the other driver got the citation for the accident.

He.2032. U-Turned in front of me, I was in the left lane so I got as far left as I could and slammed on the brakes and hoped for the best, he seemed to me to be trying to get into the right lane but turned to get back into the left lane where we collided. We hit and I launched his car forward, felt like bumper cars to me, his car shut off on impact, I pulled off to the right side of the road in the grass and turned my hazards on, got out to look at the damage and noticed coolant draining, so I turned it back off.

Both my and my passenger were shaken up but ok, all 4 passengers (even the two in the back seat) were all alright as well. I wish there was a way for me to of avoided this collision but there really wasn't much else I could do.

I thought I was gonna get the ticket for rear ending them but he got a ticket for violation of right away. He thought I switched lanes but I was in the left lane the whole time. My insurance said I'm 0% at fault, and his insurance is sending out an adjuster to take a look at it.

I'm sure their car is totaled, it's crushed up to the back window and the back window came out, you can see it laying on top of the crushed trunk. It could of been worse if it bounced back and hit the passengers, or bounced up through my windshield.

I was going 55mph before I hit the breaks, might of slowed down to 35-45 before I hit them.

As far as I can tell, my truck is fixable. I think I need a new passenger fender, hood, bumper, grill, passenger light assembly, transmission cooler, fog light assembly, and possibly radiator.

It's a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer, 5.0L AWD. I'm hoping that I can get it fixed and continue driving it especially since I now know first hand of how safe it is.

Here's some pictures:

vvvvvv Subwoofers jumped up and tore the headliner vvvvv

So, what you guys think? I was thinking, if they decide they don't want to pay to fix it and just total it out, taking that money to buy it back, and buy a smaller more fuel efficient vehicle to drive around, while I fix this one and maybe soup it up over time.

Think it's worth it? I loved this truck....

 

[sport97]

Glad everyone is OK. It took that crash fairly well for how badly it smashed the other car up. I don't see why that isn't easily fixable. I doubt there is frame damage on that. I would def. fix it up even if they total it. It probably doesn't take much for insurance to total an older mounty or ex. Figure a body shop could easily charge 2500 to fix that even though its all fairly simple bolt on parts.

 

[BobbyG2]

Yeah, it was one of those fiberglass bubblebut Chrysler Sebrings.

I'm not ALL that mechanically inclined, I know basic mechanical stuff like changing my oil, I'm able to unbolt, take notes, and rebolt where it was. Wost comes to worst, I know a few people who are mechanically inclined. And if it really is all basic bolt on stuff, I'd imagine it wont be too terribly difficult.

I'd imagine the hardest part would be the transmission cooler, and possibly having to reroute the lines if they're broken (probably a good idea since they, and everything else, is rusted. It's from Ohio.)

I'm hoping I'm able to be able to get this thing fixed, I love my Mountaineer.

 

[FIND]

They are probably going to total your truck out over that. That is about how much damage it took to total mine out... The downside of old vehicles.

If they total it and you buy it back, remember you will have a salvage title, and it will be next to impossible to sell in the future for more than the value of the truck as scrap. You can probably replace the truck for less than they will pay you for it as long as you shop around. Basically, it is only worth keeping a vehicle that an insurance company totals out if you want to make it into a modified toy, or do not plan on EVER selling it.

If they don't total it, and the frame is straight, you should be able to fix all of that damage yourself for a lot less than the body shop will charge, even if you have to bring it to them to get some of the inner structure straightened. Everything you can see from the pictures, aside from the sheet metal on top looks straight, but remember, it is sometimes hard to see damage unless you take it all apart and start measuring. If it is all cosmetic damage, everything on the front is easy to replace. Most of your work will be taking things apart and putting them together several times just to make sure everything sits straight and fits nicely.

 

[Turdle]

Turdle had a salvage title and got sold from Kansas to Maryland--

Anyway

you need a radiator core support, Loaded header panel ( loaded means it includes lights and grill) . ,, Front bumper, transmission cooler, radiator, front fender and hood. These parts "should" be under 800.00 all together.

Explorer parts will work, keep in mind, An explorer header panel will not work with Mounty lights--grill.


You'll need a spot weld cutter ( special drill bit) for the core support, and the new one will need to be welded in. They are tiny spot welds which cannot be seen anyway so this is a good time to learn a little welding.

I say fix it if you like it.

 

[SoNic67]

Get an estimate from a body shop and ask the other guy insurance for a check to cover. Should be some $2500.
Then fix it yourself for $500

If they give you th erun-arround, say that your back starts to hurt.

 

[FIND]

Yeah, you can sell vehicles with salvage titles. I just wanted to point out they were much harder to sell, and usually sell for less. People see a salvage title and most assume that that means it is held together by duct tape and baling wire... I'm sure you have seen some of the advice people give online when people are buying vehicles with salvage titles.

 

[BobbyG2]

Oh, I was kinda thinking of making it my second vehicle, and making it more of a "toy" or "weekend driver" than a daily driver. I was looking at some Rangers, one that caught my eye was a 2006 with 190k miles that looked in great condition for the mileage. Should be much better on gas than my mountaineer, and it'll have a bed for when I need a truck.

Thanks guys for the advice, the adjuster is coming tomorrow. Wish me luck, I'll keep you all posted on what happens!

 

[Cranmaro99]

Glad the impact wasn't even faster or that subwoofer box would have decapitated the people in the rear seat. I hope you strap it down. Ask me how I know.

 

[BobbyG2]

Well, I was going to bolt it to my frame after I finished it, I just had it in there to see how it sounded first. Guess that was a bad idea lol

Here's what the box looks like from the other side, in the proper position lol

 

[BobbyG2]

Repairs estimated at around $5000. Over 80% of the value. Total loss.

I would of been perfectly content with that, if I could buy back the salvage and fix it back up, maybe for around 1-2 grand. But Florida law states that a vehicle worth over 1,500 can only be sold back as non-rebuild-able, parts only.

I guess it's time to start looking for a new car. I'm hoping to get my Kelly Blue Book value ($5,800).

But the most important thing is, no body got hurt. And I could possibly be getting something good out of it.

 

[jghake]

They probably won't give you blue book. They fought me tooth and nail. I had a 2000 XLT loaded with all the options. The first offer was something like $3800 (book was about the same as yours), but I told them that wasn't enough.

They ended up doing a "fair market assessment" and searched for vehicles with my mileage and year and averaging out what they cost to come up with a value. They tried to use one almost 200 miles away to drop my price even lower than the first offer. I ended up settling for $4490 or something, although it took a few weeks.

I ended up taking the money and upgrading to a 2003 XLT and I will never look back!!! If you do go for the 3rd gen, get a V8. The power is more, but the mileage is about the same. I average about 17 in the 6.

 

[BobbyG2]

I'm hoping that being in a southern state where road salt isn't an issue, that older vehicles resell for more than up north, I'll get a decent settlement. In any case, I think my next vehicle is probably going to be an extended cab ranger. But I can't really make any decisions until tomorrow when he calls me back, hopefully with a figure.

EDIT:

Looking through autotrader and cars.com, it seems to me like they're all selling for 2800-3800. This is gonna suck...

 

[BobbyG2]

Well, they ended up calling me back with a figure of $2800. I think I'm just going to take it.
I found a vehicle at a local dealership, that I want to go look at for just above that price. It's a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis, 127k miles, 4.6L, looks brand new. I'm going to take a look at it with my step dad when I get my settlement in and test drive it and see how I like it.

After this accident, I don't think I'll feel safe in anything other than a tank. But I like how the Marquis get better gas mileage than my Mountaineer!

 

[JCat]

This ?

Are you sure ?

 

[BobbyG2]

http://apps.dealerconnection.com/de...3591&certifiedPreownedImg=false#historyreport

My bad, it's an '03

If it's too good of a deal to be true, my step dad will know. He's worked at Ford Dealerships autoparts centers for over a decade. If there's anyone who can detect something fowl amiss, it's him. He's a man who's opinion I trust over most people in the world, except my Mom and Dad.

 

[alohamonte]

What JCat meant was - i's a complete grannymobile. Slap some curb feelers on those fenders and you are good to go.


Pick a different vehicle.

 

[Carguy3J]

The $2800 sound reasonable, but there is no way I would let them take the truck. It's not really totaled, unless there is substantial frame damage we can't see.

Find out what the buy-back value is (Which should be around $500, for scrap). Then, tell the other guys insurance, who was 100% at fault (remind them of that) that you will not be giving them the vehicle, and to reduce your payout by the buy-back/scrap value. Don't take no for an answer. Tell them that regardless of Florida "law", it's your vehicle, their ****** bag client wrecked your vehicle which you are sentimentally attached too, and they are NOT going to take it.Really, there is no "buy-back", since, I'm assuming, the title is already in your name. It never has to leave your ownership; which also means no salvage title. The insurance company is just reimbursing you for the damages their guy caused; they are not "buying" your truck. Try framing it that way, and being nice to them, perhaps working through several levels of "supervisors". It will probably work, eventually. They don't really want the truck. If it doesn't work, then start getting nasty with them. Remind them THEIR insured came along, while you were just minding your own business, and smacked up your vehicle, which you take great pride in, and are very attached too. Make it completely clear to them, that under no circumstances, will you ever let them have it. Period. If they still won't play ball, start hinting that maybe it will have to be settled with a lawyer, and oh... your back and neck are really starting to bother you. Perhaps your passenger(s) are also feeling stiff and sore, and maybe they should also go see a doctor? They will cave and give you that 14 year old truck in hurry, just to make you go away!

If you want YOUR truck, then accept nothing less! Period.

 

[Turdle]

What JCat meant was - i's a complete grannymobile. Slap some curb feelers on those fenders and you are good to go.


Pick a different vehicle.

This

 

[BobbyG2]

I think I already messed that up, the tow truck driver is coming tomorrow. The lady from Allstate letme said she was going to try to pull strings to see if I can't buy out back, but said that Florida is the toughest she knows as far as salvages go. I'm pretty sure that the cost of getting it fixed (even myself), along with fixing the problems that I know it already had before the accident, could easily exceed the $2800 they're paying me for it. I am upset I'm losing this car, but it's probably best if I sucked it up and moved on.

I do appreciate everyone's help here, you guys been great. Nothing is stopping me from looking past the Marquis, but I figured it was a start. But I could always do some cosmetic work to make it look less grannyish

I'm just a big guy who wants to feel comfortable and safe in a big car/truck/suv.

I've seen a car like that locally to me, it looks awesome.