I-10 Wagon Woes
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Id definately go see a doctor or chiropractor. You may feel fine right now, but you may have damaged a disc or a nerve that will pop up in a few weeks or months. No reason to take chances, or risk permanent injury that you will have to pay for yourself because of this idiots lack of concentration. Rear end collisions can really mess up your neck or spine. Good luck with the settlement and sorry to hear about your ride....
Well, got it settled, and I'm satisfied with the end result. $3500 and I get to keep the car. I do have to get a salvage title for it, but that's ok. Now I can continue driving it while I find a repacement (if it'll pass emissions; it's always something), plus I can use a lot of the new stuff from it on the next car.
BIG thanks to pontiacgp for all his help in negotiating this thing with the insurance company. He provided some key advice that helped me get them from their first offer of $2250 up to the $3500.
That ain't pocket change - thanks, man, I really appreciate it!
BIG thanks to pontiacgp for all his help in negotiating this thing with the insurance company. He provided some key advice that helped me get them from their first offer of $2250 up to the $3500.
That ain't pocket change - thanks, man, I really appreciate it!
Wow!! Good for you, man. I originally had a sick feeling that it wouldn't turn out well...I'm glad it worked out. Now to find a nice replacement. I think $3500.(or less) should find you a nice wagon. Plus you can pull all the goodies from this car to add to your new driver.. :wink:
All in all, good luck!
All in all, good luck!
I don't know by you, but here in NY you only need the Salvage Title to sell the car. If you keep it don't bother. A Salvage Inspection costs $500 here and every part used to repair the car needs proof of origin, ie, title of the car it came off. All they care about is that stolen parts weren't used, safety is NOT the issue. I didn't bother and when I junked it I donated the car for a Demo Derby entry.
Thanks - I sure hope I can find a good straight wagon at a decent price somewhere around here. Did a Crazedlist check on Craigslists around the country and saw a few, all too far from me. Kuruption sent me a link to a local one, but the guy was a bit too proud of it, at least for now.
I have to get a Salvage title - cost=$4.00 - and send it to the Insurance Co to get my check. It's illegal to drive in AZ with a Salvage title, so then I have to get it inspected and 'Restored.' It costs $50.00 for the Salvage/Restore inspection. I have no idea what they do; but probably something like what they do in NY. They call it a Level 3 inspection.
The emissions and licenses plates expire this week, so the emissions check was coming up anyhow. I hate emissions checks on old cars here. They not only sniff the exhaust at various speeds and rpms, they also do a visual check and compare it to whatever their book says an 81 Malibu should have. There are ways around it, but nothing that works for me.
I have to get a Salvage title - cost=$4.00 - and send it to the Insurance Co to get my check. It's illegal to drive in AZ with a Salvage title, so then I have to get it inspected and 'Restored.' It costs $50.00 for the Salvage/Restore inspection. I have no idea what they do; but probably something like what they do in NY. They call it a Level 3 inspection.
The emissions and licenses plates expire this week, so the emissions check was coming up anyhow. I hate emissions checks on old cars here. They not only sniff the exhaust at various speeds and rpms, they also do a visual check and compare it to whatever their book says an 81 Malibu should have. There are ways around it, but nothing that works for me.
Have you talked to anybody about making some pulls on the car?
The estimate is high of course to fully repair the car, but there's a lot that you can do.
For example, you can source/install a used gate...there's no need to paint it at collision shop rates, bumper replacement could be handled by you, etc.
Unless the car's a lot worse than pictured, I don't see a reason to give up so fast, especially given how scarce they are becoming.
To me, it's funny how everybody throws a fit (screaming about how it should be "saved") if a rusty old pile of crap is in a boneyard, but some collision damge, and it's a writeoff..
I work as a collision tech (bodyman to most folks), many old cars could be repaired and put back into service for a lot less than the shop's door rate...especially if the business in a given area is slow, which is the case in MANY MANY markets right now. Might take a little legwork to find a shop that wants to mess with it, but the way I see it is, it's yours, that money would go a long ways toward repairing/upgrading a car you already know, or you could start all over with an unknown quantity and hope for the best. Should be able to get it pulled and the quarter roughed out and still have a pretty substantial amount of your compensation left for parts/upgrades.
From what I've seen lately, $3500 isn't going to buy a very slick wagon....at least the ones advertised for sale. Saw a decent one in Dallas at 3200, but a long ways from you. Probably the best one was just sold on ebay for 3600, but even it needed some stuff, and was in Illinois. I missed it by just that much. :?
I'd sell you mine, but it wouldn't pass an emissions inspection(prior owner hackery)...which I think is going to be a problem for you with many of the cars for sale. When it comes to Emissions,first thing most hobbiests do is rip it all out.
Good luck to you whichever way you choose to go.
The estimate is high of course to fully repair the car, but there's a lot that you can do.
For example, you can source/install a used gate...there's no need to paint it at collision shop rates, bumper replacement could be handled by you, etc.
Unless the car's a lot worse than pictured, I don't see a reason to give up so fast, especially given how scarce they are becoming.
To me, it's funny how everybody throws a fit (screaming about how it should be "saved") if a rusty old pile of crap is in a boneyard, but some collision damge, and it's a writeoff..
I work as a collision tech (bodyman to most folks), many old cars could be repaired and put back into service for a lot less than the shop's door rate...especially if the business in a given area is slow, which is the case in MANY MANY markets right now. Might take a little legwork to find a shop that wants to mess with it, but the way I see it is, it's yours, that money would go a long ways toward repairing/upgrading a car you already know, or you could start all over with an unknown quantity and hope for the best. Should be able to get it pulled and the quarter roughed out and still have a pretty substantial amount of your compensation left for parts/upgrades.
From what I've seen lately, $3500 isn't going to buy a very slick wagon....at least the ones advertised for sale. Saw a decent one in Dallas at 3200, but a long ways from you. Probably the best one was just sold on ebay for 3600, but even it needed some stuff, and was in Illinois. I missed it by just that much. :?
I'd sell you mine, but it wouldn't pass an emissions inspection(prior owner hackery)...which I think is going to be a problem for you with many of the cars for sale. When it comes to Emissions,first thing most hobbiests do is rip it all out.
Good luck to you whichever way you choose to go.
I had no idea that Arizona emissions laws were so stringent. I would have thought that your car would have been exempt from the sniff test.
Good luck finding a replacement. You might in fact have to travel to find a decent one. What does the local guy want for his?
From the sound of it, he thinks he has gold.
As Ribbedroof had suggested. Get an estimate on getting it pulled out. You might be able to get away with replacing a few panels, and odds and ends.
Good luck finding a replacement. You might in fact have to travel to find a decent one. What does the local guy want for his?
From the sound of it, he thinks he has gold.
As Ribbedroof had suggested. Get an estimate on getting it pulled out. You might be able to get away with replacing a few panels, and odds and ends.
The body is worse than it looks in the picture. The quarter panel is buckled, and both doors on the right side are knocked out of alignment - the rear one is bent, jammed and won't open, the front one is cockeyed but works ok. The floor is heaved up inside all the way to the back seat, too.
I have no idea what it would cost to straighten that back out, but haven't totally decided not to fix it if it could be done reasonably and by someone I trust. I can remove and replace the tailgate. bumper, etc., but I don't know much about bodywork; no tools, training or skills for pounding it back out, so I'd have to hire someone to do all of that. I'm thinking it may be easier and cheaper to buy something else. The price of gas is making a lot of old cars go unsold right now, if I can just find the right one
Emissions checks in Phoenix suck; cars come here from CA and fail all the time. ODBII is a piece of cake, you pretty much pass if your Check Engine light is out and working. Anything older gets sniffed, back thru 1967. If you change the engine, the check is based on whichever is newer, the car or the engine. There's always a visual check, which is a crap shoot, just depends on who does it. So I always go prepared. Shops that have and can run a 5 gas analyser are gettinghard to find, too.
Anything 1966 and older is exempt, as well as cars with historic plates, but those plates require classic car insurance and all those limitations. Some people just register their car outside of Phoenix, but that has some risks if you get pulled over.
It all makes me want to buy a 1966 Chevelle (like i could afford that!) or drop in an ODBII engine and computer. Both cost more than I have right now, so I cross my fingers and see what happens.
I have no idea what it would cost to straighten that back out, but haven't totally decided not to fix it if it could be done reasonably and by someone I trust. I can remove and replace the tailgate. bumper, etc., but I don't know much about bodywork; no tools, training or skills for pounding it back out, so I'd have to hire someone to do all of that. I'm thinking it may be easier and cheaper to buy something else. The price of gas is making a lot of old cars go unsold right now, if I can just find the right one
Emissions checks in Phoenix suck; cars come here from CA and fail all the time. ODBII is a piece of cake, you pretty much pass if your Check Engine light is out and working. Anything older gets sniffed, back thru 1967. If you change the engine, the check is based on whichever is newer, the car or the engine. There's always a visual check, which is a crap shoot, just depends on who does it. So I always go prepared. Shops that have and can run a 5 gas analyser are gettinghard to find, too.
Anything 1966 and older is exempt, as well as cars with historic plates, but those plates require classic car insurance and all those limitations. Some people just register their car outside of Phoenix, but that has some risks if you get pulled over.
It all makes me want to buy a 1966 Chevelle (like i could afford that!) or drop in an ODBII engine and computer. Both cost more than I have right now, so I cross my fingers and see what happens.
From how you describe the damage, it certainly might be in your better interest to find another car. Even a good body/roller and transplant your driveline into it.
Wow, I thought California regulations were tough...holy smokes. Phoenix makes California sound like Disneyland. At they're more old car friendly. :?
Wow, I thought California regulations were tough...holy smokes. Phoenix makes California sound like Disneyland. At they're more old car friendly. :?
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